Increase CPU temperatures significantly when AIO temperatures remain low.
Increase CPU temperatures significantly when AIO temperatures remain low.
I recently installed my new i7 7700k with the NZXT Kraken x62 AIO and was monitoring temperatures via the parent monitor CAM. During gaming sessions, my CPU temperature consistently stayed between 53-62°C, while the liquid cooler's temperature remained around 35°C. This is my first experience with liquid coolers—shouldn't the liquid temperatures be closer? Also, the fan speed and pump were running above 50% capacity throughout. Thanks in advance. Also unsure if this is the best place to share it, as it felt more logical than others.
I'm looking for ways to enhance my cooling performance further. While the current setup works, improvements would be welcome. Regarding thermal paste, what are the top options available? It might be better to consult experienced users rather than relying on website ratings. Also, I was wondering if removing the CPU could help, as I've read that good thermal paste isn't always effective inside the 7700K. If you're using an i7 7700K, make sure your motherboard's voltage settings match the stock specifications to avoid overheating. Removing it yourself carries risks and may void your warranty, so unless you have a backup gaming PC, I strongly advise against it.
The temperatures are typical for gameplay. The cpu will get warmer under stress, but the current readings are quite acceptable.
but the temperature gap is slightly bigger than anticipated; nothing to fret over, it might simply be the thermal paste
ComputerGeek21 :
the temperature gap is slightly bigger than anticipated; don't worry, it might just be due to the thermal paste.
These temperatures are great for an i7 7700k during gaming sessions. Regarding the fluctuations, they're normal since different threads will affect the CPU temperature based on their workload. The liquid temp stays much lower than the CPU cores.
SumTingW0ng :
ComputerGeek21 :
the temperature gap is a bit bigger than expected, but don't worry, it might just be due to the thermal paste.
I've heard many people mention that the i7 7700k had cheap thermal paste on the die, similar to the previous i7 4790k.
That's accurate, but this model seems to have a better chip. Not all of them have temperature problems.
OP is uncovering the real situation behind liquid cooling delta. The temperatures listed aren't consistent with the actual liquid temperatures. Water cooling delta refers to the gap between the cooling system's liquid temperature during load and the surrounding room temperature. The reported values might not always be correct, as we've observed many BIOS inaccurately reporting these figures, though this wasn't as significant 7-10 years ago. Additionally, CPU temperatures change rapidly, often hundreds of times per second, whereas liquid temperatures shift more slowly because of the coolant's high specific heat (especially water with additives or other coolants).
The OP is uncovering the real situation behind liquid cooling delta—reported temperatures don’t match actual liquid temperatures. The water cooling delta refers to the gap between cooling system liquid temperatures during load and room temperature. The numbers provided might not be precise, as BIOS sometimes misreports these values, though this issue was less common 7-10 years ago. Additionally, CPU temperatures change rapidly, while liquid temperatures shift slowly because of the coolant’s high specific heat (especially water with additives). You mentioned more technically than I did, but your points are correct, and I agree with you. Though you included a few extra details. Senior Moderator.
My intention is not to stomp on anyone's toes, but this is a common misunderstanding that is seen in the liquid cooling community where users have temp monitoring software (and they should) but the temps the see reported on-screen differ from temps they might see coming from the liquid that is cooling their hardware. There is a direct correlation, but the loop cooling capacity is typically defined by the delta-T of cooling liquid vs. ambient air temperature at full hardware load (those items being liquid cooled). This also requires that delta-T at load cannot be adequately tested until the loop has reached full working equilibrium at 100% load for sustained times, usually 15+ minutes due to the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the coolant.