Looking for advice on cooling your i5-13600KF?
Looking for advice on cooling your i5-13600KF?
Hello everyone. In December I switched from an i5-8400 with a 1060 6GB to a new setup in the same InWin 101 case. My updated specs are: i5-13600KF CoolerMaster Evo 212, dual fans MSI Pro Z790-A, MSI Pro Z790-A DDR4 board, 16GB DDR4 RAM, RTX 3080 Founders Edition, 850W power supply, two M.2 drives, one SATA SSD, and one HDD. There are two intake fans on the front, plus one exhaust at the back and two more at the bottom. Despite playing Apex Legends or Sims 4, my fans run at full speed, but the CPU throttles to 100°C within 15 seconds. I downloaded Intel OverLock utility for a stress test and saw the CPU hit its limit quickly. Should I check if the cooler is properly seated? I’m thinking about moving this build into a Fractal North case in a month or two—should I consider getting an AIO then? Am I risking damage to my CPU by keeping it in this configuration? I use the PC for work (writing text online) and gaming, mostly playing Cyberpunk 2077 but also Apex Legends. Thanks for any advice and feedback!
I really don't believe a 212 Evo is adequate for anything beyond i3's, particularly without extensive adjustments. If you were in my position, I’d start by reducing the voltages and checking the impact. In theory, if it behaves like my 12600KF, you might manage around 5.0GHz with a slight voltage boost, but that would likely stress the 212 Evo. It’s probably best to aim for the 4.2-4.5 GHz range instead. When upgrading, consider an AIO or a big air cooler.
Choose a higher-quality CPU cooler such as a solid 12cm dual tower model or a 240mm AIO. These options handle power usage around 200W even for high-end chips like the 13600k, which is often labeled as an i5-8400.
Certainly! A CoolerMaster 360L could be a great option depending on your needs.
Thermalright offers good value with coolers such as Peerless Assassin 120 for air cooling or Frozen Notte 360 AIO. I’m really happy with the Frozen Notte 360—it meets both style and performance needs at this price point, though I’m a bit concerned about the warranty in North America. Ultimately it depends on your priorities.
Thanks in advance! Amazon offers it for £70 with strong customer feedback, and the warranty is a plus. I’ll include it on my shortlist.
I'll also connect the Phanteks AIO. My setup uses an MP280, which is straightforward but that's a plus for me. I configure it to run very quietly, staying below 55°C at around 850 RPM, then ramping up to 1600 RPM until 70°C, and climbing slightly more to 1850 RPM at 80°C. The fans maintain a consistent speed of 600-650 RPM throughout, keeping temperatures stable even in harsh conditions thanks to careful adjustments.