Odd temps.
Odd temps.
So I have a 2nd PC I'm building Ryzen 7 3800x, with a NZXT Z63. I've noticed that the temps are really... sporadic.... They flucacte between 15 degrees up and down constantly when nothing at all is going on. Maybe 5% cpu usage between all the apps that are running. And it seems like no matter how high I turn the curve to try and get stable temps that idle at 1-2 degrees, nothing works. The GPU on the other hand is fine, it sits at about 34C on idle. Here's a video I took, also, be aware that the temps are in F in the software. 3I1cYbE6Ee.mp4
CAM isn't displaying correct data. Try Ryzen Master and HWiNFO since they're the only tools that work for tracking Zen. Changes are expected. You won't always see a steady idle state because Windows runs many background processes at all times.
I verified with Ryzen Master and the temperatures appear more consistent. It seems CAM isn’t capturing the same readings as Ryzen Master. The range in Ryzen Master is 42-44°C, while CAM shows 50°C. Probably because each tool uses a different sensor. I don’t recall using HWINFO or another app, but I did place widgets next to the clock to display the temps directly.
It looks like Ryzen Master indicates stable performance around 42-44 during idle, which is significantly better than 50. This happens even with the radiator fans set at 50%, making it more manageable. The CAM tool seems almost ineffective unless you're using flashy animated GIFs. It's unclear how precise the GPU temperature readings are, but they appear to hover near 35°C.
AMD clarified the problem when Zen 2 launched. Intel and Zen 1/+ CPUs consistently reported sensor temperatures at a fixed polling rate (the exact figure is unclear), whereas AMD reduced that rate. The issue stems from applications that hardcode their polling speed, some of which wait for data before updating, while others update once the data appears. This mismatch causes the CPU to request more frequently than intended, leading to higher temperatures despite the slower actual transmission. According to AMD, it isn’t a false reading; rather, these apps add extra load on the CPU, increasing its temperature beyond normal levels—especially noticeable during idle states. NZXT Cam was highlighted as an example that users should avoid.