Question About new SFF build and temperatures?
Question About new SFF build and temperatures?
I'm completely new to the PC world, so any help with my problem is really appreciated (even if you have to explain it super simply). I built my first PC a few days ago using an SFF build in the Ncase M2 Round. I really enjoyed putting together the case and putting all the parts together, and I was proud when everything started working on the first try. I played a few hours of games in 4K, such as Arma Reforger, CS2, and Stalker 2. I noticed the fans were running really hard most of the time, and I could see my CPU temperatures jumping from 70-72 to 80-84 unexpectedly.
During setup, I had some trouble getting the CPU cooler to fit properly. I had to turn it on and off a few times, and the thermal paste helped a bit because the screws didn’t fit when I tried to install it. I was surprised by how much trouble this caused, but eventually it worked. I’m not sure if this affected my current issue, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
I also downloaded fan control, but I’m not sure how to configure fan curves or anything similar. When playing the games, everything was running at full speed, making a lot of noise. My GPU temps stayed around 65-73°C and the CPU around 72-75°C and 80-84°C. I know that’s pretty high, but it feels like it’s inside a toaster. I’m wondering if there are any steps I can take to reduce the noise or lower the temps.
Currently, my GPU fans and cooler are set up as intake, and a Noctua 140mm fan on the side bracket for exhaust. I’m not sure if you can see in the picture, but I think there’s room for two 120mm Noctua fans between the MOBO and PSU, which I also planned to use as exhaust. Is that a good idea? I have many questions and am totally new here, so please share any advice for someone just starting out.
P.S. In the BIOS I enabled Expo to maximize RAM performance, but that’s about it.
Here are some pictures of the build:
https://imgur.com/a/YUOaVwd
View: https://imgur.com/a/YUOaVwd
I began investigating undervolting and overclocking, adjusting the core limit to 5000Mhz with a -20 offset at 1.1 voltage. I aim to reach stock levels around 5200 but plan to experiment further this weekend. It hasn't exceeded 67 yet while playing the games I mentioned. Everything seems fine so far? Please let me know if you have any other thoughts!
Temperature is good, CPU operates at 89c without throttling. GPU tends to generate more heat than CPU, so you should use a case with strong cooling capabilities.
Thanks for the explanation. In another thread I was told to not undervolt the cpu like I did in my description, so I went back and set bios to default. I only enabled Expo for the RAM and run the 9800X3D at 5250 and just add -20 co on top of it. That's all I've changed now. Temps usually hover around 69-75C when gaming for the CPU & GPU is usually around 67C-74C, but the CPU still randomly spike to high 80's-90's when loading into games, downloading shaders, etc. Is this normal? Im getting a 92mm Noctua today that I plan to install in the back of case to help the cooler intake cool air. If I have room I may get a 140mm or 120mm fan to sit between the mobo and psu also as exhaust. When I feel the case though when gaming, the top almost get hot to the touch when gaming (even though my temps show as fine) whereas the back of case is cool so I definitely need to get rid of that hot air in the front I feel
CO is likely the optimal method for undervolting because it adapts dynamically, unlike static approaches which may lead to instability under low loads. In certain scenarios these can be merged based on BIOS capabilities, with static settings merely restricting peak voltages without treating them as comprehensive. The Ryzen algorithm adjusts to apply higher voltage at low loads, then reduces it based on increased power needs. This behavior might initially seem counterintuitive but aligns with physical laws. Temperature management remains crucial to maintain efficiency.
You might want to turn on PBO first. Given your high-end graphics, you're likely gaming at high resolution and detail where the GPU is crucial. Even with 9800x3D, 9800MB should suffice for basic settings. However, you might face power limits. Your current setup is acceptable, but you could also explore AI Overclocking.
It's a strong front panel with no mesh at all. To confirm the correct orientation, you should rotate it so the PSU fan points toward the back side of the case (the side mesh).