Running delidded 8086k at 87°C with 120mm AIO
Running delidded 8086k at 87°C with 120mm AIO
i7 8086k with liquid metal and 5.0Ghz overclock for all cores
Evga Rtx 2080ti xc
16 ram at 3200mhz cas14
Aio ASUS ROG Ryuo 120 cooler
Case In-Win A1 Plus
I recently tested a case (Inwin A1+) which looks great, but it lacks strong airflow and causes poor thermal management on the CPU. I have a delidded 8086k overclocked to 5ghz across all cores, and it’s cooled by a 120mm rad liquid cooler. Although 120mm rads aren’t ideal, there are no better alternatives available.
During stress tests, temperatures rise quickly from 92-98°C. In more realistic gaming situations—such as playing heavy CPU games like GTA V online or Assassin's Creed—I reach up to 87°C. Is this safe for extended gaming sessions?
Alternatively, should I switch to a larger case with improved airflow and a bigger radiator? I’m considering the NZXT H210i m-ITX plus a 240mm AIO liquid cooler.
There are two options available. Maintain current performance, or reduce power by adjusting the OC, or consider upgrading to a larger case or cooler.
Since people constantly attempt to install a V8 engine in a mini-Cooper, anyone who finds a solution will adapt. This is why gaming laptops, dual-purpose watches, and Swiss army knives exist. There is a method, though it demands connecting an additional 120mm rad/fan alongside the original, a hackintosh loop, which can cause issues and risks leaks due to lack of standard fittings for that tubing. A different configuration or full custom loop would make it more feasible.
120mm aios are solid. They perform almost identically to a CM hyper212 evo. Identical temperatures, same range, and capacity. The only difference is the price, which some people might not mind. I've used an H55 on my i5-3570k for seven years without any problems.
I agree to work with a budget of 140w range coolers, as they are suitable for a quad i7 which typically handles 1.5-2x its TDP. For the 8700k, it's advisable to use coolers rated at 180w or higher. This will keep Prime95 temperatures around 70°C± and gaming temps near 55°C±.