Still experiencing thermal throttling during Cinebench despite 13900k rating.
Still experiencing thermal throttling during Cinebench despite 13900k rating.
To ensure your thermal paste application is optimal, the best approach is to spread it thinly across the entire IHS (integrated heat spreader). Begin with a small amount of paste and use either a dedicated applicator or a plastic tool provided with your thermal paste kit. If you lack these tools, a credit card can serve as an alternative. Choose a soft material—avoid metal—to prevent damaging the IHS. After application, wipe away any excess with isopropyl alcohol to achieve uniform coverage. This method works well because it allows manual even distribution across the entire surface. While a single dot or line in the center often spreads adequately under cooling pressure, I suggest this technique for high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5900X due to their higher heat output and larger die size.
Relies on the thermal paste and fans. I haven't noticed a 5-degree shift from any of the major brands, so be cautious. Simply swapping fans for a 10-cent difference might occur if you started with poor fans, but no one should purchase faulty ones initially, particularly with a 13900K. There are also several other factors involving fans to consider. If the original poster can observe the temperature drops you mentioned, his machine was likely completely out of balance with his CPU from the start.