The 14700K i7 operates at high temperatures during idle, with fans changing speed frequently to maintain performance.
The 14700K i7 operates at high temperatures during idle, with fans changing speed frequently to maintain performance.
Helo there! I've just built a new PC from scratch with all new parts. I rocked an i7 9700K for the past 4 years, but now I've upgraded to an i7 14700K, with a be quiet! Shadow Base 800FX case and a Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE cooler. Here's the full part list . Under light load, with CPU usage between 1% and 10%, my temperatures fluctuate a lot between 40°C and 50°C. My temperature graph looks like an electrocardiogram, with peaks hitting 50°C and almost instantly dropping back to 40°C. I even bought a contact frame to ensure the cooler has optimal contact with the CPU. I've just installed it today, but saw no improvement in performance, my temps are still the same while idle. Under a 50% load, the CPU doesn't exceed 65°C, which I think is pretty good and slightly better than before. However, I'm still concerned that my idle temps with low CPU usage are around 45°C to 50°C. I upgraded from a low-power, low-temperature CPU, so maybe I'm expecting something unrealistic. Are these temperatures normal? Should I be getting lower temps? I'm particularly concerned because I was hoping for idle temps between 30°C and 40°C. I also bought the be quiet! case hoping for a quiet system when not under heavy load, but right now the fans are speeding up and slowing down constantly to keep the CPU cool. I haven't touched the fan speeds, they're still on stock settings because worried about messing something up. Could adjusting the fan curves help reduce the temps? Any help would be more than welcome!
Thanks! I finally joined after waiting a long time. I'll keep an eye on the temperatures during my gaming sessions and let you know. I also worked on some basic 1440p video editing and simple 3D modeling in Blender. Neither the CPU nor GPU hit 50% usage, and the temps stayed normal. It makes sense now—just checked the MOBO driver update app (gigabyte control center) and it has built-in fan controls. I’m just trying to match the front fans with the back ones. Do you have any suggestions for a good app to manage the fans? Or should I just go with what’s there? Appreciate your help!
I believe you mainly rely on motherboard software (maybe?) For my part, I’m pretty loyal to Asus boards—just a few MSI ones too—but I’m not sure about Gigabyte’s setup. With the Asus AI Suite III, you can spot fans by seeing which ones speed up to full RPM while others slow down. You can also find your fan headers in the manual. Yes, good airflow keeps dust away and helps expel hot air from the case.
Do you own an Intel chip? Those tend to overheat, but as long as it doesn’t exceed 100°C you should be okay. You can also save on heating costs, which is a win-win. Usually the BIOS is the best option.
Sure, I was also taken aback by how people generate artificial turbulence for cooling. Many believe PC cooling relies on a "chill effect," but that's not the case. The real method is removing hot air as quickly as possible.
I managed to recognize my fans, but since my setup uses a fan controller, all connected fans are treated as one in the Gigabyte app. This limits my control options. I can manage just the CPU fans and all case fans (front and back). I’m thinking about disconnecting the rear fan from the controller to run it independently, which would slow it down compared to the faster front fans. It makes sense given how much heat my previous build generated, and I might adjust settings in BIOS once I find a stable configuration with the desktop app. For now, I prefer making changes while monitoring temperatures so I can quickly tweak settings if needed.
I understand the challenge you faced with distinguishing the fans. It seems like figuring it out was tricky, especially since the fans all spin around 500-1500 RPM depending on the load. However, I know that using the Gigabyte app could be problematic and might not be the safest approach. I have my own fan hub setup, which works well with BIOS controls. If you're interested, I can assist later with some images. It's important to avoid letting the fans run too low at idle due to heat buildup—a common issue even from reputable brands like Nvidia. Understanding airflow is complex, but BIOS settings are straightforward and reliable. Using manufacturer apps often leads to bigger problems, so it's best to uninstall them right away.