These processor speeds are noticeably high yet remain consistent.
These processor speeds are noticeably high yet remain consistent.
I recently upgraded my motherboard, CPU, and RAM. I heard the 12900K temps were high, but most people keep them around 30°C during idle. My problem is that when idle, temperatures range from 50°C to 65°C, and even under heavy load they never exceed 65°C. I've used third-party tools and Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility, but all my apps (iCUE, MSI Dragon Center, Core Temp, and Intel XTU) agree on the same readings. The motherboard temp display also confirms this. I changed power plans without success. Though temps are high, they seem stable, but idle should be lower. Anyone have insights?
Who would handle a 12900k near 30C? That’s a tough ask even with a 12700k, 240AIO and seven Noctua fans in a mini ITX case at idle. Of course, it’s only possible with a regular cooling setup. God doesn’t hate you. Who’s been giving you the wrong advice?
I saw others mentioning their idle temps around 30C in other forum discussions. Could be they were mistaken. However, I have a large fan setup. On a 360AIO with specific lens placements, I’ve got a portable AC to maintain a cool environment. If that sounds excessive, just wait—conditions improve. I also have a strong fan positioned at the front of the case to push air directly into the system. Personally, I feel confident everything stays under control. But during a Cinebench test, the peak reached 98C. It seems some problems aren’t solved by standard methods. Fixing issues often comes down to luck, and I’ve had to rely on workarounds like using my phone as a connection anchor when my computer refused to connect via Ethernet. Sometimes it just feels that way.
Honestly, setting up my fan configuration was the most challenging part of my build. I spent a lot of time testing different options. Initially, I considered positive pressure, but the temperatures I measured weren’t comfortable. Plus, there were hot spots on my case that felt extremely warm. In the end, a nearly even to slightly negative airflow works better for moving air and maintaining low component temps. I’m not sure if you’re using more fans for exhaust or intake, but it seems you have several exhaust fans and many intake fans. I’d appreciate a photo of your PC to give more insight. Also, do you have an overclock setting on your CPU? Since you’re running the 3090, it’s worth noting that feeding the air through the CPU radiator isn’t ideal—exhausting heat through the CPU radiator is also not great.
I recorded my temperatures while testing R23 temps on Spotify, Discord, and those forums. The setup includes a Liquid Freezer ii 360mm intake at the top of my case (o11 dynamic mini), three 120mm fans at the bottom for intake, and two 140mm side fans for exhaust. All are Noctua parts. It's doable to run around 30°C and stay there under light loads without needing an LGA1700 socket. I've received one in the mail but haven't picked it up yet. During a Cinnebench test, this model scored 26,939 points. Most cores were running hot, which is typical for me, and I'm comfortable with that. The clocks dropped to about 300MHz except for one that hit 800MHz, and that wasn't the hottest during the run. It took me a while to get the numbers here after looking at the Cinnebench data. Most everyday users won't experience thermal throttling, and when they do, it seems to adjust smoothly. The temps don’t drop sharply; they change gradually to stay stable. I don’t see your case details, but the 12900k and 3090 build will affect cooling a lot.
I recently got a Thermalright BCF for my 12700k. It’s highly recommended to prevent CPU temperatures from rising too high. I noticed some fascinating changes in clock speeds, temperatures, and power usage when comparing with and without it. It’s definitely worth the $12.