What temperatures should I expect?
What temperatures should I expect?
I recently acquired a U14S to lower my 9700K temperature after noticing it hit 100°C during a League of Legends session. The U14S maintains around 70°C while playing, but in a stress test it still climbs to 100°C eventually. It transitions from idle (mid 40°C) to 86°C immediately, then gradually reaches 100°C across all cores, increasing by about one degree each minute or so. I’m using the standard settings on the U14S, the default fan speed, and the paste they provided. I’ve repositioned the cooler multiple times in its bracket, replaced the back plate three times, yet temperatures remain unchanged from when I first installed it. I’d like to see the U14S keep my 9700K at a reasonable level—around 85-90°C during full load—but reaching only 100°C isn’t what I hoped. Is this typical? No overclocking. After a week, I learned the Noctua U14S has a TDP of 220W (source: avadirect link). This aligns with my expectations since my 9700K draws about 235W under full load. That matches what I observed. I recall someone else had a similar setup and reported good temps, though I can’t recall the exact paste. I thought the default Noctua paste was adequate, but not optimal. Could this cooler be underpowered for my build? It’s not overclocked, but it could support higher frequencies without extra voltage. I’m also curious about the EVGA CLC 240—do you think it would work well with this cooler? Since I can’t find its TDP or surface area for comparison. EDIT: It turns out the auto setting on my motherboard simply confirmed a voltage range of 1.1–1.53V, which was fine since it was already set correctly.
Check the voltage you've configured. Ensure the cooler is properly positioned and verify the thermal paste is applied correctly.
Track voltage levels closely, as many board suppliers operate around 1.3V, which is significantly higher than what an U14S can manage. Reminder, the VID mentioned isn't the real reading—it's just an estimate.