Your i7-8700K seems fine after just two minutes without a cooler.
Your i7-8700K seems fine after just two minutes without a cooler.
For fun, I tested my i7 8700k for a short while without a cooler (just two fans with no glass panel) and ran integrated graphics. I opened NZXT CAM right away, and the CPU stayed at 99°C for roughly two minutes. Is that normal? I also noticed the system didn’t power down when I turned it off.
Modern CPUs tend to reduce performance when operating near their safe limits, which is why power caps and turbo features exist. Typically 99°C is acceptable; higher values aren't recommended since the chip already avoids them, and temperatures can rise well beyond that. Many quiet laptops or systems run reliably at 90°C or more without issues, lasting years.
I'm preparing to send your PC, so you can be sure it's safe in the meantime.
0C feels warm, 10C is even warmer, running a CPU at 99C for long stretches signals a thermal or power issue. However, for brief periods? Many modern processors are built to work within tight temperature limits to boost performance. Almost every laptop CPU I’ve seen does this. If 99C posed a risk even for a short time, regular laptops wouldn’t adopt it by design.