Question CPU 50° in BIOS, 120° in Windows

[Nythrien]

Having a weird problem here.

Just upgraded my CPU, Mobo, and GFX recently and it boots fine into BIOS, CPU temp checks out at around 48°-50° idle in BIOS.

However, when I close the BIOS and boot into windows, the CPU fan suddenly revs way up and CAM reads my CPU temp at around 120°. I also get a warning from windows about the CPU temp. Really confused as to why it would be fine in BIOS but go crazy in Windows?

Specs are:
Ryzen 7 2700X with included Wraith Prism cooler

Asus ROG Strix X470-I Mobo

Zotac RTX 2080 8GB


*Full disclosure, I didn't realize I had some thermal paste on my finger when handling the CPU, and ended up getting the teeniest amount on like 2 pins right on the edge. I got some isopropyl and a toothpick and cleaned it as best as I could, but I suppose it's possible there could be a few tiny flecks still on the pins somewhere. Could that be the culprit, or is that unlikely?

 

[feelinfroggy777]

50C seems a little high for idling in the bios, so there may be an issue with the cooling. But your chip is not going to 120C. It will throttle before it gets that hot to keep it from getting damaged.

There may be a problem with the program you are using to see the temp. Download Ryzen Master for your CPU and checkout your temps from there. It is an AMD program, so I would trust its reading a little bit more.

 

[rgd1101]

50 on idle, that high. redo the cpu thermal paste and cooler

 

[USAFRet]

Having a weird problem here.

Just upgraded my CPU, Mobo, and GFX recently and it boots fine into BIOS, CPU temp checks out at around 48°-50° idle in BIOS.

However, when I close the BIOS and boot into windows, the CPU fan suddenly revs way up and CAM reads my CPU temp at around 120°. I also get a warning from windows about the CPU temp. Really confused as to why it would be fine in BIOS but go crazy in Windows?

Specs are:
Ryzen 7 2700X with included Wraith Prism cooler

Asus ROG Strix X470-I Mobo

Zotac RTX 2080 8GB


*Full disclosure, I didn't realize I had some thermal paste on my finger when handling the CPU, and ended up getting the teeniest amount on like 2 pins right on the edge. I got some isopropyl and a toothpick and cleaned it as best as I could, but I suppose it's possible there could be a few tiny flecks still on the pins somewhere. Could that be the culprit, or is that unlikely?

Is that temperature F or C?
120C is either impossible, or a faulty sensor.

The CPU actually won't let itself go over about 95C.

 

[clutchc]

If the above advice doesn't solve the issue, you may have to remove the CPU and clean off/replace the TIM from the CPU and cooler. Dabbing the pins gently with a q-tip dipped in cleaner may solve the pin problem.

 

[Nythrien]

50C seems a little high for idling in the bios, so there may be an issue with the cooling. But your chip is not going to 120C. It will throttle before it gets that hot to keep it from getting damaged.

There may be a problem with the program you are using to see the temp. Download Ryzen Master for your CPU and checkout your temps from there. It is an AMD program, so I would trust its reading a little bit more.

I'll put a bit more thermal paste on and download Ryzen Master. 120 seemed wild to me, I'm glad to hear that's not actually happening

I'll update with my results

 

[clutchc]

I built a new gamer recently for someone using the stock Wraith cooler. The thermal paste on the cooler was as dried out as if it had set on the shelf for 10 years. Temps weren't as high as yours, but they were out of range to what they should be. I had to use Arctic Cleaner to finally get the old stuff to come off it was so dried on. Don't add more TIM, clean the old off and replace it with fresh.

 

[Nythrien]

So I cleaned off the old TIM, reapplied with some Arctic brand stuff, and then let it idle in BIOS for about 10-15 minutes to see what temps I got. I was pleased at first when the initial temp read 40°C, but over the course of around 15 minutes it slowly climbed back up to 50°C. I only have two intake fans in the front of my case-- perhaps I dont have enough air flow? I'm pretty sure I have two (140mm I think?) fans laying around that I can mount at the top if need be.

Haven't messed with installing a different monitoring program yet, nor have I attempted the q-tip method for further cleaning the pins. Wanted to update after each step to make sure there isnt any confusion.

 

[Nythrien]

I built a new gamer recently for someone using the stock Wraith cooler. The thermal paste on the cooler was as dried out as if it had set on the shelf for 10 years. Temps weren't as high as yours, but they were out of range to what they should be. I had to use Arctic Cleaner to finally get the old stuff to come off it was so dried on. Don't add more TIM, clean the old off and replace it with fresh.

Funny enough, when I originally installed the cooler, i didnt realize how tough that paste was at first-- it actually ripped my CPU from the socket when I removed the cooler again. Scared the bejeezus outta me. Luckily it didnt bend any pins.

 

[Nythrien]

For the sake of testing all my options, I went ahead and installed the two extra fans in an intake configuration at the top of my case, and that seems to have brought my temps down to around 45-46°C while idling in BIOS. I feel like 4 intake fans plus a CPU fan should be getting me cooler than 45-46 though... I've ordered some cleaning solution, I'm gonna attempt to revisit the pins with a q-tip to make sure there isnt any TIM still on the pins that could be messing with my temps somehow.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

What are your temps under load? While idle temps can give a guestimate, there are other contributing factors in high idle temps (namely ambient temperature).

The CPU temps under load will show if there is an issue. Run Cinebench in window mode and leave Ryzen Master open and watch the temps while you run the CPU benchmark.

At 95C, the CPU will throttle to prevent damage. At stock, your CPU should not go above 80C while running the benchmark.

If it is above 80C, something is not right. Too much thermal paste can be just as bad as too little.

 

[clutchc]

Funny enough, when I originally installed the cooler, i didnt realize how tough that paste was at first-- it actually ripped my CPU from the socket when I removed the cooler again. Scared the bejeezus outta me. Luckily it didnt bend any pins.

That's the way the TIM was on the Wraith cooler I used. So dried out that I had to forcefully scrub the surfaces with Arctic Cleaner to get it all off. After replacing the TIM, temps were normal again. Somehow, the packaging system they use is letting the TIM dry out before it reaches the customer.

Temps in BIOS are not the best way to test thermals at idle. The CPU is at full clock. What are your new idle temps in Windows?

 

[Solandri]

Temps in BIOS are not the best way to test thermals at idle. The CPU is at full clock. What are your new idle temps in Windows?

This. To get the CPU into its full powersave idle states, you need to be running an OS, not the BIOS.

Also, what program are you using to measure temps in Windows? Try a different program. Some CPUs report their temp, others report a difference from a max temp, and others add an offset (add a fixed value to the actual temp). If your temp reporting program doesn't recognize the CPU or handles its temp reading incorrectly, it can report wrong temps or even the inverse temp (program reports it runs cooler under load than at idle). The Intel CPU temp readings are more universally supported. Most of the "wrong" temp readings are from people running AMD processors. It's not because there's something wrong with the processor, but because the temp reporting program hasn't been properly programmed for AMD processors.

 

[rubix_1011]

I would try removing the side of the case and using a desk or house fan on highest setting, aimed directly into the case.

Does this make any difference?