Question CPU cooling issue in an SFF case ?

[carthrottle_fan]

Hey guys!

So I am running a SFF PC with some space constraints (which I will get to in a bit), and I have been noticing some CPU temps that I am not happy with.

For context, my PC is currently sitting at high 60s - low 70s but under load it performs decently enough. I am running the CPU at -20mv CO offset via the in-built bios config, with a TJMax set to 85c. In Cinebench R24, the CPU hits that temp quite quickly, however clock wise doesn't seem terrible with an all-core clock hovering at around 4.3 ghz.

However, I mentioned there is a particular space limitation. Basically, my PC is sitting in an opening of a tall cabinet next to me, with all but the left side (the one with the GPU, currently running the mesh side panel) having access to a direct, unobstructed path of air. This setup will unfortunately have to stay as-is, and I can't do any modifications to that could damage said cabinet (like drilling into it). These are the relevant specs, as well as a drawing showcasing this "unique" space config:

- Ryzen 7700x @ -20mv all core CO with PBO enabled and 85c TJMax
- CoolerMaster NR200P v2 Max
- Kingston 64GB KF560C30BBK2-64, 6000 MT/s CL30-36-36 @1.4V
- ASRock B650i Lightning WiFi, latest BIOS at 3.20
- Gigabyte RTX 4070 Eagle OC
- CoolerMaster 280mm AIO (came with the case, part of the Max bundle) set to exhaust up top
- 1 * 120mm Arctic P12 PST fan, intake on bottom
- 1 * 120mm IDCooling NO-12015-NXT slim fan, also intake on bottom

This is how the PC looks like now, in said cabinet viewed from its left side (edit: link uploading doesnt seem to work, will respond via first comment with it)

Problem is that this seems to have come with a performance penalty, as in Cinebench I get 840 as a score which is quite the far cry from the 1100+ this CPU normally should score, according to other users. However, my GPU is somehow performing really well temps wise, with it hovering at 37c and with the GPU test in R24 it hovered at 50-54 with a brief spike at 64c.

If I remove PBO (even with the negative offset) there is a definite decrease in temps, but also in performance. Also, another thing which helped was changing my full exhaust initial config to one with the bottom fans on intake.

What should I do to improve my situation?
Thank you!

 

[carthrottle_fan]

(this is the left side view, with the back being farther from the wall than the front)

 

[thestryker]

I'm guessing the 85C tjmax (stock being 95C) is what's causing you issues. That CPU should generally be at 5GHz+ at most times when under load.

If there are any openings in this cabinet you could use a USB fan (or two) to help clear out the hot air from AIO exhaust.

 

[carthrottle_fan]

I'm guessing the 85C tjmax (stock being 95C) is what's causing you issues. That CPU should generally be at 5GHz+ at most times when under load.

If there are any openings in this cabinet you could use a USB fan (or two) to help clear out the hot air from AIO exhaust.

Besides that, is there anything I can try? Maybe BIOS tweaks, or maybe change again the fan config?

The PC is quite quiet in regular use, it has some brief spikes of fans but I hate leaving performance I paid for on the table...

 

[thestryker]

Besides that, is there anything I can try? Maybe BIOS tweaks, or maybe change again the fan config?

You can check the CPU power consumption under load in Cinebench. I'm betting it's not getting to around the 125-135W it should. If it's not the answer is likely raising the tjmax back up to where it should be. Zen 4 is designed to run up to 95C to maximize performance and most of them are going to hit that under all core load unless you have very good cooling.

 

[carthrottle_fan]

You can check the CPU power consumption under load in Cinebench. I'm betting it's not getting to around the 125-135W it should. If it's not the answer is likely raising the tjmax back up to where it should be. Zen 4 is designed to run up to 95C to maximize performance and most of them are going to hit that under all core load unless you have very good cooling.

Will check that and come back with an update

 

[geofelt]

Can you supply a photo of your work space.
Possibly you could locate the pc case some distance from the monitor.
There are remote front panel extension cables that can go quite a long way.
This, for example can be 2 M away:
https://www.amazon.com/MEIRIYFA-Com...fix=front+panel+extension+long,aps,136&sr=8-4

 

[carthrottle_fan]

Can you supply a photo of your work space.
Possibly you could locate the pc case some distance from the monitor.
There are remote front panel extension cables that can go quite a long way.
This, for example can be 2 M away:
https://www.amazon.com/MEIRIYFA-Computer-External-Extension-Motherboard/dp/B0DF72G3GR/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1D7BQ89EHHZ80&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W-us5oxzp0zGjqRko8PLWWFiowo6CJwuTfPVGV27fCMj4z6XqZgzs9BUYqK40fbDAYwUfaOJ4UlEqhIHp3qToqNtQBCk0l0mf46mJVOsMZpEx1wjdSS2I7zV7BDPF6LYdb80h_bX6vPyK-vTbhVwEpFHbURi_PiMfaMSqZR49XgWXgrwdUzI9t5UL8PJfYGTj2aiXays_mZ13FSH2hoChM35W8Vj1cp9kxpez3RbIfY.fRIeyiCMxiymejC8oPRoy98T-mueoD4DKmx0SShSC8o&dib_tag=se&keywords=front+panel+extension+long&qid=1747427596&sprefix=front+panel+extension+long,aps,136&sr=8-4

Unfortunately it's not a cable distance problem. I have pretty much maxxed out the space I have with this setup. Can't move it on the left, as I need that table space for studying/eating

 

[geofelt]

Do you have a budget?
You are doing well with what you have.
Is gaming performance ok?
Are you looking for cinebench bragging rights?

 

[LordVile]

Unfortunately it's not a cable distance problem. I have pretty much maxxed out the space I have with this setup. Can't move it on the left, as I need that table space for studying/eating

Up the TJmax back to stock and let the chip perform as intended. Another option would be to put the monitor on an arm with the PC underneath it

 

[carthrottle_fan]

Do you have a budget?
You are doing well with what you have.
Is gaming performance ok?
Are you looking for cinebench bragging rights?

Haha thanks, appreciate the compliment
Honestly I don't game that much, I mainly use it for work like AI tasks so perhaps GPU performance should be the thing I am interested in most, and that is really good at 56c under load. I used Cinebench more as a tool to gauge performance, to see if I don't leave anything off the table for the money I paid for these parts

 

[carthrottle_fan]

Up the TJmax back to stock and let the chip perform as intended. Another option would be to put the monitor on an arm with the PC underneath it

I see it's not visible in the pic, but the monitor has a shelf on its left side which stops it from going any higher. Also tbh I would fill up too much of the table depth-wise.

I will try some tests again with the standard TJ Max when I have some time to tinker with it. Will get back with an update soon

 

[geofelt]

Cinebench and other benchmarks stress the cpu by running all of your 16 threads full out.
That is what generates lots of heat.
Normal work might us half those threads off and on.
Run task manager performance tab.
Select logical processor view.
After running a while you can see the pattern of cpu usage
Many tasks are dependent on one single master thread for performance.
Another quick test you can run is the cpu-Z bench.
For a 7700X, here is what others have found both single thread and all threads:
https://valid.x86.fr/bench/qaly6e

 

[LordVile]

I see it's not visible in the pic, but the monitor has a shelf on its left side which stops it from going any higher. Also tbh I would fill up too much of the table depth-wise.

I will try some tests again with the standard TJ Max when I have some time to tinker with it. Will get back with an update soon

Thing is with an arm is you can bring the monitor further out or to the left and have it at an angle. You’d be losing maybe 3” of desk space