Question CPU Temps Too High

[hummusnpita]

Hello,

Before attempting to re-apply thermal paste (something that makes me nervous) I wanted to validate that these temps are abnormal. System details are below, along with other things I've done to try to lower the temps. This is my first build. My questions are:

1. Am I right to be concerned with these temps?
2. Based on what I've done already, is removing the AOI and re-applying thermal paste (as a first-timer) the best next step or is there anything else I should try first?
3. I feel based on my set-up the temps should be lower on idle (30s-40s?) and never topping out higher than 80C even under max load (no OC). Are these reasonable expectations?

I don't seem to be getting max performance out of the processor. When I test using AMD Master it never reaches the 3.8GHz because (I assume) it's hitting 95C. I know my AOI isn't the best out there but I think I should be running cooler than this and while I don't really care to OC right now, I was expecting to be able to play around with that.

Idle temps are typically 60C-80C. When I do anything (launch a browser, for example) it jumps to 90+C and sometimes spikes over 100... This is with all fans on max and the pump for the AOI on max, too. For the time being, I've throttled the CPU in the hardware settings to 80%. Based on AMD Master, this seems to top out the clock speed at 2.99GHz but does keep the temps below or just around 90.

System Specs:
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor
NZXT Kraken X53 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB SC ULTRA GAMING Video Card
Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case
Corsair RM (2019) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply

 

[CountMike]

Hello,

Before attempting to re-apply thermal paste (something that makes me nervous) I wanted to validate that these temps are abnormal. System details are below, along with other things I've done to try to lower the temps. This is my first build. My questions are:

1. Am I right to be concerned with these temps?
2. Based on what I've done already, is removing the AOI and re-applying thermal paste (as a first-timer) the best next step or is there anything else I should try first?
3. I feel based on my set-up the temps should be lower on idle (30s-40s?) and never topping out higher than 80C even under max load (no OC). Are these reasonable expectations?

I don't seem to be getting max performance out of the processor. When I test using AMD Master it never reaches the 3.8GHz because (I assume) it's hitting 95C. I know my AOI isn't the best out there but I think I should be running cooler than this and while I don't really care to OC right now, I was expecting to be able to play around with that.

Idle temps are typically 60C-80C. When I do anything (launch a browser, for example) it jumps to 90+C and sometimes spikes over 100... This is with all fans on max and the pump for the AOI on max, too. For the time being, I've throttled the CPU in the hardware settings to 80%. Based on AMD Master, this seems to top out the clock speed at 2.99GHz but does keep the temps below or just around 90.

System Specs:
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor
NZXT Kraken X53 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB SC ULTRA GAMING Video Card
Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case
Corsair RM (2019) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply

Something definitely not right. It's may be tricky to install the pump so that's first place I would look at.
Please don't get offended but did you take off any stickers or other protection from either cooler or CPU ?
3000 series Ryzen get best performance boost up to 70c, at 90c it will severely throttle. That cooler should have no trouble achieving that. Idle temps should not go over 10c above ambient temps, being that with radiator installed as intake (room temp) or as exhaust (case temp).
Another thing to check for, if radiator is mounted in front or side as intake, hoses from pump should be on the bottom. In any case, pump should be under top level of the radiator.
Still other thing to check for is max voltage to CPU, some BIOS versions let it go wild, it should reach peek performance up to 1.3v or maybe a little more.
PS.
"AMD Master " = Ryzen Master ?

 

[hummusnpita]

Something definitely not right. It's may be tricky to install the pump so that's first place I would look at.
Please don't get offended but did you take off any stickers or other protection from either cooler or CPU ?
3000 series Ryzen get best performance boost up to 70c, at 90c it will severely throttle. That cooler should have no trouble achieving that. Idle temps should not go over 10c above ambient temps, being that with radiator installed as intake (room temp) or as exhaust (case temp).
Another thing to check for, if radiator is mounted in front or side as intake, hoses from pump should be on the bottom. In any case, pump should be under top level of the radiator.
Still other thing to check for is max voltage to CPU, some BIOS versions let it go wild, it should reach peek performance up to 1.3v or maybe a little more.
PS.
"AMD Master " = Ryzen Master ?

I won't get offended at any suggestions as I'm very new to all this.

I was very careful during install to read, re-read, re-re-read all the instructions on all components and doubt I missed pulling any protection off as my research had indicated that as a rookie mistake. The only way to tell for sure would be for me to re-do it, which I'm guessing is the next step.

The radiator is mounted to exhaust out of the top so the pump is def. under the radiator. I had understood this to be the best way.

I've looked at the voltages and they aren't getting up to 1.3v - I suspect this is because of the high temps and the CPU saving itself.

I'm guessing it's worth re-installing the AIO, then?

EDIT: yes - AMD Master = Ryzen Master
EDIT 2: AOI to AIO.

 

[TheBlindSquirrel]

I'm new to this too, but what I learned in my research was that your AIO should be connected to AIO header rather than CPU. The AIO pump will run at full speed not so on CPU. Once I did this my CPU temp came down.

Hope this helps.

 

[Phaaze88]

I'm new to this too, but what I learned in my research was that your AIO should be connected to AIO header rather than CPU. The AIO pump will run at full speed not so on CPU. Once I did this my CPU temp came down.

Hope this helps.

That's because the manufacturers set it at 100% in bios by default, the other headers aren't.
One can go into bios and set the speed of any header as needed.

 

[hummusnpita]

I'm new to this too, but what I learned in my research was that your AIO should be connected to AIO header rather than CPU. The AIO pump will run at full speed not so on CPU. Once I did this my CPU temp came down.

Hope this helps.

Ok so I double checked and the AIO pump is connected to the "Pump" header. While looking, I noticed that I had my rear exhaust fan connected to the CPU fan header so I put that into a SysFan header. This seems to have knocked everything down but still seems hot. I've reset the CPU power to 100%, ran a test and it's hitting 4GHz, 1.3+ volts and going over 90C but not hitting 95C.
I feel this is all still hot. Shouldn't it hitting those performance marks and staying below 70C? Or am I asking too much of my setup?
It's idling now in the high 30s/low 40s. Ambient temp is 18C.

 

[CountMike]

Ok so I double checked and the AIO pump is connected to the "Pump" header. While looking, I noticed that I had my rear exhaust fan connected to the CPU fan header so I put that into a SysFan header. This seems to have knocked everything down but still seems hot. I've reset the CPU power to 100%, ran a test and it's hitting 4GHz, 1.3+ volts and going over 90C but not hitting 95C.
I feel this is all still hot. Shouldn't it hitting those performance marks and staying below 70C? Or am I asking too much of my setup?
It's idling now in the high 30s/low 40s. Ambient temp is 18C.

Still way hot on load at least.
See in BIOS if "Pump header" is set to 100%, that helps mostly with idle temps.
If fans are connected where they should be (CPU_FAN) check in BIOS and try to set them manually to 100% speed, at least for testing. Or try setting it's curve so it hits full RPM at 70c.
Also touch radiator to see if it gets warmer than ambient temperature, liquid may not circulate properly. At this point it's not inconceivable that something may be wrong with cooler itself.

 

[hummusnpita]

Thanks! Will do. All the fan/pump headers are set to max. So I’ll check the radiator and then try re-connecting the AIO. Appreciate all the help.

 

[hummusnpita]

Ok, so I've reconnected the AIO. Confirmed that I didn't miss any protective coverings during the original install.
Results are generally the same, maybe a degree or two warmer which I'll chalk up to my first thermal pasting... I've asked about returning the AIO as I'm not really interested in tinkering with that should it be broken. I'm going to guess that's an uphill battle as it's 9months old at this stage.
Before I shell out for a replacement, just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions?
Huge thanks to everyone who's chimed in so far!

 

[octorad]

Ok, so I've reconnected the AIO. Confirmed that I didn't miss any protective coverings during the original install.
Results are generally the same, maybe a degree or two warmer which I'll chalk up to my first thermal pasting... I've asked about returning the AIO as I'm not really interested in tinkering with that should it be broken. I'm going to guess that's an uphill battle as it's 9months old at this stage.
Before I shell out for a replacement, just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions?
Huge thanks to everyone who's chimed in so far!

I'm having a similar problem but it's because I don't have the correct screw mounts for my second-hand AIO (or at least that's why I think I'm having a problem). Make sure you're using the correct screw mounts for the aio so the water block can make proper contact with CPU?

 

[hummusnpita]

I'm having a similar problem but it's because I don't have the correct screw mounts for my second-hand AIO (or at least that's why I think I'm having a problem). Make sure you're using the correct screw mounts for the aio so the water block can make proper contact with CPU?

Thanks for this. I'll check again the next time I pull it. I know I've used the mounts identified for AMD as I just double checked and the mount for Intel is sitting in the box. I'm hoping that means the AMD one is on the machine! The original thermal paste seemed to have reasonable coverage on the CPU when I pulled it, too. I'm guessing there's a problem with the cooler itself but can't find anything online about troubleshooting that. Not too sure I'd want to venture into trying to fix it anyways...

 

[hummusnpita]

Hi Everyone - update three months later on this. I ended up pulling the AIO and replacing with a stock AMD cooler and boom - temps were fine. This lead to an RMA and now I have a replacement X53 waiting for me to install it.
Wondering what thoughts are on removing the thermal paste that comes pre-applied with the cooler or if I should just leave it?

 

[CountMike]

Hi Everyone - update three months later on this. I ended up pulling the AIO and replacing with a stock AMD cooler and boom - temps were fine. This lead to an RMA and now I have a replacement X53 waiting for me to install it.
Wondering what thoughts are on removing the thermal paste that comes pre-applied with the cooler or if I should just leave it?

NZXT supplies decent paste.