[SOLVED] High CPU Temps

[ajpiper97]

My CPU ranges between 40-60C while idle and 60-80C while gaming. I've reseated and reapplied thermal paste several times and have good cable management in my case. Two case fans in the front, one in back, and one on top. I also get random restarts while gaming, not sure if this is linked to CPU getting too hot or evidence of a bigger issue. I've already ordered a better CPU cooler to replace the stock, but reaching 80C shouldn't restart my system so I'm worried the problem will persist. Specs below.

Ryzen 5 3600
RTX 2070S
16GB RAM
EVGA 550W PSU
Stock CPU Cooler

 

[Phaaze88]

Those idle temps and spikes are normal with the stock cooler, but which EVGA 550w? There are multiple: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/power-supply/#m=14&A=550000000000
Either:
-your current psu isn't up to the task
-there's a memory defect
-or Windows driver corruption, after which I'll ask, "If this was an upgrade and not a fresh build, did you reinstall Windows?"

 

[ajpiper97]

Apologies, full PSU info below

EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G2, 80+ GOLD 550W Fully Modular

I upgraded several components. Mobo, CPU, and GPU. I did not reinstall Windows.

Side note: I was looking through the BIOS settings and CPU clock speed was set to AUTO and fluctuating between 3.6 and 4.1 causing my CPU to heat up. Setting the ratio to 36.0 seems to have fixed the CPU heating issue, I'll have to wait and see if the restarts are still occurring. CPU temps are now 30-40C idle and 45-60C gaming. Weird that the mobo seems to be set to OC on default, doesn't seem right.

 

[Phaaze88]

No, that's the NATURE of Ryzen 3000; it's very 'bursty'. Leave it alone - in fact, reset that static frequency you set, it performs better without that.

Since you did not reinstall Windows, that is where I would start. Backup or X-fer your important data before doing it.
When doing a major hardware change - especially the motherboard - the OS doesn't always do a smooth transition of the drivers and registry files, and that's when 'hiccups' can come in.

 

[ajpiper97]

No, that's the NATURE of Ryzen 3000; it's very 'bursty'. Leave it alone - in fact, reset that static frequency you set, it performs better without that.

Since you did not reinstall Windows, that is where I would start. Backup or X-fer your important data before doing it.
When doing a major hardware change - especially the motherboard - the OS doesn't always do a smooth transition of the drivers and registry files, and that's when 'hiccups' can come in.

I will make sure to do a reinstall of Windows.

Regarding the CPU, could you explain that point a little more? I seem to get relatively the same performance with a static value with lower temps and am not looking to overclock. If the temps are reaching 65-80C while fluctuating clock speed but only about max 65C with static why even let it auto?

 

[Phaaze88]

Credit goes to @drea.drechsler for this quote:
In a modern multi-tasking OS like Windows 10 there many different processes and threads running with many of them constantly asking the CPU to 'DO SOMETHING'. It may be small, but the sooner the CPU can get it done it can throw the core into a deep-sleep state, essentially turning it off, and conserve energy. Zen2 chips do this as often as once every milllisecond.

Second: the processor scales clock on temperature and will always use the highest clock speed it can muster for the temperature. So when one of those little tasks asks for attention Windows' scheduler will throw the thread on an idle core. If cool enough the Zen boosting algorithm immediately boosts to max rated clock, then pulls back as the core gets warm and usually drops away because most likely it's finished in 40 or 50 milliseconds. [End quote]

You may not notice a difference in that time frame, but a benchmark would.

 

[ajpiper97]

Credit goes to @drea.drechsler for this quote:
In a modern multi-tasking OS like Windows 10 there many different processes and threads running with many of them constantly asking the CPU to 'DO SOMETHING'. It may be small, but the sooner the CPU can get it done it can throw the core into a deep-sleep state, essentially turning it off, and conserve energy. Zen2 chips do this as often as once every milllisecond.

Second: the processor scales clock on temperature and will always use the highest clock speed it can muster for the temperature. So when one of those little tasks asks for attention Windows' scheduler will throw the thread on an idle core. If cool enough the Zen boosting algorithm immediately boosts to max rated clock, then pulls back as the core gets warm and usually drops away because most likely it's finished in 40 or 50 milliseconds. [End quote]

You may not notice a difference in that time frame, but a benchmark would.

That's all well and good, and I understand that process, but for whatever reason my PC is not handling the "boosts to max rated clock, then pulls back as the core gets warm" aspect. I'm not sure if that's the CPU, CPU cooler, or motherboard settings, but the temps are reaching high degrees and my PC is restarting, but I may be making the mistake of connecting those two issues.

I guess at this point the next step would be to leave that ratio to AUTO, fresh install of Windows and see if the restarts persist. If they don't, should I be worried about these temps? 35-60C idle and 60-80C gaming seems too high.

 

[Phaaze88]

Those temps are normal for the stock cooler, believe it or not. AMD only really designed it to be 'adequate', and nothing more. Crazy as it sounds, it's still stronger than the old Intel stock coolers!
If you'd like to get lower temps, lower noise, and higher boost clocks, then a new cooler is in order.

 

[Phaaze88]

I agree that making the connection of current cpu temps and restarts is a mistake.

 

[ajpiper97]

That makes sense, it is only stock. Alrighty, I’ll give it a fresh Windows install and see if the restarts persist. Thanks for the info, I’ll mark one of your replies as answer.