Question i7 14700k Temps too high

[SteveBeast]

i7 14700k
Rtx 4070
Win 11
32 GB RAM
AIO: Kraken X63 280mm
bequiet pure base 500dx case

Hello

I’ve noticed that my CPU temperature averages between 40–55°C when idle. While gaming (e.g., playing COD Black Ops 6), it typically averages around 70°C, but I occasionally see spikes up to 85°C. These spikes aren’t very frequent, but they do happen.

Are these temperatures too high? Could the spikes to 85°C damage my CPU in the long run?

I recently replaced the thermal paste, but the temps haven’t improved much. My cooler is only 3 years old—could it be failing? Or is it time to consider upgrading to a new AIO cooler?

 

[ilukey77]

OK, but that's exactly how my setup is: the pump head is positioned below the top of the radiator, and the tubes are at the bottom. So, what’s the issue?

all good i just mount them the other way around

 

[SteveBeast]

all good i just mount them the other way around

thanks.

I just opened MSI Afterburner and the highest temp it recorded was 95 Degrees Celsius. I cant find when it happened on the curve, I dont know what to do anymore honestly.

 

[Darkbreeze]

flip the rad around to start the pump head shouldnt be higher than where the tubes connect to the rad ..

Thats not going to help with temps but help the AIO as whole last longer !!

Also where is the aio pump fan connector connected to ?

cpu header or aio pump header on your mobo?

The reason i ask is usually the fan headers on most mobos are at the top and top right of the mobo yet i cant see from the pics anything plugged into them !

No. Wrong. The OP has it configured correctly for where the radiator is.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbGomv195sk



Right now I'm not sure what is going on. What kind of profile do you have your radiator and case fans set to? What is the input source set to for each specific fan in the BIOS and also is it a custom curve or a preset?

 

[beyondlogic]

OK, but that's exactly how my setup is: the pump head is positioned below the top of the radiator, and the tubes are at the bottom. So, what’s the issue?

your rigs fine apart from maybe turn the fans the other way around your pulling air threw the radiator personally if you could get the radiator in the top and turn the fans the other way around it be better.

then you can use the front as intake. which will give all the components more colder air

 

[Phaaze88]

Im using nzxt cam with a quiet profile.

Hey, maybe this is it?
I'm not too familiar with CAM and iCUE(I've avoided NZXT and Corsair coolers), but don't those profiles control both fans AND THE PUMP? AIO pumps are already weak as is, so they should be run at max - or very close to it.
You can run the pump separately from the fans and max it out, right?

 

[Darkbreeze]

your rigs fine apart from maybe turn the fans the other way around your pulling air threw the radiator personally if you could get the radiator in the top and turn the fans the other way around it be better.

then you can use the front as intake. which will give all the components more colder air

Actually, aside from the potential for minimally higher graphics card temperatures, front mounted radiator is the MOST efficient for whatever device the cooler is connected to. You can't cool the CPU any better than with front mounted radiator because you're using the coldest air possible. The ONLY issue, and generally it's not an issue, you could encounter, would be the heat from the AIO potentially raising the air temp that your graphics card is trying to cool with and usually that's something that has only a nominal effect. Otherwise, you will not see any improvement on your CPU temps by moving the AIO to the top. None.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Hey, maybe this is it?
I'm not too familiar with CAM and iCUE(I've avoided NZXT and Corsair coolers), but don't those profiles control both fans AND THE PUMP? AIO pumps are already weak as is, so they should be run at max - or very close to it.
You can run the pump separately from the fans and max it out, right?

Right. That was my next thought was maybe this is a situation where they do not have the pump running at full speed like it should be. Fans can be configured correctly but if pump isn't, cooling isn't going to be optimal. I hate CAM which is at least part of why I can't stand NZXT and their products. And I've used plenty of their products.

 

[beyondlogic]

ive only just noticed and had to check but the aio isnt connected to the fan pump header which are at the top so what is it connected to ?

 

[SteveBeast]

@Darkbreeze

Currently, I have my NZXT Cam profile set to Performance, which controls both the RGB and fan settings.

• The radiator (RAD) fans and the two exhaust fans are set to Performance.
• The pump head is running at 100% speed, set to "Liquid" mode, meaning it operates at maximum capacity.
• All the fans are linked to the CPU temperature, following this performance curve:
  • 50% speed until the CPU reaches ~35°C
  • 80% speed at 50°C
  • 100% speed at 60°C

Despite this curve, I’m still experiencing temperature spikes up to 85°C, and the cooling performance isn't noticeably better compared to the Quiet profile.

The main issue is that running the pump head at 100% is noticeably noisy, and the fans in Performance mode add even more noise.

@beyondlogic

What do you mean? The AIO is connected to CPU Fan I think.

 

[beyondlogic]

@Darkbreeze

Currently, I have my NZXT Cam profile set to Performance, which controls both the RGB and fan settings.

• The radiator (RAD) fans and the two exhaust fans are set to Performance.
• The pump head is running at 100% speed, set to "Liquid" mode, meaning it operates at maximum capacity.
• All the fans are linked to the CPU temperature, following this performance curve:
  • 50% speed until the CPU reaches ~35°C
  • 80% speed at 50°C
  • 100% speed at 60°C

Despite this curve, I’m still experiencing temperature spikes up to 85°C, and the cooling performance isn't noticeably better compared to the Quiet profile.

The main issue is that running the pump head at 100% is noticeably noisy, and the fans in Performance mode add even more noise.

@beyondlogic

What do you mean? The AIO is connected to CPU Fan I think.

there are 3 fan headers at the top i believe the 1 in the middle is specificly for the pump check the manual.