Intel i5-7600k Idle at 55-60c?

[sodonoghue95]

Hey, I built this PC around august 2017 and have had usual idle temps of 35-45c but after a recent update my cpu temps have been idling at 55-60c. Ive read this is what people are suppose to get under load so im worried somethings going pretty wrong here.

When running games before this update like witcher 3, Ark and No Mans Sky temps would usually reach around low to mid 70s.

 

[shag00]

Well that's certainly much higher than you would want. I was curious though what it was you updated.

 

[sodonoghue95]

MSI live update told me I had two MB Driver updates, Intel Chipset Drivers and Intel ME Drivers

What I have also noticed in command center the CPU frequency is staying a consistent 4000MHz and before it use to idle around 800MHz and jump once and a while to 4000. I haven't changed any settings anywhere which is why i'm confused.

 

[geofelt]

I would expect any cpu to idle around 10-15c. over ambient.

Likely, your cpu cooler has been dislodged and needs to be reseated.

 

[shag00]

MB driver updates are very unlikely to have warmed up your CPU and your rig is only 4 months old. This would suggest that you have improperly installed the cooling system, whether it be air or water. As the temps are mid range you still have some cooling but it's not cooling at full capacity. As geofelt said above check the firmness of the cooler interface to the CPU. I also need ask whether you used thermal paste as the interface between the cooler base plate and the CPU and did you apply it correctly?

 

[sodonoghue95]

I also need ask whether you used thermal paste as the interface between the cooler base plate and the CPU and did you apply it correctly?

Managed to get it back down but still running idle at 40c. Yeah, applied the paste in a decent amount when installing but it was the stuff that came with the cooler, I might end up replacing it with some new better paste cause Id expect lower temps than that. Cooler is a Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120.

 

[geofelt]

It is a mistake to use lots of paste.
It will act as an insulator.
The purpose of paste is to fill in microscopic pits in the mating surfaces.
A small rice sized drop in the middle of the cpu die will spread out under heat and pressure.
It is very hard to use too little.

Yes, tere are differences of a few degrees with different pastes, but really what you have will do just fine.