Question My idle temps are on average 60 C and I cannot get them lower

[Zphere]

As the title suggests, I have higher idle temps than what I would like and nothing I tried has helped. I have seen online that some people have their CPU at 50 C on average. Below, you will find a picture of my computer where you can see how my fans, etc. are configured. I recently replaced the thermal paste and used Artic Silver 5 as it is the only thing I have on hand. This really did not make significant difference in temps. Would I be better off getting a better thermal paste solution + a 280mm cooler or is the 240mm sufficient? Do you have any other recommendations for bringing these temps down?

I have also added a screenshot of my current fan curve. I have been messing around with this and (obviously) running them at 100% does get my temps down a few degrees but is very loud, all the time. Do you have any recommendations for this as well? I know this is subjective and everyone can have a different answer. But is there a rule of them to follow when creating a fan curve?

PC:

https://imgur.com/a/KdhDgHE

View: https://imgur.com/a/KdhDgHE

Fan Curve in L-Connect:

https://imgur.com/a/OzBBIRn

View: https://imgur.com/a/OzBBIRn


Specs:
----------------------
CPU: Ryzen 9 7950x3D
AIO: NZXT Kraken 240mm
Case Fans: Lian Li SL 120 x9 - 3 on bottom (Intake), 2 on side pulling air through rad (Intake), 3 on top (Exhaust), 1 on back (Exhaust)
Case: Lian Li O11 Mini

Temps:
---------------------
Avg Temp: 60.7 C
Liquid Temp: 41 C
Ambient Room Temp: I have no thermostat to give a accurate answer, however, thermostat on the wall indicates 85 F for the entire house

 

[Ralston18]

I counted 9 fans.

Plus CPU and GPU fans.

Could be that the airflows are being counterproductive. Airflows fighting each in strength and direction.

Update (edit/markup) the image to show fan air flow directions and fan airflow rates.

My thought is that the airflows may be conflicting and actually limiting the amount of cooling air going through the case.

More fans does not necessarily mean more cooling.

Plus if the ambient room/house temperarture is already 85 F. then the "cooling air" will be less able to carry away excess/exhaust heat. Double check the wall thermostat reading using other known working and accurate thermometers.

 

[Zphere]

https://imgur.com/a/PxXVaIw

View: https://imgur.com/a/PxXVaIw


Updated image with fan flow direction. Fan RPM/Rate is based on the curve shown in the original post. All fans are on the same curve.

I counted 9 fans.

Plus CPU and GPU fans.

Could be that the airflows are being counterproductive. Airflows fighting each in strength and direction.

Update (edit/markup) the image to show fan air flow directions and fan airflow rates.

My thought is that the airflows may be conflicting and actually limiting the amount of cooling air going through the case.

More fans does not necessarily mean more cooling.

Plus if the ambient room/house temperarture is already 85 F. then the "cooling air" will be less able to carry away excess/exhaust heat. Double check the wall thermostat reading using other known working and accurate thermometers.

 

[Zerk2012]

Is your pump running 100% all the time?

What is the CPU temp under full load?

 

[Zphere]

Is your pump running 100% all the time?

Yes, I set it to run at 100% consistently. Under load, temps range from 75-80 C

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

2 on side pulling air through rad (Intake)

rotate these so that the heated CPU air is exhausting out of the case.

the way it is setup all of the heated air is just pumping right back into the system.

3 on top (Exhaust)

i would also rotate the top-front & top-middle fans to be intake.
possibly even all 3 of them.

Would I be better off getting a better thermal paste solution + a 280mm cooler or is the 240mm sufficient?

a 240mm these days is usually recommended for very light usage systems that just want silence.

280mm can work, but you should expect louder noise for a gaming or other similar heavy usage system.

most newer higher-end CPUs require a 360mm AIO with some higher static pressure fans for a good balance of temperature and lower noise levels.

thermostat on the wall indicates 85 F for the entire house

this is very warm for an air conditioned house.

if you're in control of the thermostat,
i'd recommend ~76° minimum for overall comfort and to help some with electronic's temperatures.

 

[Ralston18]

And is that "doll" inside the case?

Originally I thought "the doll" was just a reflection from outside of the case; however, the marked up image is making me wonder....

 

[Zphere]

rotate these so that the heated CPU air is exhausting out of the case.

the way it is setup all of the heated air is just pumping right back into the system.

i would also rotate the top-front & top-middle fans to be intake.
possibly even all 3 of them.

a 240mm these days is usually recommended for very light usage systems that just want silence.

280mm can work, but you should expect louder noise for a gaming or other similar heavy usage system.

most newer higher-end CPUs require a 360mm AIO with some higher static pressure fans for a good balance of temperature and lower noise levels.

this is very warm for an air conditioned house.

if you're in control of the thermostat,
i'd recommend ~76° minimum for overall comfort and to help some with electronic's temperatures.

I will give those fan orientations a test run and see how it goes. I'll also look into getting a 280mm rad in the future if I am still not happy with the results.

 

[Zphere]

And is that "doll" inside the case?

Originally I thought "the doll" was just a reflection from outside of the case; however, the marked up image is making me wonder....

yes, it is inside the case

 

[Zphere]

I will give those fan orientations a test run and see how it goes. I'll also look into getting a 280mm rad in the future if I am still not happy with the results.

https://imgur.com/a/UgvB3hB

View: https://imgur.com/a/UgvB3hB


I just got around to trying the fan orientation you mentioned. Top fans are now all intake and radiator fans are now exhaust. Idle temps did drop a few degrees and I am now averaging about 57 C.

Unfortunately, I cannot do anything about the ambient temps in my room/house so the next best thing is probably a better cooler. Do you think a better thermal paste could also lower temps by a few more degrees? If so, do you think Thermal Grizzly is a good option?

 

[emitfudd]

https://imgur.com/a/UgvB3hB

View: https://imgur.com/a/UgvB3hB


I just got around to trying the fan orientation you mentioned. Top fans are now all intake and radiator fans are now exhaust. Idle temps did drop a few degrees and I am now averaging about 57 C.

Unfortunately, I cannot do anything about the ambient temps in my room/house so the next best thing is probably a better cooler. Do you think a better thermal paste could also lower temps by a few more degrees? If so, do you think Thermal Grizzly is a good option?

My idle temp with a 5900X is 41C. 57 is too high for idle. Something is off. My opinion, top fans should be set to exhaust. Heat rises. You are pushing all the heat in the case back down. Typically the CPU AIO would exhaust out the top of the case or be mounted at the front of the case as intake.

I would try leaving the bottom fans as intake, the 2 side fans as intake, leave the rear fan as exhaust and set the top 3 fans as exhaust. Having the 2 side fans on the AIO set as intake will draw in cool air and keep the CPU cooler than exhausting hot air through it.

You should try repasting. Grizzly is good. I used Noctua N2H2 last time I built a rig.

 

[Zphere]

My idle temp with a 5900X is 41C. 57 is too high for idle. Something is off. My opinion, top fans should be set to exhaust. Heat rises. You are pushing all the heat in the case back down. Typically the CPU AIO would exhaust out the top of the case or be mounted at the front of the case as intake.

I would try leaving the bottom fans as intake, the 2 side fans as intake, leave the rear fan as exhaust and set the top 3 fans as exhaust. Having the 2 side fans on the AIO set as intake will draw in cool air and keep the CPU cooler than exhausting hot air through it.

You should try repasting. Grizzly is good. I used Noctua N2H2 last time I built a rig.

I did actually switch them around again back to the way I had it (AIO Fans as intake, top as exhaust) and it honestly was about the same. However, it does make sense for the top fans to be exhaust lol.

I will order some new thermal paste and will give that a whirl. I do agree that 57 C for idle / low load is a little too high and I would ideally want it lower. Right now for example, the only applications I have open are Discord, a Browser window, HWiNFO 64, NZXT CAM, and L-Connect 3 and I am bouncing between 57- 64 C for Tclt/Tdie (give or take).

I will update once I have repasted. If you are anyone else has any other recommendations I would be glad to try them. Thanks!

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

However, it does make sense for the top fans to be exhaust lol.

the thermal dynamic rules of heat rising are only in a static environment.

with a high enough positive pressure in the case the cooler outside air brought in by the intake fans is pressing outwards in all directions evenly.

back to the way I had it (AIO Fans as intake

you do not want heat from the radiator being pushed into the case unless it is the only option.

this only makes all other interior components warmer(GPU, RAM, VRMs, etc).

If...anyone else has any other recommendations I would be glad to try them

your best option here would actually be;
install the AIO in the ceiling as exhaust,
2x side intake,
3x bottom intake,
1x rear intake.

another issue you are facing is that these SL120 fans have a very low pressure rating for their use at just over 2 mm\H20.
this makes it difficult for the fans to actually blow air through the radiator even at their max RPMs.
they aren't intended to be cooler mounted fans, more for general use without a big focus on performance.

even the AIO's included NZXT fans are better with closer to 3 mm\H20.

the best option though would be to get something like the Noctua NF-F12 for the AIO which vary from ~4 - 7.5 mm\H20 depending on the particular model.

but if you really were looking to spend more for a bigger cooler and/or different fans,
you're best bet would be to just get a higher quality 360mm AIO and install it in the ceiling.

 

[Zphere]

Hi, just a quick update! I repasted my CPU with thermal grizzly hydronaut and also added 2 more intake fans on the back side of the AIO. This has helped to dramatically lower temps. I am currently sitting at 49 C average according to HWiNFO. This also probably because it is a little colder this morning and ambient temperature is also down. However, new thermal paste + better airflow through AIO helped. Thanks for all the help!

 

[geofelt]

Your fan curve starts at zero.
To address idle temperatures, make the fan curve start at a higher number to begin with.
Perhaps 500 rpm which is all but inaudible.