[SOLVED] Super High CPU Temps With Low Usage ?

[Shoncay]

Specs
CPU: I5-10600k 4.1GHz
Cooler: MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus
Ram: 32GB 3200mhz corsair vengeance
Storage: 1TB ssd / 2TB hdd
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super
PSU : corsair 650w
Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid-Tower
OS: Windows 11

I've had this build (my first) for almost 1 year and everything has been running fine. I often play games on one monitor and watch youtube and have other programs open on another monitor, with CPU temps in the 50's/60's and GPU in the 70's under load. Never had any issues up until last week when I noticed my game (Black Ops 3) started stuttering really bad, and Chrome was not responding. I then noticed my fans were going crazy so I opened OpenHardwareMonitor and sure enough the CPU's clock speeds were fluctuating and temps on all cores were at 100°C. Interestingly, the usage was low (max core load was ~15% with rest <10%) and the GPU temp was 65°C which is slightly on the low end for my usual temps for gaming. I immediately closed everything and restarted the PC. Idle temps after restarting were in the mid 40's which is normal, but it was just when I loaded up any game did the CPU temp spike up to at least 80°C right away then made its way to 100 and stayed there, sometimes even after closing the game. For example, as soon as I load up Minecraft, the temps are at 100°C before the main menu screen even appears (other games dont reach 100°C this fast or even at all, but get close to this temp). Initially, I assumed it to be a cooler problem, but I've gone off this idea because I've cleaned it thoroughly and been monitoring pump and fan rpm (theres threads with a similar issue with responders believing it to be a cooler fault). The CPU had not been overclocked but the GPU's base speed was increased slightly. I did some searching around to find out why the CPU was acting up all of a sudden, which led me to performing the following:

• Reset PC with and without keeping local files as well as reinstalling windows
• Thorough clean of PC
• Adjusted cooler to another orientation that is supposedly better (cooler tubes on bottom going up to the CPU)
• Reseated CPU and removed/reapplied thermal paste
• Reset BIOS settings (optimized defaults)
• Changed power settings (processor power management max to 75%)
• Checked for latest drivers as well as malware and system health checks

A couple additional notes: after closing a game, the CPU's temp will drop down to around 50°C and stay there - seems games are the only programs that shoot the temp up like this, as Ive tested 3D and design software. It also shoots up to mid 70's after booting up windows which I dont recall it doing prior to last week. Also, occasionally I can load up a game like BO3 or FH5 and the CPU temps will stabilise in the 60's and only go up a little if I open another program, so there is some inconsistency with the temps there. For some reason Rocket League doesn't rise the temps.
I'm not an expert so I couldn't tell you whether its hardware or software related, and I also haven't been following power/voltage values however I don't think this is power related. The PC has good enough airflow,

The idea behind this build was to be reliable (as problemless as possible) , to handle modern games at 1080 60fps, and not break the bank. The parts were selected based on price and performance that was offered in my region. Its frustrating running into problems, but even more so when you can't figure out whats happening, especially when the PC was running fine under the same load. If no solutions are successful, I will need to take it to an expert that should be able to spot and hopefully fix the problem without costing another CPU.
Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated, and I'll try my best to respond to questions as fast as possible. Thank you!

 

[Phaaze88]

Cooler: MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R

A mix of design shortcoming with the Pump In Radiator, and possible poor QC.

Since you already did this: Adjusted cooler to another orientation that is supposedly better (cooler tubes on bottom going up to the CPU)
Replace cooler with something different. Don't bother with another Coreliquid R - you'll just see the same problem after some time.

 

[Shoncay]

\

A mix of design shortcoming with the Pump In Radiator, and possible poor QC.

Since you already did this: Adjusted cooler to another orientation that is supposedly better (cooler tubes on bottom going up to the CPU)
Replace cooler with something different. Don't bother with another Coreliquid R - you'll just see the same problem after some time.

Thanks for the reply! I'll give the cooler a better clean tomorrow and see if anything improves. If not, then I'll be on the market for a new cooler. Do you have any recommendations on reliable coolers or even fans if you think my system would benefit more from it? Also is it surprising for a cooler to only last 1 year? Would've thought they'd last longer.

 

[Phaaze88]

As I posted earlier, it appears to be a combo of the pump design and quality control. Their Coreliquid K and S series are actually legit - the OEM is Asetek, so you can't really go wrong there - they're pricey though.

I would suggest putting the largest air cooler that would fit in there. 240/280mm AIOs aren't that great in there due to the heavy front/side intake restrictions. The AIO's fans have trouble bringing lots of air through.
If you have to have an AIO - as long as you avoid the following models, you should be in a good spot:
Msi Coreliquid R/RH/C/P
Kraken M22
Fractal Design Lumen: these launched recently, so time will tell what the QC is like. The pump is in the radiator just like the models above though.




EDIT: If you mount a Pump In Radiator model at the top, you can't avoid exposing the pump to air in that configuration, so the pump will burn out faster.