Weak CPU performance caused by heat?

[Michkel_1]

Hi, I recently started noticing worse performance when playing video games. As my GPU (GTX 970), RAM and drives seem to work alright, I figured my CPU (Intel core i7 - 2700k) might be the problem.
I ran a benchmark of the entire system on userbenchmark.com with the following result: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/4649755
As you can see, the CPU scored way below what it should...
Furthermore I ran the intel processor diagnostics tool, which basically told me that I needed to check the thermal paste - Which I reapplied as recently as mere days ago. Weirdly enough, using SpeedFan it seems that CPU temperatures aren't worryingly high...
What do you all make of this? Should I try to reapply the thermal paste again?

 

[jaslion]

Hi, I recently started noticing worse performance when playing video games. As my GPU (GTX 970), RAM and drives seem to work alright, I figured my CPU (Intel core i7 - 2700k) might be the problem.
I ran a benchmark of the entire system on userbenchmark.com with the following result: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/4649755
As you can see, the CPU scored way below what it should...
Furthermore I ran the intel processor diagnostics tool, which basically told me that I needed to check the thermal paste - Which I reapplied as recently as mere days ago. Weirdly enough, using SpeedFan it seems that CPU temperatures aren't worryingly high...
What do you all make of this? Should I try to reapply the thermal paste again?

What are the temps?

 

[nitinvaid20]

Whats your CPU TEMP?

 

[Michkel_1]

What are the temps?

Core temps around 40 degrees celsius when idle, rising to about maximum 50 when gaming.

 

[nitinvaid20]

Temp are perfectly fine

 

[jaslion]

What are the temps?

Core temps around 40 degrees celsius when idle, rising to about maximum 50 when gaming.

Unless you have an insane cooler on it that doesn't sound right.

 

[Michkel_1]

Unless you have an insane cooler on it that doesn't sound right.

Stock cooler, running at around 1300 RPM. The numbers are from about 20 minutes of playing fallout 4 on low settings.

 

[BringerOfTea]

ahh back when they shipped K processors with stock cooolers... good times

 

[jaslion]

Unless you have an insane cooler on it that doesn't sound right.

Stock cooler, running at around 1300 RPM. The numbers are from about 20 minutes of playing fallout 4 on low settings.

Install cpu-z and see if it runs at full speed whilst gaming as an i7 is supposed to almost overheat on stock coolers but yours stays super chill.

 

[Michkel_1]

Install cpu-z and see if it runs at full speed whilst gaming as an i7 is supposed to almost overheat on stock coolers but yours stays super chill.

GPU-Z says core clock is around 1600 MHz. I overclocked the CPU to run at 4GHz in the BIOS, but I'm not sure about how multipliers work, so not sure if this is alright?

 

[jaslion]

Install cpu-z and see if it runs at full speed whilst gaming as an i7 is supposed to almost overheat on stock coolers but yours stays super chill.

GPU-Z says core clock is around 1600 MHz. I overclocked the CPU to run at 4GHz in the BIOS, but I'm not sure about how multipliers work, so not sure if this is alright?

Use the intel burn in test that comes with th diagnostic tool and see if it gets too 4ghz.

 

[Michkel_1]

Use the intel burn in test that comes with th diagnostic tool and see if it gets too 4ghz.

Couldn't find the "burn in test", but the frequency test yielded the following results:
Expected CPU Frequency is -- 3.50
---Detected CPU Frequency is -- 3.51009

Expected Base Clock -- 100 MHz
Detected Base Clock -- 100.288 MHz

CPU Frequency Test Passed

Also the CPU load test fails, suggesting I check the processor thermal solution.

 

[geofelt]

I suspect you have a heat problem.
A cpu will reduce its multiplier or even shut down if temperatures get too high. 100c should shut down.

What is your ambient temperature.
I would expect to see 10-15c. over ambient if your cooler is doing its job.
I think you are not far off from that.
The stock cooler can be tricky to mount.
Check the back of your motherboard to see that all 4 pushpins are equally through and locked.
There should be no wiggle if you nudge the cooler.

Any cooler needs a source of fresh air to do its job.
How is your case cooling? Particularly intake?
Do you do better if you remove the case covers and direct a house fan at the innards.

Do not be alarmed if a test shows you in the 23% percentile. Those who submit tests will usually be using overclocked processors.

If you have 160mm height available for a cooler, spend $35 for a tower type cooler with a 120mm fan.
At the very least, you will have a quieter pc.
I like the scythe kotetsu, here is a review:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1391-page1.html

 

[jaslion]

Use the intel burn in test that comes with th diagnostic tool and see if it gets too 4ghz.

Couldn't find the "burn in test", but the frequency test yielded the following results:
Expected CPU Frequency is -- 3.50
---Detected CPU Frequency is -- 3.51009

Expected Base Clock -- 100 MHz
Detected Base Clock -- 100.288 MHz

CPU Frequency Test Passed

Also the CPU load test fails, suggesting I check the processor thermal solution.

Something tells me the temp sensor is busted and reporting the wrong temps.

 

[Michkel_1]

Update: Did some more scanning around on the internet and after I suspected Win 10 might somehow be at fault I found a setting in MS config to enable more cores on the CPU.... Of course, I was running tests on one core instead of 8. Changing this totally rid me off my problem!
Thanks to everyone who replied, your help was much abliged