Idle CPU a little too hot?

Rye Fez

Honorable
Jun 22, 2013
2
0
10,510
Hi all,

I was recently checking my CPU temps after building my new pc and I noticed that my CPU idles at around 45 to 56° C. Is that a lot? My last pc only hit 60° while either gaming or doing 3D work. I have an Intel 4770k being watercooled by a Corsair h100i.

One thing to mention though, when I was building my pc, I had barely placed my CPU cooler on before realizing my screws were a little loose. So I took it off to tighten the screws. I noticed that I left some of the thermal paste on the CPU and I was wondering if perhaps I may have messed up my thermal paste. Thanks!
 
You typically replace the thermal paste every time you take the heatsink off. So you might want to try to re apply your thermal paste. With temps like that with an air cooler that would be nothing big, but since you have to 100I that is warmer than it should be. What is your core clock speed?