i7 4790k Intel Extreme Tuning Utility Results

PCFreak123 · Jan 13, 2015

Hello Everybody,

So I downloaded the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility and let it run on my 2nd monitor while I played CS:GO or WoW....on idle it is at about 35-42C but as soon as I open Wow or CS:GO Tuning Utility reports 99c CPU temp constant. I can play for hours and the PC does not shut down or anything and both games run smooth. Is this an issue I need to take action for? I am using the stock CPU cooler and I am not overclocked at all.

Any info would help please.

Thank You.

nukemaster · Jan 13, 2015

You could try something like HWmonitor to backup these findings. If it is getting that hot, you should look into the cause(bad heatsink contact or failed fan being the common ones.).

PCFreak123 · Jan 13, 2015

Hi Nuke,

I have HwMonitor should I look at the value, max or min row?

PCFreak123 · Jan 13, 2015

Scratch that question. I found out. But can I ask you of that indeed is the temp how does everything stay running smooth and computer not shut off?

iamlegend · Jan 13, 2015

You need to very first if the findings are accurate or not. You might damage your system if you continue to use it with that temps.

PCFreak123 · Jan 13, 2015

iamlegend :

Okay I just verified....and it is indeed the same high temperature in HWmonitor. I took off case cover and fan seems to be working fine, maybe the thermal paste I put was not enough?

But what is driving me crazy is that good thing I randomly just checked this today....but I have been gaming for at least about a few weeks now and it probably has been running this hot, how come everything runs smooth though and the computer does not turn off or something like it is suppose to?

nukemaster · Jan 13, 2015

It will not turn off until 105 in many cases(motherboard monitoring is also generally much cooler so it will not see 99c). Depending on how demanding the program you may not see the performance drop.

Touch that heatsink and see if it is hot, if it is not burning hot chances are the thermal past has to be redone.

When the cpu was new the cooler should have had pre applied paste all you needed to do was install it.

If you have access to the back side of the board you may be able to see if the pins are pushed and locked properly even a single one that has not made it all the way past the board to lock can cause this. I would try that first because once you remove(99% isopropyl alcohol and q-tips or cotton pads. Just clean the cpu in the socket instead of removing it. less chance of damage to the board) the cooler you will need to clean and reinstall new thermal paste for sure.

PCFreak123 · Jan 14, 2015

@ Nuke

I will double check the pins momentarily. Also yes I bought the cpu brand new and the cooler did have a lil paste pre applied but I still put just a little on the cpu was that no good? Was the little bit on cpu fan suppose to be enough ? Also do you think the stock cooler is suppose to be enough and keep temps lower or is the stock one that crappy? I will re apply if I have to as you suggest with cpu still in? But why does taking it out risk damaging? U sayin as in dropping? Thx for all help sorry for all questions im like a concerned parent lol put this together for my son. Just want everything to be right and such high temps had me like :-0

iamlegend · Jan 14, 2015

You are doing fine brother, just relax.

I would recommend getting an aftermarket CPU for an i7 because it runs hot. Just clean the top of the CPU and the contact area of the Cooler with Isopropyl alcohol and re-set it. Also make sure you have a good air flow in your case.

nukemaster · Jan 14, 2015

The stock cooler is designed to keep the cpu within the thermal limits at stock speeds. You should not have to swap it out, but systems under very heavy load for long periods of time or people who want lower temperatures/noise will often get an aftermarket cooler.

My brothers system has an aftermarket cooler because I know it will be long between cleanings so even clogged with dust his system will not overheat. So that is another reason for aftermarket coolers.

A properly maintained stock system can run fine for years on stock cooling.

You should not have added thermal paste because Intel had the perfect amount applied. If you are sure the cooler was mounted right, then you should clean and try again with new paste to see if it gets better.

My reason for recommending leaving the cpu on the board is because on LGA based systems the pins(if you can call them that) and on the board and not the cpu. Many users have bent these pins with the cpu out of the system and motherboard makers will NOT warranty this for any reason. As long as you are careful taking out the cpu and not letting anything fall on those pins, no harm will happen(the cpu is still delicate, but not something that will just fall apart on you.). I feel better just not having people take out LGA cpus unless they have to.

PCFreak123 · Jan 14, 2015

nukemaster :

Well everything on the stock cooler was okay and the pins were in properly....but I still decided to take off the stock cooler and see whats up...the thermal paste was spread but I wanna say about 1/4 of the cpu square was not covered. So I completely cleaned off the CPU and just went and bout the cooler master 212 EVO...now everything that I was running that would make the computer go to 99c stays at about 45-55c max. So obviously big difference. But I still would like to know was 1/4 not covered a big deal? Or applying additional paste on the CPU when I first bought it still Intel has right amount?

iamlegend · Jan 14, 2015

After removing the stock cooler you will find a circle of thermal paste marked in the CPU. If you did not see the circle mark then your cooler was not properly made.

nukemaster · Jan 14, 2015

The cpu square you are describing is heat spreader. Under that is the actual core. The core is smaller than the heat spreader so not having paste on the outer edges will not hurt anything and the stock cooler does not even touch it all.

At least your temps look in specs now.

PCFreak123 · Jan 15, 2015

iamlegend :

Not properly made as in it wasnt properly applied from the factory (the thermal paste) or hardware wise? Do you think it had to do with me adding my own though?

PCFreak123 · Jan 15, 2015

nukemaster :

So are you in the same boat as Legend? Do you think I caused this issue by adding my own paste on top of what came stock on the cooler? Just very weird for that to reach that high on stock I know.

iamlegend · Jan 15, 2015

Given the circumstances, it is safe to say that you influenced the result of the temperature reading by applying additional thermal paste. The thermal paste preapplied in the cooler is intel`s standard. By the way, don`t mind it so much for as long as you solved the problem.

The only thing you did not experience performance issues is you are still in the thermal threshold, on the higher side though.

Enjoy your new cooler.

nukemaster · Jan 15, 2015

PCFreak123 :

Thermal paste is just to fill the very small imperfections in the heatsink/head spreader. It is not nearly as heat conductive as metal to metal contact so too much will actually start to insulate a part.

For this reason many users will try to get the paste as thin as possible. Many pastes are thin enough that when heated they will thin out(thanks to the pressure the cooler applies) and flow towards the edges of the cpu heat spreader. As long as it is not way too much this will do no harm.

Also mixing paste types may not be the best either.

I generally do not use the stock cooler, but when I have used it for others builds, I have never seen temperatures this high even under very high cpu loads.

You may also be interested to learn about lapping a heatsink and cpu. This is not something for new users(and not something I am telling you to go do), but you will notice when doing this even less thermal paste is used because you have a flatter surface. Some cpu heat spreaders are not perfectly flat neither are many heatsinks. For this reason it is a balancing act of having just the right amount of paste. too little could leave air gaps and too much(this generally has to be a good bit too much) would insulate.

PCFreak123 · Jan 15, 2015

Well thank you both very much for the assistance you have provided for the past few days it was greatly appreciated!

One more thing..I assume 30c idle is normal with an aftermarket cooler?

Have a great day everyone.

nukemaster · Jan 15, 2015

that it is(some may be lower and some higher, but you are in the right range for sure.). The cpu will generally clock down and generate less heat at idle.

Enjoy the cooler system.

i7 4790k Intel Extreme Tuning Utility Results

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