Cooling the Kaby Lake i7-7700k

AndyBlak · 19 Jun 2017

Hey folks!

I wanted to see if I could get some help with cooling my rig. This was my first custom build, and I got some help from a buddy of mine. The only problem that I am having so far is that it seems like my CPU is running hot. At least I think it is, I'm really not quite sure what normal temps are for this CPU, but it seems hotter than it should be.

Idle temp: ~45-50c
Gaming temp: 60-75c

I've tried a few things already, and I'll try to include all of the information that is needed.

Things I've tried:

Installed new case fans with higher CFM
Removed Corsair stock thermal paste, replaced with Arctic Silver 5
Set a custom fan curve in Corsair Link
Turned case fans to 100% with fan controller
Re-adjusted case fans to use push-pull

Rig Info:

Cooler Master Haf X
Intel Kaby Lake i7-7700K
Corsair H100i v2 (upgraded radiator fans)

I also have reduced the overclocking on the CPU. Right now, it is set to 46x core ratio, versus the stock of 42x. I honestly don't quite understand how to control the voltage, but I believe it's set to 1.2. My mobo has overclocking profiles that are automatic, and I have those turned on.

I would be happy to provide any additional information, and I really appreciate your help!

essenbe · 19 Jun 2017

First question is, I see you live in Texas, what are your ambient temps? I live in Florida so am quite familar with high ambient temps. Whether air cooling or liquid cooling, you are using the room air temp to cool the CPU. If, for example, your room temp is 80°F (27°C), it is going to be extremely difficult to get your CPU temp down a whole lot. The temps you mentioned are a little high, but not dangerous. The 7700K is a notoriously hot running CPU. Others will have their own ideas, but In my opinion, I think you may be about 10°C higher than it should be.

What CPU temp monitoring program are you using? Most programs are notoriously wrong reading temps, but especially idle temps. The good news in what You have said is in Gaming you are running about 15° to 20°C higher than idle. That's not bad and probably about normal. During Gaming I usually run about 55°C, for whatever that is worth.

With the HAF X, you should never have an issue with air flow. I own one and have had several over the years. Even though it is an older design, it is still one of the better cases on the market for functionality and air flow.

Give us an idea of your set up. What fans are you using and how is your radiator set up and how are the rad fans set? Pictures count.

OldMike65 · 19 Jun 2017

I installed a Portable AC in my office where my rig is, I also have the same CPU chip and its running at 49x regularly, this keeps my temps down real nicely. Like Steve said, your room temps greatly affect your cpu temps. Your temps don't seem that bad thou. :)

Dude · 19 Jun 2017

I live in Texas too. My gaming temps are similar to yours, bit I idle closer to 30C. One thing that may help is manually setting Ram, not using Xmp. That has made a temp difference for a lot of 7700 owners

Cliff S · 19 Jun 2017

You also might want to see if your C-States & C1E are turned on in BIOS, and in Windows set your power option to Balanced.
This will let the cores rest when not needed, and the C1E will reduce voltage to the resting core, reducing heat.

You only need to really turn Power option to High performance when running synthetic benchmarks or ***power viruses' like Intel Burn Test, Prime95, OCCT, or Aida64 System Stability test, when checking your overclock's stability (not to be confused with system stability).

Information

***A power virus is a computer program that executes specific machine code in order to reach the maximum CPU power dissipation (thermal energy output for the central processing units).

Vellinious · 19 Jun 2017

Dude said:

I live in Texas too. My gaming temps are similar to yours, bit I idle closer to 30C. One thing that may help is manually setting Ram, not using Xmp. That has made a temp difference for a lot of 7700 owners

If you set the XMP, just make sure you're resetting core, system agent and cache voltages, as it can alter those settings. Probably why so many 7700 users are seeing improved temps by disabling it.

AndyBlak · 19 Jun 2017

Hey dudes!

Thanks for all of the awesome replies! I've read through everything everyone has said. I have disabled XMP, and manually set my DRAM frequencies. I also switched from High Performance power plan to Balanced. That step made a drastic difference in temperature. I enabled C-States on my mobo, which was disabled.

Doing the above, I am now idling in the upper 30's to low 40's. I think that's a pretty solid drop!

In regards to the location-based questions, yes I am in Texas and yes it's damned hot here lol. I will look into the Portable AC suggestion, that's not a bad idea.

I'm going to mark this one as solved! I believe XMP and High Performance power plan were the primary issues.

Thanks again!

sygnus21 · 22 Jun 2017

essenbe said:

The 7700K is a notoriously hot running CPU.

This is also my observation and I posted somewhere in this forum that it seems to run about 8 degrees higher than my i7-6700K. Also run a HAF-X case. See my computer specs.

solarstarshines · 22 Jun 2017

AndyBlak said:

Hey dudes!

Thanks for all of the awesome replies! I've read through everything everyone has said. I have disabled XMP, and manually set my DRAM frequencies. I also switched from High Performance power plan to Balanced. That step made a drastic difference in temperature. I enabled C-States on my mobo, which was disabled.

Doing the above, I am now idling in the upper 30's to low 40's. I think that's a pretty solid drop!

In regards to the location-based questions, yes I am in Texas and yes it's damned hot here lol. I will look into the Portable AC suggestion, that's not a bad idea.

I'm going to mark this one as solved! I believe XMP and High Performance power plan were the primary issues.

Thanks again!

I only run locked frequencies when doing benches other than this Balanced plan is the way to go

Your CPU will ramp up anyway when the extra speed is needed there is no need to run full power 24/7

Especially when not doing anything more then Browsing or gaming

AndyBlak · 30 Jun 2017

I am reviving this thread because I have made further adjustments to my build, and I still feel like my idle temps are not dropping as low as they should. I could be wrong, and so I am definitely looking for input.

After reverting my BIOS settings to stock, allowing only Intel's default Turbo boost, manually setting DRAM timing/frequencies, and adjusting the fan curve on my CPU radiator, I'm still not seeing any idle temps below 37°. Generally, my rig is hanging right around 39°-44° when idling. I am also running my case fans with an NZXT Sentry 3, all linked, all 100% power.

Pictures were requested previously, and I am adding those to this post.