High 7700K Temps with Corsair Hydro H80i and Hyper 212

[SoupyFlow]

Hi All!

I did a new build about a month ago and I have noticed some unusually high temperatures with my 7700K.

I originally had a Hyper 212 cooler on my build, but after seeing the temps I decided that maybe it wasn't cutting it so I switched to a Corsair Hydro H80i v2. However the temps are basically the same with either cooler!

Turning on XMP in my bios is also causing temperatures to jump even higher. I am turning on XMP for my 3000 MHz ram, but I also notice it overclocks my 7700k to 4.5 GHz. I have been using a combination of OCCT and RealTemp for stress testing and temp readings.

Here are my temps:

No Overclocking at All

Idle: 26c - 32c
Full Load: 65c - 72c

------

XMP Turned On (Which also overclocks 7700k to 4.5 GHz)

Idle: 36c - 45c
Full Load: 75c - 85c

------

Like I said, these temps were basically the same (give or take 2c-4c) whether I used the Corsair Hydro H80i v2 or the Hyper 212 coolers. I have re-done the mounting and thermal paste (ARCTIC MX-4) at least 4 times to insure that I did not screw that part up. I also have the latest bios update for my motherboard.

Are these temps normal? I really thought going with the water cooling solution would make a huge difference.

Here are my basic system specs: 7700k, Corsair Hydro H80i v2 Cooler, ASUS Prime Z270-A Motherboard, 16GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 3000MHz, GTX 1070, Multiple case fans

 

[Burpo]

Make sure your fans are setup as push pull for maximum airflow thru radiator. but yeah, those seem like normal temps using XMP & 4.5Ghz.. 85c isn't bad under a heavy load..

 

[Eric1987]

85c isn't bad? Wtf?

 

[Triloby]

Unfortunately, short of doing a custom water loop, the 7700K is known for having really terrible thermals due to Intel's laziness of putting decent thermal paste within the IHS. If you want to actually bring down temperatures within the CPU, you would have to actually de-lid the CPU and apply better thermal paste (such as Coollaboratory's Liquid Pro thermal compound) on the CPU die itself.

Doing that, however, would involve voiding the warranty on your CPU.

That said, getting 80's while overclocked on full load is pretty typical for that CPU.

 

[Eric1987]

Wow I can be glad my CPU doesn't even hit 60's.

 

[Triloby]

There are several videos on YouTube about this issue. You can check this one out:

 

[coercitiv]

Here are my basic system specs: 7700k, Corsair Hydro H80i v2 Cooler, ASUS Prime Z270-A Motherboard, 16GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 3000MHz, GTX 1070, Multiple case fans

Make sure you have proper stock voltage, we've encountered numerous cases where default vcore was considerably higher than needed. Asus board owners are no strangers to this issue.

What are your reported voltages for both cases while CPU is being stressed? (stock / XMP on)

 

[SoupyFlow]

Unfortunately, short of doing a custom water loop, the 7700K is known for having really terrible thermals due to Intel's laziness of putting decent thermal paste within the IHS. If you want to actually bring down temperatures within the CPU, you would have to actually de-lid the CPU and apply better thermal paste (such as Coollaboratory's Liquid Pro thermal compound) on the CPU die itself.

Doing that, however, would involve voiding the warranty on your CPU.

That said, getting 80's while overclocked on full load is pretty typical for that CPU.

Thanks for the info! Yeah I have heard about de-lidding and it's not something I really want to deal with. After doing more research on the Corsair Hydro H80i, most people have reported that it does not really perform much better than the Hyper 212 even though it is liquid cooling based. I guess I was expecting dramatic differences. It kind of sucks too because the H80i was more expensive and it's a bit louder than the Hyper 212 with no real performance gains. I might just return it all together and stick with a quiet air based cpu cooler.

But I am glad to hear that 80s are pretty typical for the 7700k. I have heard she does run a bit hot.

Make sure you have proper stock voltage, we've encountered numerous cases where default vcore was considerably higher than needed. Asus board owners are no strangers to this issue.

What are your reported voltages for both cases while CPU is being stressed? (stock / XMP on)

I will check out my voltages later today and see what they are reading. I would not be surprised if XMP is using an unnecessarily high voltage.

 

[StefanR5R]

I originally had a Hyper 212 cooler on my build, but after seeing the temps I decided that maybe it wasn't cutting it so I switched to a Corsair Hydro H80i v2. However the temps are basically the same with either cooler!

As the others have already pointed out, this is first and foremost because Intel puts a thermal paste between die and heat spreader, rather than costlier and difficult solder. I add that a major problem of Intel's solution is that the gap between die and heat spreader is thicker than desirable. (The problem is less with the "quality" of the TIM, it's more with the thickness of the TIM layer.)

The guys who de-lid and re-lid their Kaby Lakes do not only apply a better performing TIM, they also (deliberately, or just coincidentally) make that TIM layer narrower than Intel manufactured it.

But here is another point:

Why should a water cooler with a mere 120 mm radiator perform much better than an air cooler with a 120 mm radiator? Maybe the fins of H80i's radiator are a bit narrower than 212's fins, but certainly not by a magnitude.

It always puzzles me what people expect from water coolers with tiny radiator surfaces. Most AIOs barely approach the radiator surface that you get on dual-tower air coolers.

 

[SoupyFlow]

Why should a water cooler with a mere 120 mm radiator perform much better than an air cooler with a 120 mm radiator? Maybe the fins of H80i's radiator are a bit narrower than 212's fins, but certainly not by a magnitude.

It always puzzles me what people expect from water coolers with tiny radiator surfaces. Most AIOs barely approach the radiator surface that you get on dual-tower air coolers.

Yeah I know what you mean. This was the first time I used a water cooler in a build, so i guess I was expecting a lot more for the extra money, noise, and the fact that is was water cooled. Oh well, I am still leaning towards going back to an air based cooler, less noise, less chances of something going wrong etc. The only benefit really is that the H80i doesnt covers up the first dram slot, but I only typically use two sticks anyhow.

 

[StefanR5R]

Well, you are right: Among else, a benefit of water coolers is that the radiator can be placed into a spot where air intake or/and exhaust is better manageable. That way a water cooler with radiator size similar to an air cooler might still work a lot better than that air cooler, depending on case, GPU placement, etc..

Since about a year I have one watercooled system myself which I use to gather experience with watercooling. It's with a 140 W CPU (more when OC'd), and I started with a 360 mm AIO. I too am occasionally at a point where I appreciate the simplicity that an air cooled system offers over watercooling.

 

[Reinvented]

Yeah I know what you mean. This was the first time I used a water cooler in a build, so i guess I was expecting a lot more for the extra money, noise, and the fact that is was water cooled. Oh well, I am still leaning towards going back to an air based cooler, less noise, less chances of something going wrong etc. The only benefit really is that the H80i doesnt covers up the first dram slot, but I only typically use two sticks anyhow.

I don't have a 7700K, but a 7600K instead. I also use a Corsair H100i, and it gave me a lot better temps than the Hyper 212 Evo. Fans with high static pressure will make it drop, but it may not in your case, since the radiator is so small. You'll probably notice a difference if you get a larger cooler such as the H100i or whatever. I think the Cryorig seems pretty neat, and will be good for what you are wanting.

My temps idle at 33c, and load goes up to 55c for me.

 

[SoupyFlow]

I don't have a 7700K, but a 7600K instead. I also use a Corsair H100i, and it gave me a lot better temps than the Hyper 212 Evo. Fans with high static pressure will make it drop, but it may not in your case, since the radiator is so small. You'll probably notice a difference if you get a larger cooler such as the H100i or whatever. I think the Cryorig seems pretty neat, and will be good for what you are wanting.

My temps idle at 33c, and load goes up to 55c for me.

Yeah I have heard the H100i being dual fans, larger radiator etc worked a lot better than most air coolers and the H80i, H60 etc. I almost got the H100i, however I was trying avoiding having to mount a radiator to the front of my case and I can't mount the H100i anywhere else in my case but the front, which is the S340 Elite. Also I was hoping the H80i would bring my temps down for the minor overclocking I was planning on doing. But oh well

 

[Reinvented]

Yeah I have heard the H100i being dual fans, larger radiator etc worked a lot better than most air coolers and the H80i, H60 etc. I almost got the H100i, however I was trying avoiding having to mount a radiator to the front of my case and I can't mount the H100i anywhere else in my case but the front, which is the S340 Elite. Also I was hoping the H80i would bring my temps down for the minor overclocking I was planning on doing. But oh well

I have mine in a 350D, sitting at the top. If I got a new case, and was able to mount it in the front, then I totally would, as better temps are fantastic. According to Corsair, they say that pushing air out of the top of the case is "best"...but that's kinda subjective and at users discretion.

Either way, my vote is for a Cryorig, and you should be fine. Otherwise, 212 Evo with a better fan. (I used a Cougar Vortex on mine, and it kept temps in check very well).

 

[Triloby]

Thanks for the info! Yeah I have heard about de-lidding and it's not something I really want to deal with. After doing more research on the Corsair Hydro H80i, most people have reported that it does not really perform much better than the Hyper 212 even though it is liquid cooling based. I guess I was expecting dramatic differences. It kind of sucks too because the H80i was more expensive and it's a bit louder than the Hyper 212 with no real performance gains. I might just return it all together and stick with a quiet air based cpu cooler.

But I am glad to hear that 80s are pretty typical for the 7700k. I have heard she does run a bit hot.

For water coolers, I'd suggest a cooler with a 240 mm or 280 mm radiator. I don't know how effective the H80i is as a CLC, but most people would recommend a Corsair H100i v2 when it comes to cooling K-series CPU's. Considering how how the 7700K runs, you'll need something bigger than a 120 mm radiator to effectively cool the CPU. I wouldn't consider using the 212 EVO with that CPU, unless you don't plan on overclocking it.