i7 13700k Getting 100º at Gaming

[Vario]

Hello Everyone.

I've got a i7 13700k cooled by a Dark Rock 4 (non Pro) on a case Fractal Define S2 with Be Quiet fans on the case (1 back, 2 front), Asus ROG STRIX B660-F GAMING motherboard (because i don't intend to overclock the CPU), 32GB 6000Mhz DDR5 Ram, EVGA SuperNova G3 850W, and when i'm gaming, specially Battlefield 2042 wich is a very CPU demanding game, the CPU temps easly jump to 100º and doesn't go beyond that, and the RED CPU Led on the motherboard turns on, the normal temps doing nothing is about 35º at actual temps in my country and case conditions.

What can i do here to lower these temps without losing performance? I'm noob at OC/UV and that stuff, i just like plug and play stuff... Is this normal behavior of this CPU and i just ignore this?

Oh, and the only thing i've changed on my BIOS was the XMP Profile to make it run at 6000mhz, nothing else. Case fans are connected to the fan controller available on the case.

Thanks!

I've seen performance like this on the 12900KS before I underclocked and undervolted it. 12900KS is pretty similar to the 13700K. Underclocked to 5.0 GHz all core and undervolted to 1.2Vcore dropped gaming load temps from 105C to 70C and gaming load wattage from something like 350 watts to 225 watts. The result made no difference at all on perceived gaming performance (frame rates, latency about same) but greatly reduced the heat and power draw. Modern high end Intel products come too hot for an aircooler out of the box.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Intel CPU's of 2023 are like AMD CPU's of 2016.

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

AMD CPU's of 2016.

Name me at least one mass segment AMD CPU made in 2016 which is above 150 W and slower than the same-priced Intel CPU considering this is all out-of-the-box.

Generally speaking, no. Intel CPUs of 2023 are just pure insanity. Well, the whole PC industry is pure insanity. Memory is way too cheap, GPUs are way too expensive... and everything is becoming more and more and more and more watt-hungry as in electricity is completely free.

 

[fevgatos]

The last few posts...yeah ignorance is bliss I guess.

@OP : Undervolting should not decrease performance. If your performance decreases then something else is going on. Reset bios to default settings, save and exit, get back into the bios and enable XMP. Then go to the CPU section again and set a -0.15v undervolt.

Name me at least one mass segment AMD CPU made in 2016 which is above 150 W and slower than the same-priced Intel CPU considering this is all out-of-the-box.

Generally speaking, no. Intel CPUs of 2023 are just pure insanity. Well, the whole PC industry is pure insanity. Memory is way too cheap, GPUs are way too expensive... and everything is becoming more and more and more and more watt-hungry as in electricity is completely free.

If you think a 13700k at 150w is slower than any amd cpu around that price segment you are out of your mind. Obviosuly something is wrong in OPs bios....

 

[P4-630]

@fevgatos I see you got the same CPU cooler as me, what are your CB R23 multi CPU temps?

 

[unclewebb]

Try running ThrottleStop 9.6 and open the FIVR window. Make sure it does not say Undervolt Protection.

If you try to undervolt when Undervolt Protection is enabled in the BIOS, it can cut performance in half. A 13600K can score over 24000 in Cinebench R23 on a B760 or B660 board as long as UVP is not enabled.

 

[P4-630]

A 13600K can score over 24000 in Cinebench R23 on a B760 or B660 board as long as UVP is not enabled.

OP has a i7 13700K

 

[fevgatos]

@fevgatos I see you got the same CPU cooler as me, what are your CB R23 multi CPU temps?

Don't have the 13900k anymore, used to get 41k @ 280w @ 85c in CBR23. Ycruncher was around 330w at 95c

 

[unclewebb]

OP has a i7 13700K

I know.

If a 13600K can score 24000 in Cinebench then there is something seriously wrong with a 13700K if it is only scoring 13387. This is usually a sign of Undervolt Protection being enabled which is a seriously messed up and broken feature from Intel. ThrottleStop and HWiNFO will report if Undervolt Protection is enabled or not.

 

[warriorunited]

Wow, you guys are amazing, thanks for all the posts and help from everyone!! I've red everything, my day is now over, I will resume tomorrow and try again following all the I got here.

Besides all I did so far and reported here, meanwhile some hours ago I tried this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/11vetv2
And this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/11dbq60
And noticed close to zero difference.

You came to the wrong platform, buddy.

To OP:

0. Revert all BIOS settings to default.
1. Disable ASUS enchancement [censored]
2. Enable your XMP back
3. Manually set your CPU clocks so they are at default values (53 and 42x for P-cores and E-cores respectively)
4. Make voltage run in the offset mode
5. Input -0.15 V
6. See if it works fine
7. If it's not fine enough try finding the offset value and CPU clock multipliers which serve you the best
8. Buy a PS5

Try running ThrottleStop 9.6 and open the FIVR window. Make sure it does not say Undervolt Protection.

View attachment 298919

If you try to undervolt when Undervolt Protection is enabled in the BIOS, it can cut performance in half. A 13600K can score over 24000 in Cinebench R23 on a B760 or B660 board as long as UVP is not enabled.

Will try both tomorrow, thanks!

 

[unclewebb]

The Asus B760 and B660 boards usually have an option in the BIOS so you can use the early microcode, version 0x104. This should disable Undervolt Protection. Have a look in the BIOS for that tomorrow.

If that is disabled then post some pictures of ThrottleStop while the CPU is loaded running Cinebench. Include Limit Reasons. It might show PL1 or PL2 power limit throttling lighting up red. The default turbo power limits will prevent a 13700K from achieving maximum performance. The ThrottleStop TPL window will show this.

Post the FIVR window too. This will show if VBS is enabled.

 

[AusWolf]

He got decent results just setting the 90c limit in the bios, would do that again, maybe 95c max and call it a day, cinebench it will reach max temp, though no way should it be getting that hot in games so quick either, so yes something else is at play, likely the cooler/mount

Not just that. I mean, his power consumption is through the roof even when undervolted to 1.3 V.

13k points with 196 W in Cinebench is crap when an 11700 can do 15k with 170 W, and that's a two generations older CPU.

 

[eidairaman1]

I had this cooler before i've upgraded my platform, so i can assure that it doesn't have any plastic protector on the bottom, and i always build the same way i did with this CPU, the thermal paste is new too as i got it yesterday along the CPU (Artic MX-4 2019 Edition) and i pasted on the middle of the CPU, as i always did, and done.

Case fans are connected to PSU Molex, because they are connected to the case fan controller, the only fan connected to motherboard is CPU fan.

I run the game, seconds later it jumps to 100º and stands between 96-100º all the time, mostly 100º. I tried to run cinebench, it jumped to 100º very fast and never went down from that during the 2mins i've tested.

Could this be any setting on the BIOS? I don't think the problem is on the cooler, i've been using this cooler for a very long time, multiple builds and CPU's, and never faced this problem before.

Still check

 

[claes]

Still check

Reading the thread before posting is a lot like checking for a plastic cover on a heatsink

 

[warriorunited]

The Asus B760 and B660 boards usually have an option in the BIOS so you can use the early microcode, version 0x104. This should disable Undervolt Protection. Have a look in the BIOS for that tomorrow.

If that is disabled then post some pictures of ThrottleStop while the CPU is loaded running Cinebench. Include Limit Reasons. It might show PL1 or PL2 power limit throttling lighting up red. The default turbo power limits will prevent a 13700K from achieving maximum performance. The ThrottleStop TPL window will show this.

Post the FIVR window too. This will show if VBS is enabled.

Sorry for the late answer everyone, yesterday was a busy day, didn't even turn on the PC!

So, here's what you asked:

Screenshot two is HWInfo meanwhile Cinebench was running, and the final score after complete without crash or something.

My current BIOS settings are everything default (auto) except that i have XMP activated, i use Windows 11 even if it shows W10.

 

[Vario]

Sorry for the late answer everyone, yesterday was a busy day, didn't even turn on the PC!

So, here's what you asked:

View attachment 299275

View attachment 299276


View attachment 299277


Screenshot two is HWInfo meanwhile Cinebench was running, and the final score after complete without crash or something.

My current BIOS settings are everything default (auto) except that i have XMP activated, i use Windows 11 even if it shows W10.

The way I interpret this is your CPU's wattage and voltage are low, but heat is high, so I think its inadequate CPU heatsink or poor mounting. Try remounting the heatsink if you have not already. Otherwise, consider reducing max clock speed to 50.0x multiplier (5.0 GHz) or getting a bigger heat sink. 220 watts maximum isn't very much to cool, but your Dark Rock 4 is only rated for 200 W.
For air coolers, NHD15S is the best you can get, or you could do an all-in-one 360mm or larger watercooler (I am not a fan of AIO watercoolers).

 

[unclewebb]

@warriorunited

Your ThrottleStop screenshot shows that your CPU is not using the early microcode and Undervolt Protection is enabled. Did you find the early microcode option in your BIOS? I would recommend using that. ThrottleStop shows that the CPU is using microcode 0x10E. On the B660 boards, the BIOS option would switch this to the early microcode, 0x104.

Your Cinebench score has gone from 13387 to 27369 so you are definitely doing something right. Some users with 13600K CPUs achieved excellent results by disabling Undervolt Protection in the BIOS and then using ThrottleStop to fine tune their voltages. You do not need to disable Undervolt Protection as long as you can adjust your voltage in the BIOS and as long as that does not kill your Cinebench scores.

I think its inadequate CPU heatsink or poor mounting

He appears to be at the limit of what his air cooler can manage. I do not think remounting will turn a 200W air cooler into a 300W air cooler.

I am not a fan of AIO watercoolers

An AIO cooler might be necessary to get maximum performance out of a 13700K. I would not bother unless running full load programs all of the time like Cinebench is important. With some more voltage fine tuning, he might be able to improve performance or reduce his temperatures. A contact frame for the CPU can help lower temps.

Thermal Grizzly Intel 12th Gen CPU Contact Frame Ayuda de montaje

El Intel 12th Gen Contact Frame es un marco de montaje para los procesadores Intel de 12.ª generación que evita que la CPU se doble en el zócalo.

www.thermal-grizzly.com

At the moment the CPU is thermal throttling during Cinebench. This is reducing the CPU speed by about 500 MHz and that is reducing Cinebench performance by approximately 3500 points. Hopefully some more voltage tweaks can help regain some of that lost performance.

Screenshot two is HWInfo

The monitoring program in your screenshot is CPUID HWMonitor. That is not the same as HWiNFO. Most users prefer HWiNFO.

didn't even turn on the PC!

That is your biggest problem. You need to free up some time in your life to concentrate on what is important. Ditch your family and friends.
A good Cinebench score is far more important.

 

[warriorunited]

Your ThrottleStop screenshot shows that your CPU is not using the early microcode and Undervolt Protection is enabled. Did you find the early microcode option in your BIOS? I would recommend using that. ThrottleStop shows that the CPU is using microcode 0x10E. On the B660 boards, the BIOS option would switch this to the early microcode, 0x104.

Your Cinebench score has gone from 13387 to 27369 so you are definitely doing something right. Some users with 13600K CPUs achieved excellent results by disabling Undervolt Protection in the BIOS and then using ThrottleStop to fine tune their voltages. You do not need to disable Undervolt Protection as long as you can adjust your voltage in the BIOS and as long as that does not kill your Cinebench scores.

I had that microcode enabled, but i've reset everything to default, i said that on my last post Now i've enabled it again and it shows ucode 104. So, can you please guide on how to undervolt this without actually losing performance?
P.S. Undervolt protection is disabled in BIOS, just checked. At least is what Tweaker's Paradise says on BIOS.

An AIO cooler might be necessary to get maximum performance out of a 13700K. I would not bother unless running full load programs all of the time like Cinebench is important. With some more voltage fine tuning, he might be able to improve performance or reduce his temperatures. A contact frame for the CPU can help lower temps.

I could think about getting Artic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB, as it doesn't look that expensive and good, but i prefer AIR Coolers, but the best ones are huge, and i hate that eheh.
Contact frame, i was about to get one, but i prefered first to try to reach a solution without getting it.

The monitoring program in your screenshot is CPUID HWMonitor. That is not the same as HWiNFO. Most users prefer HWiNFO.

I wanted to say HWMonitor, my bad

Ditch your family and friends.

That's the reason i'm only answering today

 

[AusWolf]

I had that microcode enabled, but i've reset everything to default, i said that on my last post Now i've enabled it again and it shows ucode 104. So, can you please guide on how to undervolt this without actually losing performance?
P.S. Undervolt protection is disabled in BIOS, just checked. At least is what Tweaker's Paradise says on BIOS.



I could think about getting Artic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB, as it doesn't look that expensive and good, but i prefer AIR Coolers, but the best ones are huge, and i hate that eheh.
Contact frame, i was about to get one, but i prefered first to try to reach a solution without getting it.



I wanted to say HWMonitor, my bad



That's the reason i'm only answering today

You reset everything so that the CPU overheats again. Why?

If you don't like big coolers, or water, then perhaps you shouldn't try to run an 11700K at its peak power. You either need to decrease your power limits (which I've suggested before), or buy a much bigger cooler (or water), or sell the 13700K and get a much weaker CPU.

Your cooler is inadequate to run a 200+ Watt CPU. I can't say this enough times.

 

[unclewebb]

When using the early 0x104 microcode, check the ThrottleStop FIVR window and make sure it does not say Undervolt Protection.

To use ThrottleStop to undervolt, check the Unlock Adjustable Voltage box and set both the CPU Core and CPU P Cache to a negative offset voltage of approximately -50 mV. When you press the Apply button in the FIVR window, both undervolt values should show up in the Offset column of the FIVR monitoring table. Run Cinebench again with these settings and see if there is any improvement in temperatures or performance. If -50 mV is OK, try -75 mV and then -100 mV.

Using ThrottleStop to undervolt works well without the huge performance loss that can happen when you try to undervolt with Undervolt Protection enabled.

or sell the 13700K and get a much weaker CPU.

Why? Even when thermal throttling, his Cinebench scores are already much higher than the scores he would get with a 13600K. After a few voltage tweaks, things will only get better.

 

[Vayra86]

You reset everything so that the CPU overheats again. Why?

If you don't like big coolers, or water, then perhaps you shouldn't try to run an 11700K at its peak power. You either need to decrease your power limits (which I've suggested before), or buy a much bigger cooler (or water), or sell the 13700K and get a much weaker CPU.

Your cooler is inadequate to run a 200+ Watt CPU. I can't say this enough times.

He initially got 200w without a good score. Now things are at defaults and scores at same wattage are good. Now any kind of undervolt wont murder perf as it used to do.

 

[AusWolf]

Why? Even when thermal throttling, his Cinebench scores are already much higher than the scores he would get with a 13600K. After a few voltage tweaks, things will only get better.

That's really a last resort. A bigger cooler combined with some undervolt, or at least a lowered power target would be ideal, as I've said to OP multiple times.

 

[Vario]

I could think about getting Artic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB, as it doesn't look that expensive and good, but i prefer AIR Coolers, but the best ones are huge, and i hate that eheh.
Contact frame, i was about to get one, but i prefered first to try to reach a solution without getting it.

NHD15S is equal or better without downside, so if AIO, go 360 or larger.

 

[unclewebb]

A bigger cooler

That might not be necessary. 13600K owners that finally got undervolting working properly on their B760 and B660 boards were able to drop their Cinebench temps by up to 20C. These boards do not support overclocking so he should be able to reduce the excess voltage going to his 13700K.

If less voltage allows him to get his MHz up and his temperatures down, there might not be any reason to waste time or money on a better cooler.

 

[ir_cow]

Once again, I would just set the P1/P2 value to 150 and don't mess with undervolting. It can be a rabbit hole of stability issues. This why the lower power setting exists for air coolers...