Odd cooling issue with an i7-6700k

[Zir_zoink]

Hello everyone,

This is my first thread post and this issue has been making me scratch my head. I have an i7-6700k and have been having some temperature issues. When running games such as baldur's gate III it goes up to 98 degrees and sometimes even flickers of 100. I thought originally this was just how the CPU ran, as I have gotten the mobo, CPU and RAM 2nd hand from a thought to be fried computer. However, I saw a test video when i was about to buy a new video card for it and saw the person running baldurs gate III at about 66 degrees. I am convinced it is the OEM fan but I am going to try to upgrade to a new custom-built computer soon enough, so I'm trying to see if theres any good ways to put it down.

I have tried the following 2 things.

-Adding Thermal Paste (this was my first try)
-Changing the fan settings in BIOS (this has cooled it down a little)

My specifications are of the following:

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700k @ 4.00Ghz
MoBo: ASRock H110M-DS/Hyper
RAM: DDR4 16GB
GPU: MSI Nvidia Geforce 3060 12GB (was originally a MSI Geforce 1060 6GB until april 14th, suprisingly does not bottleneck)


As mentioned earlier, It has cooled down a little since the fan settings change but it's still about 88 degrees, not even Red Dead Redemption 2 hits this hot!

 

[RandomUser]

I think you pretty much nailed the issue, by changing the fan settings in bios. So this leads to be inadequate cooler or inadequate case cooling, most likely the former. Also maybe dusty cooler?
Or perhaps that games is pushing that CPU, thus causing it to get that hot. I don't know about the video or what cooling type of cooling being used in the video. Perhaps the video is using water cooled and you're using air cooled?
Perhaps wait on others to chime in, they will have a better idea on what it is or what to do.
It appears from your post, that you're not overclocking the CPU at all, is that a correct assessment?
Also forgot to mention, ambient temps plays a role too.

 

[SAIYAN48]

What cooler is it? What's the airflow like in the case itself?

 

[Zir_zoink]

It appears from your post, that you're not overclocking the CPU at all, is that a correct assessment?

Correct, I am not Overclocked.

I think you pretty much nailed the issue, by changing the fan settings in bios. So this leads to be inadequate cooler or inadequate case cooling, most likely the former. Also maybe dusty cooler?

While I think that I have nailed the issue, I also like to hear if other people have any ideas. My cooler has been cleaned well.

I don't know about the video or what cooling type of cooling being used in the video. Perhaps the video is using water cooled and you're using air cooled?

I do not know the cooling either, so it could've been water-cooled like you mentioned.

Post automatically merged: Apr 18, 2025

What cooler is it? What's the airflow like in the case itself?

This post will have to be merged as I have just now seen this but I am actually unsure of the cooler due to it being pre-built. it seems to be an OEM cooler

This is the closest I could find.

the case looks like this (not my picture but gives a basic idea of it's air flow)

There is one fan to the left (which is pictured) and one on the top of the case, however it is dead. the GPU's fan is loaded at the bottom of the card so it blows hot air away from the CPU. So the only 4 fans are the CPU, the one on the left which sucks air in iirc and the GPUs fans which are away from it.

 

[Skv0ra]

IMHO a modern, liquid cpu cooler (self contained one, not the whole ridiculous system) will only freaking help on top of setting up a proper airflow.

 

[fringle]

Correct, I am not Overclocked.

While I think that I have nailed the issue, I also like to hear if other people have any ideas. My cooler has been cleaned well.


I do not know the cooling either, so it could've been water-cooled like you mentioned.

Post automatically merged: Apr 18, 2025

This post will have to be merged as I have just now seen this but I am actually unsure of the cooler due to it being pre-built. it seems to be an OEM cooler

View attachment 498821
This is the closest I could find.

the case looks like this (not my picture but gives a basic idea of it's air flow)
View attachment 498822

There is one fan to the left (which is pictured) and one on the top of the case, however it is dead. the GPU's fan is loaded at the bottom of the card so it blows hot air away from the CPU. So the only 4 fans are the CPU, the one on the left which sucks air in iirc and the GPUs fans which are away from it.

Probably better off changing your only intake fan into an exhaust fan. I mean it’s good to add fresh air inside but with no fan to extract it, it’s just being heated up to circulate inside. The stock intel heat sink and fan is also not very adequate for more than just general computer use. Any cpu intensive game will cause it to exceed it’s usefulness.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Well firstly, it sounds like you have no actual airflow in that case. One fan might draw in air, but the GPU fans aren't dumping all the air out of the case, most of that air is being dumped right back into the case, and if the fan that's meant to be moving air out is dead then you're likely roasting the inside of that case. Replacing the failed fan should help some things.

You also likely have one of the shittier Intel stock coolers, they used to put copper slugs in them years ago which made them more than adequate for any of their CPUs, but at some point they opted for just full aluminum and now they suck for anything but light office use. Replace the cooler, pretty much any $30+ air cooler will work infinitely better than the Intel stock cooler. Don't bother with liquid cooling, unless you plan on high OCs there's no point wasting money on liquid cooling when any modern tower cooler will work just as good.

 

[RandomUser]

Correct, I am not Overclocked.

While I think that I have nailed the issue, I also like to hear if other people have any ideas. My cooler has been cleaned well.


I do not know the cooling either, so it could've been water-cooled like you mentioned.

Post automatically merged: Apr 18, 2025

This post will have to be merged as I have just now seen this but I am actually unsure of the cooler due to it being pre-built. it seems to be an OEM cooler

View attachment 498821
This is the closest I could find.

the case looks like this (not my picture but gives a basic idea of it's air flow)
View attachment 498822

There is one fan to the left (which is pictured) and one on the top of the case, however it is dead. the GPU's fan is loaded at the bottom of the card so it blows hot air away from the CPU. So the only 4 fans are the CPU, the one on the left which sucks air in iirc and the GPUs fans which are away from it.

That case is a coolermaster case and should be able to mount 4 more fans as there is supposed to be a door that holds the four (4) fans to the side of the case. That is why you see two (2) notches on the silver side of the case located to the right. I own one of the case but it isn't as good shape as the picture.

 

[Uiaad]

If you are in the market for a cheaper air cooler, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Thermalright Assassin X. It's under $20 and just works. I have one in my second rig (More or less a home lab), and it never gets above 66 °c on a 9700k under full load