there's an analysis by Anandtech on undervolting.
It seems there is a sweet spot somewhere around 105W

Yeah, I only knew about that after I built the rig. Nowadays I am just happy gaming without tweaking and tinkering with the rig. Maybe in the future......

I set it to 230w. Not much help as probably have to set it lower.

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jan 7 2023, 08:52 AM

Good that you did some digging but nobody's blaming air cooler.

I had to go for midtower casing to fit certain requirements and the shop didn't have any other better air-coolers so no choice. Just didn't realize that the 13700k was such a hot beast compared to my old trusty 4790k. Would have gone for 13600k if I knew that.

Nowadays I'm way past tinkering and tweaking my rig. Just happy to game without dismantling anything. Hence the lazy-man methods.

Anyway, I am happy with current setup of putting the rig in power saving mode. Don't need much cpu power for normal gaming.

Maybe if I'm up to it, next time change casing and get a better cooler.

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jan 7 2023, 08:50 AM

Maybe it's your case airflow issue liao. You need to find a Airflow case like Phantekx P500A or Fractal Design MESHIFY 2 XL if you have giant RTX4090 or FRACTAL DESIGN Torrent if using average size GPO.

Just go get AIO 360 or 420 to directly blow out the heat from your CPU without kacau the case internal space is the best. I last time also got thinking like you dislike AIO for long run, will leak la, unreliable la, this la that la. But after tested it one time, it's the best solution to throw CPU heat out from the case. All you need to do is maybe on the 3rd year of using just look at your cpu temp got go abnormal or not, if yes just replace with a new AIO, not that expensive AIO after all if you know how to choose 1.

Yeah, my main issue now is the initial requirements of a smaller midtower casing. Can only fit AIO 240 at the top.

Oh well. See how next time. If I need the full power of the 13700k in the future, will consider changing casing.

I actually wanted to go for 13600k but decided for 13700k for "longevity".

"Small" casings that can fit 360mm

Jonsplus i100 Pro
Asus AP201

iinm if you're using z690/790 motherboard you can set tdp limit on the cpu, maybe you can set like 200watts max or any that you like. Though why not consider dual tower coolers, like mine fits no issue on my small atx casing, a 280watt tdp cooler

Nice. Yeah, next time will consider casings that can fit 360 and consider AIO.

Yup. Mentioned above that I set it to 230w. Using Asrock z690 phantom gaming d4/5. I guess i can try lower later on because 230w didn't make much difference. Probably normal gaming don't pull so much wattage.

The shop didn't have better air coolers for the casing. Limited IT shops here. :sob:

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jan 7 2023, 02:13 PM

Because you are using trash motherboard. Phantom Gaming VRM is utter crap. Try sticking more heatsink and fan on it.

Haha. Tell me about it. Wanted the most basic z690 ddr5 mobo although money wasn't the issue. I should have gotten something better but too late.....Next time next time....

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jan 7 2023, 02:52 PM

That comment is to dispute your very factually wrong statement.



Scythe Fuma 2 can handle up to 260W CPUS at full load and just enough keeping it from throttling.
https://youtu.be/9bM_TgpKqb8?t=535

Even setting it at 230W is still too OP for that 225XT. To properly utilise that budget cooler u should lower further down to 200/210W MAX. Otherwise buy up to a highend dual tower cooler; Fuma2, AK620, FC140, D15. U can defo cool 12 & 13th Gen with aircooling towers if you spec it correctly.

This post has been edited by babylon52281: Jan 8 2023, 12:25 AM

Sorry I didn't make it clearer. Was replying to him in the context of my situation, with my midtower casing with the limited options of aircoolers from the shop I bought it from. He suggested i get better fans for my current aircooler as my midtower cannot fit big aircoolers. No doubt there are very good high-end aircoolers.

Also because it was a rush buy end-of-year sale to take advantage of income tax too. Lol.

Yeah, I set it to 200w. See how it goes.

Next time will consider full tower and better air-coolers. For now, I'm happy with undervolting and running the 13700k in power saving for games that run hot. More than enough CPU power for now, considering that I upgraded from a 4790k rig.

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jan 8 2023, 08:02 AM

if 13600k/kf not planning to overclock, is a good b660 motherboard enough for it to run at stock specs? is there any limit for b660 ddr5 speeds

This post has been edited by terradrive: Jan 8 2023, 08:40 AM

Try 125W. Hope the VRM isn't on fire.

https://pg.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z690%20Phant...204D5/index.asp

Even the heatsink is sad....

MSI B660M-A Pro says hi, still rocking 100C+?

This post has been edited by TristanX: Jan 8 2023, 10:21 AM

Once u have set down to 200W, do Furmark or similar CPU stress test, monitor it with HWInfo. If going at full load and it doesn't throttle then that aircooler is performing as advertised.

I was thinking i should upgrade as currently my gpu is being held back by cpu. i look for motherboard options that fit my criteria and the only realistic options are Asus z790m (DDR4) or B760m Steel legend / sonic skin (DDR5).

I guess i can wait a bit before upgrading as so far my gaming experience still very good.

What is ur use case that would select such a strange pairing?
High end mobo + cheaper DDR4
vs
Mid end mobo + expensive DDR5

Cost-wise its going to be about the same, so u will trade off something going either ways. Then if cost is no problem why not Z90M + DDR5?

You will need to get it bios flashed if not updated to 13th gen but otherwise that 13600K has same max TDP as PL2 unlocked 12700 so a MSI Pro B660M-A or Asrock B660M PG riptide will do PL2 unlocked based on 12700 reviews (when paired with a capable cooler & airy case).

Then again if ur not going to be OCing, perhaps a 12700/K as that extra 2 P cores will last longer than that 13600K with only extra 4 E cores.

EDIT: Budget wise only that MSI board will fit if going DDR5 route as that B660M PG Riptide is DDR4 only.

This post has been edited by babylon52281: Jan 8 2023, 12:07 PM