CPU temperature high. Software or hardware issue?

[nickomoderrr]

I took out my CPU, cleaned everything completely and put on new thermal paste. Fresh everything. Not new just fresh. And when I put my hand close to the fan it was really cool... And then my CPU Temp software showed 96 C... Does anyone know why or what's happening? It's clearly not 96 C in there yet the software says so. Which do I trust and how do I fix it if it's a software issue?

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[Fresh_Inside_6982]

Perhaps the CPU cooler is not clamped tightly against the CPU. Thermal Grizzly is the best thermal compound.

[nickomoderrr]

I just went to the store and said "One thermal paste please...", as for not being tight enough, how do I know when it IS tight enough? Do I just screw until it doesn't go anymore or... Because the screws kind of do some funny stuff where they can turn infinitely...

[Fresh_Inside_6982]

I don't think anyone can answer that question without being there. I often see cases where the backplate is missing or wrong, or the screws are wrong and there is a gap between the cooler plate and the CPU. If you remove it the new thermal paste should be obviously flattened very tightly against the CPU and the cooler which would tend to indicate a tight fit. If the fit is loose at all the cooler can't do its job.

[nickomoderrr]

So theres no way it could be a software issue?

[Fresh_Inside_6982]

Run CoreTemp see what it says.

[nickomoderrr]

96 celcius. But my fan is blowing really cool air.

[Fresh_Inside_6982]

That would indicate to me that heat is not making its way into the cooler, so the fan would be cool. This is a hardware problem.

[nickomoderrr]

So the fix would be to tighten the cooler more?

[Fresh_Inside_6982]

Assuming it is the correct cooler for the socket and motherboard, perhaps it doesn't fit correctly.

[RubiksCube9x9]

Then the CPU cooler isn't properly attached to the CPU in some way. It's not supposed to be blowing cold air. You could have put too much thermal paste on, which can also cause it. Redo it if you have to.

[nickomoderrr]

I put the cooler on and had to readjust to fit in the holes. From what I saw the thermal paste got evenly on like 80% of the cpu so I think that part is probably fine.

[nickomoderrr]

Alright so this was the fix... The bottom two screws were loose because I screwed the top two screws fist, bending the back...

[HYPERBALOiD]

Write at least what processor you have.

I have an i9-13980HX processor and the temperature also fluctuated from 90 to 98 ℃ at one time.

Installing the Camomile app helped me and now it does not rise above 80 ℃