How high is too high for CPU temps when I'm gaming? What can be done about high operating temps?

The Game Room
1

I have a 5 year old desktop gaming computer with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core processor. It has the colored fan lights, so I set it in my Aura software for the light to be temperature-controlled-- anything below 50C is green, 50-80 is yellow, and anything over 80C is red. So I can easily and quickly see what range my CPU temp is at.

I usually almost never see the red light come on during gaming, unless my fan intake screens have gotten dusty. A quick dusting and I’m solidly back in the yellow zone (or alternating green to yellow if I’m not gaming). But I just started playing Cyberpunk 2077, and I’m noticing it pegs my CPU up into the red zone fairly regularly. Not all the time, and it doesn’t last too long. But still a concern.

I’ve heard AMD processors are made to run a bit hot, and looking it up, Google’s AI tells me:

The absolute maximum safe operating temperature (Tjmax) specified by AMD for the Ryzen 5 5600X is 95°C (203°F). While the processor will not instantly damage itself at this limit, it will automatically slow down (thermal throttle) to prevent overheating, and you should ideally keep sustained loads well below this threshold.

So, are occasional brief spikes over 80C acceptable? Can I just set my upper limit for the red zone to 85C and call it a day? I know I can also adjust settings down like FPS within the game, and I will probably do so.

2

I would not be worried at all about those temperatures. The occasional spike above 80°C will not harm your CPU in any way. It really isn’t until you get up to TDP max that you have to worry, and even then, the CPU will throttle to protect itself.

Now, it may not be running as cool as it could: beyond cleaning the intake, you could consider trying to repaste your CPU. But I wouldn’t be worried.

I would see no issue with changing the threshhold temp for your red light to 85 or even 90°C and seeing if it stays yellow.

3

I’m going to disagree with the estimable @BigT here - 80c is my personal redline in my tech support practice, agreeing with the Aura software mentioned.

Does this ONLY happen with your CPU, never your GPU? Because IME if the CPU is hotter than the GPU there is something wrong. First check all the fans are working, especially the ones in the CPU housing. If that is okay you likely have a thermal paste problem, see about getting it renewed.