u/Tristan_Dale

I'm using a 9800x3d in a 19 degree room for the benchmarks bellow.

Temps Average Over 5m (Degrees in Celsius)

BIOS: 43
Windows Fresh Install: 73
Counter Strike 2: 84.1
Cinebench 2026 MultiCore: 96 Flat (shes cooking)

To go into further detail on this systems specs:

Case: Fractal North XL Mesh
- 3 140mm Front P14s Intake
- 2 140mm Side P14s Intake
- 1 140mm Back P14 Exhaust
- Liquid Freezer III Top 3x P12s Exhaust
Mobo X870E-AORUS-PRO-X3D
- Don't have that weird x3d mode on or any overclocking on the cpu.
RAM: 64gb 6000mhz cl30
GPU: Gigabyte RTX 3080
PSU: ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200P 1200W

This rig is 2 weeks old and I've been having non stop issues with this cooler.
First install of the cooler temps where way worse installed with PTM7950 Phase Change Thermal Pads I was getting spikes up to 95 under what was basically a google homepage.
I first changed the fan and pump curves to 100% all the time, no improvement.
Next I tilted the case around trying different pump speeds to see if there could be any air bubbles no improvement.
Next I thought it could be that the Phase Change Pads require a couple heat cycles to break in did that for a day, no improvement.
Next I reinstalled the cooler once again with the thermal pads, no improvement.
Next I reinstalled the cooler with the MX-7 Thermal Paste that came with it, shaking the shit out of the heat sink while the pump was running just in case, no improvement.
Waking up the next day pissed off I went and got myself a second Liquid Freezer III and installed it with MX-7 getting the temps I get now significantly better but still fucked. The second cooler was purchased from a different retailer so couldn't be in the same batch.
I reinstalled the cooler around 3 more times to no improvement.

Another thing to note is that the Heat Sink is cold as hell no matter how long the computer has been running under load.

Before I get told that I don't know how to install this cooler my work station uses the same cooler with a 9950x3d paired with a MSI 870e hits 72 degrees in cinebench. So yeah bit fucking confused. Note I cant switch the cooler from the work station to this one as that computer needs to run 24/7.

It really doesn't help that half the fucking forum results for this problem are people whining about getting 60 degrees in cinebench with the same cpu. I found one post on ltt from a guy who doesn't speak English reporting he got better temps by only screwing the leaf sprints to about 30% force that seems stupid so I haven't tried it mostly because I don't want to take this computer apart 50 more times. On all my installs I've screwed until they cant be screwed further on the leafs and mounting bracket.

My only ideas are
2 faulty units in a row
Incorrect Install
Aorus Mobo doesnt screw the mounting bracket low enough (Shot in the dark)

Have I managed to get 2 faulty coolers in a row or is there something I've done wrong. Any help would be appreciated.