Normal CPU Temps for i5-14400F with Montech RGB Air Cooler? (Prebuilt ABS Cyclone Case)

[Itzdraco23]

I recently got an ABS prebuilt PC and I'm looking for some reassurance/feedback on my CPU temperatures, especially when playing more demanding or less optimized games. I've been getting some mixed messages online and it's making me a bit anxious.
Here are my specs:
* CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F (Raptor Lake 10-Core)
* CPU Cooler: Montech RGB Air CPU Cooler (came with the prebuilt)
* GPU: MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4060 8GB
* RAM: Team T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (16GBx2) DDR5 6000Mhz
* Case: ABS Cyclone mATX Gaming Case Obsidian (Black)
* PSU: ABS 650W 80+ Gold ATX PSU
* Motherboard: MSI PRO B760M-VC WIFI BULK
When playing games like Rainbow Six Siege, my temps look great:
* GPU: 68°C (85% utilization)
* CPU: 69°C (around 29% utilization)
* FPS: 261
However, when I play "Escape the Backrooms", which seems to be more CPU-intensive due to procedural generation/AI/physics, my CPU temps are consistently in the 72-73°C range, with momentary, split-second spikes to 75-76°C.
My main questions are:
* Are these CPU temperatures (consistent 72-73°C, momentary 75-76°C) considered normal and safe for an Intel i5-14400F under gaming load with an air cooler?
* Intel lists the TjMax for the 14400F as 100°C. Am I correct in thinking that being in the mid-70s is perfectly fine and well within safe operating limits, and that short spikes are normal?
* Given it's a prebuilt with its stock air cooler and case airflow, should I be concerned about these numbers for long-term CPU health or performance (like throttling)?
I appreciate any insights or shared experiences from others with similar setups or knowledge of the 14400F! Thanks in advance!

[ArchieD_Intel]

Hi Itzdraco23,

Thank you for reaching out to the Intel Community Forum.

The CPU temperatures observed in this setup are within the normal and safe range for gaming loads on the Intel Core i5-14400F. Operating at 72-73°C with occasional spikes to 75-76°C is well below the maximum junction temperature (TjMax) of 100°C, indicating safe operation. CPU-intensive games should not affect long-term CPU health or performance. It's important to note that CPU temperatures can vary depending on the intensiveness of the workload, with more demanding tasks naturally leading to higher temperatures. Given the configuration with a stock air cooler and case airflow, there is no immediate cause for concern. However, ensuring good airflow within the case and regular maintenance, such as cleaning dust filters, can help maintain optimal cooling performance. If significant temperature increases or performance issues are noticed over time, it may be beneficial to check the system's airflow or consider upgrading to an aftermarket cooler for improved cooling efficiency.

If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best regards,

Archie D.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ArchieD_Intel]

Hi Itzdraco23,

Did you have a chance to review the previous post? Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you.

Best regards,

Archie D.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Davu]

Do you get these temperatures only now in the summer, or also during winter? Anyway, they’re absolutely normal and safe, yes. Should it be running at these temps? Not necessarily — with a change of thermal paste or cooler, you’d probably see completely different results.

For example, I have a 14600K overclocked to 5.8 GHz on the P-cores and 4.4 GHz on the E-cores. That’s the profile I always use when I turn on my PC — for both work and gaming. For benchmarks, I even push it higher.

With that overclock, temps go up a lot in CPU-heavy games — I hit around 60°C. When I enable ray tracing (which puts extra load on the CPU), it goes up to 70°C. ( GPU bound task 50°C)

So if I’m hitting 60°C while overclocked, it should definitely run cooler at stock — like how it comes out of the box.

[ArchieD_Intel]

Hi Itzdraco23,

Since I haven't received a response from you, I will be closing this inquiry. If you need further assistance, please submit a new question, as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Hi Davu, for us to address your concern and to avoid any confusion, please create a separate thread and one of the supports will be helping you.

Best regards,

Archie D.

Intel Customer Support Technician