Quote:Reports around the web (and posts on Intel's forums) speak in hushed, strained and horrified voices at how some users with Intel's Core i7 7700 processors are seeing strangely random temperature spikes on their processors, which prompts their cooling solutions to spin to the rescue. The report only mentions Intel's 7700 (non-K) processor; though it would seem this issue is more prone to happen with the K version of the processor, according to Intel's forums.

Apparently, some users are seeing temperature spikes that reach as high as as high as 90°C (out of a recommended 100ºC.) Some users even go as far as admitting to have replaced Intel's fabled TIM, and running the CPU under a water cooling solution, only to find those temperature spikes still happening - and their cooling solutions rev up in response.

Quote:After 37 pages of complaints on Intel’s community forums, someone from the company finally issued a statement. It reads in part, “We do not recommend running outside the processor specifications, such as by exceeding processor frequency or voltage specifications, or removing of the integrated heat spreader (sometimes called “de-lidding”). These actions will void the processor warranty.” The spokesperson also said Intel has not identified any unexpected temperature variations in its testing. Basically, it thinks the temperature spikes are normal.

This isn’t sitting well with users on the forum, who point out it makes no sense for Intel to sell a K-series CPU with an unlocked multiplier while telling people not to overclock. Even some chips that aren’t overclocked seem to be affected, making the response all the more aggravating. The only useful bit of advice from Intel is to alter the fan speed curve so it ramps up more gradually. That will at least lessen the frantic whirring as fans race to catch up with the temperature spikes.

Several posters have pledged to ditch their Intel hardware and pick up an AMD CPU. That would have seemed like an idle threat in the recent past, but the new AMD Ryzen chips are getting high praise. This is not really the time for Intel to be upsetting its enthusiast base.