jbshell

Would you be able to please posting your system specs to help with guidance. Click start > type MSinfo > open the system information app in the results > click edit at the top left, select all, copy, paste results here. In addition, what brand model of storage drive are you currently using for your c drive?

but according to MSI, it is compatible with much higher CPUs. If doing heavy workloads for prolonged periods of time, 13500 or 14500(when released). I

Yes, you'll be ok with a good tower cooler for the cpu as well (unless you're using an AIO already). I'm using the thermalright assassin king SE and it's been amazing. Yes just make sure to limit the PL2 in bios and it will work amazing. I strongly recommend using the balanced windows power plan so the cpu frequencies will be dynamic and adjust itself according to usage. The max performance plan keeps all cores on base frequency and doesn't allow them to go down dynamically, and will require much more power all the time. You're in good shape with what you have. Of course, at any time you could install heatsink(s) to the VRMs independently with some strong thermal adhesive if really concerned. Congrats on your upgrade it will be a major uptick in performance.

Are you getting BSOD (Blue Screen)? If so, you can check the crash file and analyze it to find exactly what is crashing.

Upon restart you may also look at the Event Viewer. Look in the critical events section.

If no blue screen or windows has recovered from a serious error message after reboot, and no critical events, may try some troubleshooting.

Might try the usual tests:

Run Windows Disk Check and set to fix and run at startup from the admin command line CMD:
chkdsk /f /r

run the built in 'Windows Memory Diagnostic' on reboot:
http://hs.windows.microsoft.com/hhweb/content/m-en-us/p-6.2/id-4edd5f80-def2-4d32-965c-116d49fb9872/

Run system file checker at the admin command prompt CMD:
sfc /scannow

--For blue screens:

If you are getting blue screens, may need to analyze the crash file. I recommend setting the dmp file to a quick memory dmp first and re-create the crash. This way the file won't be a large file the size of running ram.

To verify your current dmp file config:

Start > Run > type in

SystemPropertiesAdvanced

Select settings under Startup and recovery

verify System Failure has both options checked.

Verify the drop down is set to Small Memory Dump. This option will create the crash file with processes and other blue screen data.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/small-memory-dump

Verify the directory for the crash file.

----------------

To read the crash file after the Blue Screen:

Install:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/

Download WinDbg

Install the WinDbg

Run WinDbg

Click File Top Left

In the list, select 'Open dump file'

The default location is in c:\Windows\ or %SystemRoot%\

select the minidump file to open it

once it loads, it make take a minute,

in the center area of the debugger, there is a place to type in commands

enter the command type in:

!analyze -v

Examine the dump file

when the report finishes, look in the list and sections for crash error specifics. There may be an application, or other information that will tell you what exactly crashed.

For example, I had an issue where a gigabyte control center, installed a cloud application, and was listed in the analysis. This helped me isolated the issue and it helped me to remove that specific application.

That's definitely a concern without VRM cooling if used for prolonged heavy utilization. It really depends on what the use will be for. For example, if using heavy multi-core workloads, a 65W CPU is strongly recommended for that VRM. Just curious where you are seeing it struggle with the 12400F? It's difficult in the market right now with the new Core Ultra details in December, and the remainder of the 14th Gen coming out after the New Year. For long term safe VRM, a 13500 would be a safe solution, which im sure the 14500 will have too, however if not using heavy CPU workloads, the 13600k will work fine as long as good case and CPU cooling, and using the Balanced Power plan (not high performance) if using Windows. Depending on GPU if gaming, 15 to 20 FPS improvement and 1.8x overall multi-core with a 13500. With a 13600k(f) +~ 30fps and 2x faster multi-core performance. I would not go with a 12600k as the 13500 is a far more efficient CPU. The boost power of a 13600k(f) will be throttled by the VRM(heat), but according to MSI, it is compatible with much higher CPUs. If doing heavy workloads for prolonged periods of time, 13500 or 14500(when released). If not heavy core workloads, 13600k(f) with balanced windows power plan, and no stress testing or benchmarks.