4.8Ghz Core i3 6100 OC can run in air mode according to BCLK OC.
4.8Ghz Core i3 6100 OC can run in air mode according to BCLK OC.
Some are wondering if the Core i3 6100 can achieve 4.8Ghz or more with air cooling. I’m currently running it at 4.7GHz using a Hyper 212 Evo cooler, which maintains stability at a higher voltage (between 1.42 and 1.44 volts). Would a superior cooler help reduce the voltage and push closer to 4.8Ghz? Which model would you suggest? I’m not familiar with water coolers, so I prefer sticking with air cooling. My case has enough clearance for an 165mm component.
Recent updates: I’ve lowered the Vcore to 1.4v until finding a better cooler. Currently, ROGBench and prime95 are stable at 4.625Ghz.
Another update (5-16-2016): Thanks for the advice. I’m adjusting the Vcore down to 1.4v until I find a better cooler. So far, ROGBench and prime95 are working well at 4.625Ghz.
Update (5-26-2016): Still performing smoothly with 1.4vcore and no overheating issues. I haven’t replaced my cooler yet, but I’ll update soon! For now, I’m adding this thread with my system details for those interested in non-K overclocking:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/XgQqqk
Update (6-28-2016): Included helpful guides:
http://www.tweaktown.com/guides/7481/twe...index.html
http://overclocking.guide/category/intel...-non-k-oc/
Link to UserBenchmark results:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/1177978
System specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core
- Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing
- Board: MSI Z170M Mortar Micro ATX LGA1151
- RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000
- Storage: Crucial M500 480GB 2.5" SSD
- Storage: Toshiba 3TB 3.5" HDD
- Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr
- Case: Silverstone TJ08B-E MicroATX Mini Tower
- PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W (80+ Platinum)
Prime95 remains stable at that voltage. I plan to run AIDA64 for 4 hours as suggested. Temperatures peak at 70°C until the fan reaches full speed, after which it drops to about 62°C under load. Voltage is my main worry because I’m confident with an i3 that handles overclocking and don’t want any damage. I heard temperature might be the limiting factor, but I think the heat is more important than voltage for chip longevity. Would the voltage impact how long the chip lasts even if temperatures are fine?
Voltage influences both the lifespan of the CPU and its heat generation. I plan to lower the vcore to 1.4 or lower and accept any stable clock speed. The performance gap between 4.6/4.7 and 4.8 will be minimal. By the way, what motherboard and RAM are you using?
Someone is wondering if the Core i3 6100 can achieve a clock speed of 4.8Ghz or more with air cooling. I have an overclocked model running at 4.7GHz using a Hyper 212 Evo cooler, which is stable but operates at a higher voltage (1.42-1.44v). Would a better cooler help maintain or lower the voltage and get closer to 4.8Ghz? Which one would you suggest? I don’t have much experience with water coolers, so I prefer sticking with air cooling. My MATX case has a clearance of 165mm. If you don’t mind me asking, what makes your current clock speed so high? I’m just curious because when I heavily overclocked my i5-6400 to 4.7Ghz it was stable but required a high voltage on an H110I GTX. I was trying it for COD Black Ops 3, but after switching to Windows 10 everything ran much better—CPU usage dropped from 100% to around 30%, and GPU usage fell to 35-40% in both games at ultra settings. That’s why I’m leaning toward a more moderate overclock with lower voltages, or upgrading the GPU if performance is the main goal. That’s what I’ve found so far.
As for cooler options, I managed to keep my CPU at 60°C with 1.375V at 4.5GHz using the Hyper 212 Evo and the package temperature setting due to the base clock’s overclock limitations.
Upgrading coolers: I moved from the 212 to the H110I GTX, which I’m very satisfied with except for the noisy fans. I was considering switching to the Noctua NH-D15 but didn’t because of a sale and a better price. The case looked nice with the hoses inside.
I hope you figure out your situation, and good luck!
BadActor :
Voltage impacts the lifespan of the CPU and heat generation. I plan to lower the vcore to 1.4 or lower, content with the stable clock speed you achieve. The performance gap between 4.6/4.7 and 4.8 won't be significant. By the way, what motherboard and RAM are you employing?
I'm running a MSI Z170M with 2x8GB G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 3000.
Jasonhickman17 asked Chenuki if anyone believes the Core i3 6100 could achieve 4.8Ghz or above with air cooling. He shared his experience of having a stable 4.7GHz with a Hyper 212 Evo cooler, running at 127MHz BCLK but requiring a higher voltage (1.42-1.44v). He inquired about whether a superior cooler could enable lower voltage and closer to 4.8Ghz, and sought recommendations. He mentioned his current setup has 165mm clearance in his mATX case. He also questioned why his current clock speed is so high, referencing past overclocking issues with the i5-6400 and performance drops in games after switching to Windows 10. He suggested considering moderate overclocking with lower voltages or upgrading the GPU if performance improvement is the goal. He shared that he managed to keep his CPU at 60°C with 1.375V at 4.5GHz using the Hyper 212 Evo and package temperature, due to limitations in monitoring temperatures during overclocks. Regarding cooler upgrades, he moved from the 212 to the H110i GTX, which he was very satisfied with despite noisy fans, but considered the Noctua NHD15 as an alternative. He hoped others would find their solution and wished them good luck.
The main consideration is the performance factor. I purchased this chip for a mATX build with future plans to upgrade to an i7. Observing how the i3 performs now compared to an i7 seems excessive. This i3 will likely handle some light HTC Vive action after I push its limits.
Your H110i GTX appears to be a powerful cooler! It probably won’t fit in my mATX case. I’m not really interested in water cooling since I’m worried about leaks. Although premium models might be leak-free, it feels safer to stick with air cooling for now.
I’ll check out the Noctua 15. Thanks for the suggestion.
No worries, and I was just as concerned about leaks before getting the cooler as before I learned the company would cover any leaks within the warranty period.
Regarding the i3, i5, and i7 discussion, I think the i5 is sufficient for my needs. I’m not experiencing any bottlenecks or areas that require optimization, so even for VR gaming, a fast quad-core processor without hyper-threading should be enough. But I’m not an expert in this area.
What GPU are you using?
The Noctua D15 is quite light at just 3 lbs, right? The dual fan model might be too big, while the single unit could work better. If you have any suggestions for other good air coolers, feel free to share! Thanks.