6700k True Overclocking Issues
6700k True Overclocking Issues
I haven't overclocked since the 2500k chip was in its prime (my machine clocked at 4.6 Ghz is still running 24/7 just fine for over 5 years now). I recently decided to build a 2nd machine with the 6700k chip, specifications:
EVGA DG 8 case (6 Fans + 2 Rad Fans)
Intel 6700k
Asus Maximus VIII Hero
Corsair H105 (Pull config, soon to be push/pull)
GSkill Ripjaws V Series 2 x 16GB
EVGA SuperNova 750
Arctic Silver
Mushkin 480GB SSD
WD Blue 4 TB x 2 (Raid 1)
EVGA GTX 1060 SC 6 GB
The first issue I have I noticed immediately. I cannot find a way for a true overclock. Maybe I am too old fashion for this, but back in the day we considered overclocking the turbo functionality a 'wimpy' way to OC a processor. My 2500k has turbo disabled, and the actual base speed of the chip is tuned up. Is this possible with the 6700k to disable turbo, and overclock this chip correctly? I have a feeling this is just because of the Asus board, but I could be wrong.
The second issue I have is with my temps. I have found out that part of this issue is that P95 has changed and the latest version causes wildly high temps. My issue would be is P95/IBT still the gold standard? I have tried the new ASUS real bench, but do not know how reliable it is when searching for a stable overclock. All three of these give me a range of different temps.
I was here when we created the Intel Overclocking Club, and Ryan was cooling his 2500k with a coleman cooler and frozen jugs of water. Maybe I am a bit too old school for this new stuff...
I believe calling "overclocking" for Skylake is an oversimplification. Previously, you raised the voltage to boost performance. Now, the motherboard changes the voltage (VCORE) based on a higher multiplier. How effectively your i7-6700K can be overclocked depends mainly on obtaining a suitable chip.
As of May 2016, the percentage of users who could achieve an overclock with a reasonable 1.40V Vcore varied as follows:
4.9% for 2%, 4.8% for 17%, 4.7% for 59%, 4.6% for 93%, and 4.5% for 100%.
Your maximum overclock limit is set by the temperature you can handle, not just the voltage. I prefer stress testing with OCCT, which uses standard instructions. Prime95 and IBT are uncommon choices. The test will stop automatically at 85°C. With Skylake, the situation changes...
I believe the label "overclocking" for Skylake is inaccurate. Previously, you would raise the voltage to boost performance. Now, the focus shifts to adjusting the multiplier, and the motherboard fine-tunes the voltage (VCORE) to meet the demand. The extent of your i7-6700K's performance largely depends on the quality of the chip you obtain. As of May 2016, the percentage of users who could successfully overclock at a reasonable 1.40V Vcore varied significantly: 4.9% for 4.9, 17% for 4.8, 59% for 4.7, 93% for 4.6, and 100% for 4.5. It appears your maximum achievable speed is set by the core temperature you can handle, not just the voltage. I prefer stress-testing with OCCT, which employs a more standard instruction set. Prime95 and IBT are uncommon choices. The test will automatically stop if temperatures rise to 85°C. With Skylake, simply increasing the maximum multiplier is often sufficient; maintain default voltages. When you hit your ceiling, use speedstep—a feature on many motherboards that reduces both multiplier and voltage during low activity. You can track performance via CPU-Z. Regarding RAM, stick to the stock 1.2V specification, which typically supports around 2400 MHz. Higher speeds usually demand higher voltage, potentially limiting your overclock potential. A detailed guide on RAM speed scaling is available here: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html
Turbo used to be weak, but now manufacturers are doing a great job extracting maximum performance from the CPU without needing custom cooling solutions. Regarding P95, there have been some adjustments in the testing method and newer versions of the 6700k tend to produce more heat than older ones. Check this link for details: You might experiment with adjusting voltages yourself to surpass the built-in overclock profiles or XMP settings, though I’m unsure what benefits you’d gain compared to the issues that come with it. Have fun overclocking!