8700k overclocking: Which Vcores are secure? How extended should stress tests last?
8700k overclocking: Which Vcores are secure? How extended should stress tests last?
what are the recommended Vcores for the 8700k to ensure good performance and safety during continuous overclocking? 1.35v is suggested as a baseline for 5.0ghz.
for occasional overclocking, the suitable Vcores depend mainly on the specific CPU model. There isn't a fixed range, so adjustments need personal tuning.
which Vcores should be avoided during gaming sessions? Staying under 1.4v is advised for beginners.
how long should stress tests last? For initial stability checks, short 10-round runs with Intel Burn Test are enough. For final evaluation, run Prime95 for several hours followed by Intel Burn Test.
how do different LLC settings influence overclock stability? Experimenting with more or less can help. Load Line Calibration may enhance stability by minimizing voltage drops. See this guide: https://www.msi.com/blog/why-llc-is-your...erclocking
mjbn1977 :
danforthewin :
1. what are Vcores for the 8700k would be considered good and safe for 24/7 OC? 1.35v is what der8aur recommends as a starting point for 5.0ghz
2. what Vcores for the 8700k would you consider safe for occasional OC? Depends on the CPU. There's really only a general range. You'll have to fine tune it yourself.
3. what Vcores would be considered unsafe and should not be applied during gaming sessions? Don't go over 1.4v if you're new to overclocking.
4. how long should I run stress tests for a) first evaluation of stability and b) final last test before using it as 24/7 overclock. I generally do quick 10 round runs with Intel Burn Test to get a rough idea of what works and what doesn't. Then I do a final run Prime95 for a couple hours, and Intel Burn Test at 50 or so runs.
5. how do the different LLC settings affect the overclock stability. should I try more or less? Load Line Calibration can improve stability by reducing drops in voltage. refer to this article
https://www.msi.com/blog/why-llc-is-your...erclocking
6. which temperature is the temp I actually should monitor during the stress test in HWmonitor? You should consider several. The package temp is one. You should also monitor the core temps to be sure they aren't drastically different from each other. This can be a symptom of bad thermal paste application, or bad paste underneath the IHS.
Thanks for the detailed answer. What would be considered drastic in terms of temperature difference between different cores? When I run prime95 with AVX I have a max temperature difference between my core 1 (which runs the coolest of all 6) and core 2 (which runs the hottest) of about 8C - 10C. would the be considered drastic?
That would be perfectly reasonable, especially if your CPU has not been delid. If one or two cores were throttling, or borderline TJ Max, that would be cause for concern.
This would be viewed as significant based on the temperature variation between cores. According to the Intel Temperature Guide, a difference of about 8C to 10C between the hottest and coolest cores falls into the extreme range. The guide notes that while sensors aim for ±5°C accuracy, real-world performance can shift due to factors like calibration, thermal stress, and processor behavior under load. If the gap exceeds this threshold, it may indicate a problem requiring further investigation.
CompuTronix: mjbn1977: What counts as a significant temperature variation between cores? When I executed prime95 with AVX, the maximum difference between my core 1 (the coolest of all six) and core 2 (the hottest) reached around 8C to 10C. Would that be considered excessive? mjbn1977 This comes from Section 4 in the Intel Temperature Guide - "... Intel’s spec for Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) is +/- 5°C. Although sensors are factory calibrated, this implies differences between the hottest and coolest cores can reach up to 10°C. In processors with Turbo Boost, these gaps might grow slightly beyond 10°C. Sensors tend to perform better at higher temps to avoid damage, but calibration factors like linearity, slope, and range can affect accuracy. Idle temps may also show less precision..... " Also refer to Section 5.1.5.2.1, Digital Thermal Sensor Accuracy (Taccuracy), 8th Gen (S-platform) Intel® Processor Family Datasheet Vol.1 - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...vol-1.html "... The deviation in DTS readings won’t surpass +/-5°C across the full operating range.... " If your top and bottom cores differ by no more than 10°C, you’re within limits. Otherwise, you might need to return for a replacement. CT Thanks Man! I’ve reviewed your temperature guide multiple times and still discovering new details! Great work!