Additional queries and guidance requests
Additional queries and guidance requests
Hey there,
I'm just starting out with overclocking and wasn't sure where to begin. I recently assembled a new PC (without a graphics card) and I’m looking for some guidance on a few points.
My current specs are:
- 11900k
- z590 Maximus Hero Xiii
- Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 aio
- Trident Z Neo 32gb 3600mhz 16-16-16-36 (out of the box)
- Samsung 980 Pro 1tb
- Phanteks p500a drgb
- ax850 titanium
First, regarding temperatures: I ran a performance benchmark and saw my CPU hit 90°C. Is this typical for an Arctic Freezer II 360? With Intel adaptive boosting enabled, could it be the cause of the high temps? Or did I do something wrong with thermal paste application? Also, I’m considering tweaking my CPU further, but with these temps I’m unsure if it’s safe to do so.
For RAM, I’m wondering how to maximize its performance. Should I lower the frequency to 3200 and adjust timings, or is there a better method? What’s the ideal way to overclock or underclock it?
Lastly, any tips for leveraging my motherboard? I know there’s a ReTry option for overclocking, but I’m not sure how to use it. Thanks all in advance! I hope this isn’t in the wrong place and my questions make sense.
I don't have experience with the Arctic Freezer II 360, but this seems typical for the 11900K version due to number 2.
Yeah, it's Adaptive Boost Technology at work. I saw a KitGuru video showing that. Performance, power, voltage, and temperatures 'to the moon'!
Probably not. Getting paste application right is tricky unless you're using something like TG Kryonaut, which requires a full IHS spread and you skip it for the middle part.
Intel made overclocking less exciting for those who aren't familiar or just curious.
Thermal Velocity Boost, available only on i9s, adds an extra 100mhz overall, as long as...
I don’t have any prior experience with the Arctic Freezer II 360, though this might be typical given the 11900K specification.
2) Yeah, it’s the Adaptive Boost Technology at work. I saw a KitGuru video showing that. Performance, power, voltage, and temperatures are impressive!
3) Probably not. Getting paste application right is tricky unless you use something like TG Kryonaut, which requires a full IHS spread and you skip that step.
4) Intel has made overclocking less appealing for beginners or casual enthusiasts.
-Thermal Velocity Boost, available only on i9s, adds an extra 100mhz as long as temperatures stay under 70°C.
-Adaptive Boost Technology (also exclusive to i9s) automatically overclocks to the maximum level. However, similar to other auto-voltage settings, it might benefit from a -30 or -50mv adjustment. It should still reach above 80°C under certain conditions.
-Intel has already significantly limited performance gains on their newest CPUs. This is quite different from what users could achieve with older Sandy Bridge and Haswell chips.
I won’t claim CPU overclocking is impossible, but the expectations have definitely risen for newcomers.
The RAM details are beyond my expertise. Someone else should probably share advice on that.
The throttle point for Intel is approximately 100c.
Performing a stress test at 90c is acceptable, but it’s unusual to go that high.
I assume your airflow unit is fine. If your idle temps sit between 10-15c above ambient, it should be okay.
However, with an AIO, keep an eye on things—over time air can enter the system and eventually require replacement.
When overclocking, I wouldn’t attempt it unless your software supports multithreading and can handle all threads fully.
The thermal boost feature works well, raising a few cores beyond what an OC can achieve and directing them to tasks that need it.
Regarding RAM, I wouldn’t bother unless it’s capable of running smoothly at higher speeds; otherwise, it would likely be sold as 4000-speed kits at a premium.
You might have a chance if you’re lucky.
In reality, Intel real app performance isn’t greatly affected by RAM speed.
I’d probably avoid installing the built-in apps unless you truly need a specific function.
I believe enabling MCE on the Asus board could cause significant temperature rises. Is that accurate?
It’s difficult to assess your pastejob quality without visual evidence. Take off the heatsink and inspect the situation. Is there sufficient paste coverage? Not excessive, and it shouldn’t be leaking from the CPU sides. That would be problematic.
If you wish to evaluate your cooler, try OCCT in extreme mode with all threads or run Prime95 small FFTs. I don’t regularly use Passmark; it feels more like a toy.
RAM OC is essential. Set a baseline using standard clocks across every program and game you intend to use.
Some applications, especially bandwidth-heavy ones, benefit from low latency. At 3200 Mhz with CL 12-14-14, games might perform better—but this needs verification.
Switching to 4000 Mhz CL 18-20-20 could improve bandwidth-limited tasks by 5-10%. This might help with editing large files or databases, though results are hypothetical.
You must decide whether you prioritize latency or bandwidth. You can’t have both. Aida64 can provide those specific numbers.
Retry-button? Are you referring to the Reset-button on certain motherboards? It functions similarly to a reset (if available). Useful during extensive overclocking.
CMOS reset can also reset BIOS settings back to defaults, enabling boot even after unstable configurations. If your system fails to pass POST, this could be helpful.
Overclocking demands patience and knowledge. Read extensively—RAM OC guides, etc.—understanding BIOS impacts is crucial. CPU overclocking is now more accessible than RAM tuning.
On the Ryzen platform, you have 50 adjustable parameters. It may take months to fine-tune, and quick stability checks aren’t definitive. Spend time running every program for several hours weekly to assess RAM stability. Any BSODs or random restarts indicate instability. Fast stability tests can quickly eliminate problematic settings, but edge cases remain. System crashes could occur if instability persists. You need to manage all variables, including BIOS version. Don’t assume compatibility across versions; each BIOS version has its limits. Upgrading BIOS isn’t always beneficial—older versions may still work fine. Manufacturers often disable features in newer releases for stability. Testing is key before committing. My experience shows that an OC at 3200-3333 MHz on RAM two years ago no longer functions with any BIOS since then, even with XMP enabled. My current setup uses 3000 MHz RAM with XMP.
The 11900k chip isn’t impressive. It consumes a lot of power, and 95-99% of that energy becomes heat. CPUs are generally efficient at converting power to heat. Consider checking fan curves for radiator fans—higher RPMs generate more noise but better cooling.