Adjusted to 5.1 Ghz with CPUZ verification, yet appears as 5.06 Ghz in Task Manager.
Adjusted to 5.1 Ghz with CPUZ verification, yet appears as 5.06 Ghz in Task Manager.
Hello everyone,
I'm still getting familiar with overclocking but have been experimenting a bit recently.
I recently overclocked my i7 8700k to 5.1 ghz on a MSI z370 A-Pro board, achieving a stable 1.368 vcore. The idle temperature stays around 36°C across all cores. I haven’t performed any stress or stability tests yet, but I’ve played several games with the CPU at about 40% load, and temperatures averaged between 55°C and 59°C—rarely exceeding 62°C. Is this within an acceptable range?
My other worry is: using CPUZ to verify the frequency, it consistently shows 5,100 Mhz across all cores, with only minor variations of + or - 1 to 2 Mhz.
However, checking Task Manager and the CPU Performance section reveals a frequency of just 5.06 Ghz with no fluctuations. Could this indicate a bottleneck in my system?
I’ve disabled speed step, adaptive voltage, c-state, and selected the High Performance power plan to keep the clock steady at 5.1 Ghz. I have a GTX1080 and a 650W PSU, so power supply seems fine, as the frequency was clearly visible in CPUZ at 5100 Mhz.
Appreciate all your advice!
Which CPU cooler do you own? Speed and workload differ, but your temperatures seem okay.
Don't rely on task manager, it's far from the best tool for checking clock speeds. I've noticed it showing 3.xghz on my 4690K at 4.5ghz before. All other programs like HWINFO, CPU-Z and HWMonitor are reliable for this purpose.
I'm not sure if those readings are accurate. It's important to perform a stress test for better thermal data. Make sure your system stays under 80°C.
SgtScream is asking about the CPU cooler they have, mentioning the frequency and load, and noting that their temperatures seem okay. They mention using a Corsair H60 AIO 120mm cooler. They are confused about why the CPUZ readings differ from the Task Manager readings for clock speed, and they want to know how lowering the overclock affects the consistency between the two tools.
I absolutely wouldn't install that CPU on an H60. The radiator simply lacks sufficient space to cool it properly. I recommend returning the CPU to its original state and opting for a 240mm rad minimum or a premium air cooler at your earliest convenience.
It's merely how Task Manager evaluates performance. It isn't a reliable method. Disregard Task Manager.
Wow, that H60 is really not sufficient even for stock tasks. Stop. Either lower the voltage and reduce the clock speed of your CPU to 4.3-4.5ghz or find a much better cooling solution.
EDIT: My mistake, I assumed you had a 9900K. Just revert to stock and it should work fine, but avoid any overclocking.
Thank you for your responses. I now feel more confident about relying less on the Task Manager to check temperatures.
Still, would it be acceptable to keep the processor at 5.0 Ghz with a temperature near 50°C while gaming? (I typically use this PC for about 4 hours and turn it off afterward, so it doesn’t run continuously)