Are there any issues with your motherboard?
Are there any issues with your motherboard?
Darkbreeze shared:
SgtScream clarified that as long as you stay below 100c and within safe voltage limits for the CPU, everything should be okay.
I must admit this isn't entirely correct. It seems you need to consult the Intel temperature guide and adjust your expectations. The TjMax is 100 degrees, which means you've already reached a dangerous temperature. Throttling should start then, but if you hit TjMax it likely means you've surpassed recommended VRM temperatures and VRM throttling has started.
I concur with the information you provided because it matches exactly what I mentioned: "As long as you don't come close to 100c."
85c is not ideal since it's nearing that threshold, which aligns with the warning. Intel processors tend to overheat due to their poor thermal performance.
Hopefully, the 9th generation chips will be built with better soldering, so we won’t see repeated forum discussions about overheating processors.
His temperatures are acceptable during that specific stress test with the overclock, but the overall build purpose isn't for constant stress testing.
It probably isn't meant to run continuously at high loads like a 95 stress test does.
I doubt the quality MSI Z370-A motherboard's VRMs are overheating, especially since it's a reputable board.
I think you're emphasizing his temperatures more than necessary, as most people do when this subject arises.
I'm not exaggerating too much; I'm just pointing out that it's higher than you'd typically prefer to see. I understand he has more than the usual two cores compared to most past i7 models, even though his is an i5. However, my 6700k with it still has four hyperthreads, which puts extra demand on the cores that are present. Most i7 boards I've worked with or seen have managed to keep temperatures well under 75°C at 4.5Ghz.
So, even with the extra cores, it's still close to the limit you'd rather avoid. The low vcore really suggests the overclocking isn't stable. It’s especially concerning if he hasn’t set up a voltage load calibration yet to help stabilize things when voltage drops under heavy use.
I’d run Realbench for eight hours and pick the "Up to 16GB" setting. If it succeeds, that’s good. If not, you’ll likely need to boost the vcore—raising it will only push temperatures past what you can comfortably accept.
What I’m curious about is the case setup: what fans are there, how many, their sizes, placement, and configuration. Even if the system meets specs, poor case airflow can cause VRMs to throttle, regardless of whether core temps are within range. If the case isn’t providing enough airflow, VRMs will start throttling just to keep things stable, which is a red flag no matter what the board specs say.
Additionally, without strong case airflow, the CPU cooler tends to circulate hot air inside the case rather than effectively cooling the chip. This could happen even on a good board if the airflow is insufficient.
Or maybe it’s just fine and I’m not quite sure. But I’m not confident about that either.
What leads you to believe a slight overclock would cause issues? He’s not even pushing the CPU hard enough to warrant it. The system was built to support more than a modest increase, and the cooler should handle temperatures well above 180w. Based on what I’ve learned, an overclocked i5-8600K reaching 5ghz typically stays under 100w, so the main concern seems to be airflow in the case. At this stage, the 200mhz frequency is unlikely to cause problems. It’s Friday night—he might have forgotten about this thread and is too caught up in gaming to worry about thermal risks. Have a great weekend!
You're not as complicated as you seem, are you? I understand the CPU's base clock is 3.6Ghz—that’s a 900MHz overclock, not just a 200MHz one. Almost reaching full 1Ghz. A complete overclock in any form demands thorough stability checks. Claiming otherwise suggests a real lack of grasp on how these systems actually work and the serious risks involved beyond basic crashes or blue screens. Issues like micro-errors can lead to data loss, and even minor problems can cause system instability. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 100Mhz overclock; stability must always be confirmed.
"Just gaming" is what I hear often. It doesn’t matter. Errors at this level can ruin not only your operating system but also all your personal files if they’re moved, edited, or backed up. There are countless reasons why suggesting any overclock is risky—even XMP settings need proper testing. Just because a manufacturer says it’s stable doesn’t guarantee it will be on your specific hardware. Going above the JEDEC SPD spec technically counts as an overclock, and some can reach 2400Mhz or more. If your RAM is 2666Mhz or higher and you’ve enabled XMP, it needs intense testing with tools like Memtest86 or Prime Blend in Custom mode to ensure reliability.
Manufacturers often exaggerate their cooler’s TDP capabilities. That’s a small finstack, 120mm unit. If it can handle a 180W CPU, I’m not sure I’ll bother further. It’s just too much nonsense to even attempt fixing it properly.
Prime is mainly for handling stability concerns, rarely pushing the CPU to full capacity most of the time, especially during gaming; it's not a major issue. 79 remains a safe temperature, but going beyond that could be better. Consider trying to overclock the RAM.
I have disabled the XMP profile and plan to execute RealBench for 12 hours on Monday to check for any issues. Thus far, five threads have reported the same problem on the identical motherboard, although that detail might have been overlooked. This recurring pattern among various factors makes it even more confusing about the root cause. As mentioned, temperatures remain normal. 72*C after an hour of Prime95 is within an acceptable range for me, particularly given the cooler and paste conditions.
Now, for clarity:
Case: Zalman R1
Airflow: Two intake fans at the front (stock Zalman, 120mm), one exhaust fan at the back (Cooler Master, 120mm). One spare is available but not used to maintain positive air pressure.
Temperatures are stable.
CPU @ 4.5GHz: 72*C (74*C) maximum after one hour in Prime95 (26.6)
GPU OC @ 150MHz cc, 350MHz mc: 69*C after two hours in Heaven Benchmark (1440P, all at max)
Honestly, after reviewing everything, I might consider dropping the OC entirely—it doesn’t seem worth the effort or time. Sorry for the extra cost of 8600K when I could have used 8400 instead.
Ilijas Ramic shares his thoughts on the situation. He mentions that Prime is mainly for stability reasons and that the CPU rarely reaches 100%, making it a manageable issue. He suggests trying to overclock the RAM as an alternative solution. He also expresses frustration about not being heard.
If anyone remains keen:
https://imgur.com/a/F77ssnx
The temporary display was captured roughly 7.5 hours ago.
Its ok idk why are you worried about it. You are fine. What cooler are you using ?
Yes, these temperatures are acceptable and the overclock appears stable. You can proceed with the memory now because it's currently operating at 2400mhz as advertised. Download Memtest86 from Passmark and create a bootable USB drive. Restart your system, enter BIOS, activate the XMP profile or adjust memory timings, speed, and voltage to match the advertised values or your preferences, then designate your USB drive as the primary boot device. Perform four passes of Memtest86. Any errors indicate an unstable memory setup. No issues detected, everything is fine.