Are there any issues with your motherboard?
Are there any issues with your motherboard?
Hello once more,
this forum has proven extremely useful lately in addressing my PC building challenges. I’m reaching out for your guidance again.
I attempted to push my CPU to a slight overclock of 4.5GHz just to test its limits and see if my cooler could keep up. I increased the vCore voltage to 1.2V and ran Prime95. After a short while, the CPU automatically lowered itself to 3.5GHz, with temperatures steadily climbing to around 71°C.
After some research and trying various adjustments (disabling XMP, adjusting voltage, modifying clock speeds, shutting down SpeedStep...), I found a similar discussion suggesting that raising the Long and Short duration power limits in the BIOS to maximum might help. I applied this change and ran Prime95 for about an hour.
The result was promising: the clocks remained stable at 4500MHz, and the peak temperature dropped to 79°C—though still higher than ideal given my relatively weak cooler. Once the temperature peaked, it gradually fell back to around 69–72°C and settled into a more manageable range.
Despite this improvement, some concerns remain:
- Could increasing power limits affect my motherboard or CPU?
- Is setting the maximum temperature to 79°C safe for Prime95?
- I’m new to overclocking, so these questions are basic.
P.S.: Currently, I’ve disabled Intel SpeedStep. Should I reinstate it?
Specs:
- Motherboard: MSI Z370-A PRO
- CPU: i5 8600K @ 4.5GHz
- Cooler: SilentiumPC Fera 3
- GPU: Gigabyte 1070 Ti
- RAM: Kingston HyperX Predator DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz CL16
- HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
- Power Supply: Corsair RM750x
TL;DR: To prevent the CPU from underclocking during stress tests, I increased the Long/Short duration power limit in BIOS to maximum. The voltage stays low (1.2V), and the OC remains moderate (4.5GHz). It appears to resolve the issue, though temperatures are still higher than ideal. Future stability seems more likely.
79 falls within the acceptable range, though I personally think it's too high. I plan to re-test using Prime95 version 26.6 with the Small FFT option. More recent versions that include AVX instructions struggle with realistic tasks and aren't ideal for thermal testing. Standard AVX applications wouldn't typically handle the kinds of workloads found in Prime versions that use those instructions. For consistency, I recommend running 8 hours of Realbench. Select stress test, input your installed RAM amount, set duration to 8 hours, and proceed. Any result below a pass indicates a problem, so ensure you optimize your CPU settings before altering the default SPD configuration of 2133mhz or any other defaults. Once the CPU is...
79c works well with that CPU. I have a 8700k OC'ed to 4.5ghz and experience similar temperatures as well.
Don't worry too much about the CPU temperatures until they reach around 85°C or more.
Increasing the voltage usually leads to more heat generation, which can shorten the system's lifespan. However, you're only slightly increasing it and maintaining good temperatures. You should be fine.
79 falls within the acceptable range, though I personally think it's a bit too high. I plan to re-test with Prime95 version 26.6, opting for the Small FFT mode. More recent versions that include AVX instructions tend to handle extreme workloads poorly and aren't ideal for thermal testing. Standard AVX applications wouldn't typically require the intense tasks seen in Prime versions utilizing AVX instructions.
For consistency, I recommend running 8 hours of Realbench. Select the stress test, input your installed RAM capacity, set the duration to 8 hours, and proceed with the test. Any result below a pass indicates a problem, so ensure you perform all necessary CPU-related checks before altering memory settings from the default SPD configuration (2133mhz). Once the CPU is fully verified at its specs, you may then enable XMP settings or manually configure the memory.
I haven’t needed to adjust any parameters as described in your previous attempts. This should be reserved for extremely high-end overclocks or advanced fine-tuning later on.
I’d revert to the default BIOS settings and reconfigure, beginning with the maximum core turbo boost available for your CPU and adjusting upward accordingly.
If your system is throttling—especially at a 4.5GHz overclock—I suspect there may be other configuration issues or VRM problems. It could be a loose VRM heatsink, improperly applied cooler paste, or insufficient case airflow. To diagnose, consider downloading HWinfo, installing it, running Prime95, and examining the VRM and thermal sensors. Take screenshots; usually, three images are enough to capture all relevant data. You can share them here. Generally, this process takes around three screenshots before you notice any significant changes. When opening HWinfo, try running "sensors only."
I've saved the 26.6 version and will share the HWInfo screens later today.
A quick remark worth noting—earlier discussions about increasing power limits seem to refer to the same CPU and motherboard configuration, possibly indicating a broader production issue.
After executing Small FFT on the 26.6 version for an hour, here are the details.
(Uncertain about whether my motherboard includes VRM sensors)
Image: https://imgur.com/a/TO5oAku
SgtScream clarifies the situation, stating that as long as you stay below 100c and within safe voltage limits for the CPU, everything is okay. However, they emphasize the importance of following the Intel temperature guide and adjusting your approach. They warn that reaching TjMax indicates a high risk of exceeding recommended VRM temperatures, which could trigger throttling.
I don't think so at all. I would have mentioned otherwise, of course. I've also looked into possible VRM issues and currently, the focus seems to be on AVX workloads. This is the second discussion about the MSI Z370 suggesting higher power limits. What are your thoughts?