Attempting to overclock my i7-8700k using an Asus Prime Z370-a motherboard requires assistance!
Attempting to overclock my i7-8700k using an Asus Prime Z370-a motherboard requires assistance!
Hey everyone, I just purchased and configured my first PC build. Now I'm diving into the process of overclocking my CPU to its peak performance while keeping it stable. Since this is my first time, I'm reaching out for advice—would anyone mind sharing their experience with an i7-8700k setup? I've been researching and believe I've achieved some success, but I plan to revert to the default settings once I get clearer guidance from more seasoned overclockers. Thanks a lot!
Wondering why you opted for overclocking despite purchasing DDR 2666mhz instead of 3200mhz? Each processor has its own maximum. The best approach is to begin with an overclock profile in your BIOS, then adjust the voltage starting from the stock level and gradually increasing it, keeping it below 1.4v. Begin with the boost speed and increase from there.
No matter the outcome, you probably won’t see any significant improvement in games. I enjoyed pushing my 7700k to 5.0 but now let it run at 4.2. FPS remain consistent at 4K, and my CPU operates much cooler.
I only purchased 2666MHz RAM for short-term use, even though I intended to have 3200MHz by next week. My original plan was to buy 3200MHz, but I was limited by budget. Thanks for the information, but could you explain how a voltage increase might help with my overclock? Would I also need to add more CPU cores?
Hi jaysolo23,
The initial goal of overclocking is to determine the lowest voltage needed for a specific speed.
First, at the default setting, record your frequency and the voltage you observe during the stress test.
Then, switch your settings to manual mode in your BIOS.
You have two options:
1°/ Improved performance:
Start with the standard voltage, increase the multiplier until it becomes unstable, then adjust the voltage (increments of 0.025-0.05V) and continue.
Once you achieve the desired stable frequency, reduce the voltage as much as possible while maintaining stability.
2°/ Better thermal management:
Maintain the original frequency and lower the voltage to the extent possible until it becomes unstable.
After completing your adjustments and ensuring stability for your needs, you can reactivate power-saving features such as C-States and set the voltage to adaptive, allowing it to change with the load.
Tips: keep the voltage below 1.38V and temperature under 85°C during testing for regular use.
Rodolphe.
I managed to get back into adjusting my CPU settings and now I noticed another possible problem. When I set the core voltage in my BIOS to 1.35V and the core clock to 5GHz, after booting up, CPU-Z reports a voltage increase from 1.328V to 1.344V. This occurs while running CinebenchR15 at full load. Could you help me understand this behavior? Is it normal or problematic? And if so, what should be the ideal voltage for my CPU at that frequency?
P.S. While under load, the CPU temperature reaches 79°C, even with the current voltage setting. I've tried lowering the voltage and still see this jump, but I've disabled turbo mode.
Hi here is a guide by der8auer one of the best overclockers on the ASUS boards with the 8700K and the settings should work for you as well or at least give you a baseline:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoUtA7DKXhU
And this guide and thread might also help:
https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/...ock_guide/
I actually purchased only 2666MHz RAM for short-term use, though I intended to have 3200MHz by next week. My original plan was to buy 3200MHz, but I was constrained by my budget. Still, thanks for the information—could you clarify what effect a higher voltage would have on improving my overclock? Would increasing CPU cores be part of that process as well?
There’s nothing wrong with the RAM I bought; in fact, I currently run it at 2666MHz while using 3200MHz.
Because the 8700K CPU was built by Intel to operate at 2666MHz, running your memory according to its specifications helps the CPU stay cooler and enables a higher multiplier for overclocking.
Your RAM would operate at 2400MHz at timings of 15,15,15,35 with a voltage of 1.20V in the DDR4 slot.
It seems you’ve already built your first machine and are now considering overclocking. Take your time to learn how to adjust BIOS settings properly—getting full control is important.
This advice is still relevant, though it’s an older post:
You’ll be limited first by cooling; maintaining temperatures is essential.
Your next challenge lies in your overclocking knowledge, which you can improve by researching online.
Understanding CPU limits and temperature effects is crucial, so pay attention to when you exceed safe operating conditions for your cooling setup.
Your learning will determine how far you can push your system.
Good luck! Ryan
The 8700k memory controller operates at 2666mhz, which might seem odd since running RAM at 2400mhz could cause a bottleneck. It's not advisable to follow this approach, and it doesn't significantly impact performance for Intel systems. Faster RAM does offer better speed, but 3200mhz provides the optimal balance of cost and performance.