Comparing the performance of the i5-6600K and the potential upgrade to the i7-6700K.
Comparing the performance of the i5-6600K and the potential upgrade to the i7-6700K.
Hello,
I'm trying to optimize my Intel i5-6600K to reach 4.6ghz. Currently at 4.3, it was unstable and kept crashing with BSODs. I adjusted the Vcore voltage from 1.320 to 1.450 but still faced issues. Various YouTubers suggested different settings, yet none helped. I returned it to 4.3ghz.
Could someone with experience in OC settings assist me in achieving 4.6ghz on this board? Or should I consider upgrading to the i7-6700K instead?
Details:
- Asus Z170-A motherboard
- Intel i5-6600K
- 16GB DDR4 RAM @2600
- EVGA GTX 1060 6GB (no OC)
- 600w PSU
On most 6600K models you can usually reach around 4.5GHz at less than 1.35V, though it really depends on the situation. Some users achieved 4.6 or even higher frequencies without hitting 1.35V, while others struggled to go beyond 4.5GHz at that voltage. Regarding RAM, ensure your CPU is stable and locked in first. Trying to adjust both simultaneously will cause issues. Set your RAM to the standard 2133MHz and focus on the CPU. Only after the CPU is steady should you proceed with the RAM changes.
Depends on your goals.
For instance, in gaming, a 4c/8t i7-6700/6700K/7700/7700K model—even at stock specifications—is likely the superior choice compared to a higher-clocked 4c/4t i5 for modern titles.
Older games tend to favor the single-core clock speed, making the i5 more suitable in certain cases.
Upgrading to an i7 is generally advisable, though cost should be weighed against it.
If you're encountering BSODs, your memory might be contributing—achieving a 6600K clock speed above 4.3GHz with higher RAM often requires careful voltage management.
On most 6600K models you can usually reach around 4.5GHz at less than 1.35V, though it really depends on the situation. Some users achieved speeds up to 4.6 or even 4.7GHz or 4.8GHz without hitting 1.35V, while others struggled to go beyond 4.5GHz at that voltage. Regarding RAM, ensure your CPU is stable and locked in first. Trying to adjust both simultaneously will cause issues. Set the RAM to the standard 2133MHz and focus on the CPU. Only after the CPU is steady should you proceed with the RAM changes.
I achieved 4.5ghz using a 1.350 voltage, and everything seems fine so far. No BSODs, system started properly. The only issue is that the cores are fluctuating between 700 and 4500 MHz during CPUID and hardware monitoring. That doesn’t sound normal—shouldn’t it stay around 4500?
The maximum height you achieve hinges on the luck of obtaining a solid chip.
As of 12/04/2016
Percentages for overclocking at a reasonable 1.40v Vcore:
I5-6600K
4.9 14%
4.8 38%
4.7 67%
4.6 87%
When I was attempting to OC a 6600K, I noticed an effect with RAM speed.
Max XMP RAM speed appeared to reduce my maximum multiplier.
Intel performance in games and apps isn’t heavily influenced by RAM speed.
Keep it simple at 4.5 if you want stability.
Dynamic adjustments are beneficial.
This indicates you’ve applied speedstep/adaptive voltage control.
It reduces the multiplier and voltage when the CPU is idle.
Running a basic stress test with cpu-Z should confirm the multiplier remains stable.
My i5-3570k would not go beyond 4.3GHz for any setting, even with voltages pushed as high as 1.55v. But was perfectly stable at 4.3GHz @ 1.108v. My i7-3770K (same cpu as i5-3570k but adds hyperthreading) would hit 4.9GHz at 1.32v and 5.0GHz at 1.404v. With very little need for tinkering.
It's called the Silicon Lottery. Intel only guarantees that the cpu will run stable at turbo/boost clocks if cooling is sufficient. Any non-factory implemented OC is a total gamble as to height and voltage. There's nothing saying you can actually get over 4.3GHz as the max turbo is 3.9GHz.
With those cpus, LLC shouldn't be over 50-70%, and vcore and VID should be as close to 0.05v difference as possible, use + and - offsets to accomplish that. Vcore should be set at idle speeds, not load.
You might attempt 4.6GHz with the same voltage and observe the results. If stability drops at 4.6GHz with 1.35V, 4.5GHz is likely your practical maximum, and you should begin reducing the voltage and experiment further to determine how much you can lower it.
Regarding the cores, SpeedStep is functioning correctly—clocks will decrease when the CPU isn’t under pressure, maintaining 4.5GHz during load (provided there’s no throttling and temperatures remain stable). You have the option to keep the clock speed at full capacity whenever needed by disabling SpeedStep, though this isn’t essential.