Consider if upgrading your i7 7700k is beneficial for your needs.
Consider if upgrading your i7 7700k is beneficial for your needs.
I am curious about the potential gains from cooling my CPU further.
Currently I use
Mobo: GA-Z170-HD3 DDR3
Mem: Kingston DDR3 1600 8GBx4
Case temp: 40deg Celcius
CPU idle: 40-45deg celcius
CPU loaded: 70-80deg celcius
Max overclock achieved: 4.8Ghz with 1.3Vcore (Aida64 test CPU temp 75-85deg celcius)
If I pump 4.9Ghz, with 1.38Vcore, I can see Aida64 test encountered CPU Throttling problem and temp up to 95%.
I just want to know if cooling my processor more, using CLU... will allow it to reach 5.2Ghz?
Please share your experience about the maximum overclock you could achieve after cooling.
I wouldn't suggest removing the heatsink outright. Results vary—some users see improvements, while others face CPU damage or minimal gains. Should I invest around $350 to swap it out if things go wrong? If reaching the next multiplier costs nearly 0.1v, achieving 5.2ghz seems unlikely. With idle temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s, your room temperature is probably quite warm (around 30°C or more). What model are you using?
If you're aiming for maximum performance, it's fine, but realistically you won't see much extra speed from it. The stock speeds are labeled as up to 4.5ghz, so under full load you'd be close to 4.3ghz—about a 12% boost. A further 100-200mhz gain won't make much difference in practice.
I understand this is still below your target, but your voltage margin is close to 1.4v. For continuous use, it's usually not wise to push the voltage too high. Cooling matters, but so does voltage. Maintaining a cool CPU is essential, yet excessive voltage can shorten its lifespan or cause damage. In summary, overclocking is complex and risky—each CPU behaves differently, especially when it comes to delidding. Just as people share their successful setups, the outcome depends on many factors. If someone claims they've hit 5.2ghz, that doesn't guarantee the same for you.
My 7700K has been delidded and I really like it. It runs much cooler even at 5 GHz. I have several photos and even made a guide on how to delid a processor and what you need. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. I can reach 5.1 GHz at 1.40V and 5.2 GHz at 1.44V, though it’s not fully stable.
My 7700K has been delidded and I really like it. It runs much cooler even at 5 GHz. I have many pictures and even made a tutorial on how to delid a processor and what you need. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have. I can reach 5.1 GHz at 1.40V and 5.2 GHz at 1.44V, though it’s not fully stable. Another thing to consider is the lifespan of the clu. How long can it last before it needs to be replaced again?
I'm using a Noctua NH-D14 and it's already a decent cooler. If it gets too hot, a delidding process should bring the temperature down to around 10°C. For better results, the CPU should be Kabylake or Skylake, or I might need to buy a delidding tool from eBay for about $15 to $20.
I'm using a Noctua NH-D14. It's a decent cooler for the i7-7700, right?