Did you receive a top-tier CPU (i5 4670K at 4.6GHz, 55C)?
Did you receive a top-tier CPU (i5 4670K at 4.6GHz, 55C)?
I just got a new CPU from a friend and wanted to try overclocking. I set the voltage to 1.25V and the clock speed to 4.6GHz. After running the AIDA64 stress test for an hour, the temperatures stayed below 55°C. I used a cheap cooler (cryorig h7) and a B85 motherboard (Biostar Hi-Fi B85S3). This is my first overclocking attempt—are these temperatures typical? Should I push it to 4.8 GHz and 1.30V, or could that shorten its lifespan too much?
The Cryorig H7 performs excellently as an air cooler. Don't dismiss the more affordable options as inferior. Keep in mind that temperatures (and voltage) increase rapidly as you near the brick wall. Even at 4.6ghz, it could drop to 1.25v, and at 4.7ghz stable it might reach 1.35v. Combined with your budget motherboard, this brings you closer to a potential fire risk in your home. B85 boards were built for low cost and underpowered CPUs—not for overclocking or overvolting. To address your concerns directly, yes—your temperatures are within acceptable limits. In fact, your CPU temps are likely well below specifications. Since it's winter in the northern hemisphere, your readings may be lower than usual. However, your motherboard might struggle to handle more without risking damage to your entire system. Stay safe and consider upgrading to a better board and power supply before attempting to exceed safe limits.
I've been operating my PC with an i5 4670k overclocked to 4.6GHz, and everything has worked fine so far. The CPU never exceeds 50°C during idle (around 30°C), and the motherboard temperatures remain consistently at about 32°C.
I'm confused because others keep warning that I'm likely damaging my system...
I've been using this setup for a month, working 8 hours daily, and no issues have arisen.
Kobiat explains the confusion about system temperatures and the importance of hidden components like motherboard capacitors and power supplies. He emphasizes that these parts aren't always tested under real-world conditions and that using unknown power supplies adds another risk. He also notes Biostar's reputation and B85 motherboards' limitations, urging caution and personal responsibility for any damage.
The Paladin:
I’d keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case... but honestly, I stuck to the same clock speed on my PC for a whole year. I monitored the temperatures often and didn’t notice any jumps. The gaming performance stayed steady, and I never experienced any strange crashes. After a year of using it without turning into a fire risk, I’m puzzled about why it works so smoothly. Got any suggestions?
What you obtain from the agreement is having your CPU overclocked and it responds________. If the speed increase adds another couple hundred megahertz, will that improvement offset the added heat or will it affect stability? 200MHz could be the tipping point. Not really.
Regarding its base (the motherboard), which is just one component of the cooling system (more details later), do you possess adequate cooling and power capabilities to accommodate a higher overclock? Unlikely. Your board only has a 1 4pin EPS connector, and it also lacks passive coolers such as VRM chokes and MOSFETs—details I don’t fully understand.
Check the area beside the CPU socket.
Now my board
It includes a passive cooler and two CPU connectors. It offers slightly improved cooling and power. In theory, this should lead to better overclocking potential, but since each chip behaves differently and heat and power requirements vary slightly, it’s unclear.
In short?
I wouldn’t go further with your board.
If you wish, you can check
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/...ntest.html
to see the actual temperatures. I believe the 55°C limit will be exceeded. Adjust the stress level to maximum, take a screenshot of your results, and then proceed after testing.
Kobiat :
The Paladin :
I thought about keeping a fire extinguisher nearby... just for fun.
Even though everyone told me otherwise, I stuck to using my PC at the same clock speed for a whole year. I monitored the temperatures often and didn’t notice any jumps. The gaming performance stayed steady and I never experienced strange crashes.
After a year of using it without turning into a fire risk, I’m puzzled about why it works so well. Any suggestions?
It might be related to your environment. The room temperature, fan settings, CPU cooler, or motherboard could all play a role. After my coffee, I’ll consider more options.
There’s nothing bad about the advice you got. It’s just common sense based on what we’ve learned. We understand which boards are meant for certain tasks. Our guidance should match the recommended usage. And remember—there’s always an exception. You might have been lucky. A full parts list and OC voltage info would be useful, but not necessary here. This is Kobiat’s post.