Do These Conditions Suit Your Overclocking Needs?
Do These Conditions Suit Your Overclocking Needs?
So I just completed my first overclock and it's finally stable. I'm using an i7 3770k at 4.5ghz, with a voltage of 1.28v. I added a 212 hyper evo last week. It looks like this is the optimal OC I can achieve; I tried going up to 4.6 with 1.35v but it didn't work. My case has good airflow—NZXT phantom 410, 120mm intake front, 120mm exhaust back, and 140mm exhaust on top. I ran prime95 26.6 for 12 hours, and the results were small. My idle temps are between 35-40°C, and under load they're around 75-82°C. Are these temperatures acceptable, or should I aim for lower ones? I've never worked with thermal paste before, so I'm curious if reapplying it might help reduce the heat.
For your application, a small amount of thermal paste, roughly the size of a chocolate chip, placed exactly in the middle of the CPU lid works well. Make sure the heatsink is mounted correctly.
Avoid shifting the heatsink further than needed after installation and tighten the fasteners right away.
Your temperatures are within acceptable limits, though they tend to be higher than ideal. Temperatures above 70°C are not ideal, but this seems mainly due to the cooler, which is typical for a 120mm model.
You won't experience these high temperatures or stress during regular operation, so it should perform well. I could suggest upgrading to a larger cooler later if needed.
For your application, a small amount of thermal paste, roughly the size of a chocolate chip, placed exactly in the middle of the CPU cover works well. Make sure the heatsink is mounted correctly.
Avoid shifting the heatsink further after installation; tighten the fasteners right away.
Your temperatures are acceptable, though they exceed our usual range. Temperatures above 70°C are not ideal, but this seems mainly due to the cooler being used, which is typical for a 120mm cooler/HSF setup.
You won’t experience these high temperatures or stress during regular operation, so it’s satisfactory. I could suggest upgrading to a larger cooler later if needed.
The Cryorig H5, Noctua NH-U14S, BeQuiet Shadow Rock Slim and Scythe Mugen 4 are all solid choices, with the Noctua offering the best slim heatsink design.
The Cryorig H5 and BQ Shadow Rock Slim are more affordable yet still perform well. They outperform the 212 EVO and feature 140mm fan designs as well. Any of these options should transfer heat more efficiently than the 212 EVO.