Help Needed to Overclock
Help Needed to Overclock
I am just starting out with Overclocking and need guidance on the best BIOS settings for top performance.
My setup includes:
Operating System: Win 10 Pro for Workstation
Guest OS via Vmware Workstation (latest Debian X86 & Win 7 Pro 32 Bit)
Usage: 24/7 operation, not gaming focused
CPU: i7 8700k with Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED Turbo and two full-speed fans at 1700rpm
Motherboard: Asus z370 Plus Gaming
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 4GB at 2400MHz in all four slots
Cabinet: Corsair Spec 5 with VS550 power supply and a front-mounted DC fan at 1400rpm
RAM: 32GB Intel M2 Optane
Storage: WD Carvair Green 1TB HDD spinning at 5400rpm
No solid state drive included
Chronological order of images updated. Adjust settings from simple to advanced, and enable XMP. Switching from normal to expert mode is now active. The multiplier has been set to a safe value (do not exceed 48 before better cooling). Loadline Calibration has been activated to maintain stable CPU voltage levels per instruction set. This step may not be essential for your setup. Your CPU voltage is configured accordingly.
i7-8700K
Recommended memory: DDR4-2666
For overclocking, higher speeds are typically preferred.
The lowest frequency suggested for a top-tier Coffee Lake setup is 2666 MHz; anything lower appears to noticeably impact performance.
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Inte...is/11.html
Dear Calvin, please assist me with that config. Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi, I'm wondering which component you'd like to overclock—RAM, CPU, GPU, or all of them?
For GPU: check the link provided.
For CPU: see the relevant guide.
For RAM: raise your DRAM frequency to 2666 or higher, matching CPU OC settings.
If issues arise, follow the troubleshooting steps: if it crashes, reduce overclock; if the system doesn't boot, disconnect power, restart, and retry. For more details on voltage adjustments, you can read further.
Remember to keep sustained temperatures under 85°C using tools like CPUID HWMonitorPro. Consider adding fans if your case lacks them.
I was quite taken aback that your cooling solution wasn't discussed. To be honest, it's not great. Apologies if I came across as dismissive. If you really want to push your CPU overclocked in air, you'll need a much better setup. For example, check this out: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...68V6YA3005. With this cooler, you can utilize all four slots. Just ensure the memory is installed first.
There are also many YouTube tutorials available. Here are a couple that show how to overclock your CPU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B08IsXhsmo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcZkEZ8x3oA
Keep in mind, not every CPU can reach 5GHz through overclocking. Good cooling is essential—use a case with strong airflow and filters to prevent dust buildup. Consider adding a second fan at the front, one at the back to expel warm air, and another on top to push it out as heat rises.
Received a benchmark score of 2700 using Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. CPU voltage is around 1.35. I configured all cores to sync at 50%. The Windows panel displays both frequencies as 3.7 GHz, but I’m puzzled since Intel claims 4.7 turbo boost is supported; why isn’t it showing 4.7 in the second frequency?
urbancamper :
I was a bit shocked that nobody talked about your cooling setup. To be honest, it’s not great. It works okay for medium overclocking. He mentioned "Virtualization as well as Daily Computing," but he’d do better with an AIO water cooler and a 360mm radiator if he’s pushing heavy overclock levels. Also, adding more fans to the chassis would help if it only has one or two fans running.
Received a benchmark score of 2700 using Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. Everything seems fine. CPU voltage is around 1.35. I set all cores to sync at 50%. The Windows panel lists both frequencies as 3.7 GHz and 3.7 GHz, but I’m puzzled since Intel claims a 4.7 turbo boost is supported. Why isn’t it showing 4.7 in the second frequency? Make sure your BIOS was saved correctly and double-check again. Turbo mode automatically overclocks cores—1 core to 4.7, 2 cores to 4.6, etc. Also, consider switching your power plan to 'performance' from the control panel if you haven’t already. Also, 50 is too high; try starting at 47.