Help with Overclocking i7-8700k
Help with Overclocking i7-8700k
After many months of consideration, I chose to upgrade to a Liquid/AIO cooler. I purchased the H115i Pro after reading positive reviews and believed this model would allow me to push my CPU even further. Previously, with the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo, I had successfully overclocked it to 4.5Ghz at 1.24v, achieving a max temperature of 85°C on one core during a Cinebench Run. Switching to an AIO cooler enabled me to run the same test and obtain around 70-75°C on the hottest core. This prompted me to attempt further overclocking to 4.8GHz at 1.3v, which resulted in approximately 83°C on the hottest core (the ambient temperature was about 20°C). I wondered if these temperatures were typical for such an overclock. I know Cinebench doesn’t accurately reflect real-world performance. Any suggestions on lowering the voltage or simply improving those temperatures would be greatly appreciated.
Cinebench offers a more accurate representation compared to many other tests.
83C runs a bit hot, but that’s manageable given the significant overclock. If any voltage drop causes issues, it seems you’ve reached an effective limit.
The best way to boost performance right now is to run the pump and fans at maximum speed. Remove the CPU cover and ensure the heat spreader is smooth across the CPU block.
This approach is recommended only if you want to extract full potential from the system.
A 4.8Ghz performance on six cores is solid.
I've successfully reduced the voltage to 1.26v on the same overclock. Observed that my peak core temperature was 80°C, while others were close, ranging from 74-78°C. Probably won't be able to go any lower. Any further advice? I might consider 1.25v, but it seems risky—after 15 minutes I couldn't stabilize at 1.25GHz and almost finished a Cinebench test before blue screening.
It's a good idea to check after a few days to ensure it continues functioning properly in real-world scenarios, and adjust as needed.
It ceased functioning today without any surprises. I had to lower the frequency to 4.7GHz and increase the voltage to 1.27v to achieve a stable overclock. The thrill of owning Intel.
kinggaming60,
The ring or "Uncore" frequency plays a notable role in core temperatures. Running the ring at the same frequency as the cores can lower core temps slightly, but it won't impact CPU performance or benchmark results noticeably if you reduce the ring by 300MHz.
I strongly suggest removing the 8700k. I was in the same situation as you until I made that change. Used the rockitcool kit with their copper IHS, and on Cinebench I achieved mid-70s with 5.1Ghz @ 1.360v during gaming, which will keep in the mid to low 60s. This setup is on a Cryorig R1 ultimate cooler.
By the way, what motherboard are you using?
I’d remove my CPU, but I’m the most awkward person around, so I’m more worried about damaging it than about doing well.
Kinggaming60,
Check the BIOS settings for the Core frequency. The "Ring" frequency is also listed, sometimes referred to as "Uncore" on certain boards. If both frequencies match 47, reduce the Ring frequency to 44, which will lower Core temperatures by a few degrees.
If you're uncertain, it's wise to study overclocking guides thoroughly before attempting it, to prevent hardware damage. A solid starting point is the CPU Overclocking Guide and Tutorial for Beginners.
Additionally, you can have your 8700K professionally delidded at Silicon Lottery. They offer quick turnaround and a warranty, and they can also test it to determine its overclock potential. Their reports with the return packing slip detail the settings used to achieve your processor's performance.