High voltage and low temperatures can be safe, but always verify the specific component or system.
High voltage and low temperatures can be safe, but always verify the specific component or system.
Hi everyone, I'm seeking some general guidance on my overclocking setup. I'm running an i5 4690K with a base clock of 3.5GHz in an ASUS Maximus Gene VII. Since the CPU is several years old, I've adjusted the BIOS to turbo up to 4.6GHz with auto voltage. It's performing well at that speed—stress tests with Blender and prolonged use on Folders@home succeeded. However, HW Monitor and HW Info show a voltage draw of around 1.366V, which seems excessive for long-term stability. The CPU temps are high (79°C max) but the motherboard stays in the high 30s. I'm using a 240mm AIO and have good airflow in my case.
My main concern is whether this voltage level is safe over time. Although the temperatures look manageable, pushing the CPU that hard for years could reduce its lifespan. I can't afford a replacement yet, so I want to keep it running as long as possible. I understand I might get better results with lower voltages if I tweak it manually, but I'm not confident or experienced enough to risk it.
Additionally, my GTX 970 is showing signs of aging in games. If I buy a second-hand GPU like a 1070Ti soon, how would my current CPU (4.6GHz) affect performance? I want at least decent frame rates for a VR headset, especially for Alyx, so I'd like to ensure the CPU can keep up.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Apparently, 1.366 under load for haswell remains within safe limits.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. You're right, it's the VID voltage in HW Monitor, HW Info just says 'CPU current'. I can't see anything in HW Monitor called Vcore. My apologies, I don't know the difference between VID and Vcore. Thank you also for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry, I should have been clearer in my OP, until now I haven't attempted an OC because I haven't needed to. The changes I've made to the BIOS, leading to the additional voltage, have only been for the last couple of days which is why I am worried about the long term effects. Based on the replies so far it looks like I'm fine though. Thanks all!
VID is the desired voltage while Vcore reflects the real value after Vdroop. Based on the LLC configuration, a VID of 1.366V at full load could translate to around 1.24–1.32V for Vcore. Since your LLC defaults, it likely falls near the lower side of that range, especially with good temperatures.