i7 10700 Should I OC?
i7 10700 Should I OC?
I own an Omen 30L with the following specifications: i7 10700, 3090, 32g RAM, SSD. I primarily use this PC for gaming and rely on the Omen gaming Hub app to perform the "Intelligent" OC it offers. I conducted a CPU benchmark which showed a score of 3831. I have never done an OC before, and the CPU tends to get quite hot after extended gaming sessions with demanding titles like RDR2 and CP2077, with maximum temperatures reaching between 87-89°C.
I'm seeking advice since I've read that the i7 10700 requires some optimization to reach its full performance. All fans are set to Turbo mode on the gaming hub. Additionally, I'm using a 2k display.
Someone, please check if that's correct—10700 non-K isn't overclockable, but XMP should still work. The 'Intelligent OC' likely just raises the default power limit for that SKU without increasing core clocks since the CPU is locked. This is due to the combination of a hot case and the 3090 being placed in a position to draw heat from the CPU cooler, so the cooler only receives preheated air during gameplay.
Yes, your temperatures suggest you shouldn't change your current approach.
The cores will experience increased temperatures, though they won't limit performance until reaching 99.5C. The motherboard's power delivery (VRM) remains uncertain but will also operate hotter. Any throttling would still negatively impact core performance. Feel free to experiment and observe the results. Current core optimization doesn't offer consistent advantages—it's now a risky choice that can lead to either improvements or setbacks depending on the use case.
Core frequency increases as more cores are engaged; fewer active cores allow for higher maximum turbo clocks. The manufacturer is also demanding greater performance from their chips at the gate, leaving limited room for end users.
The era of 700mhz to 1ghz overclocking with effective cooling is behind. Now you're faced with 100-300mhz setups, each with its own compromises.