i7 6700k @ 4.7 GHz 1.39v safe?
i7 6700k @ 4.7 GHz 1.39v safe?
PC specifications are as follows: processor i7 6700k, motherboard Asus Z170-A, GPU GeForce GTX 1070 FE, RAM 16GB Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 @ 2133Mhz, CPU cooler Corsair H100i v2, power supply 650W EVGA 80+ Gold. I’m just starting with overclocking and currently maintain stable performance at 4.7 GHz with 1.39 volts. At idle, the CPU temperature is about 75 degrees Celsius, while it drops to around 25 degrees when idle. I read that adaptive mode should adjust voltage based on load, but when I tried setting the offset to 0.001 it didn’t change much. Do I risk running it in manual mode at 1.39 volts, or should I lower the overclock slightly? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.
Here you'll find a solid guide for OCing:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1570313/skyla...statistics
It's important to remember that the CPU comes with a built-in voltage table (the VID table).
Your CPU's VID is the default value it needs to operate at its standard performance level, meeting Intel's requirements for stability.
When the multiplier changes due to workload, it requests more or less voltage accordingly—this is the typical AUTO setting.
Additionally, under load, the CPU activates protection mechanisms against voltage spikes and Vdroop effects you may have heard about.
There are several methods to adjust the voltage your CPU receives:
Offset – adds a fixed positive or negative value across the entire VID range (from idle to load).
Adaptive – applies offset only to turbo multipliers.
Manual – bypasses the VID table, forcing a constant voltage regardless of load changes.
LLC – enhances Vdroop control, preventing excessive voltage drops during high demand.
Offset settings can sometimes result in lower idle voltages if negative values are too low for the current load; adaptive mode helps by applying offsets only when needed.
Actual CPU output may differ from your expectations because LLC triggers at varying thresholds when auto is enabled, and the processor performs complex calculations considering temperature, power draw, etc. This means precise targeting often requires experimentation.
Hope this clarifies things.
MeanMachine41 :
Check out this OC guide for you:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1570313/skyla...statistics
It’s important to remember that your CPU comes with a built-in voltage table (VID table). This VID sets the default voltage your CPU uses to operate at its standard performance level, ensuring stability and compatibility with Intel’s requirements.
When the multiplier changes due to varying CPU load, it requires more or less voltage. This is the system's default AUTO setting. Additionally, under load, the CPU activates protection mechanisms against voltage spikes—this is known as Vdroop.
There are several methods to adjust the voltage your CPU receives:
- Offset: Adds a fixed positive or negative value across the entire VID range (from idle to load).
- Adaptive: Applies only an offset to the turbo multipliers.
- Manual: Bypasses the VID table, forcing a constant voltage regardless of load changes.
- LLC: Enhances Vdroop control, preventing excessive voltage drops during high load.
Using offset affects the whole range; sometimes setting a negative value can make idle voltage too low even if it’s suitable for load. In such cases, adaptive mode is advantageous as it applies the adjustment only when needed.
Actual CPU voltages in CPUz may differ from your expectations because LLC takes over at varying thresholds when auto is enabled. The CPU performs complex calculations based on not just offset values but also temperature, power draw, and other factors—making precise targeting difficult. Achieving the desired voltage often requires some trial and error.
Hope this clarifies things!
Thanks for the advice, meanmachine41!
Well if everything remains steady and maximum temperatures stay acceptable under load at 75°C, then it’s a solid chip with good overclock potential.
The Overclock stability also varies based on the stress tester chosen and how long the test runs.
For consistent results, you should aim for 24/7 stable performance using AIDA64 with CPU and FPU running for about 30 minutes.
Another practical benchmark is Realbench; if you can complete the test and see a solid benchmark, your system appears reliable.
Gradually lower your core voltage in small steps until it becomes unstable, then restore it to its previous stable level—this may help reduce temperature spikes.
The situation appears manageable if the system remains stable under load. The stability varies based on the stress test used and duration. For consistent performance, running AIDA64 with CPU and FPU for 30 minutes is recommended. Adjusting the core voltage gradually can help identify instability points. At 4.6 GHz, a voltage drop to around 1.325V seems necessary for stability. Testing at 4.6 GHz with 1.325V passed both benchmarks. Further adjustments were made based on crash behavior during stress tests. Overall, temperatures stayed within acceptable ranges.
MeanMachine41 :
Another real-world tester is Realbench and if you can run that test and finish the benchmark, you can think your system is stable.
I just want to remind anyone reading this thread that passing the RealBench benchmark doesn't ensure overclock stability. From my tests, at least you need to perform the RealBench stress test for a minimum of 30 minutes, and also run the benchmark.