i7 8700k running at 5.0 GHz and featuring a 240 mm air cooler
i7 8700k running at 5.0 GHz and featuring a 240 mm air cooler
I just watched a Tech Deals video suggesting a 240 mm AIO won't work for boosting an i7 8700k to 5.0 GHz. Is that accurate? I assume I have good case cooling, using the stock fans on a Corsair h100i v2 and two Corsair sp120 quiet edition fans in the exhaust. My case is the NZXT s340 elite. If it really matters, I'm running the Asus rog strix z370 e gaming motherboard. If I can't hit 5.0 GHz, what's the best speed I can get without exceeding 1.33 to 1.35 volts?
You cannot determine a precise clock speed at a specific voltage beforehand. CPUs, even those from the same model, are not identical; they are typically grouped into different tiers based on performance variations, with chips categorized accordingly. The only certainty you have for an i7 8700k is that it will sustain the advertised stock clocks at the standard voltage. Beyond that, success depends on your skill and effort in the silicon lottery. A cooler approach to overclocking mainly hinges on how much you're willing to invest in trying to push the CPU beyond its limits.
Only by trying it out can you determine if DS is correct, not all 8700K models will work at voltages below 1.35v. I run it at 4.9GHz because I don’t want to exceed 1.3vcore. For the 240 AIO, test it using Prime95 v26.6 and AIDA. If you’re under 80 degrees Celsius, it should be fine—provided you have a good chip and stay well below 1.35v for a 4.9GHZ overclock.