Intel 6700k Overclocking
Intel 6700k Overclocking
I'm trying to OC my CPU I managed to push it to 4.6gh with 1.365v tho when I stress test it it get to about 1.392v. Temps are spiking a lot from 60 to about 80 ( not using water using Be Quite Dark Rock 3 ) but once they hit 80 they got back to about 65-70 asap so I'm not sure if I should worry about it or not. So my main question is how to handle the voltage on normal state when I'm not doing anything. What happens is the CPU declocks to 800 mhz but the vcore is at 1.36v. , temps is at about 29-30. LLC is on auto C-state is on SVID is disabled. Tried working with either adaptive and off set volt but I didn't even manage to boot my PC.
CPU - 6700k
MB - Asus ranger VIII
Cooler- Be Quite Dark Rock 3
PSU - CM Thunder 600w
Before that I tried with 4.5 ghz with 1.325v gets to about 1.36v LLC on auto again temps were about 60-80 again when stresstesting
But still I would like to know how to decrease the voltage when the CPU goes idel.
Chapter 2: Various Levels of LLC
Because the power designs for each motherboard vary, it becomes challenging to establish a single setting that would equalize the voltage drop with the vCore configuration. As you might understand, even an ideal solution for less powerful boards may fall short when applied to more advanced gaming and overclocking systems (which use distinct power phases and premium parts). Conversely, applying LLC to high-end motherboards can cause issues like overvoltage on lighter models. Additionally, given that each motherboard and CPU setup reacts uniquely to LLC, designing a universal setting that perfectly fits all configurations is difficult. This explains why...
1.392v feels a bit too high for everyday use, which is what I experience. I discovered recently that with these 6700k 1.35 units, a soft limit around 1.35 is generally suitable (unless you have an exceptional cooling setup). The CPU could be throttling due to heat, or there might be a program adjusting the fan speed based on a certain point. I’d avoid auto-adaptive voltage settings and prefer setting the voltage manually, even at normal speeds. Manual adjustment should still result in much lower power consumption.
On 1.35 4.6ghz the system will fail with blue scree watch dog error, which I believe stems from insufficient power. My CPU fan operates at full speed when the temperature reaches 60%, around 2000 rpm. With the default BIOS settings, performance is even more affected. The Vcore stabilizes near 1.44, and heat remains similar. Normally it consumes less power in low state, but that's because SVID is active, which undermines the goal of manually adjusting voltage.
Many motherboards provide excessive power even when voltage is set to auto at stock speeds 1.44, which is extremely high! Turning off SVID removes the CPU’s built-in voltage regulator and passes the control to the motherboard itself.
Disabling SVID Support ensures the CPU’s FIVR communicates directly with the external regulator (Extreme Engine DIGI+ III), improving overall stability. Setting it to Disable instead of Enabled prevents this communication, which results in a better operating condition margin compared to keeping it enabled. Since this feature isn’t part of the Intel integrated voltage regulator, disabling SVID won’t impact Intel’s power-saving features like EIST or various C-States.
The motherboard’s voltage regulator should still maintain similar low-power states.
I observe the exact cause of the rising voltage during stress tests and when the CPU is under load. For instance, setting the vcore to 1.35 results in a higher output, likely due to the LLC circuit. Adjusting the LLC affects heat generation, and changing the lever level shows less voltage variation while the CPU is working under load, which also impacts stability.
Chapter 2: Various Levels of LLC
Because each motherboard's power configuration varies, it becomes challenging to establish a single setting that would equalize voltage drops with the vCore configuration. As you might understand, even an ideal setup for less powerful systems may fall short when applied to more advanced gaming and overclocking models (which utilize different power phases and premium components). Conversely, applying LLC on top of high-end motherboards can result in undesirable effects like overvoltage on lighter models. Additionally, since each motherboard and CPU combination reacts uniquely to LLC, designing a universal setting that perfectly fits all configurations is difficult. This explains the presence of multiple LLC settings in the BIOS for certain models (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%).
To illustrate how straightforward it is to manage Vdroop today, we used the same configuration—a MSI Z170A GAMING M7 motherboard paired with an Intel i7-6700K CPU—and set the 'CPU Loadline Calibration Control' in BIOS to 'Mode 1'. We configured a 1.3v vCore and overclocked the CPU to 4.5GHz. After running Prime95, we observed the results.
TL: LLC primarily addresses voltage drops during transitions from low to high CPU load. The more you increase the setting, the greater the additional voltage added when the CPU shifts into a high-load state.
Vdroop is less of an issue on modern high-end boards, though it once caused significant problems such as freezes, crashes, and BSODs.
LLC might be the cause behind higher-than-intended voltages under load. You could apply a minor adjustment or manually raise the voltage slightly to counteract Vdroop, as we did previously.
This approach is really effective now. I ran some tests again and everything depends on working with LLC and Voltage. I’m not sure about other MB brands, but in my setup LLC has seven levels with a 15% increase per level. I began with 1.3v at 4.5 ghz from level one up to level seven during testing. The issue was that between level one and four the voltage was actually lower than expected, so it was set to 1.3v but during stress tests it fluctuated between 1.28v and 1.29v depending on the LLC level. From level five to seven the voltage increased as per what I adjusted in the BIOS; at level five it was around 1.31v and at level seven it reached about 1.34v. Eventually, I fixed the setting to 1.3v at LLC level 5 on 4.5 ghz. The voltage during testing was 1.31v, while the maximum temperature reached was 72°C, with an average of 57-58°C. Since temperatures were constantly spiking, when the CPU entered a low state it was around 800mhz with a voltage of 1.296, which I don’t know is normal for idle conditions but seems reasonable.
Currently, I’ve only completed 40 minutes of AIDA testing and there’s a strong possibility of crashes after 24 hours of continuous testing, though we’ll find out.