Is it okay for someone with a rusty PC to modify an expensive 6700K?
Is it okay for someone with a rusty PC to modify an expensive 6700K?
... Well that's not exactly what I was asking, but now I've caught your interest...
😉
(sorry)
I recently assembled a PC featuring an i7 6700K processor inside the ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming case. The CPU cooler is a Phanteks PH-TC14PE (Noctua NH-D14 "wannabe"), and the RAM is four 8GB DDR4 modules at 2666MHz.
This isn't my first build, but it's been some time since I've done OC work. After finishing the assembly, I decided to use the ASUS AI Suite 3 "Dual Intelligent Processors" to automatically determine the optimal settings for me. The output suggested a clock speed of 4700 MHz and a high voltage of 1.4V+ for the CPU core.
I then ran Prime95 with coretemp monitoring, which forced me to stop the system rapidly when temperatures climbed to around 99°C.
Later, I adjusted the parameters manually and discovered that setting the frequency to 4400 MHz and the voltage to 1.32V produced stable performance—25°C idle and 80°C under load (as reported by coretemp).
Now I'm curious about two things: (1) why AI Suite 3 generates OC values that cause my CPU to overheat during intense use, and (2) whether these settings are adequate considering the components I specified. Should I replace the cooler for improved stability?
Thank you in advance for any advice! And please forgive my lack of knowledge!
It doesn't automatically detect your CPU cooling setup. It only assumes you might be using phase-change cooling.
2) A 4.4GHz clock at 6700k is quite low and the 1.32V setting seems excessive for that speed. You should adjust the voltage or try a higher speed, aiming for stability around 4.6-4.8GHz with 1.3-1.35V. Reinstalling the cooler won't improve performance.
1.4V is only practical on modern CPUs with custom water cooling or the mentioned phase-change method.
It doesn't automatically detect your CPU cooling setup. It assumes you might be using phase-change cooling.
2) A 4.4GHz clock at 6700k is quite low and the 1.32V setting is too high for that speed. You should adjust the voltage or increase the clock speed to achieve stability around 4.6-4.8GHz with a voltage of 1.3-1.35V. Reinstalling the cooler won't improve performance.
1.4V is only viable on modern CPUs with custom water cooling or the mentioned phase-change method.
Mr Kagouris:
1) It doesn't inherently understand your CPU cooling setup. It only assumes you might be using phase-change cooling.
2) 4.4GHz on a 6700k is quite restrictive and the 1.32V setting seems excessive for that speed. You could stabilize at 4.6-4.8GHz with 1.3-1.35V. Better results won't come from just swapping the cooler. 1.4V on modern CPUs only works with special watercooling or the mentioned phase-change method.
Thanks for the clear and valuable information! It's a big relief that the issue isn't about fan installation.
Under these conditions, I still find it odd that AI Suite sets such a high voltage. Since the program can't estimate cooling needs, it makes sense to play it safer and avoid risking the CPU.
If I choose to be more cautious and run at 4500 MHz, what voltage would you suggest (rough estimate)? Around 1.28V? Maybe lower?