Is it worth overclocking for you?
Is it worth overclocking for you?
Hi there. This is my first post and is pretty much something that has been bothering me for some time.
First of all my Hardware specs:
PSU: Be quiet! Power Zone 850W
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z-370F-Gaming
SSD: Samsung Evo 850 1TB
CPU: Intel I7 8700K
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4 3200 8GBx2
CPU Cooler: Be quiet! 360 Silent Loop
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming
Now here comes my issue.
I have always wanted to overclock my cpu and I have read a few guides on how to do it but if I am completely honest, I got no idea what I am doing.
I don't have a much knowledge about it and really don't know if I should even do it.
The games I play run at ultra settings without problems and without overheating but I still want to overclock.
Maybe the only reason I want to overclock is because of all the people I see doing it on the internet. At the same time I really don't want to ruin my hardware while trying to do so.
I do feel that having an I7 8700k it would be a waste to not overclock it and maybe get even more performance out of my computer to get steady 120 fps in games.
After all this my question is pretty simple actually.
I would like to overclock but do I really have to?
PS: I know this is a weird question but there have to be people that felt the same before overclocking their computer correctly for the first time. If you can share your personal experience it would help me out a lot.
Thanks for reading.
If you have such questions and you're happy with current performance of your pc,
then you should not nor have to do it.
Your hardware is certainly capable of OC, but keep in mind - nothing comes for free.
OC increases power usage, shortens life of components, requires rigorous testing/tuning, introduces instability. Plus benefits from OC are rather slim. If you get 10-15% more fps in your games, would that change anything for you?
CPU overclocking guide for newcomers
Understanding the fundamentals If you arrived at this page, chances are you're seeking assistance with simple overclocking. Or perhaps you're an experienced enthusiast curious about any fresh perspectives I might have missed. Be assured, I haven't. This is meant only as...
Currently, the top CPUs are limited to running all cores at their maximum single-core boost frequency. This still represents progress, though it doesn’t match the performance gains achievable in the past.
Overclocking a CPU has never been simpler—just increase the multiplier and that’s about it. Once you reach that point, you can explore voltage tweaks (as the motherboard tends to be conservative with auto-voltage) to reduce temperatures while keeping stability intact.
Because overclocking is straightforward and you seem content with your results, you might want to begin from the opposite side—undervolting at standard speeds. Lowering voltages reduces heat, and testing for the minimum stable voltage offers a safer starting point. You already understand the steps involved in this process.
I also enjoy undervolting GPUs.
Thank you for your response. I plan to read this guide carefully before attempting overclocking again, unsure if I might harm my hardware.
It was enjoyable during the initial attempts but always intimidating. I’m satisfied with my results, yet I’m eager to master the process correctly without risking my equipment.
@SkyNetRising
The slight improvement in FPS is unlikely to be significant for me honestly. Your comments perfectly explain why I haven’t delved deeper into it. I’m very concerned about damaging the hardware, and a minor gain isn’t worth the risk of ruining my rig. Thank you for clarifying the potential risks and outcomes.
@tennis2
Your idea of lowering the voltage is something I hadn’t considered before. I generally don’t rely on the BIOS’s “AUTO” settings—it’s risky, especially with things like fan curves. The overclock wizard also feels untrustworthy, particularly after experiencing 90°C on my CPU during a single attempt.
I’ll give it a try today. The worst outcome seems to be losing the ability to keep the base clock and restart.
Thanks for all the helpful advice and support. I’ll make sure to update my approach after learning more.
I just completed MemTest86 overnight with no errors. Now I plan to reduce the voltage to check potential temperature savings. Then I'll reset it to normal and try boosting the Boost clock as per the instructions.
Thanks again everyone.
I wouldn't want to push the i7-8700 overclock, it was simpler for me to get used to older hardware without getting nervous. Good that you decided against using any CPU overclocking tools or tuners—they can raise the vcore to 1.5 and even damage your board, something I experienced with a Gen1 CPU. Make sure to turn off Intel Turbo Boost initially and try working with standard voltages first to understand what you're capable of. Keep the manual handy in case you get black-screened during boot and need to fix BIOS quickly.
Check the default voltage for your CPU and enter it in manual mode. When testing clock speeds, lower the DRAM frequency from 3200 to 2400 to ensure stability, not RAM issues. You can maintain the same XMP profile and timings but adjust the "Dram frequency" settings instead.
Many guides are available online, but I’d prefer to stay below 80°C for any core since these are newer CPUs. With a Gen1 CPU, you might reach 85-89°C, which is similar to what I saw with an i7-8700K—those parts cost about one-twentieth of the price. When you identify your maximum stable multiplier at default voltage (around 1.150, max 1.175V), try boosting it back to 3200MHz and see if it boots properly.
The concept of undervolting at stock frequency aims to familiarize oneself with voltage changes and stability checks. As mentioned, even after overclocking, it's wise to manage voltage settings manually rather than depending solely on AUTO. Auto voltage serves as a solid starting point, but there will still be some excess voltage that can be adjusted for improved temperatures.
I finally succeeded in reducing the voltage and maintaining stability after an hour of 95 test.
I observed that the base clock runs at 3.7 Ghz while the target cache is set to 4.4 Ghz, which caused some confusion because increasing the base frequency also raises the target cache frequency. This concerns me as it could lead to overclocking issues, such as reaching 4.8 Ghz with a target cache of 5.7 Ghz.
Does the target cache always increase beyond the base clock frequency?
How can I adjust it and should I make these changes?
Thanks again for your assistance.
PS: My BIOS is up to date on my Asus Strix ROG Z370-F Gaming.
I also reviewed the manual, but it doesn’t provide enough clarity on this matter.
augment the base clock frequency "sorry my english but are you really aiming to boost BLCK frequency?" IF not, return to the standard BLCK value right away and keep overclocking only through the CPU multiplier adjustment.
Don’t stress about cache speed; adjusting it won’t provide significant gains compared to increasing CPU frequency. I haven’t overclocked this specific CPU model, so I can’t give precise numbers, but there should be a "cache ratio" setting. It’s better to remove instability issues such as cache ratio or RAM speed before aiming for the highest stable CPU clock.
As I mentioned earlier, lower your DRAM frequency from 3200mhz to 2400mhz or below when testing the most stable CPU model.
Here’s someone explaining the choices on that board:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ15NW1qaxs
Just avoid targeting anything close to 5ghz; start with around 4ghz (disable Intel Turbo Boost) and keep CPU voltage unchanged.