Is it worth upgrading an i7 8700K for gaming?
Is it worth upgrading an i7 8700K for gaming?
It's crazy for 200 dollars you could get some G.Skill B-dies cl16-16-16 at 3600mhz. They'd likely reach 4000mhz, might get a hit in the back with a vRam boost of 1.50 or more, but they'd still go ahead. Around 300 dollars you're looking at a 4266mhz frequency memory. Intel's IMCs really outshine AMD's offerings. (That's how Intel maintains performance despite larger dies.) Corsair usually has low-end, budget SK-Hynix modules with pretty shaky timings. For AMD (compatible), I saw things like 18-22-22 at 3600mhz, which means a huge drop in performance. It'd be smarter to stick with 3000 or 3200 sticks running Cas 14. Investing in quality memory really pays off.
Significantly beyond the 30ns mark, I'm currently around 37ns. My setup isn't a typical reference; it's been fine-tuned extensively, making any timing adjustments risky and potentially causing instability. Months of continuous adjustments and testing were needed to achieve this level. This highlights the unpredictable nature of overclocking overall. No assurance exists—even with XMP profiles, nothing is certain. Your RAM's maximum rating doesn't guarantee board compatibility or consistent performance. The extra margin for overclocking is real only with a high-quality IMC and a board built for memory tuning, but most boards won't reach that without intensive work. As for your query, the 8700k remains an excellent gaming CPU. In my industry, I regularly handle a wide range of hardware yet never feel the urge to upgrade. If your setup handles threads well and your processor runs smoothly, upgrading isn't necessary. Recent Intel releases haven't seen substantial IMC improvements, with only modest clock increases—often 100-200mhz at best. The cost and thermal management challenges make it unappealing. If you're curious about RAM adjustments, I'd be glad to review your settings and suggest possible changes. Remember, this process is largely trial and error, so absolute certainty isn't achievable.
I need to examine your configuration more closely. I only glanced at it briefly. My setup uses Cl14-14-14 4000mhz with a single profile and 4300mhz cl16-16-16 for benchmarking. Finding the optimal balance around 12-12-12 is really tough. With the Hero Maximus X, I expect it to perform well on Apex. The memory board is A2, which is solid, but it’s only a second behind the best I know. You should aim for around 1.6 to 1.8 volts for Cl14, depending on the other factors I’m not sure about.
Thanks for the details! Your 8700K really handles overclocking nicely, though it does get quite warm with the Kraken M22 120mm AIO. Switching to the EVGA CLC 280mm AIO seems to bring things down nicely. Even with the 120mm Kraken, I managed stable performance around 4.9 GHz, though it sometimes dips into the high 80s during intense sessions. Benchmarks show much higher temps, but real-world monitoring reveals it stays cooler than expected. I’m expecting the new AIO to bring down those temps further. I wish there was a tool that could automatically check RAM stability and suggest timing tweaks if needed.