F5F Stay Refreshed Power Users Overclocking Is the I5 2500k model affected by higher voltages reducing its performance?

Is the I5 2500k model affected by higher voltages reducing its performance?

Is the I5 2500k model affected by higher voltages reducing its performance?

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Broflash
Senior Member
740
01-07-2026, 10:16 PM
#1
Hi! I'm curious about your observation. Can higher voltage actually reduce CPU performance? You're noticing better results with your I5 2500k at 4.4ghz using 1.35 volts compared to 4.5ghz and 1.36 volts. Is this a known issue or something I'm doing incorrectly? Your cooler is a Hyper 212 EVO and your motherboard is an ASUS P8P67. Thanks!
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Broflash
01-07-2026, 10:16 PM #1

Hi! I'm curious about your observation. Can higher voltage actually reduce CPU performance? You're noticing better results with your I5 2500k at 4.4ghz using 1.35 volts compared to 4.5ghz and 1.36 volts. Is this a known issue or something I'm doing incorrectly? Your cooler is a Hyper 212 EVO and your motherboard is an ASUS P8P67. Thanks!

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Cyanstrophic
Senior Member
668
01-07-2026, 11:34 PM
#2
andrescelano :
my temps were a bit high under 100% load, at 4.5 i'm talking about reaching 85 degrees celcius while with 4.4 it reaches 72 ish
Yeah you're probably facing thermal throttling problems. The EVO 212 is a basic enthusiast air cooler. You should consider a dual-fan CPU cooler like my Noctua NH-D14 (or the newer D15) or opt for a closed loop water cooler such as Corsair's H100/110 series if you aim to run above 4.4GHz effectively.
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Cyanstrophic
01-07-2026, 11:34 PM #2

andrescelano :
my temps were a bit high under 100% load, at 4.5 i'm talking about reaching 85 degrees celcius while with 4.4 it reaches 72 ish
Yeah you're probably facing thermal throttling problems. The EVO 212 is a basic enthusiast air cooler. You should consider a dual-fan CPU cooler like my Noctua NH-D14 (or the newer D15) or opt for a closed loop water cooler such as Corsair's H100/110 series if you aim to run above 4.4GHz effectively.

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Xytrixz
Senior Member
552
01-08-2026, 12:56 AM
#3
It might be due to thermal throttling, and a more consistent frequency could be preferable.
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Xytrixz
01-08-2026, 12:56 AM #3

It might be due to thermal throttling, and a more consistent frequency could be preferable.

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Mexassassin07
Member
50
01-12-2026, 10:31 PM
#4
What are your temperatures? I've never experienced this issue with my overclocked 2500K and P8P67 Pro (refer to my profile).
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Mexassassin07
01-12-2026, 10:31 PM #4

What are your temperatures? I've never experienced this issue with my overclocked 2500K and P8P67 Pro (refer to my profile).

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catseecoo
Senior Member
662
01-13-2026, 04:35 AM
#5
10tacle :
What are your temperatures? I've never experienced that issue with my overclocked 2500K and P8P67 Pro (refer to my profile).
My temps were elevated above 100% under load, around 85°C at 4.5, while at 4.4 they stayed near 72°C.
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catseecoo
01-13-2026, 04:35 AM #5

10tacle :
What are your temperatures? I've never experienced that issue with my overclocked 2500K and P8P67 Pro (refer to my profile).
My temps were elevated above 100% under load, around 85°C at 4.5, while at 4.4 they stayed near 72°C.

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Oto1216
Junior Member
7
01-13-2026, 09:55 PM
#6
andrescelano :
my temps were a bit high under 100% load, at 4.5 i'm talking about reaching 85 degrees celcius while with 4.4 it reaches 72 ish
Yeah you're probably facing thermal throttling problems. The EVO 212 is a basic enthusiast air cooler. You should consider a dual-fan CPU cooler like my Noctua NH-D14 (or the newer D15) or opt for a closed loop water cooler such as Corsair's H100/110 series if you aim to run above 4.4GHz effectively.
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Oto1216
01-13-2026, 09:55 PM #6

andrescelano :
my temps were a bit high under 100% load, at 4.5 i'm talking about reaching 85 degrees celcius while with 4.4 it reaches 72 ish
Yeah you're probably facing thermal throttling problems. The EVO 212 is a basic enthusiast air cooler. You should consider a dual-fan CPU cooler like my Noctua NH-D14 (or the newer D15) or opt for a closed loop water cooler such as Corsair's H100/110 series if you aim to run above 4.4GHz effectively.