Is this a secure setup at 5.2ghz on a 10700k processor?
Is this a secure setup at 5.2ghz on a 10700k processor?
Vcore is 1.38v @ 5.2Ghz with LLC2 on my MSI. During stress tests on AIDA/CPU-Z/heavy games, I reached 1.384v without any crashes after an hour. I’m not sure if it’s truly stable, so I might consider increasing it slightly to 0.05 or 0.1 if I really want a maximum of 1.4v, but I wouldn’t go beyond that.
For gaming, peak temperatures are around 69-75°C on most games, but two games are very hot, like Raft and No Man’s Sky, which can hit lows of 80-83°C, averaging 76-83°C during peaks. Is this safe? I don’t think there’s a single-digit range for lower Vcore or higher LLC; it seems to be the limit for 5.2. I like that number but don’t want to play on the edge. I’ve heard 1.35v is the max and 1.4v is actually safe, even up to 1.45v if I keep things cool. What do you all think?
well yes, but often OC'ers adopt this or that 'safe' temp and voltage limits so that you get to run your chip for a couple of years, enough so that if any degradation happens you're already bound to upgrade anyways. I'm trying to find that just perfect spot. but if my temps and oc looks fine, im more reliefed since i come from Haswell, and those the safe is generaly up to 1.35v absolute max, yet 10 gen have supporters ranging from 1.35v to 1.45v like i said, so..
"Safe" refers to what fits within the part's specifications, which you can locate at the provided link. Examining the documents reveals the maximum voltage as 1.52V as a base, with an upper limit of 1.7V and a slight offset. Intel's official overclocking guide is also referenced, though it advises against exceeding 1.4V mainly due to cooling constraints rather than any risk of permanent damage. A graph in the article later illustrates pushing a processor up to 1.5V. For a stable experience, staying below 1.4V is recommended.
The common recommendation is to maintain your maximum temperatures (stress load) at or below 80°C continuously. If you reach those levels during gaming, it’s likely you’ll overload the CPU with Prime or similar, causing crashes or extreme heat—leading to instability. You should opt for better cooling solutions.
Adjust your settings slightly lower. Some may claim this sacrifices performance by using Prime, but I prefer a stable 5GHz over a potentially unstable 5.2GHz. The 200MHz won’t significantly boost FPS with your high-end components. You’d only be optimizing for synthetic tests with such high frequencies.
Lower the multiplier two notches and keep the core voltage below 1.375V. Your LLC at level 2 already shows good droop control, so maintain that setting.
Intel staff have convenient access to replacement chips, and they probably don’t retain them for long.
I used an i7-7700k at 1.416 volts for many years, experiencing voltage spikes into the low 80s as well, yet it consistently ran at 5Ghz across all cores. (After replacing the thermal paste, core temps became more uniform—just a few degrees higher initially.) I’ve taken out the overclocking, and it still functions well enough for my nephew’s gaming setup today.
The 14nm process is well-established, so sticking to the 1.4 volt limit seems safe.
I’ll need to verify the voltage the 10900F delivers at 5.2 and 5.1Ghz, though I don’t remember it exactly.
I operate my 9600KF at 1.4v without any issues. It's just as good as the day I purchased it!
CPU wear is largely a myth. With adequate cooling, most regular OC fans won't notice any performance loss from a slight voltage increase.
Typically, most OC fans would switch to a new CPU within six months to a year. Still, the CPU becomes less important once it drops below 1.4V, especially with proper cooling.