My 8700k Overclock results - 4.9ghz/1.24v - room for improvement?
My 8700k Overclock results - 4.9ghz/1.24v - room for improvement?
I'm new to overclocking and have been looking into some general ideas about what I've achieved. The results for my ASUS Z370-a system are as follows: gtx 1071ti, 16gb g.skill trident z, i7-8700k, 750w psu, no adaptive offset, AVX offset -2, LLC level 5, achieving a 4.9ghz overclock with a 1.24vcore. I ran prime95 for 10 minutes and then did a real bench for another 10 minutes, taking it back to baseline each time. My recorded min and max voltages were 1.84 and 1.232 respectively. My Vcore remained around 1.20 during testing. This suggests my current voltage is quite stable under load. Would lowering the voltage further be beneficial?
Here is a concise summary of the approach:
Adjust CPU multiplier and voltage in BIOS without presets. Manually configure core settings, leaving auto mode for later refinement. Preserve BIOS settings after achieving stable overclock.
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This is not even a proper starting point for testing the feasibility of that overclock.
The straightforward approach to validate the process is as follows:
Adjust the CPU multiplier and voltage in the BIOS to the desired values. Avoid using presets or automatic tools, as they tend to overshoot core and other voltage settings. It's more effective to set most core parameters manually and keep any remaining adjustments on auto until you decide to fine-tune things like cache frequency, system agent voltage, VCCIO (internal memory controller), and memory speeds or timings once the CPU is fully stable.
Save your BIOS configurations (creating a new profile if supported) and exit the BIOS.
Launch the Windows desktop environment and install Prime95 version 26.6.
Install HWinfo or CoreTemp, then open one of them.
Execute Prime95 (version 26.6 only) with the "Small FFT test option" and run it for 15 minutes, keeping an eye on core and package temperatures to ensure they stay within the CPU's thermal limits.
For most Intel processors and current Ryzen chips, this should be around 80°C. For older AMD FX and Phenom models, use a thermal monitor with "Distance to TJmax" settings and aim for no drop below 10°C. Anything exceeding that is outside the safe thermal range.
Once your CPU passes the thermal test, proceed to stability checks.
Install and install Realbench, then run the Stress test. Select a memory size roughly half of your installed RAM (e.g., 8GB for 16GB, 4GB for 8GB). Start the test for 8 hours without using the system for anything else. This will simulate realistic AVX and handbrake workloads; success after 8 hours indicates strong stability.
For extended verification, consider running Prime95 Blend mode or Small FFT for 12–24 hours.
You don’t need to run HWinfo or CoreTemp during Realbench unless you’ve already checked thermal compliance. Realbench will display current CPU temperatures while it runs.
If you opt for Prime95 Blend/Small FFT modes for 12–24 hours, ensure you also monitor HWinfo periodically to confirm no core or thread usage falls below 100%. If any core shows less than 100%, the test should be halted.
Should you encounter errors during any stability test—whether using Realbench, Prime95, or another tool—adjust your BIOS settings accordingly. This might involve lowering the multiplier or increasing voltage while keeping the multiplier constant. Any changes require restarting and rechecking thermal compliance.
For a more detailed but beginner-friendly reference, see this guide on CPU overclocking.
Darkbreeze :
That is not even a BEGINNING of what you need to do to test the viability of that overclock.
Here is the quick and dirty version:
Quick and dirty overview of overclocking validation procedure.
Set CPU multiplier and voltage at desired settings in BIOS. Do not use presets or automatic utilities. These will overcompensate on core and other voltages. It is much better to configure most core settings manually, and leave anything left over on auto until a later point in time if wish to come back and tweak settings such as cache (Uncore) frequency, System agent voltage, VCCIO (Internal memory controller) and memory speeds or timings (RAM) AFTER the CPU overclock is fully stable.
Save bios settings (As a new BIOS profile if your bios supports multiple profiles) and exit bios.
Boot into the Windows desktop environment. Download and install Prime95 version 26.6.
Download and install either HWinfo or CoreTemp.
Open HWinfo and run "Sensors only" or open CoreTemp.
Run Prime95 (ONLY version 26.6) and choose the "Small FFT test option". Run this for 15 minutes while monitoring your core/package temperatures to verify that you do not exceed the thermal specifications of your CPU.
(This should be considered to be 80°C for most generations of Intel processor and for current Ryzen CPUs. For older AMD FX and Phenom series, you should use a thermal monitor that has options for "Distance to TJmax" and you want to NOT see distance to TJmax drop below 10°C distance to TJmax. Anything that is MORE than 10°C distance to TJmax is within the allowed thermal envelope.)
If your CPU passes the thermal compliance test, move on to stability.
Download and install Realbench. Run Realbench and choose the Stress test option. Choose a value from the available memory (RAM) options that is equal to approximately half of your installed memory capacity. If you have 16GB, choose 8GB. If you have 8GB, choose 4GB, etc. Click start and allow the stability test to run for 8 hours. Do not plan to use the system for ANYTHING else while it is running. It will run realistic AVX and handbrake workloads and if it passes 8 hours of testing it is probably about as stable as you can reasonably expect.
If you wish to check stability further you can run 12-24 hours of Prime95 Blend mode or Small FFT.
You do not need to simultaneously run HWinfo or CoreTemp while running Realbench as you should have already performed the thermal compliance test PLUS Realbench will show current CPU temperatures while it is running.
If you run the additional stability test using Prime95 Blend/Small FFT modes for 12-24 hours, you will WANT to also run HWinfo alongside it. Monitor HWinfo periodically to verify that no cores/threads are showing less than 100% usage. If it is, then that worker has errored out and the test should be stopped.
If you find there are errors on ANY of the stability tests including Realbench or Prime95, or any other stress testing utility, you need to make a change in the bios. This could be either dropping the multiplier to a lower factor or increasing the voltage while leaving the multiplier the same. If you change voltage or multiplier at ANY time, you need to start over again at the beginning and verify thermal compliance again.
A more in depth but general guide that is still intended for beginners or those who have had a small amount of experience overclocking can be found here:
*CPU overclocking guide for beginners
okay so just did the prime95 26.6 thermal test for 15 min. Showing a Max CPU Temp of 82°C. Ill run the Realbench now for several hours and see. Although in real life, id never be maxing my cpu out for 3+ hours so im not sure how relevant it would be for me.
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What do you mean by "folding"? What does that refer to? I’m curious if these tests are especially important for me since I rarely push my CPU beyond its limits for long periods.
4.9GHz at 1.24v works well... I’m limited to around 1.278v on my 8700K... However, testing longer with Prime95 version 26.6 is recommended for both blends and small FFTs, which will help identify any problems with the overclock. It would also be useful to run short 20 to 30 minute sessions in AIDA and Realbench to verify stability across different tests. Overall, if you can maintain a stable 1.24v, that’s a positive sign. You might gradually lower the voltage further, which could lead to even better and higher overclocks at lower levels... Good luck with your overclocking efforts!
Even without pushing your CPU to its limit, using only 20% of it still requires a consistent overclock. Some people define a "stable" overclock as one that starts up smoothly and runs any program without interruptions. However, unstable overclocks can cause minor glitches. I've felt this personally with my first attempt at overclocking the 7700k. These small issues involve minor errors in your operating system that don’t cause crashes but can accumulate over time. Eventually, they may affect your apps and files, leading to noticeable problems. Early signs included trouble connecting to online servers for two games. Simply reinstalling or uninstalling won’t fix it—you’ll need a clean install of Windows. This could be a minor concern if you refresh your system every few months, but if you’re unsure, heed the advice from Darkbreeze.
Folding refers to scientific computations for protein folding simulations.
These require significant processing power, so all systems must be fully reliable.
An unstable overclock may lead to random errors, damage your hard drive, corrupt Windows, or produce incorrect results in daily activities.
Ensure your overclock remains stable.
Many people boast about their high overclocks, but only if stability is guaranteed.
I've been adjusting settings for 22 years and have kept several records, yet stability remains the priority.
Even without pushing your CPU to its limit, using just 20% can still require a consistent overclock. Some people define a "stable" overclock as one that starts Windows and runs any program smoothly without crashes or restarts. The problem lies in tiny micro-errors caused by an unstable setup. I've felt this personally with my first 7700k overclock. These micro-errors are minor glitches that don’t cause crashes but can accumulate over time. After prolonged use, they may lead to corruption of files and slow down your OS or apps. Early signs included trouble connecting to online servers for a couple of games. You might think it’s not serious, but simply reinstalling the app doesn’t fix it—you need to wipe and reinstall Windows regularly. This could be a minor issue or a bigger one, depending on various factors. If you’re comfortable reinstalling Windows every 6 to 12 months, stability testing isn’t necessary. Otherwise, heed the advice from Darkbreeze.