Overclocking i3 8350k – what to consider?
Overclocking i3 8350k – what to consider?
You've upgraded your cooling system and hardware setup. For the Hyper 212 Black Edition, removing the factory fan and using a push/pull configuration with Corsair Air Series SP 120 LEDs should help maintain stable temperatures. With the MSI Z390 ATX board, you're running at around 4.2 with adjusted CPU ratios. Based on your test results—max temps staying at 70°C during CPU load and idle temps between 37-40°C—your current setup is performing well. A safe overclock would likely be pushing the CPU slightly higher, aiming for a stable temperature of about 60-65°C under load. Monitor closely with tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp to fine-tune.
70C performs adequately, though CB15 won’t overburden the CPU as much as R20 would. For more performance, raise the frequency until stability breaks, then boost voltage if needed. To ensure consistency, keep Prime95 running for several hours. It’s also wise to turn off AVX on P95 or install an older release (26.6 works well) without AVX testing enabled, reducing the risk of damage.
I’ve had some firsthand experience with this chip. It didn’t come out as a lucky find. When my son’s 8350k was running in the Z370 Extreme 4, it would never start at 5ghz unless I boosted it to 1.42v. I managed 4.8 stable with a very high LLC and 1.38v, but even with the same cooler as my 8700k, it performed worse than my 6-core hyperthreaded 8700k at the same voltage. Although it was overclocked, I chose 4.7ghz at 1.35v with moderate LLC because that was the highest frequency I could achieve while keeping things cool. Eventually, I swapped it in for a 9400 I bought for $120 last year, and I put the 8350k in a budget H310, letting it run at stock speed. Clearly, these chips aren’t great overclockers. At least my test unit was different.
You should be aware of the setup details. I installed a second 120mm fan behind the top grill for better airflow, with a factory fan at the bottom front. This configuration uses two intake fans and two exhaust fans—one at the rear and another at the rear top.
They work well in environments with limited airflow and help with exhaust. They tend to be quite noisy, so you might need to adjust the fan curve more aggressively to avoid stalling. In general, I wouldn’t worry about using an open-air GPU setup where a blower card is needed. It’s not bad, though—it’s just noticeably louder.