Overclocking i7-6700k
Overclocking i7-6700k
Hello! I’m trying to boost my i7-6700k to 4.5-4.6 GHz. I followed a tutorial using an ASUS Z170-A motherboard and they recommended setting the voltage to 1.345. Since I’m just starting out, I want to make sure I’m doing this safely, without relying on outdated videos. Here are my questions:
Will it be worth pushing it that high?
Could I expect a noticeable performance boost?
My cooler is a NZXT AIO water cooler—does that cover the needs?
I mainly play MMO RPGs, so will the CPU improvement be significant?
And how does running 24/7 affect the CPU under overclocking?
Thank you for your help! I appreciate it.
1.345 tends to be on the higher end, yet still within acceptable limits. It’s not necessary to worry about voltage levels beyond maintaining around 1.35 volts daily for safety. Each CPU reacts slightly differently. You should increase speed gradually to become familiar with it. With a target of 4.5GHz you can push harder and test it. After that, reduce the voltage until performance drops. A more cautious method is to keep monitoring temperatures and ensuring they remain within an acceptable range. Factors like ambient heat and airflow are still unclear. It also depends on what results you expect in the game. If FPS problems arise from CPU speed, it’s a sign to look at GPU performance or consider overclocking. Higher voltages increase stress on the CPU, but as long as it stays cool, its lifespan should remain reasonable.
Thank you for your detailed response! I only have a GTX 1060 at the moment, which puts me at a lower end of the GPU specs needed for running large MMOs these days. I tried the lowest settings, but it ended up using more CPU than GPU—well under 30% usage and not overclocked. That means it’s probably time to upgrade to a better GPU. Thanks a lot for your assistance and quick reply!