overclocking i7-9700k results in stable temperatures yet performance issues with the PC or games.
overclocking i7-9700k results in stable temperatures yet performance issues with the PC or games.
Hello everyone,
I regret not providing more details. I'm currently at work, so I'm not at home with my computer. It's a slow day, so I left early, but I wanted to recount my semi-adventure into Overclocking this new processor.
Yesterday, I acquired an i7-9700k for $339 at the local Best Buy. At that time, I was using an i5-8700k with motherboards that had "auto" overclocking settings, achieving speeds of about 4.3 to 4.6GHZ at idle temperatures around 30°C and 50°C under load. There were no issues encountered.
My current setup includes:
i7-9700K Octa-Core 3.6 GHz Desktop Processor
MSI Z370M MORTAR motherboard (MICRO = big mistake)
32GB Corsair 2400 RAM, EVO
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU Cooler
EVGA Supernova 750 G3, 80 Plus Gold 750W, Fully Modular PSU
Phanteks PH-EC416PTG_BK Eclipse P400 Steel ATX Mid Tower Case
MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB GDRR5X DirectX 12 352-bit (wider than my motherboard)
I don’t notice any sag on the GPU, though I used a magnetic GPU that helps secure the CPU.
To sum up, I’d like to admit two mistakes:
First, I originally had an GTX 1050ti, and while my micro ATX motherboard worked fine, it was small and inconvenient. I spent $1070 for the 1080ti on Amazon. I could have gotten a better RTX card, but I wasn’t in the gaming scene much and didn’t think it would fit. The seller offered a discount, which he appreciated. This card is powerful, so it’s no surprise.
Second, after work yesterday, I updated the MSI Mortar BIOS to support the 9th generation i7. That process went smoothly. I cleaned the CPU cooler, removed the old one, and reinstalled it. The CPU ran at around 4.8GHZ in BIOS at 40°C.
After rebooting, I used BIOS settings to enable XMP and set it to "Game Boost" in the top left corner. This allowed the CPU to overclock and improved performance. In BIOS, I found the i7 labeled as "Game Boost," which boosts memory speeds and enhances overall stability.
I started the computer, ran CPU-Z and Core Temp to monitor temperatures. During a game session, the system shut down after 10 minutes, then restarted. A stress test showed temperatures never exceeded 70°C, though the game would crash around 60-70°C during intense use. I restarted the game, which froze for about 20 minutes with a strange sound.
I suspect the CPU is overheating despite not reaching 75°C. I manually adjusted its core clock from auto to 44 and increased the ratio, which pushed it to 4.3GHz. This change stabilized performance. I tested stress tests for 30 minutes without issues and played Red Dead Redemption 2 for about three hours on ultra settings.
I’m cautious about making BIOS changes without proper knowledge. I understand the risks. Still, I’m wondering if overheating is the cause of crashes or if there’s a voltage issue. It’s unusual. I stress-tested it at 4.8GHz for 15 minutes and found no problems.
I noticed new settings appeared in the OC GUI after flashing the BIOS, such as ring ratio, which I hadn’t seen before. A forum post suggested disabling Intel Turbo Boost and other default settings, which might be necessary.
I also considered switching to liquid cooling, even though it seemed my CPU wasn’t overheating much. I planned to buy one at Best Buy later but decided against it today.
For recommendations, I’d appreciate any advice on overclocking this i7-9700k with my current motherboard setup.
Thanks!
Don’t assume it’s a heat problem; it’s probably due to voltage issues since the CPU might not be receiving enough in the AUTO overclocking mode. I wouldn’t suggest using any auto overclocking settings on a motherboard. Instead, consider installing “Intel Performance Maximizer” – it will automatically adjust the best configurations and calculate optimal clock and voltage based on your cooling setup. For overclocking at 9700k, a cooler with 280 or 360mm from Corsair, NZXT, or EVGa should suffice.
I checked the details for the case. It claims compatibility with both 280 and 360, though only the 360 fits in both front and rear. It seems a bit unclear. Here’s a screenshot of the specs. The bottom left shows the supported sizes. I think I’ll stick with 280mm, even though it mentions support for 360 only in the front. What do you think?
I'm checking the CORSAIR - Hydro Series H100i RGB Platinum 120mm Processor Liquid Cooling System and others are reporting temperatures around 70°C. My fan cooler seems to be doing a good job. I might consider upgrading to something better than this Corsair model.
Your rear relies solely on one 120mm fan or radiator. It’s best to pair it with a 280mm or 360mm front unit. For a 280mm EVGA, cooling performance is optimal. Corsair or NZXT would work well as alternatives.
Cooling performance mainly depends on wattage. A CPU running at a 5.0GHz locked core can reach up to 200w. The Hyper212 Evo offers a 140w budget cooler, and based on calculations, it’s clear that such a cooler won’t be able to maintain a CPU output near 200w due to thermal throttling or shutdowns.
This leads to the topic of capacity. A 120mm AIO model runs around 140w, while a 240mm AIO reaches about 250w, a 280mm model is near 300w, and a 360mm model hits around 350w. Generally speaking, these capacities are consistent.
A good choice would be a 240mm model such as the Corsair H100i, a 280mm like the Corsair H115i Pro, or a 360mm such as the Corsair H150i Pro. The main advantage is that larger coolers tend to perform better, resulting in quieter and more efficient operation.
Additionally, there are only a few manufacturers producing both radiators and pumps, so cooling capability is largely determined by fans and their interaction with the radiator to achieve optimal temperatures at different speeds. Overall, these factors keep performance fairly consistent across the board.
Personally, I’m using an I7-9700k. It doesn’t need much optimization, but if you have sufficient cooling, enabling MCE is more than sufficient, especially when setting a locked core OC at maximum turbo.
If you aim to overclock, do it correctly. There are many helpful guides and materials available, explore them. For example, search for "coffee lake overclocking guide." Avoid making changes to the BIOS without proper understanding.
By the way, I’m not sure what led you to believe an RTX card wouldn’t fit on your motherboard. The PCIe x16 port is a standard dimension, so any graphics card should work. The main limitations are your case size and power supply capacity.
The explanation behind this situation is quite awkward, particularly given my role as a System Administrator. I've been working in IT since 2005 just to provide some context. At Best Buy, I picked up an RTX 2060. When I brought it home, I immediately noticed it wouldn't fit into the PCI slot. There was one clear issue: I hadn't removed the protective cap from the GPU pin. Most GPUs come with a cover over the pin when they arrive. Well, yes. I just received the card and was in a hurry. I'm aware it occupies two slots (my current 1080TI is already large), but it wasn't a big deal at the time. However, once I realized this, it became too late. I had already purchased the 1080TI for over 30 days. It's really embarrassing.