Overclocking the i7-7700K
Overclocking the i7-7700K
Hi,
I'm a new user here and have some questions. Let me share my PC setup so we can understand what I'm working with:
Motherboard: Asus Z270 ROG Strix MATX
CPU: i7-7700K
CPU cooler: Swiftech H320 X2 Prestige Edition
RAM: 16GB G.Skill TridentZ 3200Mhz DDR4
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 1070
I put together the build quickly. I faced a problem with the ATX connector from the PSU to the motherboard, which was lucky I had a spare. After installing the OS, I started monitoring temperatures right away.
As expected, I was idling between 31-34°C, which is normal. When I played a game like CS:GO, my CPU temperatures reached around 80°C. I was surprised by this and thought something in the BIOS might be causing the issue. The fans were spinning at about 2500 RPM, so I looked into it further. I opened the BIOS and disabled turbo boosting. After that, running CS:GO brought my temps down to 55-58°C, which was acceptable.
I wanted to overclock the system to test performance gains, but I worried about overheating. I decided to overclock it to 5.0GHz at 1.32V. It worked well at idle with a temperature of 36°C, but in CS:GO it reached 88-91°C—something unexpected. I then lowered it to 4.4GHz at 1.189V, and it only hit 62°C while gaming, which is still within a reasonable range.
Could anyone help identify what might be causing the problem?
I re-applied thermal paste twice so far, and the CPU block seems secure with no movement. I know the i7-7700K can get hot, but is it typical to reach such high temperatures with a water-cooled setup?
Thanks,
I'll keep you updated.
Executed tests on IBT using standard and elevated stress levels. CPU was overclocked to 4.4GHz at 1.189V...
Consistent outcomes:
[22:15:54] 7.297 122.4936 3.156799e-002
[22:16:07] 7.337 121.8293 3.156799e-002
[22:16:19] 7.380 121.1198 3.156799e-002
[22:16:32] 7.348 121.6558 3.156799e-002
[22:16:44] 7.321 122.0990 3.156799e-002
[22:16:56] 7.319 122.1340 3.156799e-002
[22:17:09] 7.347 121.6600 3.156799e-002
[22:17:21] 7.482 119.4692 3.156799e-002
[22:17:34] 7.569 118.1030 3.156799e-002
[22:17:47] 7.550 118.3949 3.156799e-002
High-stress outcomes:
[22:19:36] 60.847 126.6740 3.414758e-002
[22:21:00] 62.431 123.4600 3.414758e-002
[22:22:25] 63.670 121.0563 3.414758e-002
Observed temperatures reached approximately 85°C during intense testing. Think there could be a problem with the water cooling system, as it seems to overheat more than anticipated.
Running your CPU at high temperatures is risky, and your idle usage is also high. Make sure the cooler is securely connected—what’s the setup for this model?
I checked the CPU block and confirmed it remains securely in place. There is no shifting or displacement. The main connector from the PWM splitter is connected to my CPU fan header on the motherboard. All other 3/4 pin connectors are linked to the PWM splitter, including the pump, CPU block, and fans.
On the stock with a 4.2GHz clock speed, I observed temperatures ranging from 31-33°C at idle and 55-58°C under full load. I believe these values were elevated, and I'm uncertain about the cause. I might try using my old Corsair H100i to test the CPU and check if the temperatures remain consistent—or it could indicate an issue with the Swiftech unit.
Today after school I plan to apply yet another layer of thermal paste for the third time. I’ll take photos to confirm the right amount is used. I’ll share updates soon and check any replies during class breaks.
Your stock temperatures seem typical. It's puzzling how much they rise after overclocking, yet your cooler isn't performing well enough for such high loads. The thermal paste probably won't help much; if you're aiming for extreme overclocking, consider upgrading your cooler instead.