Overlocking I5 6600 (distinct from 6600k)
Overlocking I5 6600 (distinct from 6600k)
Hello everyone,
I’m not very familiar with overclocking CPUs, but I recently built my first PC and was excited about it. I chose the I5 6600 instead of the I5 6600K because it was cheaper at 35 euros. Now I’m considering overclocking if it’s possible. Here are my PC details:
- I5 6600 at 3,30 GHz
- Cooler Master Hyper 212X cooler
- Evga GTX 1070 SC with 8GB RAM
- Gigabyte GA-B150-HD3P graphics card
- Kingston DDR4 2x4GB 2133 RAM
- Quiet B8 550W power supply
- Kingston HyperX SSD
- Several additional HDDs
- NZXT H440 Black case
Is it feasible? If yes, what should I be aware of when doing this? Some people suggest just upgrading the CPU, but I’m hesitant since it might not be worth it.
When discussing CPU overclocking, many recent models are marked with "K" at the end, indicating they're unlocked. This means you can adjust the base frequency and voltage, but if the CPU is locked—like your own—it's not possible to change those settings. Doing so can lead to serious harm, since K processors are designed for overclocking while non-K ones aren't. I think, depending on your motherboard, it might be feasible, but most experts advise against it to avoid damaging your CPU.
When discussing CPU overclocking, many recent models are marked with "K" at the end, indicating they're unlocked. This means you can adjust the base frequency and voltage, but if the CPU is locked—like your own—it's not possible to change those settings. Doing so can lead to serious harm, since K processors are designed for overclocking while non-K ones aren't. I think, depending on your motherboard, it might be feasible, but most experts advise against it to avoid damaging your CPU.
When discussing CPU overclocking, many recent models are marked with "K" at the end, indicating they're unlocked. Ignoring the exceptions like C2D Processors, unlocked CPUs allow users to adjust base frequency and voltage. A locked CPU, like yours, prevents such changes, which could damage the processor since K processors are designed for overclocking while non-K ones are not. I think it's possible depending on your motherboard, but most people advise against it to avoid damage.
Thanks for your quick reply. After reading your thoughts, I chose not to overclock my CPU right now.
I plan to proceed with what I have until an upgrade, which feels a bit silly not buying the 6600K now.
But I have two more questions. I was considering overclocking to boost overall PC performance, but while playing Forza Horizon 3 I noticed my CPU usage hit 100%. I thought it might help, but I’m also curious if a friend building a PC soon could accept my CPU for a lower price—would that be an option?
Maybe it’s just a simple idea, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible or easy. Thanks!
Erwin_1999:
When discussing CPU overclocking, many new models are marked with "K" at the end, indicating they're unlocked. This allows users to adjust base frequency and voltage. If a CPU is locked, such as yours, you can't change the base frequency, and attempting it may harm the processor. K processors are designed for overclocking, while non-K ones aren't. I think it's generally safe to avoid overclocking unless your motherboard supports it, as doing so can damage the CPU.
Thank you for your quick reply. After reading your thoughts, I chose not to overclock my CPU.
I plan to stick with what I have now until a future upgrade, feeling a bit foolish for not purchasing the 6600K right away.
But I have two more questions. I was considering overclocking now to boost overall PC performance, but while playing Forza Horizon 3 I noticed my CPU usage reached 100%. I thought overclocking might improve it slightly. Another thought was that a friend of mine is building a PC soon, so could I lend my CPU to them at a lower price and buy the 6600K instead?
Maybe it's just an unwise idea, but I'm not sure if it's easy or possible. Thanks!
If you really want to upgrade to a 6600K for overclocking, go ahead. However, I just realized something important: your motherboard is a B150 model, which isn't suitable for overclocking. Since your CPU is an LGA1151, you'd need a Z170 board to do it safely. The B150 chipset is usually for those who prefer not to overclock and just want a 'Plug and Play' setup.
Therefore, you'd likely need to replace your motherboard before proceeding. Your CPU is powerful enough to handle most games at reasonable settings, so overclocking isn't essential.
When discussing CPU overclocking, many of the newer models are marked with "K" at the end, indicating they're unlocked. This allows users to adjust the base frequency and voltage, while a locked CPU (like yours) prevents such changes, which could lead to serious damage. I think it's best to avoid overclocking unless you're certain about the risks, as most people advise against it.
Thank you for your quick reply. After reading your thoughts, I chose not to overclock my CPU right now. I’ll stick with what I have until I upgrade later. Feeling a bit foolish for not purchasing the 6600K now.
But I have two more questions. I was considering overclocking to boost overall PC performance, but while playing Forza Horizon 3 I noticed my CPU usage hit 100%. I thought it might help, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. Also, a friend is planning to build a PC soon—could I possibly lend my CPU to them for a lower price, and then buy the 6600K myself?
Maybe it’s just a silly idea, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible. Thanks for your assistance!
If you really want to upgrade to a 6600K for overclocking, go ahead. However, I realized something important: your motherboard is a B150 model, which isn’t designed for overclocking. Since your CPU is an LGA1151, you’d need a Z170 board to do it safely. The B150 chipset is meant for casual users who don’t want to overclock, so upgrading your board might not be worth it just yet.
Your CPU should handle most games well without overclocking, so it’s probably not necessary.
Thanks again for the useful tips. I’ll just enjoy gaming and wait until I can afford an upgrade.