Question Overclocking Intel i5 3570k
Question Overclocking Intel i5 3570k
Thanks for the updates. I'm having trouble installing gigabytes easytune5 or 6 because it keeps throwing errors during the setup. I was thinking a fresh Windows install might help, but I'm trying to figure out how to get it working without reinstalling the OS. It would be great if someone could check this CPU and let me know how far I can push it before it stops working. I didn't realize you could perform such a "delidding" operation, especially since I recently learned about overclocking. My CPU is from 2012, so the thermal paste might not be in optimal condition anymore, are you right? In any case, I'm likely to replace it with a new one and motherboard soon, so it doesn't matter if something goes wrong.
It's true that the CPU isn't built for such high speeds, which means it can't reach those levels. That was just my take on it.
If you're installing a new CPU and motherboard, it's best to stick with the current configuration. You might want to adjust things slightly, though I can't guide you through that since I don't have hands-on experience. It will add some style, which is nice. Just increase your voltages. Normally I wouldn't advise this, but since you're getting new components either way, go for it. Set the CPU voltage to 1.45 volts and SOC to 1.3 volts. See how it performs.
I must agree with the gurus advice. But one minor opinion of mine is don't touch the RAM. Honestly RAM OC's basically do nothing for real world performance but CPU overclocks do a whole lot. So firstly try to OC the CPU only. To do this you have many options in BIOS but the two you should be concernered with is the multiplier and the vcore or voltage of CPU. Me personally I would not touch that thing then get headaches of crashes etc. That is a very dated CPU and even OCing it wont really change anything. So in this case I retract my statement and say the best thing you can do for more frame rates is to overclock the video card with MSI AB and set a fan curve so it spins fast as CPU temp rises. Just my two cents on this note. Good Luck 🤷♀️☮✝👶
Gpu OC usually performs very little, often not doing much at all. Fps refers to frames per second and is entirely the CPU's job. It handles pre-rendering, positioning objects, floating point operations, movement calculations, and determining which elements are in focus versus background. Only then does it send the final image to the GPU for color enhancement and detail adjustments based on resolution. The frequency at which the CPU can pre-render a frame and transmit it directly affects the FPS output. The GPU can only manage how many times the rendered image appears on screen, not its speed. If the CPU sends 100fps to the GPU and the GPU can handle over 60fps on a 60Hz display, the actual output remains unchanged regardless of whether the GPU achieves 90 or 110fps. The situation changes only when the GPU lacks sufficient power for the monitor's resolution and detail requirements. Many users have powerful CPUs that run at high resolutions and refresh rates, but for those targeting 1080p at 144Hz, it’s often the CPU that struggles due to insufficient frame pre-rendering, leaving the GPU underutilized.
The i5-3570k is a quad-core processor clocked at 3.7GHz. This makes it significantly underpowered for modern gaming experiences. To boost onscreen FPS, it would need substantial optimization, far more than what a GPU can achieve on a standard 1080p display.
Silicon lottery. My old 3570k wouldn't run stable at 4.4GHz, even with 1.55v and every adjustment I made, but it would only hit 4.3GHz all day at 1.114v. I've had my i7-3770K reach 5.0GHz at 1.42v, though I preferred 4.9GHz at 1.32v. It really comes down to whether you get a solid CPU or not—it's all about luck.
I don't see any reason to consider ram frequency and timings as minor issues; this could become relevant for higher speed DDR4 starting from 3000MHz or more. However, moving from 1333MHz to 2400MHz brings noticeable improvements, particularly in gaming at 1080p resolution. Initially, the system uses a mixed RAM configuration that is more challenging to maintain stability. This motherboard can support up to 2800MHz OC RAM, but reaching that speed is difficult due to the CPU's Integrated Memory Controller, which acts like a lottery determining the achievable speed—depending on the game.
With many first-generation Intel chips, stable frequencies around 2133MHz are possible, but achieving 2400MHz requires an Xeon processor. Another challenge is that early Intel processors lack Northbridge frequency control in the BIOS, meaning higher BCLK speeds depend on more complex settings.
Since you have a third-generation Intel chip, I’m assuming a 2400MHz target might be feasible—especially with dual channels. If you manage to get 2400MHz XMP enabled and still can’t boot at that speed, consider lowering it to 2133 or 2200MHz and fine-tune the timings.
Check the motherboard manufacturer’s site for RAM compatibility details:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-...upport-doc
Always opt for dual channel (2 or 4 sticks). If you achieve 2400MHz with XMP and can’t boot at that speed, you can safely drop to 2133 or 2200MHz and adjust timings manually. If no options under 20–30 euros/USD are available, it may not be worth pursuing.
Flamebrander
There’s no specific SOC voltage for AMD boards; instead, VTT/IMC voltages can aid stability at higher BCLK or faster DRAM speeds. This won’t help if you only overclock the CPU while keeping cache speed constant. Raising the VTT voltage slightly may boost CPU temps a bit, but it won’t compensate for insufficient RAM frequency. You’ll likely need to raise it further to reach 2400MHz.
The best RAM for the third generation is 1866MHz. I haven't encountered anything needing special adjustments beyond standard plug-and-play configurations. This frequency also incorporates the JEDEC tables for 1333MHz and 1600MHz, meaning if your CPU or BIOS can't handle 1866MHz, it will still function well at lower speeds with tighter timings.
Even though high-end 2400 sticks are costly, spending on non-K or non-Z boards is likely unnecessary. These combinations might not support the higher settings, no matter what the sales info says online.
I also used premium motherboards and it took a long time to reach even 2133mhz on my i7-870 and i7-875k, but the Xeon handled it smoothly at 2400mhz. For the i5-760 processors, I could barely get 1866mhz, which seems like a rare finding for the first-gen chips. Karadjgne
Would you recommend a 1866mhz xmp 2x8gb kit CL9 for him? There are several kits listed on the manufacturer's memory support page that match that frequency. He could also try adjusting timings to run at 2133mhz if he prefers.