Running overclock on i7 6700K with Asrock Z170 Extreme 7+
Running overclock on i7 6700K with Asrock Z170 Extreme 7+
I have the necessary components for my system including an Asrock Z170 Extreme 7+, an i7 6700K processor, a Corsair Veangeance LPX 3000mhz DDR4 memory kit with two 8GB modules, a Dark Rock Pro 3 CPU cooler, an MSI R9 390 graphics card, and an EVGA SuperNova G2 850w power supply. My current configuration runs DDR4 at 2800mhz, with the CPU clocking 4400mhz (4.36ghz) and voltage set to auto. I’m experiencing issues when trying to boot at 3000mhz unless the CPU is overclocked to 4.6ghz, and I’ve noticed the voltage rising to 1.392v during heavy loads, which exceeds what’s ideal for daily use (around 60% load with stable temperatures). The voltage in BIOS is currently set to 1.35v. I should focus only on settings related to the Asrock Z170 motherboard, as I have three CPU overclocking options but none of them reduce idle voltage. For the Load Line Calibration, I need to determine the appropriate settings to stabilize performance without compromising efficiency.
my asrock motherboard with a 6600k has a 1.392v rating, which is close to what i need for 4.8ghz on 6600k. i use llc level 3, and if you apply offset it only gives a range from -0.1v to +0.2v, which surprised me since i expected more flexibility—at least that's the full range available on my board, according to the OCZ formula.
Terminology varies between different motherboard manufacturers.
Some observations:
1. The ability to achieve overclocking largely depends on the luck of obtaining a suitable chip.
Here are some figures:
- 2/16/16
- Percentage of users who can successfully overclock at a reasonable 1.40v Vcore for I7-6700K:
- 4.8%
- 4.7%
- 56%
- 87%
- 100%
2. RAM speed plays only a minor role in Skylake architecture.
Read the article on ram scaling here: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html
My tests with a 6600K suggest that RAM speeds exceeding the standard 1.2v limit reduce available power for CPU overclocking. This likely corresponds to around 2400 speed. Lower cas numbers are preferable when achievable at that voltage.
A useful metric is speed divided by cas number; higher values are better.
3. I applied auto settings for all voltage configurations. With a very capable chip, I achieved 4.8 @1.4v during stress tests.
For more realistic testing, consider using OCCT with typical workloads. Prime95 and Intel burn test aren’t suitable for daily use.
I haven’t found reliable data on a safe Vcore for continuous operation.
The silicon lottery categorizes chips around 1.4v.
4. Once finished, apply speedstep and adaptive voltage control. This helps reduce multiplier and voltage when the CPU is less active.
5. Look for BIOS updates that resolve overclocking problems.
6. CPU temperatures often reflect high Vcore rather than just the multiplier.
The processor may slow down or shut down if it reaches around 100°C.
If you’re operating between 70°C to 85°C under load, it should be fine.
my asrock motherboard with a 6600k has a 1.392v rating, which is close to what i need for 4.8ghz on 6600k. i use llc level 3, and if you apply offset it only provides a -0.1v to +0.2v range, which surprised me since i expected more flexibility—at least that's the full range available on my board, according to the OCZ formula.
i have an asrock motherboard with a 6600k and i'm checking if 1.392v is sufficient for 4.8ghz on that board. i'm using llc level 3, and i was surprised by the limited offset range of -0.1v to +0.2v. i thought it would offer more flexibility than it does—at least that's what i expect from my board. the oc z170 formula shows this. i know it seems a bit high because the auto setting tends to overvolt more than necessary. for llc, i think i should look for an offset voltage setting and then determine the appropriate load line calibration.
I have a comparable setup I'm planning to create. I'm wondering about your progress with the AsRock MB and 6700K. You mentioned using an onboard M.2 PCI SSD and two 16GB RAM modules at 3200MHz. Did you install Windows 7 or Windows 10? Were there any issues with the system starting up initially?
I have a comparable setup I’m planning to create. It’s interesting to see how you’re progressing with the AsRock MB and 6700K. I plan to use an onboard M.2 PCI SSD along with two 16GB RAM modules at 3200mhz. Did you install Windows 7 or Windows 10? Were there any issues getting the system to start up initially?
The setup functions well and the motherboard is of high quality. I performed a clean installation of Windows 10 Pro on a 250GB Samsung 850 Evo. The system would boot in about 13.5 seconds (with Intel delayed launcher and rapid storage). Now it takes roughly 14.2 seconds (after adding a few more programs to the startup list). Be sure to turn off Microsoft OneDrive startup, as it can significantly lengthen boot time.
I suspect a genuine M.2 PCIe SSD would start up even quicker (similar to the Samsung 950 Pro), though not much faster. I faced no major problems during booting except instability when XMP was enabled (3000mhz). At standard CPU speeds, I could run RAM at 2666mhz, OC at 4.4GHz, and OC at 4.6GHz at 3000mhz.
I’d suggest opting for Kingston RAM or GSKill RAM (or similar), rather than Corsair Veangeance LPX (I chose it because I have a Dark Rock Pro 3 and needed a low-profile RAM, plus there was a promotion with the SSD when I purchased it).