So, is it okay to push my CPU speed higher than normal?
So, is it okay to push my CPU speed higher than normal?
Hey, I decided to boost my CPU speed up a little bit. It's an Intel i5 3570k right now running at 4.7 gigahertz with 1.25 volts of electricity. I'm using Prime95 to stress test it and the highest temperature I've seen is around 66 to 72 degrees, when it's idle it's about 50 degrees. Should I keep pushing this overclock or should I stop right now?
You have a good motherboard that can handle an overclocked 3570K or the even better 3770K because it uses Hyper-Threading, which actually uses more power. As long as you get a decent Power Supply and stay under 1.3 Volts with the CPU running at 80 degrees Celsius, you don't need any worry. Here is our list of Power Supplies ranked by quality so you know what you're getting.
That sounds totally fine and the temperatures are all right for your safety zone. Your voltage is great at 1.25 volts; anything below 1.3 volts is good enough to go. Even going up to 1.35 volts is safe, though people sometimes say you can get as high as 1.4 volts. The only thing that worries me a little bit is your idle temps because 50 degrees feels a bit too hot. I would guess you're getting somewhere between 30 and 40 degrees depending on where you live in the country, but around 40 degrees should be okay as long as it's not running at full power. What cooler are you using? Is your case well ventilated or is there something else going on here that I'm missing?
I fixed my computer fan after you told me to, now it runs quietly at 32 watts up to 39 watts! I'm using a Corsair 12v dc brushless fan but even if my CPU is ready for this, are there not other parts that could break?
NoTraX, on behalf of Tom's Moderator Team, say hi to you there! As vMax already told us, running at 4.7 GHz with a 1.25 volt core gives you a solid speed of about 3570K. But just so our other forum members and visitors don't get confused about the core voltage numbers, let's look closer:
vMax, CPU Degradation has always been a big topic for overclockers trying to squeeze out another 100 MHz. It is respectful to know that opinions vary widely, especially when some people say things they are not fully informed on and just repeat what other people claim. Since Intel launched 14 nanometer processors back in 2015, users have become used to seeing Core voltages around 1.4 volts popping up everywhere online. Most new overclockers who lack real experience jump to the wrong conclusion that older 22 nanometer chip designs can handle the same voltage levels as newer ones. This is not true. Every Microarchitecture has a "Maximum Recommended Vcore". For example, it is crucial to note that 22 nanometer processors from the third and fourth generations will not tolerate higher Core voltages found in other Microarchitectures here. Here is the Maximum Recommended Vcore for each Microarchitecture from 14 down to 65 nanometers since 2006:
We know that too much voltage and heat over time damages electronics, so when using manual Voltage settings in the BIOS, excessive Core voltage and temperature can cause accelerated "Electromigration". Processors are made of many layers with hundreds of millions of microscopic components. Electromigration erodes fragile circuit pathways and transistor junctions, which results in the degradation of overclock stability and thus performance. Although your initial overclock might seem stable at first, degradation doesn't show up until later when increasingly frequent blue-screen crashes indicate a progressive loss of stability. The more excessive the levels of voltage, heat, and time they are sustained for, the longer it takes before transistor degradation destabilizes your overclock. Lowering the overclock and Vcore can temporarily restore stability but also slow down the rate of damage. Extreme overvolting can cause damage in minutes, whereas a sensible overclock stays stable for years. Each Microarchitecture also has a "Degradation Curve". As a general rule, CPUs are more susceptible to electromigration and degradation with each step down in size (Die-shrink). However, there is an exception: Intel's 14 nanometer Microarchitecture uses advanced FinFET transistor technology that improves voltage tolerance. Here is how the Degradation Curves correspond to Maximum Recommended Vcore for 22 nanometer third and fourth generation processors compared to 14 nanometer fifth through tenth generation processors:
Degradation Curves are based on the term "Vt (Voltage threshold Shift)" which is measured in millivolts. Users cannot monitor Vt Shift directly. In terms of overclocking and overvolting, Vt Shift basically represents the potential for permanent loss of normal transistor performance. Excessively high Core voltage drives excessively high Power consumption and Core temperatures, all of which contribute to gradual Vt Shift over time. Core voltages that impose high Vt Shift values are not recommended. Core voltage multiplied by direct current (amps) equals power (watts), which is driven by the workload; this in turn drives Core temperature. Over time, these variables cause transistor degradation due to Electromigration and Vt Shift. Here is a summary of those key variables:
- Voltage
- Current
- Power
- Workload
- Temperature
- Time
The voltages and curves listed above are not just theoretical nonsense; degradation is real and happens when too much Vcore is applied, even if Core temperatures do not get excessively high. If you click on the red links mentioned earlier, you can read for yourself the undisputable hard scientific proof behind Electromigration and Vt Shift. If you look very closely at the Vt Shift graph and examine the blue curve for 22nm processors carefully, you will see that 1.325 volts is about as high as you should go. However, a simple rule of thumb for 22 nanometer third and fourth generation processors is: if you do not want to risk degradation, then do not exceed 1.3 volts or 80°C. I do not recommend that users ignore this or blindly trust their CPU's longevity based on what "some say". Remember to keep overclocking in perspective. For example, the difference between 4.5 GHz and 4.6 GHz is less than 2.3%, which has no noticeable impact on overall system performance. It simply isn't worth pushing your processor beyond recommended Core voltage and Core temperature limits just to squeeze out another 100 MHz. Here is the nominal operating range for Core temperature:
Core temperatures above 85 °C are not recommended.
Core temperatures below 80 °C are ideal.
NoTraX, once again, welcome aboard!
Okay I think I get it now, so basically I should keep my voltage under 1.3 volts and the temperature below 80 degrees Celsius just in case. But if I start overclocking my CPU, will other parts break? Like could the motherboard fail? If that happens, how do I know exactly how much power I can handle without breaking anything? Since I want to go beyond 4.7 volts, my motherboard is an Asus P8Z77-V LX2.
You have a decent motherboard which is quite capable of supporting an overclocked 3570K, as well as the 3770K, which has higher actual power consumption due to Hyper-Threading. As long as you have an adequate Power Supply (PSU) and you don't exceed 1.3 Vcore and 80°C, you shouldn't have any concerns. Here's our PSU tier list so you know where your PSU ranks in terms of quality. CT
I tried to use 4.8ghz but can't because the signal is too weak with only 1.3 volts. So I'm going to wait and thank you for your help.