Stable - yay or nay?
Stable - yay or nay?
Hello.
I'm just starting out with overclocking.
My components are:
i79700k
Asus Prime Z390M plus
Dark Rock 4
32gb 3000MHz RAM
Current settings are:
Core voltage : 1.29V
ASUS MCE : OFF
Svid behaviour : auto
LLC : Level 6
CPU current capacity : 140% (doesn't reach 170 for some reason)
CPU core cache current limit : 255.7
Both Short Duration and Long Duration Power Limits are at max (4095)
BLCK aware adaptive voltage off
everything else stock/auto
I ran a 30-minute realbench test followed by four Cinebench R15 runs. The system stayed stable until it crashed during the fourth Cinebench run.
Would you say this is fairly stable? What are your opinions?
I understand it's better to spend hours testing, but since the PC is mainly for gaming and I can't imagine any game reaching that level of demand, I'm thinking about lowering the voltage to 1.3V and stopping there.
Could you suggest ways to fine-tune this overclock? I'd like to keep 5GHz for all tasks so AVX-related issues are avoided.
Note: Running at 1.275 caused a crash after 10 minutes in realbench. At 1.285 it passes but is near the edge, which makes me hesitant to go lower.
Thanks.
I'm not sure what to say here.
My Asus board supports: Auto, 100%, 140%, and 200%. I don't understand why it skips 170%.
What I do know is that for my 7820X running at 4.4ghz with 1.13Vcore, the 140% current limit is reached, so I have to set it to 200% – but a 7820X to a 9700K is quite different.
Yes.
Air coolers offer more direct cooling compared to VRMs, while hybrid cooling is less effective.
The setup is quite brief on both sides; the longer it is, the better.
Realbench 8hr uses about half of the RAM capacity. Try running it overnight and more than one test if necessary.
Cinebench R20 should be set to a duration as long as required—remembering that R15 doesn’t utilize AVX.
2) The LLC 6 model is slightly above what’s needed. Adjust based on your cooling setup: 5 for strong VRM cooling, 4 otherwise.
3) CPU current performance stands at 140% (may not reach 170 due to a possible bios issue). It could be another setting blocking the selection. A BIOS update or CMOS reset might help.
You might need that stability test without it; AVX requires more power and voltage than standard SSE instructions, and 140% may not suffice for your needs.
4) It’s better to invest time in thorough testing rather than spending hours on short runs, especially since gaming titles like Battlefield V and Watch Dogs: Legion support AVX.
Ultimately, getting close to 99.99% is crucial, but no overclock guarantees stability.
It’s possible to complete an 8hr Realbench or R20 session and still encounter failure within ten minutes. Based on experience, tweak settings and retest.
5) Some samples are unreliable—this isn’t the company’s responsibility. You’re probably not providing enough Vcore either.
Coffee Lake Refresh
All Core SSE Frequency
All Core AVX2 Frequency
BIOS Vcore
% Capable
9700K – 4.90GHz, 4.70GHz, 1.337V – 100%
9700K – 5.00GHz, 4.80GHz, 1.350V – Top 90%
9700K – 5.10GHz, 4.90GHz, 1.362V – Top 38%
9700K – 5.20GHz, 5.00GHz, 1.375V – Top 9%
9700K – 5.30GHz, 5.10GHz, 1.387V – Top 1%
Source: https://siliconlottery.com/pages/statistics
At these frequencies, AVX offers better speed but demands more power and voltage. Even without considering SSE frequency, most 9700K models can reach 5.0GHz (SSE) without AVX using a reasonable 1.35Vcore or lower. To use AVX, you’d need a stable 5.0GHz with at least 1.35Vcore.
If you’re stuck near the voltage limit around 1.30V, it’s tough. Good luck with your project!
As before, but I would configure an AVX offset of 2. This keeps the standard SSE performance and power levels, yet when the CPU identifies AVX usage it will reduce speeds by 200MHz.
There’s no such thing as a ‘mostly’ stable OC. It’s either consistently stable or not at all. Yours falls short. Imagine spending four hours in a dungeon, just beginning to battle the final boss, and then suddenly everything slows to zero. By the time you return, the fight is over, you’ve lost, your gear remains trapped in that last room, your team is furious and broken. A total disaster.
A typical approach when OCing is assuming you’ve reached your goal and everything looks fine—then you cut the speed by 100MHz. That tiny extra 2% frame rate doesn’t matter much.
The CPU's current performance often reaches a maximum of 140, which works well in some BIOS versions. A few users think it’s acceptable, but since I’m new, I’m unsure what its exact purpose is and whether 170 might be better.
I’m not clear on how to check if the VRM has active cooling—do you mean general airflow, or does it include heatsinks around the VRM or the CPU itself? Could you clarify what each level of LLC actually does?
Based on the table, it seems a stable 5GHz operation for both SSE and AVX at reasonable voltages isn’t feasible. If you want to run at 5GHz, you could try 5.2GHz with an AVX offset of 2 or 5GHz with an offset of 2. This might help with stability, though it slightly increases my OCD about everything needing perfection.
Regarding the voltage, I’m a bit worried about trying 1.35V. I want the CPU to last at least 6 to 8 years and don’t want it to degrade under constant 1.35V. From what I’ve heard, this could be risky. How would you describe typical CPU wear over time? Does it usually just mean instability in the OC or more widespread issues?
From your advice:
- LLC level 4 or 5
- VCore at 1.35V
- Core frequency 50 with -2 AVX offset
Current capability 170 (if possible)
I don't understand what to share here.
My Asus board supports Auto, 100%, 140% and 200% settings. I'm unsure why 170% isn't available.
What I do understand is that for my 7820X running at 4.4ghz with 1.13Vcore, the current limit is reached at 140%, so I must set it to 200%. But a 7820X to a 9700K is quite different.
Yes.
Air coolers offer more direct cooling compared to VRMs, while hybrid cooling is less effective.
LLC helps stabilize voltage under load, a feature Intel built into its CPUs.
It would help if you watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMIh8dTdJwI
Nononono... just 5.0(SSE)/5.0(AVX). No 5.2 or 5.1 with an offset.
If most 9700K models can reliably run at 5.0ghz with about 1.35v, then running the same frequency using AVX will need more power.
As mentioned in my previous post: at identical speeds, AVX consumes more power and requires higher voltage than SSE.
How To - Intel CPU Temperature Guide
Update: February 9th, 2025
Preface: Processor temperature discussions can be confusing. Misunderstandings about terms, specs, and tests often confuse users on how to properly assess cooling performance. This Guide offers...
I understand. After thinking it through, I believe going with 5GHZ 1.35V with the -2 AVX offset would be best. I won’t risk using higher voltages. I plan to run some tests tomorrow when I have the opportunity. Regarding the LLC choice, for my case—a silverstone primeria PM01 with 3x 140mm intakes and 2x 140mm + 120mm exhausts—I’d lean toward LLC 5 since it matches the airflow characteristics.
Just a quick note, if you switch your mind later and opt for 5GHZ without AVX offset, what voltage and LLC suggestions would you consider? The table indicates 1.375V, but only the top 9% might actually meet that requirement—so it could be higher than 1.375.
No changes needed for the LLC—it's not magic.
Increasing the settings will only force more voltage through the CPU, causing it to overheat.
With air and hybrid cooling, keep the middle settings. Reserve the higher ones for liquid-cooled VRMs and LN2.
Voltage should be between 1.35 and 1.40v. The rest depends on the silicon.