Start with the first CPU upgrade (i7 10700K) and then boost the RAM next.
Start with the first CPU upgrade (i7 10700K) and then boost the RAM next.
This, yes. Set the RAM back to XMP & stock voltage, don't overclock it at all, and test the CPU for stability. Even if you have previously benchmarked the RAM settings stable, at a higher CPU clock & voltage, the memory controller may be under more stress & the RAM settings are causing the instability, or vice versa, the CPU not having enough memory controller voltage could cause the RAM to be unstable... it's all up in the air, which is why you should do one part at time. I am not super familiar with the 10xxxK series' voltage ranges, but 1.32V sounds like it's decent for 5.1GHz, so I would test just that with the RAM on XMP with no OC & voltage set to what it says to set it to on the package/sticks (1.35V I would assume). Also, 80C should not be causing a crash, so something else is causing it (pretty sure your thermal limit & mine are the same, which is about 100C on the cores). How are your VRM temps with the sides of the case off, better or about the same? Is it possible to put a fan blowing down on to the VRM area of the motherboard from the top? I know it sounds sub-ideal to have a top fan as intake, but if the rear of your case is set to exhaust, it should work out just fine. Any airflow directly over the VRM (be it pulling air off them or pushing are over them) is better than no direct airflow at all, and can make a HUGE difference in VRM/MOS temps. That may be why you're crashing, your VRM may be overheating & instead of throttling, it's causing a crash first.
VRMS readings on HWMonitor indicate temperatures are excellent, staying below 80°C. At 5.1Ghz performance is balanced across all cores, with a CPU ratio of 51 and dynamic mode active. Voltage settings are overridden, ring ratio at 47, and core voltage around 1.32. Calibration controls are set to mode 4. Works well in Cinebench tests, achieving stable scores around 90 C° over multiple cycles. However, during PUBG sessions it closes abruptly in nearly every match—Windows remains functional. Possible issue may involve game-specific performance or RAM configuration; consider setting RAM to stock (XMP only) and retry.
Below 80 degrees and great performance together. My MOS readout stays around 40-45°C under full load while operating at full speed, which I consider high but still within acceptable limits. Most MOSFETs and VRMs can handle 100-110°C before slowing down or shutting down, though it’s a risk if the CPU jumps from 60 to 80°C in just two minutes. That could push MOS temperatures higher and cause spikes, which is something I wanted to mention because some boards have poor cooling, especially without airflow. 80°C is better than the 98°C you mentioned earlier, marking a significant improvement. Let me know how things progress with RAM set to XMP or stock voltage.
I completed 10 minutes of Prime 95 using these configurations: 5.0 Ghz, aggressive fans, CPU ratio set to all core, fixed mode, voltage overrides applied. During this time I observed a temperature rise from 73°C to around 83°C, then below 89°C. After adjustments like moving the top fan and changing its type, I noticed further improvement. I'm still monitoring closely and have questions about the sudden spike to 100°C on testing. Please advise if this is normal or if I should disregard it.
Download AIDA64 free version and execute just the CPU stress test. Leave FPU checked; stressing CPU and FPU will significantly raise temperatures, so skip that second step. If it succeeds, your CPU appears stable. Proceed to run CPU FPU and Memory together for at least an hour. If this works, your CPU is likely handling heat well. If temps reach 100°C without crashing and instead throttle appropriately, it’s acceptable. I’d go with Push/Pull—it often reduces heat. JayzTwoCents tested fan settings and found Pull sometimes outperforms Push, and combining both usually lowers temps by 2–7°C, potentially preventing throttling at high loads.
I'll attempt that and share the findings this weekend, appreciate it. I'm confused about the consistent 5-minute stability at 70°C on CPU and under 70°C on VRM, but then it spikes to 90°C after that. The power rating jumps from 125W to 175W, and once it hits 175W, temperatures rise immediately to around 90°C. I've tested it several times and noticed this pattern.
Small FFTs can be tough on performance. The r/overclocking community suggests avoiding heavy CPU loads from large FFTs. Consider using x264 or AIDA if you don’t need absolute stability. For stable modern prime95 small FFTs, enabling AVX offsets can help reduce the multiplier impact. For example, a single AVX offset at 50x can allow modern p95 small to run at around 4.9 GHz and p95 at 5.26 GHz.
I'm running smoothly on Windows and games. I use 5.0 Ghz with aggressive fans and push/pull fans on the right side. CPU ratio is all cores, 50 CPU mode fixed. Voltages are set to override. Ring ratio is 47. Memory voltage is 1.28, and loadline calibration is in mode 3. I can only overclock memory this way—no XMP, or it crashes. At 3200 with voltages 1.3V from 2666 (16/16/16) at 1.2V, is it better to switch to 2666?
1.3v works well for RAM. Many XMP configurations are set to 1.35. I recommend using 3200. How did you conduct your memory stress test?