Voltage specifications for i7 8700K at 4.7 GHz with all cores
Voltage specifications for i7 8700K at 4.7 GHz with all cores
Hello everyone.
I’m almost done with my build, but the video card is still pending because prices have risen significantly in my country.
Here’s what I have so far:
- Intel i7 8700K CPU paired with a Noctua NH-D15S cooler
- G.Skill 2x8GB 3200Mhz CL14 RAM
- ASUS Maximus X Hero motherboard
- Seasonic Prime Platinum 750W PSU
- An older ASUS DC2 OC GTX 780 video card
I didn’t go overclocking before, but I wanted to run all cores at 4.7 Ghz, so I adjusted that in BIOS.
Other BIOS settings are left as Auto, SVID behavior set to best case, and XMP is enabled.
Since I’m not the wealthiest, I plan to keep this build for years. My PC will run continuously—playing games, watching videos, browsing online.
My main concern is voltage.
I understand that setting it manually keeps it manual regardless of CPU load or multiplier changes.
I still don’t grasp how adaptive voltage works. In the past, with my old i5 4670K, adaptive voltage didn’t behave as expected and kept increasing even when the CPU was under load.
My ideal setup is:
- Voltage stays below 1.25V or 1.26V, dropping with the multiplier when the CPU is lightly loaded.
Is this realistic?
Will it lower idle temps, noise, and power use?
Could it extend the CPU’s lifespan?
Or should I stick to 1.25V manual if it’s stable, since any gain would be minimal?
I read somewhere someone was overclocking at 1.25V, but when voltage is set to Auto, it jumps to 1.27V (about 1.264–1.268v on average).
I’m quite cautious about changing voltages, so I’m seeking advice.
Additionally, I ran an AIDA64 Stress test for 20 minutes with Stress FPU enabled. The temperature spikes reached 79°C in a fairly warm room (24°C). The average was around 60–70°C.
Thank you for your help!
The 8700k boost clock operates at 4700ghz. Simply increase the multiplier to 47 and leave it alone—just set it and forget it. Everything else can stay on auto. It should run smoothly without overheating, provided you have a good cooler. The Aida 64 will still add some extra heat. High temperatures in the 70s are acceptable for Aida64, and you won’t hit those levels during other tasks, including gaming. Of course, the vcore will vary—sometimes a bit higher, sometimes lower when the CPU isn’t under heavy load. I’m confident you’ll have no issues with this approach. It should last a long time.
Hi Okyys,
I'll reply in sequence.
1°/ "Since I'm not the richest, I intend to keep this build for a long time."
Be mindful that overclocking without proper handling can damage your hardware. Monitoring temperatures and voltages is essential.
2°/ "From my understanding, setting it to manual mode will always keep it in manual mode, regardless of CPU load or multiplier changes. I still don't grasp how adaptive voltage functions."
In the BIOS you have energy-saving options such as "Adaptive voltage" and "C states"...
These allow your CPU to switch between different activity states, like deep sleep.
You can manually adjust the voltage using adaptive mode, which lets the Vcore change with the workload.
However, before trying overclock stability, I recommend turning off all power-saving features.
Once that's done, you'll be able to experiment with those settings.
The 8700k boost clock operates at 4700ghz. Simply increase the multiplier to 47 and leave it alone—just set it and forget it. Everything else can stay on auto. It should run smoothly without overheating, provided you have a good cooler. The Aida 64 will still add some extra heat. A high 70s temperature is acceptable for Aida64, and you won’t hit those levels during other tasks, including gaming. Of course, the vcore will vary; it can be slightly higher sometimes and lower when the CPU isn’t under heavy load. I’m confident you’ll have no issues with this approach. It should last a long time.
The 8700k boost clock operates at 4700ghz. Simply increase the multiplier to 47 and you’re done—just let everything run on auto. You won’t need to worry about overheating as long as you have a good cooler. The Aida 64 will still add some heat, but it shouldn’t spike significantly. High temperatures in the 70s are manageable with Aida64 and won’t occur during other tasks like gaming. The vcore will vary, sometimes higher, and lower when the CPU isn’t under heavy load. You should be fine, and it should last a long time.
Remember that with auto voltage, the board is always overvolting. Be sure to monitor the actual voltage. I'm not sure which board you have, but there are options to allow frequency and voltage to change based on the load, like C States and EIST... Rodolphe
rodolphe.viard:
Reminder, with auto voltage the board always overvolts. Be careful to monitor your actual voltage. I don't know the specific board you're using, but there are options to adjust frequency and voltage based on load conditions like C States, EIST... Rodolphe
I also started a discussion about this and found something similar. I'm trying to achieve the same thing. Manual or adaptive voltage settings are available—just need some guidance.
rodolphe.viard:
Just remember that with auto voltage, the board always causes overvoltage.
Rodolphe
That's not a fixed rule. It adjusts the voltage as required. If the op goes above 4.7ghz, then you should secure a stable spot for the vcore and the llc. Since he wants to stay within what the turbo speed allows, leaving everything else on auto is acceptable.
Just increasing the multiplier without using auto overclock isn't the same as auto overclocking. Auto overclock will cause overvoltage, while raising the multiplier won't.
8700K 4.7Ghz at 1.25v
On air CPU cooler - Cooler Master Hyper 212X (stable 4.7ghz OC @ 1.25v or 1.3v)
Which option would you prefer?
Also, what is the safest and best method to overclock?
Use: *Enable Multi-core Enhancement or *Turbo boost*
- Activate Multi-core Enhancement in BIOS for automatic 4.7GHz overclock. Just enable MCE, then adjust voltage to 1.25V for a simple process.
or
Turbo boost: It will automatically increase the frequency of one or more cores based on temperature and workload. No further action needed.
Turbo clock is 4.7. According to my understanding, this indicates temporary frequency increases are possible.