What is the voltage of the 8700k stock core?
What is the voltage of the 8700k stock core?
When we boost our CPU speeds beyond the manufacturer's limits, we're essentially pushing them past their intended design parameters. I understand Intel's guidelines for the 8700K's clock rates, but I'm unsure about the core voltage specifications. It seems like searching ark.intel.com didn't yield any relevant details. Let me know if you need further help.
Maybe not focusing on the main topic but as some individuals have begun discussing temperatures and overclocking, here are my thoughts.
I performed delid/relid on my i7-8700k. Switched to Coolaboratory Liquid Ultra paste and maintained the same components between the Arctic Freezer 240 and heatspreader.
My observations with prime95 (AVX) were:
@4.9GHz 1.30V 22C ambient: peak core temp 59°C (37°C difference – excellent) 9.2% boost over original
@5Ghz 1.36V 22.5°C ambient: peak core temp 68°C (45.5°C difference) 11% improvement over stock
I chose 4.9GHz because an additional 1.8% gain with a 9°C increase seems unlikely to be worthwhile.
Delid/relid definitely worked well. The next target will be my i7-7700K, which isn’t performing very well at the moment with temperatures... Plus I acquired some components...
current cpus lack a fixed default vcore. each chip controls its own vcore.
On @nikoli's post, it seems we're pushing our CPUs beyond their official limits. With your initial comment, I expected you all to have a better grasp on the ideal vcore setting.
The safe limit is a topic of debate, but most agree you shouldn't exceed 1.40v on the core unless you've used liquid metal and have excellent cooling. Your Dark Rock 3 doesn't provide sufficient cooling capacity, and your MSI Carbon Pro will likely face VRM/MOSFET heat problems as well.
The original question was about core voltages for a stock 8700k at launch and what's considered normal, not specifically about safety limits.
mjbn1977 :
nikoli707 :
the safest limit is generally understood to be around 1.40v on the core, unless you've used liquid metal and have excellent cooling. Your Dark Rock 3 doesn't provide sufficient cooling capacity, and your MSI Carbon Pro will likely face heat challenges as well.
1. The safe voltage range wasn't my focus. I was more curious about what stock voltages a 8700k CPU runs at and what's considered typical.
2. Why isn't the Dark Rock Pro 3 adequate for cooling? With a Corsair H110i, you might manage a few degrees higher, but the case seems to struggle significantly. Custom solutions could help, but I'm not aiming to break world records. My current setup stays under 85°C with Prime95 and AVX.
If you're running stock with PMI95 loaded, expect voltages between 1.15v and 1.20v, depending on the chip. Most will stay close to this range, though a few might handle higher speeds if needed.
The vcore range is usually set by manufacturers during production—each CPU is unique. Don't assume lower stock voltages mean better overclocking potential; factors like silicon quality and design play a bigger role.
Your Dark Rock 3 is a solid air cooler, but it doesn't meet the requirements for pushing beyond the safe limit. If you're targeting higher speeds, consider adjustments like AVX offsets or custom loops, though patience is required.
nikoli707 and mjbn1977 exchanged insights on optimal core voltages and cooling requirements. They discussed that most people would suggest staying below 1.40v on the core unless using liquid metal and exceptional cooling solutions. The conversation highlighted that the Dark Rock 3 model isn't sufficient for high-end cooling, and the MSPI Carbon Pro would face similar thermal challenges. They noted that while a Corsair H110i could handle a few degrees more, achieving stable performance at higher frequencies required careful planning, especially if aiming for record-breaking overclocking. The discussion also touched on stock core voltages for the 8700K model and how real-world performance varied based on CPU design and silicon specifics.
1.25v is well within the safe range, offering plenty of voltage margin. However, as I mentioned earlier, a modest 4% boost to 5.0ghz isn't that significant. Still, it's a very convenient number. I recommend running prime95 at 26.6 (non-AVX) and checking your temperatures. I believe you have even more cooling capacity in your dark rock.