Help with determining safe temperatures for overclocking

[Warhawk373]

Intel Quad-Core i5 4690k @3.5GHz stock fan
Basic Info: My stress tests are reading a max of 70-72. The game I'm trying to improve performance on is Arma 3. I'm not going to be playing it longer than 2-3 hours at a time and after 1 hour of constant game-play (playing a large scale mission), my max temps were only 50-53.

Questions: Is it okay to stress test to about 80?
What is a safe temperature to be at while gaming (take into consideration I will only be playing for a max of 3 hours)?
What is the rule on keeping your pc overclocked? Like if I decide to play a far less intensive game (or just watch a movie) should I revert back to default or is it okay to keep it overclocked?
On that same note, I leave my computer on for a couple hours If I know I'm going to be back, is it okay to keep it overclocked during this time or should I turn it off?

 

[RektSkrubz]

The maximum temps I'm comfortable with for my 6600k are ~75C. Any higher than that and it's getting dangerous.

Intel still says lower, though.

 

[Warhawk373]

The maximum temps I'm comfortable with for my 6600k are ~75C. Any higher than that and it's getting dangerous.

Intel still says lower, though.

Well if I'm stress testing at 70 and the game runs at 52 then that means my stress test would have to read almost 90 for the game to run at 75. Is it safe to stress test it at that temp?

 

[RektSkrubz]

Stress testing will test EVERYTHING in a CPU, especially if you use AIDA64. Stress tests aren't always representative of what you are to expect from even the most demanding games. I doubt the sensor is lying.

 

[danielthegreate]

CPUs are fine up to their thermal throttling point, so as long as your CPU doesn't throttle in stress testing you will be fine.
Also, stress tests are not all created equally, some just generate heat and aren't representative of anything that your CPU has to handle in real scenarios. Best thing would be to run the stress test in intel XTU and if didn't thermal throttle or fail you will be fine. However, you will have stability with a slightly lower voltage at lower temps, so you should try to keep your CPU as cool as possible.

 

[CompuTronix]

Warhawk373,

On behalf of Tom's Moderator Team, welcome aboard!

Here's the recommended operating range for Core temperature:

80°C Hot (100% Load)
75°C Warm
70°C Warm (Heavy Load)
60°C Norm
50°C Norm (Medium Load)
40°C Norm
30°C Cool (Idle)

Guys,

There's a Sticky near the top of the CPU's Forum you should read: Intel Temperature Guide - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html

RektSkrubz,

Respectfully, when users look up their Thermal Specification at Intel's Product Information website, they frequently don't realize what the definition actually means. Since there are many software utilities for monitoring Core temperature, users nearly always confuse Tcase with Core temperature.

Tjunction (Core temperature) is measured at the heat sources near the transistor "Junctions" inside each of the Cores by Digital Thermal Sensors (DTS), so Core temperatures are a minimum of 5°C higher than Tcase due to differences in the proximity of sensors to heat sources. Intel's Tcase Thermal Specifications are misleading, because Tcase is NOT Core temperature. The following is from the Temp Guide in Section 7 - Power and Temperature:

"Tcase Specifications are factory only measurements on the surface of the Integrated Heat Spreader, so Tcase is not Core temperature, which is higher. Tcase values are also calculated based on stock cooler TDP and processor TDP. Cooler models with different TDP values are packaged with different TDP processors. Several Generations of Quad Core CPU's at 77, 84, 88 and 95 Watts were packaged with a universal 95 Watt cooler. 6th and 7th Generation i5 and i7 "K" processors are 91 Watts, but the cooler is 130 Watts and is sold separately: Intel’s Skylake Cooler - http://vr-zone.com/articles/this-is-what-intels-first-cpu-cooler-for-skylake-looks-like/97189.html.

Compared below are three Intel processor / cooler combinations with respect to TDP and Tcase Specifications:

Example 1: i7 2700K 95 Watts TDP / Cooler 95 Watts TDP / Difference 0 Watts / Tcase 72°C.
Example 2: i7 3770K 77 Watts TDP / Cooler 95 Watts TDP / Difference 18 Watts / Tcase 67°C.
Example 3: i7 6700K 91 Watts TDP / Cooler 130 Watts TDP / Difference 39 Watts / Tcase 64°C.

The higher the cooler TDP is from the processor TDP, the lower the Tcase Specification, just as when the stock cooler is replaced with a higher TDP aftermarket cooler, Core temperatures are lower. Tcase is based on different combinations of stock coolers and CPU's, so Specifications vary. The examples above suggest the 6700K is less thermally capable than the 2700K, which is misleading, because the 6700K has a higher Throttle temperature.

Mobile processors don’t have an Integrated Heat Spreader, so they don’t have Tcase Specifications; only Tj Max. And since Intel changed the Thermal Specification for 7th Generation desktop processors from Tcase to Tjunction (Tj Max), this standardizes desktop and mobile Specifications. Intel's long overdue change signifies that Tj Max is the limiting Thermal Specification; not Tcase. Your Tj Max Specification is shown in the monitoring utility "Core Temp" - http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp

Tj Max Specifications vary from 80°C to 105°C. Some processors Throttle at 80°C, while others become unstable over 80°C. Core i 6th and 7th Generation CPU's have Configurable TDP (cTDP) and Scenario Design Power (SDP) which can trigger Throttling as low as 80°C. Although most processors Throttle at 100°C, it’s not advisable to push your CPU to the thermal limit, just as you wouldn't operate a vehicle with the temperature gauge pegged in the red zone.

If your processor is at or near Throttle temperature, it’s already too hot. The consensus among highly experienced and well informed system builders and overclockers, is that cooler is better for ultimate stability, performance and longevity. As such, all agree that it's wise to observe a reasonable thermal limit below Tj Max. So regardless of your rig's environmental conditions, system configuration, workloads or any other variables, sustained Core temperatures above 80°C aren't recommended."

CT