[SOLVED] I need help figuring out if I have a problem with my CPU

[Bellocchio]

For reference this is while playing Halo the MCC on an i7 10700k and a gtx 1060 6gb (waiting on new gpu)

https://imgur.com/Lt0l7er

View: https://i.imgur.com/Lt0l7er.png



1. Why does MSI afterburner have those spikes in the CPU utilization compared to other softwares? I hope this is just Afterburner being weird.

2. Is it normal that an i7 10700k runs at 4.70 Ghz speed even though it has 3.80Ghz base clock speed? I didn't overclock it so I don't understand why the frequency is higher than the base clock speed.

3. What is considered a normal CPU utilization and temperature for this CPU? Is 60 C an acceptable temperature for this load? The game isn't very demanding, although I was playing on 170-180 fps.


Replies are appreciated

 

[ttower2020]

1. That spike you see on the bottom graph is due to the time interval. Task manager shows activity over the last 1 minute, while the bottom graph shows activity for the last 5 minutes. That spike happened about 4 minutes before this picture was taken, therefore the task manager graph no longer shows this data point.

2. You CPU is boosting. The CPU hardly ever runs at base clock, and the CPU will Turbo faster, to give more performance, as long as it can do so safely, assuming it has enough cooling

3. CPU utilization depends on what you are doing and your other hardware. For example, in this graph, the CPU is hardly being used since the GPU is a limiting factor here. The CPU is not being used because it does not need to be. Once you upgrade the GPU, the CPU usage should increase, as the new GPU will demand more from it. 60C is a perfectly good temperature. These CPUs can run at 70C, even 80C without you needing to be worried about it, really. Once the temps go over 80C is when you need to start to be concerned.

 

[Bellocchio]

1. That spike you see on the bottom graph is due to the time interval. Task manager shows activity over the last 1 minute, while the bottom graph shows activity for the last 5 minutes. That spike happened about 4 minutes before this picture was taken, therefore the task manager graph no longer shows this data point.

2. You CPU is boosting. The CPU hardly ever runs at base clock, and the CPU will Turbo faster, to give more performance, as long as it can do so safely, assuming it has enough cooling

3. CPU utilization depends on what you are doing and your other hardware. For example, in this graph, the CPU is hardly being used since the GPU is a limiting factor here. The CPU is not being used because it does not need to be. Once you upgrade the GPU, the CPU usage should increase, as the new GPU will demand more from it. 60C is a perfectly good temperature. These CPUs can run at 70C, even 80C without you needing to be worried about it, really. Once the temps go over 80C is when you need to start to be concerned.

Thanks for the reply, so the clock speed being that high is normal? I always assumed 3.80ghz was suppose to be the limit unless I overclocked it, I was worried my CPU was overclocking for some because it gets to 4.1 randomly when idle but just for a second even if my BIOS has defaults and I double checked if I had OC on

 

[Karadjgne]

You have 3 set speeds for a cpu. Idle or low power mode speed which is reached when a user or some software has no input and the cpu drops to about 5% usage. Then you have Base speed which is set by the manufacturer and used for testing and stability purposes, like TDP values etc. Then you have Turbo or Boost speeds which is a factory applied overclock based on what the manufacturer has decided is the maximum speed attainable that will still guarantee stability across every cpu manufactured of that version. Roughly stated.

With the 10700k, the base speed is 3.8GHz, but almost every bios written will enable Turbo/Boost by default, which for 2 cores is 5.1GHz, and drops with additional cores added for a all core boost of 4.7GHz

 

[Bellocchio]

You have 3 set speeds for a cpu. Idle or low power mode speed which is reached when a user or some software has no input and the cpu drops to about 5% usage. Then you have Base speed which is set by the manufacturer and used for testing and stability purposes, like TDP values etc. Then you have Turbo or Boost speeds which is a factory applied overclock based on what the manufacturer has decided is the maximum speed attainable that will still guarantee stability across every cpu manufactured of that version. Roughly stated.

With the 10700k, the base speed is 3.8GHz, but almost every bios written will enable Turbo/Boost by default, which for 2 cores is 5.1GHz, and drops with additional cores added for a all core boost of 4.7GHz

Thanks for the info, may I ask what would be the reason to overclock a CPU if it can boost itself safely already?

 

[Karadjgne]

The boost is limited cores. 2 cores is 5.1GHz and has a certain fps output because of that. By using all the cores and dropping down to 4.7GHz, you'll get a commensurate drop in fps. Fo many ppl that's unacceptable, they paid for the gpu and monitor to get maximum fps and the cpu is down clocking. So they'll OC the cpu by an all core OC to turbo settings and get a constant boost, no matter how many cores are used, of 5.1GHz. Which is basically what Intel did with the i9 9900KS from factory.

Of course the reason for the turbo drop in frequency is the heat generated with additional cores and its required voltage and amperage usage, so you'll need to bump up the cooling ability to match.

It's a matter of IPC (instructions per clock cycle), if you get 1k instructions per clock, at 4.7GHz to 5.1GHz that's a 400MHz boost, or an extra 4 Billion (don't rely on my math this early in the morning) instructions per core, multiplied by additional cores used, which could easily mean 10-30 or more fps boost.

Many people may not see any difference with the speed changes, but for those running right around monitor refresh area, that's the highest probability of stutters, putting fps over refresh limits can all but erase stutters, so a definite plus.

OC is mostly a hobby and should be regarded as such, with today's cpus as fast as they are its almost never a necessity like it was with the old FX cpus. So it's going to be highly dependent on your own personal desires and aesthetics.

Some people just have to have Mustangs or Cameros because of the look, regardless of the fact they mostly drive around town and it's 40mph speed limits. A minivan would be just as good, but who really wants to drive them.

OC is more than just bumping speeds. The factory vcore on my old i5-3570k was @ 1.25v and that'd get me @ 70°C with Prime95. With a 4.3GHz locked core OC and tailored vcore of 1.08v I got exactly the same temps, with a comesurate 1GHz boost in speeds and fps over stock settings. Serious bonus, lowered wear and electrimigration, basically extended the lifespan of the cpu by adding performance, with no detriments.

OC is all about taking ownership and stewardship of the cpu by you, and not relying on Intels basic setup to do things for you, blindly.