[SOLVED] Is my 8700k just a crappy CPU or am I doing something wrong?

[Secret Ice]

Can't Even OC my 8700k to 4.6 GHz

CPU: i7-8700k

CPU Cooler: Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT

Motherboard: ASUS Prime Z370-A

My system's airflow should be fine. My RAM passed memtest86 and my CPU passes Prime95 at stock. However, as soon as I try to overclock, my temperatures soar through the roof and I always fail Prime95. Right now I have my VCore set to 1.25 and clock speed at 4.6 GHz, but it fails Prime95 at high 80s degrees. I have LLC set to level 6. Is this just a crappy CPU, or am I doing something wrong?

 

[Tioym]

Re-apply thermal paste. Check to see if the heatsink is properly screwed it, sometimes screwing it in/out a bit more changes temps drastically.
if nothing works you're going to have to try a new cooler.

 

[Phaaze88]

LLC level 6 is a tad too high for air cooled systems. Bring it back down to level 4.

 

[vov4ik_il]

Find out what highest fixed voltage keeps it cool (enough) under max load. (Start with 1.3 or so and go up or down).
Then find out the highest frequency it will run at that voltage and be stable.
Then find an offset that will have this voltage at this frequency when set to dynamic.