Should I get the i7 6700k and overclock it?

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Bobdabomb

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Nov 23, 2016
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Hello,

I am working on making my first pc build and I was wondering a few things. First, is overclocking safe and does it give you more FPS in games? Is overclocking more useful for 3D games like MineCraft and less useful for games like BattleField 4? How much hotter does an overclocked i7 6700k get compared to the I7 6700? Is the i7 6700k faster than the i7 6700?

Also,
Would this fan: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZZE63A/?tag=pcpapi-20
Or this fan: https://www.amazon.com/noctua-NH-U12S-Noctua-CPU-Cooler/dp/B00C9EYVGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481487319&sr=8-1&keywords=noctua+nh-u12s

Work good if I were to overclock the i7 6700k? Thanks for any info.

Also, what can you overclock? I've heard about overclocking a CPU, GPU, and RAM. But what else can you overclock? And how exactly do you overclock these 3? Thanks for any info.
 
Solution
geofelt
Let me point out that a I7-6700K runs at 4.0 stock, no overclocking is needed.
The I7-6700 runs at 3.4; a big difference.
With a high end build like yours, get the i7-6700K.

Your case is most unusual that I have not heard of before.
This is it, I think:
http://www.honbontec.com/turbine700_product.html

I would suggest you modify your fan arrangement.
Use two 140mm fans as intakes and a single 120mm fan as exhaust to direct the airflow.
That is all you need.
If you have a filter on the only intake source, namely the front, your case will stay clean.
That is called a positive pressure arrangement.

The specs seem to say a psu of max 160mm long.
The evga supernova g2 650 specs are 6.5" or 165mm long.
It is an excellent tier 1 psu but you...
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Whether or not you can overclock the CPU and RAM depends on the motherboard. For Intel 1151 CPUs, the Z170 chipset is the only one that allows CPU overclocking and DDR4 speeds above 2133MHz.

Does overclocking give you more FPS in games? That depends on what you're overclocking. If you're overclocking the GPU, then yes. (as long as it doesn't overheat)

Is the 6700K faster than the 6700? Yes. The i7 6700 has a clock speed of 3.4GHz and can turbo to 4GHz. The i7 6700K has a clock speed of 4GHz and can turbo to 4.2GHz. Turbo speeds are achieved when temperatures are below 85C and there is a high enough load to need require a higher clock speed. This is automatic, you do not need to overclock to reach the turbo speeds.

The Phanteks model would be better for overclocking the 6700K.

What can you overclock? You can overclock the CPU, GPU and system memory (RAM).

What do I recommend overclocking? The CPU and GPU. If you want faster RAM, I recommend buying faster RAM.

CPU overclocking is done through BIOS, GPU overclocking is done through software like MSI Afterburner, and RAM overclocking is also done through BIOS. I do not recommend overclocking your RAM. I recommend buying faster RAM to begin with, then overclocking the memory controller to match the advertised speed of said RAM.
 
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Overclocking for gaming performance is highly overrated on newer equipment, especially Intel 1151 i7's:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9533/intel-i7-6700k-overclocking-4-8-ghz/8

http://ocaholic.ch/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3948&page=3

So is usually much more worth it to go with a locked i7 and as much GPU as you can afford. If you have to get a Z170/Z270 for SLI/CrossFire support (perhaps to leave that option open in the future), then just get a simple version that gets you the features you want. Overclocked RAM is about the same......not much benefit to be very honest, especially in gaming.

GPUs are a different story. For gaming, it makes a noticeable (though not significant) difference. Adaptive sync monitors, I should point out, will do a lot more to smooth out game-play than an overclocked GPU.

Overclocking CPUs/RAM can still make a good difference in rendering time though, which is the primary reason I activate the profile on my 5930k. If I have a couple of hours of rendering time or other similar task at home, then speeding it up by a third is worth it....
 
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So it's not really worth it to overclock the cpu or ram? Should I overclock the gpu though? How can I get this 'afterburner' thing you mentioned? Would overclocking the cpu help in 3D games?
 
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Overclocking today is a bit of a misnomer.
Long time ago, enthusiasts found that increasing cpu voltages made them go faster.

Today, the "K" suffix chips are designed for multiplier level overclocking.
That is simply raising the stock multiplier of 40 in the case of a i7-6700K to a higher number.
By default the cpu vcore voltage will rise.

How high you can go is determined by your luck in getting a good chip.

As of 12/04/2016
What percent can get an overclock at a somewhat sane 1.40v Vcore.

I7-6700K
4.9 5%
4.8 21%
4.7 64%
4.6 96%


I5-6600K
5.2 <1% delidded
4.9 14%
4.8 38%
4.7 67%
4.6 87%

The temperature you reach is a direct result of the vcore needed for that level of multiplier.
In a case with decent airflow only a simple air cooler with a 120mm fan is needed.
I do just fine with the noctua NH-U12s that you listed with a I5-6600K overclocked to 4.8.
The Phanteks is very good also.

The fps you get in games is usually more determined by your graphics card and the resolution you are using.
But, some games such as sims, strategy, mmo tend to be cpu limited and often largely single threaded.
Few games will effectively use more than 2-3 threads.
I7-6700 runs at 3.4, a far cry from the 4.0 of a i7-6700k running at stock, and much slower than either a i5-6600k or i7-6700K overclocked to 4.6 or so.

If you have the budget for a i7-6700K I would go that way
You will need a z170 based motherboard to allow overclocking.
If a $100 difference is important to you, consider the i5-6600K which will perform equally in most situations.

You can overclock graphics cards too, but vendors are wise to this. They bin their chips and the better ones go into factory overclocked versions that they sell for a premium.
I think you get fair value from those cards. I would avoid the most highly overclocked cards.

DDR4 ram by default runs at 1.2v and 2133 speed. you can get 2400 speed and still be at 1.2v.
Ram faster than 2400 is better binned ram that will run at higher speeds if given higher voltage like 1.35v.
These ram kits will have the specs to do this imbedded in the ram so all you need do is to tell your motherboard to use one of the higher speed xmp settings.

Sounds good, but faster ram has very littie impact on real app performance or fps.
Here is a ram scaling study:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

One other thing. Tall heat spreaders are all about marketing and have no impact on performance.
Some will impact coolers(not the nh-u12s)
Better to buy low profile ram.

 
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If you have a K processor, you are leaving performance on the table, perhaps up to 40% if you do not.
Yes, overclock your cpu.

On the gpu, I suggest buying a factory overclocked version and be done with it and enjoy.
 
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How much more is the I7 6700K versus the regular I7 6700? Also, will that Phanteks fan be good for overclocking? Also, how do you overclock the cpu and how far would you overclock it? I've never done this before. Also, is overclocking safe?
 
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The two CPUs are about $25 apart.

The Phanteks cooler will do fine for overclocking.

As for how to overclock the CPU, every motherboard is different. You'll need to reference your motherboard manual to find out which menus in BIOS refer to CPU overclocking. I'm familiar with Asus boards and can offer my assistance in that department, but I'm not too familiar with overclocking on other brands.

Is overclocking safe? As long as you have a good power supply and motherboard, there is minimal chance of overclocking actually damaging anything. You'd have to push voltage above 1.5V to kill a 6700K.

I apologize for my previous absence, I have things to take care of other than being online.
 
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It's OK. So this is my build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8Znn9W (obviously I'll have to change the cpu! 😛)
You said you are familiar with Asus mobo's. That is a perfect coincidence. So can my build handle the overclocked cpu than? Also, how much does overclocking help in games? What would I want to set the overclock to for the cpu? Would you also be able to provide steps on how to overclock the cpu? Thanks.
 
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Build looks good.

Yes, your build will handle overclocking rather well. I doubt that either the motherboard or power supply will break much of a sweat thanks to the efficiency of Intel Skylake CPUs.

CPU overclocking doesn't help as much in games as GPU overclocking. However, you can get cards that are factory overclocked and not have to worry about "OH NO I changed my OC settings now my warranty is void"

What CPU overclocking will help with is multitasking while gaming. Things like recording/streaming your gameplay will benefit from a CPU overclock. The CPU overclock will also help when you're done gaming and it's time to edit the recording.

I'd start by making the 6700K maintain its boost speed of 4200MHz (4.2GHz) at all times. If that doesn't yield any problems, then you can start cranking it up. After about 4600MHz, you may need to raise voltage a little bit. The board will do this for you if you change a setting known as CPU Load Line Calibration.

Yes, I can provide steps on overclocking your CPU.
 
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Dude, don't spend $8 on just an ESD strap. Get a toolkit that includes the strap as well as a bunch of other handy stuff for only $20.

http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?1297292_g10e

You're also screwing yourself over by only using Amazon prices. There are plenty of other stores online that offer similar pricing without the pricey shipping.

I've removed the custom prices from the below list. This gets you from $2149.41 to $2010.66. Now you can pay the extra $12 for the repair kit and still end up cheaper than you would if you bought off Amazon.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($303.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($323.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Founders Edition Video Card ($449.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.30 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($92.90 @ Jet)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($25.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($25.88 @ OutletPC)
Fan Controller: NZXT SENTRY 3 Fan Controller ($28.89 @ OutletPC)
Other: Red led light strip ($22.00)
Other: HBT+ Turbine 700 ($100.00)
Other: Antistatic wrist strap ($8.00)
Total: $2010.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-11 19:14 EST-0500
 
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Well since overclocking doesn't help too much in games maybe I'll pass. It doesn't seem like it's worth it. But thanks for changing those stores on that list. That will save a ton of money. But are those the cheapest prices? And what do you think of the founders edition cards? Are they bad? Well I already have something similar to that toolkit but all I need is an antistatic wrist strap. So what would reccomend for one? Thanks.
 
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Let me point out that a I7-6700K runs at 4.0 stock, no overclocking is needed.
The I7-6700 runs at 3.4; a big difference.
With a high end build like yours, get the i7-6700K.

Your case is most unusual that I have not heard of before.
This is it, I think:
http://www.honbontec.com/turbine700_product.html

I would suggest you modify your fan arrangement.
Use two 140mm fans as intakes and a single 120mm fan as exhaust to direct the airflow.
That is all you need.
If you have a filter on the only intake source, namely the front, your case will stay clean.
That is called a positive pressure arrangement.

The specs seem to say a psu of max 160mm long.
The evga supernova g2 650 specs are 6.5" or 165mm long.
It is an excellent tier 1 psu but you probably should change it for something smaller.
I might suggest a Seasonic X650 which is 160mm long and an equally good tier 1 unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088





 
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Solution


So I can get the K version but not overclock it? The K is faster than the non K? Wish I had known that earlier! Will change to that even though I don't want to overclock anymore.

Where should I put the fans? HAve the two intake on the front and the one exhaust on the back? Are you sure that's enough? I think that that PSU will fit in there. Because it says that the lower drive bays can be removed to support larger power supplies.
 
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Yes, the k does not need any overclocking at all and at stock it is faster than the plain 6700.
You can preserve your option to oc until you need it or feel more comfortable about it.

On the fans, two in front as intakes and one in the back as exhaust is what I would start with.

Remember, it is easy to change fans around later.

Removing unneeded drive cages is a good thing for airflow regardless.
Good research on your part.

In fact, I suggest you download now the case and motherboard manuals.
Read them cover to cover while you are waiting for parts.
Many questions will be answered.

 
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OK. Thanks for the tip
 
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All right
 
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