Skylake 6700k fixed voltage

[clifford64]

I have a skylake 6700k that i have overclocked to 4.5ghz at 1.264 volts. The voltage is constantly at 1.264v even when at idle and the clock speed is only 1500mhz or so. I don't have much experience with overclocking, but is it safe for that to constantly be that voltage even when not under load. I leave my computer on about 12-15 hours a day and only use it for about 6 or so. Is there a way to set it to dial down the voltage when it isn't under load? I have tried looking in the bios, but I don't really know what I am looking for. I have an asrock z160 k6 motherboard with voltage set in motherboard as fixed, i'm guessing it has something to do with that, but if I don't have 1.264v, the OC isn't stable and will crash.

 

[dudmont]

when you have the voltage on manual rather than auto, the voltage stays fixed, as is your case. here's the advantages of fixed voltage. if you tune well, you'll get that number to the lowest that it's stable at a set clock speed. if you use auto voltage, you'll almost always have a higher number when the system is being pushed, sometimes to a level that isn't really safe for long term use. I don't know what's a max safe voltage for skylake, for long term use. I know Hawell is about 1.3 volts. Conservative users like me tend to keep it lower than 1.3. I have my 4790k set at 1.21 volts. Don't worry about the varying clock speed, if you need the cpu, it'll be there, if the system load is light, then the speed will dial back.

 

[clifford64]

But do you think it will be bad if it is always at a constant 1.264v rather than dialing down to like .8v or 1.2v on idle?

when you have the voltage on manual rather than auto, the voltage stays fixed, as is your case. here's the advantages of fixed voltage. if you tune well, you'll get that number to the lowest that it's stable at a set clock speed. if you use auto voltage, you'll almost always have a higher number when the system is being pushed, sometimes to a level that isn't really safe for long term use. I don't know what's a max safe voltage for skylake, for long term use. I know Hawell is about 1.3 volts. Conservative users like me tend to keep it lower than 1.3. I have my 4790k set at 1.21 volts. Don't worry about the varying clock speed, if you need the cpu, it'll be there, if the system load is light, then the speed will dial back.

 

[dudmont]

I use several programs to monitor my system, one of them is CPU-Z. CPU-Z tells me my core voltage is, right now, .368 volts. The program core temp 1.0 says my VID(core voltage) is 1.2114 constantly. *shrug* which ones right? they both are. your actual energy usuage varies greatly and is entirely dependent on load. I don't think you have anything to worry about. That being said, if you want your current system to last 10 years, then you might want to dial the voltage back to under 1.2 and lower the cpu clock accordingly.
When you overclocked, did you adjust the voltage, or did you just adjust the cpu clock? If you adjusted the cpu only, I bet you could get the voltage to a lower number. Just start lowering the voltage .01 volts at each change, and then run a stress test. When the system crashes during the stress test, you know you need to add back .01 volts and save the bios settings.

 

[clifford64]

stock voltage was 1.2v i believe, or 1.25, i raised to 4.5ghz and 1.265 which says 1.264

 

[clifford64]

I have changed voltage to auto so it only uses the voltage it needs under load instead of a steady 1.264, but i have seen it get up to 1.344 for just a second which is too high for my liking and while running a stress test it stayed at about 1.234 or so and after about 30 seconds froze.

 

[dudmont]

"When you overclocked, did you adjust the voltage, or did you just adjust the cpu clock? If you adjusted the cpu only, I bet you could get the voltage to a lower number. Just start lowering the voltage .01 volts at each change, and then run a stress test. When the system crashes during the stress test, you know you need to add back .01 volts and save the bios settings."
Could always try this. It will get you to the lowest stable voltage at 4.5ghz.

 

[clifford64]

When I over clocked, I set fixed voltage to 1.265 which is actually 1.264, but I did this because it wasn't stable at 1.260. 1.264 is the lowest voltage I can go with a stable oc of 4.5ghz.

 

[dudmont]

There you go, that's your answer. Leave it at 1.265 and compute away. Unless you're ok with a lower overclock. I think you'll be fine at that voltage long term(3 years+). Keep it nice and cool and enjoy the new system. I'm curious about skylake(DDR4, m.2 PCIE, changes in voltage regulator, and PCH), but I've got way too much money into my haswell system. Probably be a few more years before I do major changes.

 

[clifford64]

I have changed it to offset voltage so it will turn down the voltage on idle, but it only drops it to 1.216 and 1.238 where as on stock it was dropping it to .8 why isn't it lowering it more?

 

[clifford64]

and the max voltage it gets is 1.296 every so often, will that be ok for an overclock, or will that be too much?

 

[Dhskingpin]

I have a skylake 6700k that i have overclocked to 4.5ghz at 1.264 volts. The voltage is constantly at 1.264v even when at idle and the clock speed is only 1500mhz or so. I don't have much experience with overclocking, but is it safe for that to constantly be that voltage even when not under load. I leave my computer on about 12-15 hours a day and only use it for about 6 or so. Is there a way to set it to dial down the voltage when it isn't under load? I have tried looking in the bios, but I don't really know what I am looking for. I have an asrock z160 k6 motherboard with voltage set in motherboard as fixed, i'm guessing it has something to do with that, but if I don't have 1.264v, the OC isn't stable and will crash.

1.264v is very conservative for a 4.5ghz overclock. You have a good chip depending on your motherboard and after you have totally confirmed your oc is stable set the voltage to adaptive. But 1.264 is absolutely nothing to worry about. You could run that all day every day just make sure you have a good cooler and monitor your core temps regularly. DONT WORRY YOU ARE GOLDEN! By setting to adaptive it will throttle your voltage down when not under load but also could cause an increase when under load. Just leave it alone you are well within the safe zone.

 

[clifford64]

I have been using the 1.264v just fine now and temps are great. I have tried to set adaptive with 1.264v, but during gaming, I get crashes because the voltage keeps fluctuating when it shouldn't causing issues.

 

[grimsin]

you can still make you computer dial down the mhz and volts, just use adaptive voltage.
on my asus(might have to google how to do it on your motherboard) you can select adaptive voltage, a menu will pop up called max turbo voltage, dial in 1.265v.
in windows make sure your power plan is in balance mode
now your computer will dial down the voltage when it isnt needed.

EDIT: after researching your mobo i dont think you have this option, but you can always choose offset and configure it, but im not to sure how to use offset

 

[clifford64]

I have the ability to use adaptive voltage. It works fine and great and dials voltage down to about .8 when it's not under any load. The issue with this is I think it works differently on my Mobo and so when I play games, the voltage still fluctuates. This causes instability and crashes. One of the most common crashes is GTA V. I cannot play GTA V with adaptive voltage because the game will crash when the voltage fluctuates. As soon as I go to fixed voltage, the game runs perfectly normal.

 

[grimsin]

I bet your barely stable then, I would try upping the voltage a little bit and using adaptive voltage.
1.265v is great though, dont really need adaptive voltage