[SOLVED] Tips and advice for a first time overclocker - i7 8700k

[jamper]

Hi in the next few days i'll be installing an i7 8700k into my pc.

I'm hoping to overclock it later on and i've never overclocked before so i'm looking for some advice on how best to avoid trouble and what specifically I might have to do based on my hardware.

I'll be running this cpu with a Gigabyte - Z370 HD3 as my motherboard and a NZXT Kraken x62 as my AIO cooler.

If you guys have any links to guides on the basics of overclocking i'd really appreciate that, as well as any considerations involved with the specific hardware i'm using (such as the cooling capabilities and maximum potential clock speed.

 

[Rodrigodrt]

Certainly you'll need to read some guides and study about overclocking, though what you can do for starters is to set your vcore to 1.3V and start raising your CPU Ratio by 1, which will represent 100mhz increments and test if its overally stable on windows, then you'll have to go for stress tests like Aida64, Prime95, etc.

You don't want temps above 85C while stress testing and you dont want temps above 75C peak while gaming & etc.
You don't want to go over 1.3v if you're conservative like, probably can push some more but every extra v will degrade your CPU and decrease lifespan.
Bottom line, what you want is the highest clock, lowest possible voltage and temps, and that only you will decide depending on your cooling solutions, silicon lottery luck, etc.

 

[jamper]

Certainly you'll need to read some guides and study about overclocking, though what you can do for starters is to set your vcore to 1.3V and start raising your CPU Ratio by 1, which will represent 100mhz increments and test if its overally stable on windows, then you'll have to go for stress tests like Aida64, Prime95, etc.

You don't want temps above 85C while stress testing and you dont want temps above 75C peak while gaming & etc.
You don't want to go over 1.3v if you're conservative like, probably can push some more but every extra v will degrade your CPU and decrease lifespan.
Bottom line, what you want is the highest clock, lowest possible voltage and temps, and that only you will decide depending on your cooling solutions, silicon lottery luck, etc.

Appreciate the response, looks like i'll have to do a lot of reading!

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

 

[jamper]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

Honestly, overclocking is dying. Not because of damage hardware, but CPUs pretty much overclock themselves these days by how they boost. Even now for gaming, in many cases AMD CPUs will lose fps when you overclock because the single core boost can clock higher than the all core turbo.

So I say this to mean, dont expect this huge performance improvement as the 8700k already turbos to 4.7ghz on one core. Moving all cores to 4.8-5.0 wont net much of a performance impact.

 

[jamper]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

Honestly, overclocking is dying. Not because of damage hardware, but CPUs pretty much overclock themselves these days by how they boost. Even now for gaming, in many cases AMD CPUs will lose fps when you overclock because the single core boost can clock higher than the all core turbo.

So I say this to mean, dont expect this huge performance improvement as the 8700k already turbos to 4.7ghz on one core. Moving all cores to 4.8-5.0 wont net much of a performance impact.

Thanks for that, i'm not someone who's just looking to push the limits of my hardware, overclocking the 8700k is more just so I can say that I've done it and that I can add something to my technical ability, to feel good about i guess.

I think going from an i7 2600 to the 8700k will be a great enough performance boost even at base speed haha.

 

[Rodrigodrt]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

Honestly, overclocking is dying. Not because of damage hardware, but CPUs pretty much overclock themselves these days by how they boost. Even now for gaming, in many cases AMD CPUs will lose fps when you overclock because the single core boost can clock higher than the all core turbo.

So I say this to mean, dont expect this huge performance improvement as the 8700k already turbos to 4.7ghz on one core. Moving all cores to 4.8-5.0 wont net much of a performance impact.

Well, it's true that OC is easier and 'auto' OC is becoming ever more viable nowadays, but they will never replace a manual made OC. They are supposed to be guaranteed to work, so manufacturers will make sure there's always room for more, plus, they will always volt more than needed for extra stability safety, oh, and partial core OC's, either OC all cores to the max or leave it be, i hate these auto OC's that only OC 2 cores or 1+1.

I agree that the we're getting diminished returns from manual overclocking, as 100/200 over a 4.7 wont make much of a difference, but you know.... its like bulding your own lightsaber so its worth it.

 

[Rodrigodrt]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

Honestly, overclocking is dying. Not because of damage hardware, but CPUs pretty much overclock themselves these days by how they boost. Even now for gaming, in many cases AMD CPUs will lose fps when you overclock because the single core boost can clock higher than the all core turbo.

So I say this to mean, dont expect this huge performance improvement as the 8700k already turbos to 4.7ghz on one core. Moving all cores to 4.8-5.0 wont net much of a performance impact.

Thanks for that, i'm not someone who's just looking to push the limits of my hardware, overclocking the 8700k is more just so I can say that I've done it and that I can add something to my technical ability, to feel good about i guess.

I think going from an i7 2600 to the 8700k will be a great enough performance boost even at base speed haha.

Safer? yes, safe? no. You can still bust things up or quickly degrade a processor that can last for a decade so it would last an year tops, I seen it happens, done it myself... while being a bit conservative like me i.e. not goin over 1.3v, theres a room for pushing, it would be the same thing for a processor that could last 20 years to last, maybe, 15. You def aint going to keep it for that long

 

[jamper]

Overclocking is not some mythical science and these days it is hard to damage your hardware due to built in safeguards. It is very easy and you really only need to change a couple of settings in the bios for a decent OC.

For me, I like to keep my voltage below 1.4 and my average CPU temps under full load below 80C for a daily driver. Some people will let it go higher, some lower. The CPU will downclock at 100C to prevent damage, but you dont want to run your chip at very high temps on a daily basis.

As for overclocking the 8700k, go into your bios and change the frequency to 49. That will be a 4.9ghz clockspeed. Then go to your vcore and type in 1.3 and press enter. That will set your frequency at 4.9ghz and your voltage at 1.3.

Boot into windows. Download Intel XTU and Cinebench r15. Use XTU to monitor your temps. Run Cinebench CPU benchmark. If your system crashes, go back into your bios and move your vcore to 1.31. If it does not crash the go into your bios and increase the frequency to 50. If your average temps go above 80C, then drop your vcore or frequency till you get there.

The x62 is a good cooler, but the 8700k is a hot chip. So it wont take much to get your load temps above 80C. I would expect to get a 4.8 - 4.9ghz OC with the 8700k and that motherboard. You may push to 5ghz, but it will just depend

Here is a really good video on how to overclock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcta3RStYSM

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Overclocking has always been sold to me as some incredibly difficult and dangerous activity, but I'm glad to hear that I won't be blowing my PC up by accident (at least I hope not haha).

I'll be sure to check that video out very soon!

Thanks!

Honestly, overclocking is dying. Not because of damage hardware, but CPUs pretty much overclock themselves these days by how they boost. Even now for gaming, in many cases AMD CPUs will lose fps when you overclock because the single core boost can clock higher than the all core turbo.

So I say this to mean, dont expect this huge performance improvement as the 8700k already turbos to 4.7ghz on one core. Moving all cores to 4.8-5.0 wont net much of a performance impact.

Thanks for that, i'm not someone who's just looking to push the limits of my hardware, overclocking the 8700k is more just so I can say that I've done it and that I can add something to my technical ability, to feel good about i guess.

I think going from an i7 2600 to the 8700k will be a great enough performance boost even at base speed haha.

Safer? yes, safe? no. You can still bust things up or quickly degrade a processor that can last for a decade so it would last an year tops, I seen it happens, done it myself... while being a bit conservative like me i.e. not goin over 1.3v, theres a room for pushing, it would be the same thing for a processor that could last 20 years to last, maybe, 15. You def aint going to keep it for that long

Thanks for your input, I'll most likely be playing it safe and taking as much good advice on board as I can, I can imagine how being conservative can be less problematic so I'll be keeping all of this in mind.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Well, it's true that OC is easier and 'auto' OC is becoming ever more viable nowadays, but they will never replace a manual made OC. They are supposed to be guaranteed to work, so manufacturers will make sure there's always room for more, plus, they will always volt more than needed for extra stability safety, oh, and partial core OC's, either OC all cores to the max or leave it be, i hate these auto OC's that only OC 2 cores or 1+1.

While I would also recommend manual overclocking vs choosing "auto" in the mobo bios, this is not what I meant by overclocking becoming automatic. What I mean is that is that if you look at the XFR algorithm for example, they can boost clock speeds beyond the specification if thermal and power conditions allow it.

As these features mature and evolve, I think that they will know exactly what clock speed they can run each core based on voltage, power consumption and temperature on an individual chip during individual applications. Silicon lottery winners chips will boost higher and chips with better cooling will boost higher. It will all happen automatically and will increase clock speeds higher than a manual overclock is achievable.

These features from Intel and AMD will only get better moving forward. That is what I mean by overclocking themselves.

 

[The Original Ralph]

here's a pretty decent guide MSI put on their web - some of the terminology may differ from your mobo, but it won't take a few seconds to figure out what the "translation" to your motherboard's GUI is - all BIOSs are basically laid out the same, just a different GUI or language used

but it helped me - while they didn't state it, notice on the first page, "Expert" is selected - i haven't seen that selection on other boards but all that means is all auto enhancements, like intel turbo boost, enhanced turbo boost & XMP are dis-abled, and they walk you thru each page on settings to select - didn't take 15 minutes and it cleared issues or confusions i was having on a GIgabyte board

https://www.msi.com/blog/intel-9th-cpu-overclocking-5ghz-with-z390-motherboards