Unclocking my clocked i7-3770k

[sushiebar]

Okay so I just bought a PC and I suspect that my retailer has overclocked my CPU to 4.2 Ghz.

So I have a couple of questions:-

1. Based on my specs do you guys think it is safe to OC?

Intel Core i7-3770K

ENERMAX ELC120-TA / Dual-Fan Water Cooling

G.SKILL [ RipjawsX ] F3-12800CL9D-8GBXM / 8GB (4GB x 2) / 1600Mhz

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H

ENERMAX NAXN 850W 80Plus Bronze (Modular) PSU

2. Is there a way for me to unclock my CPU? If so can any of you guys guide me through it?

3. Also my retailer has placed my graphics card on the x8 slot of my motherboard, even though there is an x16 slot available.
Is my graphics card able to benefit from x16 speeds on an x8 slot? or do I need to change the placement of my graphics card?

 

[Cons29]

technically, your cpu is unlocked already, hence the "K" at the 3770K.
did you buy this brand new?
also, sorry but i seem to miss what your gpu is, any particular reason why he put the gpu in the 8x instead of the x16? although it would not matter, performance wise

 

[bwrlane]

Yes, with your set up, you can overclock further. There is no unlocking that you need to do - your CPU is already unlocked. A 3770k can normally go higher than 4.2GHz and with your cooling, higher speeds should be within reach. My 3770K runs happily at 4.74GHz.

You do it by going into your BIOS and increasing the multiplier. It's as simple as that - no further explanation needed.

You don't say what your GPU is, but it unless it's a GTX 690, a 7990 or a Titan, 8x will be fine.

 

[sushiebar]

Yes, with your set up, you can overclock further. There is no unlocking that you need to do - your CPU is already unlocked. A 3770k can normally go higher than 4.2GHz and with your cooling, higher speeds should be within reach. My 3770K runs happily at 4.74GHz.

You do it by going into your BIOS and increasing the multiplier. It's as simple as that - no further explanation needed.

You don't say what your GPU is, but it unless it's a GTX 690, a 7990 or a Titan, 8x will be fine.

Thank you for clarifying the CPU issue. I guess it's nothing to worry about at all. by the way my gpu is a gtx680, so I don't know what an x16 slot will do for my gpu.

 

[ihog]

I'd put it in the x16 to be safe.

 

[ericjohn004]

No, it definitely doesn't need a x16 slot. Many people I know who sell computers put graphics cards in the x8 slots. Even with a GTX690 it wouldn't matter all that much, maybe a couple FPS out of 100. So you don't need to change it, especially for a 680. They put it there because of the card placement. Sometimes the place on the motherboard that the 8x slot is, is better placement than the x16 slot.slot.

If graphics cards needed x16 slots then there would have to be 2 x16 slots if you wanted 2 card SLI and 3 x16 slots if you wanted 3 card SLI. Actually, your card would even perform at 99-100% of full power even in a 4x slot as you can do two way SLI with one card in an 8x and one in a 4x and not lose much performance at all. I think Tom's even has a review about this but I forgot the outcome. If I remember correctly it proves what I'm saying.

 

[sushiebar]

thank you so much for all your answers. back to crisis 3 lol