i5 6600k stock voltage/overclock question

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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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Hi All I recently did a new computer build and I am concerned my motherboard is running a stock voltage a little high. Some of what I have seen have stock voltages at 1.2 to 1.275 volts. Currently when I go into my bios it defaults my stock vcore voltage to 1.30 volts. I just want to verify that this is correct. Here is a link to all the parts I chose for this build.

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/MNKZxr

I built this primarily for gaming and will eventually upgrade the GPU. I chose the Gigabyte GA Z170N WIFI motherboard because of the size and features.

I would like to overclock my CPU and any advice I can get on this would be helpful. I have done some research and I am a little confused on how to verify if a increase in voltage is necessary based on my current stock voltage and what would be a decent OC to aim for.

Also when overclocking do I need to disable turbo boost?

If you need any other information please let me know and I will be happy to provide it.

 
Solution
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1.3v is typically the max you want to hit when overclocking the cpu.
To overclock set the voltage to 1 and set the multiplier to 35x and try to boot into windows. If successful run a stress test and monitor temps.
If temps are good and passes a 5 minute stress test, bump the multiplier up to 36x and repeat. Once the computer crashes or does not boot into windows, up the voltage by 0.025v and test again. Once its stable raise multiplier until unstable. Rinse and repeat. You want to stay under 1.31v if you want your cpu to last more than 3 years. And with overclocking you want to try to keep your load temperatures under 75c. Every overclocker has different comfort zones with temperatures. Like i try to keep mine under 65 constantly. But a...
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KeelinTy

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Nov 20, 2014
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1.3v is typically the max you want to hit when overclocking the cpu.
To overclock set the voltage to 1 and set the multiplier to 35x and try to boot into windows. If successful run a stress test and monitor temps.
If temps are good and passes a 5 minute stress test, bump the multiplier up to 36x and repeat. Once the computer crashes or does not boot into windows, up the voltage by 0.025v and test again. Once its stable raise multiplier until unstable. Rinse and repeat. You want to stay under 1.31v if you want your cpu to last more than 3 years. And with overclocking you want to try to keep your load temperatures under 75c. Every overclocker has different comfort zones with temperatures. Like i try to keep mine under 65 constantly. But a good rule of thumb is to stay under 75c
 
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Solution
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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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1,510
The base clock speed for the i5 6600k is 3.5 GHz. I have seen some videos where people have pushed an i5 6600k to 4.6 at 1.33-1.35v. I attempted this after finding a video guide on youtube for this exact chip but now I am running into the issue where cpu-z and other programs are not reflecting my overclock. I should also note that the base vcore for my motherboard is 1.30 volts.

I am not too worried about temps as I have a Corsair H100i V2 cooling my cpu. Idle temps are like 28-30c and highest I have seen is like 40c while gaming.

Also, do I need to disable turbo boost when overclocking?
 
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KeelinTy

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Disabling turbo boost will help to get the max. And every chip overclocks differently. Like with my cpu, 4790k, some people struggle to get it to 4.7ghz while I pushed it past 5.0ghz. And gaming isnt the best stress test load. You want to use a stress test program to make sure its stable and to make sure temps are alright in case an intensive task comes up
 
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A

Alumas

Commendable
Jun 8, 2016
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Oh I have Aida64, Cinebench 15 and Prime 95 to test with. I was not using gaming as way to test. To my other question though is there a reason that cpu-z and other programs would not recognize my overclock. It still listed it as being at 3.5 but in the bios it reflects the changes I made at 4.6. Because I was not seeing the change live I set everything back to stock until I can resolve that issue.

After this post I realized I had not accounted for the update to the bios being the issue. I made the change back to version F6 for my gigabyte GA Z170N Wifi motherboard and that allowed me to come up with the following results

Cinebench I went from 505 to 631, I tested on prime 95 for 30 mins with no issues. Temps ranged from 30c to a max of 60c during stress test. Voltage was set at 1.33 and an overclock of 4.6

 
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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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the CPU-Z issue was due to the bios. I rolled it back to the previous version and everything is good to go. While I like having the 4.6 I decided to go with a very minor OC at 4.0 so I would not have to up the voltage.
 
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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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With an overclock like that does it typically impact the lifespan of the cpu if I am keeping temps down with an aio cooler? I am using the h100i v2 for now until I can get a water loop installed.
 
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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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The closed loop is for aesthetic purposes and has a practical use since my build is a mini iTX build inside a Define Nano S Case. Eventually I plan to get a GPU that is worthy of liquid cooling. Perhaps a 980 or 1080.

I have found water cooling kits for beginners (me) that are about $175 which I did not feel was too overly expensive. But I will admit I am new to the close loop arena so there is still I have to learn on that end.

 
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Alumas

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Jun 8, 2016
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Yea I intend to get a 980 eventually. At that point I can justify a closed water loop.
 
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PROFESSORPANDA

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Apr 4, 2016
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With my 6600k ive got it to 4.7ghz on 1.35v (not my everyday oc. 1.28v and 4.5ghz is everyday) but what i found is that with 1.35v it boots at 4.9 and runs aida 64 for a while. but once you switch to something that isnt a stable load like cinebench or such, it will BSOD. Not going to push more than 1.35v on my chip for now
 
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PROFESSORPANDA

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Yes i agree with that. I have seen a guy on a facebook group push 1.51 into his i think pentium or similar. It still works but yeah 1.4 should be ok

 
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philipew

philipew

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Jul 26, 2016
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The information in this post is not entirely accurate. I can prove it. I am running at 4.6 GHz under VCore set manually at 1.355 V in the BIOS, perfectly stable and safe (temps below 65 C under heavy load). My CPU is just average.
 
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DJDeCiBeL

DJDeCiBeL

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Dec 3, 2010
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Yeah, saying you HAVE to keep a Skylake chip at 1.30V or below for longevity is garbage. The generations after Sandy screwed people's thought processes up, since they couldn't handle the higher volts, but that changed with Skylake. Voltage wise, you can basically treat it like a Sandy chip. Even the official Intel docs say so.
 
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PROFESSORPANDA

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yes that is true, i know one person running 1.58v through a 6500!!! and it beats my 4.5ghz 6600k in cinebench. He also ran 1.7v on air mind you through a celeron no problem. Its safe to go over 1.35 if required.
 
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philipew

philipew

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What is your Cinebench score? Mine is 767 at 4.6 GHz.
 
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PROFESSORPANDA

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Apr 4, 2016
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i roughly get around 750 depending on backgroud processes.

 
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X103

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Nov 21, 2016
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I run 1.4v on a 4.7ghz overclock. I have no problems with heat and no issues with stability. I have never had any sort of crash or any instability. I built my system not around the most expensive case made by the most impressive manufacturer, but around the concept of what exhaled the most air away from my components using air cooling alone. Temps on my 6600k have never got above 70 (on one core) after much stress testing on an Asus Maximus viii board. Mostly I'm in the 50''s, if that. If your build has heat retention issues, then limit it to conservative voltage parameters. 1.4v will not damage this chip. It's well within intel''s guidelines despite what others have said. Limitations of chip voltage can prolong life for the person you may sell the chip to in 3 years over your own enjoyment of a perfect, stable, incredibly powerful gaming rig today. Make sure you have the other components to support it (MOTHERBOARD!!!!) and you'll be fine.
 
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PROFESSORPANDA

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Apr 4, 2016
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the only limiting factor for me is motherboard temps. my motherboard ( gigabyte z170 gaming 7) gets up to 50c when running 1.29v. But only in summer here in AUS where ambient where pc is 35c. Also i get a 4.9ghz semi stable with 1.35v
 
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philipew

philipew

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Jul 26, 2016
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That's mostly agreeable. However (as always...), not all chips are built equal, just like "not all men are born equal" which is probably why "many are called, but few are elected" (...OK, I digress). Yes, I too subscribe to the budget MoBo, cheap single fan air cooler, no-frill roomy case, and a few lights from a clearance sale (white with red tape over), and I can also technically get 4.7 GHz at 1.405 V but then my temps go too high and the rig shuts down automatically to protect the CPU (not all that great in the middle of a game or something).

This has also to do with a very important factor which most of you don't mention often enough: the AMBIENT temperature. Mine here can easily go over 32 C. At 22:00 H I still have 28 C in my office (this is Western Australia's summer). Short of having to run our home's air conditioning continuously to remain around 23 C ambient, I stay at 4.6 GHz with 1.355 V and temps around 55 C. under load. Nobody's "censorship of reality" could detect the puny 100 MHz drop. So it certainly doesn't affect my "enjoyment" either, no sweat (pun intended).

Most importantly, I don't hear fans thrashing it out while "Arno" from Assassin's Creed (Unity) walks peacefully in a deserted dark alley of Paris. Otherwise, it sounds like he is walking on the bridge of an aircraft carrier, near a jet priming its turboprops before take off... Censorship of realism is also important... just saying ;-).

So once again, the limiting factor here is not the CPU VCore voltage. I would put it at 1.450 V or even 1.500 V with a cooling loop bathing in liquid nitrogen if I could. As always, ultimately the limiting factor is whether you can adequately deal with the resulting temperature. Remember, the rig will not shut down because the VCore voltage is too high (I tried with 1.600 V for a brief moment), but only because of the resulting package temp. going too high.

Here is a PICTURE of the inside showing the position/speed/CFM of the fans: http://imageshack.com/a/img923/3196/PjaqTS.png
 
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