I7 6700k stuck over 4GHz

Sevb

Commendable
Jan 4, 2017
4
0
1,510
I have an asus z170-a mobo, i7 6700k which I haven't overclocked but keeps jumping up between 4 GHz and somehow hitting 4.3 GHz even though it isn't overclocked. It also is running hot, idling at around 35 degrees with a cryorig h7 with a qf120 performance plus the default fan on the cooler. My ram is g.skill ripjaws V 16gb ddr4 3200, and case is corsair carbide series 100r. I have the stock fan from the case, the two on the cooler, and a 140mm cryorig one on front of the case. Speedstep is on and all c states are on in BIOS. I have already reset bios settings twice and this isn't fixing the problem, as well as making sure the processor isn't overclocked.
Edit: I also occasionally have one of my four cores go down to 800 MHz for a second or two. It's always core 0 or core 1 though
 

Barty1884

Retired Moderator
Is it hitting 4.3GHz? The 6700 will 'turbo' boost as necessary to 4.2GHz (in MHz it's a little higher I believe - but shouldn't hit/exceed 4300MHz)

The C states, turbo boost etc will allow the CPU to drop to the minimum frequency at idle (800MHz sounds about right), and will boost as/when necessary.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.
 

Sevb

Commendable
Jan 4, 2017
4
0
1,510


I know that's how it is supposed to work. But it is working backwards. It runs at 4-4.3 GHz (i know it's supposed to only go to 4.2 thats part of what is confusing me) and it isn't ever dropping. It's only dropped down to 800 occasionally. When the cpu usage is at like 1 or 2% it's still running over 4 GHz
 

st3v30

Admirable
You are probably hitting max turbo 4.2 GHz or slightly above 4.3 because you have activated XMP for 3200 Mhz RAM so it probably pushed BLCK a bit to keep RAM at that speed. Nothing wrong with your CPU it is just working as it should . Also 35 C is just normal for idle temp.
 

Sevb

Commendable
Jan 4, 2017
4
0
1,510


Okay, but is the fact that it isn't lowering its clock rate for lower usage not gonna hurt its lifetime?