Alcatraz1015

Set AVX offset to 0, it should be stable at 5GHz anyway, might be somewhat hotter but that's irrelevant for gaming as it wouldn't draw much power anyway.

Exactly. This function is used to let the CPU run faster when not using AVX instruction set because Intel CPUs run much hotter and less stable with AVX. By dropping clocks when running AVX, you could squeeze more out of it elsewhere.
 
btw you could try P95 v26.6 since that doesnt use AVX, and then set an AVX offset that lets it stablize with the same voltage and LLC settings with the newest version of P95 (so it uses AVX). You should try overclock the cache/ring as well, keeping it within 300MHz difference to the core clock.
 
In other words, core and ring first, AVX offset last.
 
opposite, LLC is used to correct the voltage drop. For voltage regulation's sake though you should still let it drop, just not that much. For example, 1.4V idle down to 1.35V at full load.

I run one of my i7 8086ks at 5.1ghz and there are 2 resounds I don't run it at 5.2.
The first is that there is no gain in the overclock on my CPU except a better Cinebench R15 single core score. 
The second is that it puts the idle temps into the high 30s low 40s with my cooling solution so it is unacceptable to me.
 
Fortunately Gamers Nexus fully tested my CPU and they found that the only real performance gain after 5ghz was at 5.35ghz. Since that is way past my cooling solution there in no pint in me going further.
 
I suggest you do some research to see if it is worth it when it comes to performance. It is not on my CPUs, but it may be on yours.
 
 
 
 

Nothing? worst case scenario is setting up your bios settings all over again (only if you need to clear cmos). Go as high as you want as long as you can keep it stable (Meaning WHEL errors what so ever) and cool.

So here’s what I ended up doing, I returned the 3700X and mobo and swapped to a 9900K and the Z390 chipset version of my current MSI mobo. I offered my 7700K and mobo to a buddy of mine for $275. Everything considered, I will have basically spent less than $30 and upgraded to a 9900K - which I know beyond a doubt is a massive upgrade over my 7700K.

Yeah, I’m thinking with your and another’s feedback, I’ll probably just maintain my 7700K for a while yet. The 3700X and mobo are easily returnable. I saw a good deal and I jumped first just in case but it seems like it’s not really worth the time to have to completely reboot my system for what will mostly be minimal gains for the immediate future.
 
I appreciate the input. 

Honestly I wouldn't touch anything until next year with AMD 7nm+ and Intel 10nm hitting the market, you're somewhat trading six for half a dozen here on gaming strictly.
 
Even if the i7 7700K max outs usage it still can handle much the same way the R7 3700X would in gaming most of the time, if you have it overclocked then it's really not worth ditching it yet.

Another reference for specifically the 3700x. There are some improvements for sure, but i don't know if its a game changer.
 
In this one, most games on the 3700x have better minimums, and in others, no change, and in a few, the 7700k actually does better.
 
None of the FPS lows are terrible on the 7700k, though, which I think is the takeaway.

I better choice would have been ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming at $250, strongest vrm, but no post code, no clear cmos, no other extreme oc features.
 
ASUS ROG Crosshair 7 Hero wifi $230
lots of oc features, dont care for pcie4.0, post code, bios flashback, clear cmos rear io, non wifi is $20 cheaper, great board
 
Ah I see, I am mistaken, yes the TUF Gaming plus is a great board too, $195, wifi, solid vrm, has some t/s features, good heatsink.
 
ok yeah no I did not see your mobo, must've been some other tuf branded mobo that was shitty. all the mobo's are naming shit tuf this, gaming that, its getting hard to keep track.
 
 
you do want bios flashback, because then you can go to ryzen 4000 series.

Sure, I have an RTX 2080 FE OC’d to almost 2.2Ghz and memory clocked to 8Ghz. And my display is a 24” Dell... something... 2560x1440 1ms 165hz.

Fantastic. Thank you very much for the response and data. 

I'll be in the minority here and say, if all you were doing was gaming, then no, it wasn't really worth it because the 7700k still has some life left in it. 
 
Generally worst case scenario:
 

 
It's not a HUGE difference. And this is a stock 7700k. See attachment for RDR2 from Gamers Nexus - still not huge.
 
Were I you, I would have held on until Ryzen 4000 at least, which is reported to be even faster (and probably actually beat intel at gaming through and through) and you will notice a huge difference. 
 
But, it's a good chip, and you can still use your 7700k for other things. Can also try to sell it to people who foolishly bought i5s.
 
The 3700x will also demolish the 7700k at anything else.
 

 
If it was me I'd return it and hold out on the 7700k until next summer when 4000 launches.