First Overclock

[Steve N. Mavronis]

My system has an Intel i7-6700K and 16GB (2x8GB) G.Skill 3200 DDR4 on a ASUS Z170i Pro Gaming motherboard. I'm new to overclocking modern systems.

 

In BIOS enabled the XMP memory profile for the full 3200 speed. It also gave me a 5% CPU overclock to 4.2Ghz.

 

I have the ASUS AI Suite 3 and it offers 5-Way Optimization to find the best stable CPU overclock, Fan Tuning, etc. If I try that should I disable the XMP setting first?

[SeanAngelo]

10 minutes ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

My system has an Intel i7-6700K and 16GB (2x8GB) G.Skill 3200 DDR4 on a ASUS Z170i Pro Gaming motherboard. I'm new to overclocking modern systems.

 

In BIOS enabled the XMP memory profile for the full 3200 speed. It also gave me a 5% CPU overclock to 4.2Ghz.

 

I have the ASUS AI Suite 3 and it offers 5-Way Optimization to find the best stable CPU overclock, Fan Tuning, etc. If I try that should I disable the XMP setting first?

you sure that OC on your CPU is not the turbo speed?

[aisle9]

I like to get my CPU overclock figured out first, then go back and play with RAM (if I do at all). Overclocked RAM can affect the stability of your OC'ed CPU. Just my preference; your mileage may vary.

[Steve N. Mavronis]

17 minutes ago, SeanAngelo said:

you sure that OC on your CPU is not the turbo speed?

Yeah you're right. The ASUS AI Suite confused me saying up 5%. Here is a photo from my main BIOS screen. At least the XMP profile change worked, I think.

 

[stconquest]

3 minutes ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

Yeah you're right. The ASUS AI Suite confused me saying up 5%. Here is a photo from my main BIOS screen. At least the XMP profile change worked, I think.

Manual overclocking is the only way you should overclock.  I say this because you don't need to OC.  If you are going to learn how, do it right.

 

Research, research, research.  Look up data sheets to see what others have achieved with their 6700Ks.  Watch videos, talk to people (lol you are talking to us).

[Steve N. Mavronis]

19 minutes ago, stconquest said:

Manual overclocking is the only way you should overclock.  I say this because you don't need to OC.  If you are going to learn how, do it right.

Okay I hear you. I did some manual DDR3 memory overclocking and testing with my old PC over 8 years ago. I forgot most of it. The CPU then was locked so no fun there.

 

What about the XMP profile? Is that okay to stay or should I undo it. Profiles are the factory recommended setting for the rated speed right?

 

Also I have to tune the fan speeds. All 140mm - 1 rear, 1 heatsink cooler, 2 via fan header Y-cable in the front. I'm air cooling the CPU with the Thermalright Silver Arrow ITX. It's pretty beefy looking in my Phanteks Evolv ITX chassis.

 

[stconquest]

6 minutes ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

Okay I hear you. I did some manual DDR3 memory overclocking and testing with my old PC over 8 years ago. I forgot most of it. The CPU then was locked so no fun there.

 

What about the XMP profile? Is that okay to stay or should I undo it. Profiles are the factory recommended setting for the rated speed right?

 

Also I have to tune the fan speeds. All 140mm - 1 rear, 1 heatsink cooler, 2 via fan Y-cable in the front. I'm air cooling the CPU with the Thermalright Silver Arrow ITX. It's pretty beefy looking in my Phanteks Evolv ITX chassis.

 

 

Nice PC, I am jealous =)

 

X.M.P. is just fine to use.  If you learn to tune the RAM manually, that is even better.

 

The last CPU I overclocked was the i7 950 (Phenom II X6 before that).  I won't be much help to you I'm afraid.  My i5 3570K is cooled and ready to OC.  I have watched videos and read data sheets, but I don't need the speed so I still have it stock (3 years now).

[Steve N. Mavronis]

12 hours ago, Cvet76 said:

I did watch this video from Linus and I did exactly what he did. Now I'm running at 4.5GHz. stable while rendering, playing games, always.

I have to study what he did in one spot. He kind of blew right through his settings scrolling which didn't quite match up with what he was saying or I misunderstood. I'm also concerned about my fan profiles. I was playing with the fan curves but don't know what's optimal, especially once the CPU is bumped up and generating more heat. Also the XMP brought my TridentZ memory up to 3200 rated speed. When I manually overclock the CPU will it affect the RAM speed? Just to understand what's possible during manual overclocking, are you supposed to overclock the RAM first or the CPU? 

 

 I know there is a debate over manual vs automatic overclocking as well even though you'd get somewhat similar end results. This video summarizes the differences.

 

 

 

[stconquest]

56 minutes ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

I have to study what he did in one spot. He kind of blew right through his settings scrolling which didn't quite match up with what he was saying or I misunderstood. I'm also concerned about my fan profiles. I was playing with the fan curves but don't know what's optimal, especially once the CPU is bumped up and generating more heat. Also the XMP brought my TridentZ memory up to 3200 rated speed. When I manually overclock the CPU will it affect the RAM speed? Just to understand what's possible during manual overclocking, are you supposed to overclock the RAM first or the CPU? 

 

 I know there is a debate over manual vs automatic overclocking as well even though you'd get somewhat similar end results. This video summarizes the differences.

 

 

 

When stressing my overclocks I usually have my fans at 100%, at least initially.  Fan curves can be done after you stabilize the overclock.

 

If you increase the BCLK, you affect RAM clock as well.  If you step up the multiplier, RAM will not be affected.

 

When you overclock you should minimize the variables as much as possible.  Let's say you OC the CPU first and find it stable at 4.7 GHz with 1.275v.  If you want to start messing around with the RAM speed, you might want to change the CPU overclock back to it's stock parameters first.  You don't want one change to affect the other in a bad way when initially testing  After you find the stability in any isolated part of the PC, THEN you can start integrating multiple overclocks to test how well they react to each other as a whole.

 

There is really no debate over manual/automatic OCs.  Manual control allows your unique CPU to be fine tuned to it's optimal setting for speed and electrical efficiency.  "Auto-overclocks" will always throw extra voltage at the CPU to keep it stable.

 

 

[Guest]

Auto OC'ing is getting wayyyy better, but vastly depends on what board you are using. 

 

Manual is still going to grant you the best performance, whether the difference is worth the time investment is an entirely different argument, as I know most of like tinkering to find the best OC's while others just want to play games. 

 

 

[Steve N. Mavronis]

Well is it advisable to start with automatic for a approximate overclock baseline and then tweak from there to fine tune it?

[stconquest]

17 minutes ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

Well is it advisable to start with automatic for a approximate overclock baseline and then tweak from there to fine tune it?

For that, you could also look at data sheets to see what other can do:

 

If the average of 4.4GHz overclocks on the 6700K are using 1.2v, for example, you can assume (since it is a modest overclock) that your CPU will handle that frequency at that voltage.  You set it and stress it.  If it is stable, you increase the frequency and stress it again.  You do this until you crash.  When you crash (become unstable) you can do one of two things:  Lower the clock or increase the voltage (stay under 1.3v, maybe lower depending on your cooling).

 

Learn about stress tests and why some are harder on the CPU than others. 

 

There are other things to learn as well.  LLC (load line calibration) can help stabilize an overclock.  Learn about everything that others are doing.