6600k Overclocking Help

[positivePXL]

o/ LTT Community,

 

I will eventually be putting together my computer soon, and I was wondering what a safe, conservative overclock would be for the i5 6600k with a GTX H110i on the MSI Z170A M5 mobo. I want to get a good, long life out of my cpu, so with the overkill AiO cooler, what is the best overclock I can get out of it without compromising the integrity or the dexterity of the 6600k?

 

positivePXL

[+PXL]

[GoZone]

How much overclocking will determine what you will get? 

[positivePXL]

No, I already purchased the 6600k and the mobo, but I do not have the AiO or the PSU, so I cannot post the system. I am just doing some over-preparation.

[Luc401]

I managed to OC my 6600k with a h100i gtx for like 4.5ghz 70c stable.

[positivePXL]

1 minute ago, Luc401 said:

I managed to OC my 6600k with a h100i gtx for like 4.5ghz 70c stable.

How long has that been running for? Have you had any crashes or other problems with respect to the cpu, or has it just been perfect since you put it in?

[Dr_Pleeper]

See how high you can keep the CPU stable at just under 1.3v, 1.3v and anything under is safe for long term daily use.

 

Set vcore to 1.25v or 1.3v and take the multiplier up by 100mhz at a time. When it isn't stable, take the oc down 100mhz and it should be.

[Luc401]

3 minutes ago, positivePXL said:

How long has that been running for? Have you had any crashes or other problems with respect to the cpu, or has it just been perfect since you put it in?

Well it was overclocked for about 1 month, then I had a power surge and the 670 in that PC caught fire, so i havent touched that pc in about a month. But when it was working it was working fine, I never even touched voltage i just set the multiplier and it just worked.

[positivePXL]

1 minute ago, Dr_Pleeper said:

See how high you can keep the CPU stable at just under 1.3v, 1.3v and anything under is safe for long term daily use.

 

Set vcore to 1.25v or 1.3v and take the multiplier up by 100mhz at a time. When it isn't stable, take the oc down 100mhz and it should be.

What is characteristic of 'unstable'? I've been doing a lot of information ingestion lately, but I still haven't quite managed to get figure this particular part out. 

[Dr_Pleeper]

Just now, positivePXL said:

What is characteristic of 'unstable'? I've been doing a lot of information ingestion lately, but I still haven't quite managed to get figure this particular part out. 

Download a program that stresses your cpu to 100% load (preferably AIDA64). Then OC your cpu by 100mhz at a time leaving the vcore at a reasonable 1.25v 1.275v or 1.3v. Depends on how high you want to go. Once you've done this go to AIDA64 and run the cpu at 100% load for 30 minutes or so. Stop the test at 30 minutes and if it didn't blue screen then it's stable. Keep taking the cpu up 100mhz at a time leaving the vcore the same and once you get an unstable one during the test your computer will blue screen and restart. At this point, enter the BIOS and take the cpu down by 100mhz and then you will be stable

[positivePXL]

1 minute ago, Dr_Pleeper said:

Download a program that stresses your cpu to 100% load (preferably AIDA64). Then OC your cpu by 100mhz at a time leaving the vcore at a reasonable 1.25v 1.275v or 1.3v. Depends on how high you want to go. Once you've done this go to AIDA64 and run the cpu at 100% load for 30 minutes or so. Stop the test at 30 minutes and if it didn't blue screen then it's stable. Keep taking the cpu up 100mhz at a time leaving the vcore the same and once you get an unstable one during the test your computer will blue screen and restart. At this point, enter the BIOS and take the cpu down by 100mhz and then you will be stable

Sounds like a pretty lengthy process, but I think I can manage. 

However, I was looking for something a bit more definitive, is there a commonly known, stable, enduring overclock?

[Torn]

A stable overclock depends greatly on what you will be running and your luck with the silicone lottery. (each chip is different)

An overclock can be 99% stable at daily use levels but crash during a stress test like Aida64 or Prime 95.

The point of stress testing is to fine the highest most stable overclock possible, basically if it doesn't crash while stress testing then it won't crash in the middle of doing something important. While time consuming you're getting the best performance you can for you money you've spent while avoiding losing unsaved data or crashing while gaming in the future.
As for commonly know, almost any 6600k will run 4.4ghz at 1.3V, some who have won the lottery can do 4.4 at 1.2V or below.

Since you will be using water cooling your limiting factor will be how high you want to push your voltage. I have no problem running my 6600k at 1.35v.

If you were using a lower quality air cooler, temperature starts to become your limiting factor, more voltage more heat. Any stress tested overclock that stays at or below 80 could be good enough for me.