how far can you overclock

[demonkoi]

i just bought a gaming rig with an i7 7700k i currently have it overclocked to 5GHZ im running a open loop for cooling and i get temperatures around 45-50C. I want to overclock further but i don't want something to break, are thermals the only thing that limit overclocking or can i just keep going until my thermals are too high.

[pelark]

Voltages? Idle temps and load temps?

I wouldn't take it further than 5GHz, as that'll require you to up the voltage more, have more heat output and you'll experience a severe case of diminishing returns, if you can even push it beyond 5.

[c4deszes]

The limit relies in the signal strength. Your CPU has a lot of internal clocks, which generate a square wave. But in reality due to capacitance this signal will be distorted and will have more of a sinusoidal form. And by increasing frequency the amplitude gets smaller, which makes the voltage not be in the specified range. This is the reason you have to increase voltage with frequency since it will make the signal "clearer". This is the physics side of it.

 

The other reason is that there is the memory and other peripherals connected to the CPU, which all have a range of frequency they work in. Memory especially is very low.

[EPPHO]

I would stay at 5.0 and i doubt it stays 45-50C under load..

[demonkoi]

running the cpu and 1.35 to 1.4 cant remember under load im getting 55-60C but my 1080ti is also in the loop temperatures are not the limiting factor