2500k/2600k users - any long term overclock/overvolting issues?

[The Sauce]

I have been running my 2500k @ 4.8-4.9 using 1.4V for about 5 years now and still going strong.

I think these are probably the longest running processors in history that are being overclocked/overvolted by a large group of people, so makes sense to check in 5 years later and see if any of the hysteria about overclocking/overvolting is true. Intel has said that they can handle up to 1.52 for 24/7 usage, but I know people are always worried about chip damage over the long term.

So...5 years later, how's your chip running??? Any failures?

 

[.vodka]

I've been running my 2500k at a conservative 4.5GHz 1.31v for the past four or five years; first with a 212+, then a TRUE spirit 140 power for most of that time (load temps in the 50-60°C range for day to day use like games and whatever), not a single problem yet, still passes every test. Motherboard is a Sabertooth P67.

Seeing your results I might bump it up to 1.35v and stabilize 4.6/4.7GHz.

 

[ZGR]

Haven't we seen posts of peope having to dial back their voltages and clocks for SB?

But I am unsure if it is the CPU degrading or rather the Motherboard. I want to know how many SB owners there are able to still run @ 5 GHz+ for extended periods of time.

 

[The Sauce]

Yup. 4.9 runs fine for me @ 1.425, which is where I'm at now, but I have run it at 4.8@1.4 most of it's life so far. Have never really pushed up to 5.0, but I may try it now

 

[moonbogg]

I can push my 3930k to 4.8, but that sucker gets hot! Watercooling can only do so much. I need like, Jesus cooling, or something.

 

[YBS1]

I can push my 3930k to 4.8, but that sucker gets hot! Watercooling can only do so much. I need like, Jesus cooling, or something.

You see fine sir, your problem (as I noticed in your build thread) is you merely used Nice! distilled water rather than top of the line Excellent! distilled water. This is a common mistake for the layman. Fortunately for you I just happen to have a small supply of just such a thing, I believe it's even SLI certified. Since you seem to be a stand-up guy, I'll sell it to you for the low, low price of just $12 per liter.

 

[moonbogg]

You see fine sir, your problem (as I noticed in your build thread) is you merely used Nice! distilled water rather than top of the line Excellent! distilled water. This is a common mistake for the layman. Fortunately for you I just happen to have a small supply of just such a thing, I believe it's even SLI certified. Since you seem to be a stand-up guy, I'll sell it to you for the low, low price of just $12 per liter.

And I hope to gawd you take Paypal. I didn't know I was buying crap distilled from the local store. I should have known that lower grade distilled would have less thermal capacity. Can I just buy all your liters now?

 

[YBS1]

And I hope to gawd you take Paypal. I didn't know I was buying crap distilled from the local store. I should have known that lower grade distilled would have less thermal capacity. Can I just buy all your liters now?

Of course I take PayPal. Unfortunately, I cannot sell you all of my liters as I must keep some for my private reserve. I regret that I did not PM you my original reply rather than post it on the open forum, as now I will no doubt be besieged with requests from the newly enlightened. They should really do something about letting the riff raff in here.

 

[Vaelic]

Of course I take PayPal. Unfortunately, I cannot sell you all of my liters as I must keep some for my private reserve. I regret that I did not PM you my original reply rather than post it on the open forum, as now I will no doubt be besieged with requests from the newly enlightened. They should really do something about letting the riff raff in here.

ivebeen running mine at 4.5 with no issue. Think it's worth trying for 4.8?

 

[Yuriman]

ivebeen running mine at 4.5 with no issue. Think it's worth trying for 4.8?

Personally, I'd not bother for the extra ~6% performance.

 

[YBS1]

ivebeen running mine at 4.5 with no issue. Think it's worth trying for 4.8?

Sandy Bridge or SB-E? I may throw a little more caution to the wind when benchmarking but I'm fairly conservative when it comes to day in day out voltages. As long as your temperatures are kept in check though I wouldn't be uncomfortable running 1.4, maybe 1.42v through SB/SB-E for daily use. Just set it to 1.4v and see how high it will go before you lose stability and/or your temps get out of hand.

I run my 3930K at 4.6 ~1.35v daily. ~1.4v is good for 4.8 and I can keep temps in line for the CPU, my issue is with VRM temperatures, they start to roast at 4.8 for me. Now I don't know how high is too high, but I know my Asus software starts to lose it's mind after a while running at 4.8, warning me the VRMs are going to set my place ablaze. I've recently shifted that system over to a Corsair 540 and my radiator is exhausting directly above that area now, I may see what temps the VRMs run at now with the added airflow at 4.8.

Again with my case fetish though, after I got the white 540 I couldn't resist adding a second radiator and additional pump/res to the Swiftech H240X. Thought, while I'm at it I should just replace that drab black tubing with some matching white for visual pop. So now I'll be running this one under a (semi)custom loop again once I pull it apart this weekend.

 

[The Sauce]

Remember. If you are going for anything over 4.5 you probably need to enable PLL overvolting and set to about 1.9V. Mine has also been set to that for 5+ years now without issues.

 

[Geforce man]

1.28v and 4600Mhz for 5 years now on my 2700k, no signs of instability or degradation. That voltage btw, is the stock VID. That's insane.

 

[MrK6]

Checking in, still goin strong with no issues. I prophylactically dropped my clocks from 5 GHz to 4.8 when I went back to air a year ago but haven't had any issues ever with this chip. Looks like it's going to be going a lot longer too unless Skylake-E brings some big leaps.

 

[The Sauce]

So, no one has fried a chip even after 5 years of continuous hard overclocking? I think maybe this settles the debate.

 

[maddogmcgee]

Except people who managed to fry one are less likely to come on here and post. If i had fried mine, I would see the post topic, shed a tear, then click on something else.

 

[Spanners]

Except people who managed to fry one are less likely to come on here and post. If i had fried mine, I would see the post topic, shed a tear, then click on something else.

That's just speculation, maybe the selection bias would have the opposite effect? Personally I would be keen to share my bad experience if I thought it would potentially help someone else.

Ran a 2600K @1.38v(@4.8) for 3 years-ish no issues, now it's semi-retired but still running happily at stock.

 

[maddogmcgee]

Your correct, it is just speculation, doesnt mean its not true though. Its really hard to know either way. I have never actually seen anyone admit to wrecking a chip in a thread of this kind.

 

[Unoid]

no degradation on mine however I run 4.6ghz at 1.31v for my 24x7 speeds.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I've never had a need to overclock my 2500k....

 

[hojnikb]

I've never had a need to overclock my 2500k....

Same here with 3570K

 

[The Sauce]

Well...except that at the present time taking a 2500k/2600k system and overclocking to upper 4,000's with good (2133) RAM can get you just about the same performance you would get from a current-gen system - at least as far as games go - and assuming the same GPU. So for many now the decision between a costly upgrade and an overclock is extremely germane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frNjT5R5XI4

 

[KIAman]

I've had my 2600k at 4.8ghz@1.35 on air and I leave my computer on almost 24/7 and have not had an issue with it. I get the itch to upgrade and look at the benchmarks but Intel screwed up and made the Sandybridge too strong for me to justify a new CPU/MB architecture.

Although, coincidentally, I recently developed a problem where if I bump or shift my case around, it would reboot and the first thought was that my CPU is finally biting the dust. But when clocking down to default speeds and voltage, the problem still persists, so I am back to OCd speeds after a day's worth of stock.

I'm thinking it's some sort of grounding issue now.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Well...except that at the present time taking a 2500k/2600k system and overclocking to upper 4,000's with good (2133) RAM can get you just about the same performance you would get from a current-gen system - at least as far as games go - and assuming the same GPU. So for many now the decision between a costly upgrade and an overclock is extremely germane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frNjT5R5XI4

That + the fact that gaming hasn't really improved much (graphics perspective).

 

[Geforce man]

So i'm 99% sure that the IMC on my 2700k isn't that great, do I still get a decent benefit from running 1866 on my RAM @ 9-9-9-24-1t timings? I figure thats PRETTY close to 21xxMhz at cl11 or so timings, but I know its still not quite there. I love this samsung 30nm ram, but I don't think i'm going to get it any higher than that.