Overclocking i7 3770K Ubuntu Linux in 2018

Hardware Hub CPU
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Hi Level One Techs! I love the videos and the interaction with other you tube stars such Brian Lunduke and Linus Tech tips. This is the reason why I am writing this. So far you guys may be able to help. I have a Gigabyte G1 Sniper 3 with a Intel Core I7 3770K. I have been working on over clocking for some time but just recently found out ( and proved) that Ubuntu OS performs frequency scaling. This now limits my performance in the overclocking I’ve noticed. First in Handbrake where I was restricted to 2.4 Ghz for video transcoding and now with mprime with a really bad frequency of 2Ghz across all cores.

Hardware wise I have the processor overclocked to 5Ghz. However when running CPU benchmarks or video transcoding the frequencies across all cores drop to 1.6 Ghz or 2. Ghz. I have tried linux tools but noticed that the speeds reduce.

I am using intel pstate tools and some of the Ubuntu based cpu frequency tools however something happens and I am back to either 2.4 Ghz or lower.

My main question is : What can I use, set, config or hack to allow the processor to run at 3.5 Ghz or better? 5Ghz is ideal across all cores but I will accept 3.5Ghz.

Is this something that all linux operating systems have or is there something other OS i can use that has better overclocking tools?

Also if I have invested in K based or extreme processors how can I get Linux to accept this and run at the higher clock frequencies. What about Intel Extreme processors? (this is what I am considering for my next build)

I am running Ubuntu 16.04.3 on an intel i7-3770K on a Gigabyte Sniper G3 MOBO with a corsair hydro CPU cooler.

I’ve monitor CPU temps and I don’t go above 80 degrees under normal load.

Last question, do apps like Handbrake and mPrime alter the CPU governors? Currently mine is set to performance with a range from 1.6Ghz to 5Ghz.

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This sounds like a thermal throttling issue. You may be able to get short bursts of 5Ghz, but it isn’t able to sustain that speed at safe temperatures. On debian-based distributions there is a package lm_sensors you can use to monitor various sensors, including the CPU’s thermal sensors.

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wow 5Ghz? at what voltage might i ask? I’m at 4.5Ghz with 1.225V (air cooler though)

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I have 3770nonK, oced to 4.3, and if I set cpufreq gouvernor to performance It pretty much stays at 4.3Ghz under load.

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What sort of Voltage are you pushing to keep it stable at 5GHz?

As far as I can say in my experience is that very few to almost no 3770K’s are really stable or safe from thermal throttling at 5GHz unless delidded.

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Yes I am using that to monitor temps. Also using Conky as my status dashboard.

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I’m at 4.2GHZ or 4.3GHz on an i7 3770k. 5GHz sounds like you’d be pushing it on the heat side.

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My CPU vCore is 1.140V. These are settings that I have used for the past couple of years. This is also using the overclocking features of the motherboard.

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Well I am using the Corsair H70 liquid CPU cooler. I has kept the temps very stable around 70 C at full load.

What MOBO and cooler are you using?

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1.140V is my vCore temp. I am also using the overclocking features of the Gigabyte Sniper 3 MOBO.

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Are you only using Conky to check your processor speed? Have you tried other things to check the speed to see if there is any discrepancy between the two?

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Yes I just rebuilt this OS to version 16.04 from 14.04. I am using i7z which does a better job of telling me the CPU frequencies for all cores. But yes the two provide consistent results and that’s when I noticed when Handbrake down clocked to 2.4 Ghz when I was encoding a mkv video and also prime.

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So does anyone have any suggestions to make the 3770K run at 3.4Ghz or better?