Should I overclock my CPU or not?

Hi. I recently upgraded my PC, which is dedicated to X-Plane 11 flight simulator (which I now always run in VR mode with an Oculus Quest 2 headset - amazing experience!), installing an Intel i9-11900KF (no o/c), plus a RTX2070S GPU, Asus Z590-Plus M/B and more (excessively so, I now see; never mind..) RAM than I will ever use (64GB).

So long as I get a rock-steady frame rate, the sim is perfectly smooth, but if the fps starts wavering (it doesn't matter how high it is), then there are stutters (which induces nausea in VR!). I have things set so that there is a constant 24fps, which sounds low perhaps, but means that in most circumstances I do indeed get a steady 24fps and the whole sim looks and feels 'solid'. However, at some 'heavy-duty' addon airports the frame rates start to fall below 24, and then there are real stuttering issues. So I am wondering whether an o/c of the CPU would help.

However, I am not really sure enough of how this works in practice.. can anyone advise please? What I am confused by is that this CPU is supposed in any case, when the demand is there, to go up to a 5.2GHz turbo clock (I think it is) from its base of 3.5. So when the frame rates begin to suffer, will the CPU automatically be running at its turbo clock then (or doesn't it work like that?). If it is, then how would an o/c be of any help? If it isn't (hard to tell with an Oculus headset on ones head!), can I/should I force the CPU to run at 5.2GHz all the time? I am vaguely assuming that that would not be excessive, as it is the CPU's normal turbo clock speed? Maybe having the CPU run at that clock all the time is a bad idea though, massively shortening its life? I have a Corsair H100 AIO cooler BTW, which at the moment keeps the CPU at a nice cool temperature (rarely more than ambient + 20 under load).

Can folks kindly help me to get my head around this? Using Win10 x64 21H1

Thanks!

Martin

Hi,
Likely all you need to do is maybe remove the power limits

CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max. [255.75]
Long Duration Package Power Limit [4095]
Package Power Time Window [448]
Short Duration Package Power Limit [4095]

Otherwise be happy if xmp profile works on rated speed with 64gb's

Hi.. have just looked at CPU-Z and according to that, the CPU is running at 5.1GHz (with slight fluctuations) even before I start X-Plane. Why would it be running at the turbo clock from the word go? Or is CPU-Z misleading me somehow? If not, wouldn't an o/c be pointless?

Hi,
Turbo should be fine

If you have issues in an app being used or temperature issues you can down clock to ...5.0 all core or something and see which cores are not acting right at the same frequency

Otherwise turbo starting an app is pretty normal it's why it's there.

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Likely all you need to do is maybe remove the power limits

CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max. [255.75]
Long Duration Package Power Limit [4095]
Package Power Time Window [448]
Short Duration Package Power Limit [4095]

Otherwise be happy if xmp profile works on rated speed with 64gb's

What @ThrashZone says no point in trying to overclock these chips just disable the limits and it will boost all the time with no issues and increase overall performance

martinlest said:

Hi.. have just looked at CPU-Z and according to that, the CPU is running at 5.1GHz (with slight fluctuations) even before I start X-Plane. Why would it be running at the turbo clock from the word go? Or is CPU-Z misleading me somehow? If not, wouldn't an o/c be pointless?

With no limits in place turbo will basically keep you at 5.1-5.3 Ghz one core pretty much all the time this is the equal to a overclock in retrospect and overclocking your memory will help tons too .
Instead of me trying to lock the CPU down i targeted my memory and went from 3466mhz to 3866mhz with the boost major uplift without using more power through straight voltage it will be offset most of the time

OK.. will locate the power limit settings in the BIOS. Never changed those values before though - can I literally 'delete' any values there (those posted above), or enter something else?? Thanks.

martinlest said:

OK.. will locate the power limit settings in the BIOS. Never changed those values before though - can I literally 'delete' any values there (those posted above), or enter something else?? Thanks.

Hi,
Nothing to delete they are on Auto at the moment

First create a new oc profile where you're at now name it default or something then you can restore as easy as loading it after your done.

Then change the power limit settings and save and exit.

Boot to the os and sign in
Then restart and enter bios again
Save this oc profile/ name it something and save and exit.

You could test a bit before saving the profile to either way these setting are pretty docile
They only stop the Intel stupid power limits

Your turbo speed will still be the same max frequency it will just stay on until the task is really done instead of some stupid limit intel coded to save a little power so it wasn't so high on paper for sells statistics or comparisons of amd processors.

Hi,
Number key with a dot
4095 both these matter
255.75 you can probably leave this on auto