Fastest single threaded CPU?

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DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
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No, but if he can hit that memory speed rating, he can focus on lowering timings. It worked for AMD systems in the past, and there's no reason why he can't do it on an i5-6600k.
 

StefanR5R

Elite Member
Dec 10, 2016
6,726
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I do have a cooler, a Evo 212. I could probably do some minor overclocking on air? I really don't want water cooling and all this crap.

With 2- and 4-core CPUs from Intel, the bottleneck in cooling is neither radiator size (if we talk about at least typically sized tower style or top blower coolers) nor heat pipes vs. water pipes. The bottlenecks are rather the small die size and the thermal interfaces between die and heat spreader, and between heat spreader and cooler.

Water cooling makes sense if you want to have a huge radiator which allows cooling of, say, 200 W CPUs, i.e. overclocked socket 2011 CPUs, at slow fan speeds. Or it makes sense in extreme overclocking if combined with a chiller.

In other words, watercooling does not help with overclocking if you have to disperse only, say, 150 W continuous heat output, and if you do not chill the water towards or below ambient temperature.

Irrespective of overclocking, watercooling of 2- or 4-core CPUs makes sense in unusual computer cases which happen to have space for pump and radiator somewhere, but no space for the radiator directly attached to the CPU. And it may make sense for certain entirely non-technical reasons.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,977
13,068
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I would agree with that. Which, sadly, means looking at a delid of that 6600k. That's going to be one of the thermal bottlenecks holding back a chip like that.

Other than that, use good TIM like Kryonaut and the Evo 212 should do well enough.
 

Insomniator

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2002
6,294
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Are we not due for a new MS FS? 2004? I checked it out on youtube and the game looks like ****.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
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Are we not due for a new MS FS? 2004? I checked it out on youtube and the game looks like ****.


It looks like crap without a massive amount of addons and I have around 55 GB worth. LOL But FSX is indeed better. Then you have Lockheed's Pr3pared. Over all, don't expect Battlefield-like graphics. Also, M$ stopped making the FS sim.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,977
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136
What does that mean?

You will never get great dissipation of heat from the Skylake die thanks to a). the meh TIM under the IHS and b). gaps under the IHS.

If you delid a chip like the 6600k, put some better TIM in there (CLU being the typical choice), and then relid, temps can go down 10-20C. It's like magic.

In terms of additional clockspeed headroom, it'll buy you maybe 200-300MHz, maybe more if you go the core-disabled route when you choose to use older single-threaded software. It is a "must" for anyone that is truly serious about having the best single-threaded performance possible.

You would run into the same issue with a 7350k since it has the same polymer TIM under the IHS.
 

Dasa2

Senior member
Nov 22, 2014
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9CWq5Su.jpg
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Ah, yeah... I have heard about deliding. I don't think that's something I'm willing to try. Like I said, I'm on a budget. Mainly because I'm not rich. So if I mess up the chip I be screwed!

I will defiantly take your advice and deactivate two cores to achieve a better single core clock.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,977
13,068
136
Can't say that I blame you. The only chip I ever delidded was my A10-7700k. Of course, it's the only chip I've ever bought that (to my knowledge) had TIM under the lid.
 

Madpacket

Platinum Member
Nov 15, 2005
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126
If you're not in a huge rush you may want to wait for Ryzen. Official Windows 7 support and all..
 
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StefanR5R

Elite Member
Dec 10, 2016
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Ah, yeah... I have heard about deliding. I don't think that's something I'm willing to try. Like I said, I'm on a budget. Mainly because I'm not rich. So if I mess up the chip I be screwed!

For a medium overclock you certainly don't need to think about delidding. Though just in case that you encounter a thermal limit at your overclock, then keep in mind for further buying/ modding decisions that switching to a watercooler would be unlikely to overcome that limit by any margin to speak of, but delidding would be (in case of Skylake and Kaby Lake at least).

If you're not in a huge rush you may want to wait for Ryzen. Official Windows 7 support and all..

It does not look like this is going to be the Fastest Single Threaded CPU. But perhaps it will come close enough for the purposes of the OP...?
 
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StefanR5R

Elite Member
Dec 10, 2016
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[Kaby Lake vs. Win 7]
It's causing problems now:
[...]
And Linux, reportedly, but that's beside the point.

What Linux problems are there? Genuine question. Intel added kernel support a while ago, like they always do for new CPUs and chipsets nowadays. Not sure how far the X11 userspace side is by now (if that requires any changes relative to Skylake IGPs in the first place).

--- edit ---
Or did you mean to say:
[Ian C.:] Speed Shift currently only works in Windows 10 [superstition:] and Linux.
 
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DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
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If you disable two cores, you get less heat, which may improve your OC if you are limited by thermals.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
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So I just bought an i5 6600k and I want to pair it with this board. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...3128964&cm_re=gigabyte-_-13-128-964-_-Product


I'm not sure on the RAM. Either this or this.

Is this suitable for OCing? Pretty sure I'm good in the mobo department. I'm a Gigabyte fan so I don't want to use something else. RAM wise I just need 8 GB and pay as low as possible. At least $150 or lower. I should be able to get this built by next month if all goes well. I have all the parts except the mobo and ram and I will by those two next month. I only have so much spare cash to blow.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,977
13,068
136
The RAM will be fine, though I would go with 2x8GB Trident-Z if it's in your budget. 2x4GB is going to make you suffer in 2017. Unless you are just absolutely sure you don't need any more than 8 GB.

So if you are having $$$ problems just get the Ripjaws.

DDR4 is expensive right now . . . watch your wallet.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Socket 1151 does take DDR4? I saw on CPUboss that the CPU was DDR3. That must be a mistake.
 

richierich1212

Platinum Member
Jul 5, 2002
2,741
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Socket 1151 does take DDR4? I saw on CPUboss that the CPU was DDR3. That must be a mistake.

Depends on your motherboard. When Skylake was released there were a handful of boards that supported DDR3. But for you since you want the fastest single thread you should go with the fastest DDR4 + Z170/270 board you can afford.