Clock Frequencies

The following chart shows how well the processor is able to sustain its clock frequency, and what boost clock speeds are achieved at various thread counts. This test uses a custom-coded application that mimics real-life performance (not a stress test like Prime95). Modern processors change their clocking behavior depending on the type of load, which is why we provide three plots with classic floating point math, SSE SIMD code, and the modern AVX vector instructions. Each of the three test runs calculates the same result using the same algorithm, just with a different CPU instruction set.

Overclocking

The Core i5-10600K comes with an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is effortless, as you can set the desired CPU frequency directly. Getting higher clocks out of the the Core i5-10600K was easier than with the 10900K because heat wasn't such a big problem, and the CPU won't run into various power limits as quickly. With my Noctua NH-U14S and 1.37 V, temperatures were high but manageable, far enough from thermal throttling.

Given a maximum boost clock of 4.8 GHz, a 4.9 GHz all-core overclock seems a bit disappointing. I could feel that 5.0 GHz was in reach, but it required a 240 mm AIO and over 1.4 V—not sure if the higher hardware cost, power consumption and heat are worth it to get those 100 MHz.