My CPU Clock Spike Greatly While Gaming

Megadeth
Megadeth Member Posts: 6

Tinkerer

Hey,

I'm hoping someone out the can set my mind at ease. I run a 13th gen I7 (13000F), which despite all the craziness going on with intel atm seems to be having with I7s and I9s, isnt listed among the affected.

Anyway recently I finished a gaming session while running Afterburner, as usual, and i noted that my Core Clock's MHz were spiking all over the place. Oddly, everything else was and still seems to be normal, including my CPU temperature which on my more demanding games only gets up to about 64C-67C, though i did reach 73C in Cyberpunk briefly. I have played several times since and I still am running into these constant spike from the core clock but again i don't get screen tears and nothing is really laggy. As you can see from the pictures my idle is stable and low but when i launch games it spikes regularly and quite a bit almost to 5200.

I am be all accounts a relative novice with PCs so im hopeful someone out there can set my mind at ease. I'm wondering is this normal/safe? If not what are some measures i can take to protect my rig to ensure its safety? Any clarity on the situation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Best Answer

  • GAMING6698
    GAMING6698 ACE Posts: 7,688 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓

    Your 13700F processor is not affected by the stability issues impacting some 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs. The spikes in core clock frequency you are observing while gaming are normal behavior and not a cause for concern.

    Modern CPUs are designed to dynamically adjust their clock speeds based on workload and thermal conditions. When a game or other demanding application is launched, the CPU will ramp up its clock speed to deliver maximum performance. Seeing the clock spike to around 5200 MHz is typical for a 13700F under load.

    As long as your CPU temperatures remain within safe limits (below 90°C), the fluctuating clock speeds will not damage your processor. The temperatures you mentioned (max 73°C in Cyberpunk) are very reasonable.

    In summary, the core clock spikes you are witnessing are a normal part of how your 13700F operates and are not indicative of any stability issues or potential damage to the CPU. Continue enjoying your games without worry!

    windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming 
    Windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming — Acer Community

    My AN515-43 laptop UserBenchmark-
    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/51514566

Answers

  • GAMING6698
    GAMING6698 ACE Posts: 7,688 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓

    Your 13700F processor is not affected by the stability issues impacting some 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs. The spikes in core clock frequency you are observing while gaming are normal behavior and not a cause for concern.

    Modern CPUs are designed to dynamically adjust their clock speeds based on workload and thermal conditions. When a game or other demanding application is launched, the CPU will ramp up its clock speed to deliver maximum performance. Seeing the clock spike to around 5200 MHz is typical for a 13700F under load.

    As long as your CPU temperatures remain within safe limits (below 90°C), the fluctuating clock speeds will not damage your processor. The temperatures you mentioned (max 73°C in Cyberpunk) are very reasonable.

    In summary, the core clock spikes you are witnessing are a normal part of how your 13700F operates and are not indicative of any stability issues or potential damage to the CPU. Continue enjoying your games without worry!

    windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming 
    Windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming — Acer Community

    My AN515-43 laptop UserBenchmark-
    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/51514566
  • Megadeth
    Megadeth Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    6698 can't thank you enough for this insight! i really appreciate it