Noctua NH-U12S and NH-U14S review - Core i7 3770K OC at 4600 MHz 1.3 Volts

Now we up the ante. Understand that 1.3V and higher Voltages are the levels where Ivy Bridge processors get into serious problems due to the aforementioned heat-spreader versus TIM design applied solution from Intel. We now set the Core i7 3770K @ 4600 MHz and apply 1.30 volts on the CPU while loading it with 100% stress for a full Prime95 run on all available CPU threads.

Core i7 3770K OC At 4600 MHz 1.3 Volts - IDLE 

Below, you can see the IDLE results with the Core i7 clocked at 3770K @ 4600 GHz with 1.30 volts on the CPU. Again, the results are the IDLE temperatures thus you are in your desktop doing nothing. 

Core i7 3770K OC At 4600 MHz 1.3 Volts - LOAD

Now we'll be testing the temperatures under stress. If we set the overclock at 4600 MHz and configure CPU Voltage at 1.3V, these are the results.  

So for the NH-U12S the temps rise above and beyond 80~85 Degrees C, that is a definitive no-no. But as you can see, we have dangerous temperatures for most heat-pipe based coolers.

LCS class coolers do better here, however the NH-U14S might have a fairly hard time keeping up but it's not bad. The reality is that very few coolers and kits can actually manage a Core i7 3770K @ 1.3+ Volts / 4600+ MHz temperature wise, but with two fans I'd be comfortable running this overclock. And remember... this cooling level is at 100% silence.