5-1-4000 turbo instability issue resolved
5-1-4000 turbo instability issue resolved
Hi,
I was thinking about getting an i5 9400f and have read that keeping turbo boost always on for Intel CPUs can lead to instability. Since I'm new to overclocking, I'm unsure if just using a good CPU cooler would be enough to avoid problems—especially if the CPU stays cool.
Yeah, I'm on the right track. I've got an i5 9400f and already installed the MSI MGP Z390 board. With a solid air cooler or a decent water cooler, you can easily achieve those boosts without any problems. It really depends on the motherboard used when you're turbo-boosting the CPU. A B360 isn't great for that, but a Z390 is perfect if you want a good air cooler. I'd recommend the Hyper 212 Evo for around 35 dollars or something similar.
The instability is triggered by increasing the clock speed without adjusting the voltage. A strong cooler would be necessary, though it won't resolve the issue. Have you thought about the Ryzen 5 3600, which supports official overclocking?
What are you referring to? You don't have to adjust the volts to achieve the 4.1Ghz of the 9400f. Unless the CPU is running in an extremely hot environment without air conditioning, it will remain cool enough even with the standard cooler. Locking all cores to maximum boost isn't overclocking; it's just the speed the CPU should maintain. The only reason it slows down is because turbo and other features prioritize power efficiency, so you don't need the performance that saves energy. The 3600 with overclocking sacrifices most regular performance for a small gain in productivity, unless you're doing something like rendering, which makes it largely pointless.
4.1ghz is the highest single-threaded speed possible. It will never actually hit that number across all cores. The processor isn’t built to achieve it from the start. Activating multi-core enhancements pushes the chip beyond Intel’s original design limits, raising power demands and enabling turbo speeds higher than normal—sometimes even locking it into those speeds unless proper cooling is provided.
This is what gamersnexus warns about: "If multi-core enhancement is turned on by default, the CPU may operate outside its specifications in certain ways, which could lead to problems for users. For instance, BSODs or CTDs might occur under full turbo conditions due to incorrect voltage settings."
You can't just select only what fits you...
Yes, for a K CPU (an overclockable chip) with a Z motherboard, you'll exceed the specifications because these components are designed for that purpose. A 4.7Ghz clock isn't secure without precautions, while 4.1Ghz is safe.
Hey everyone, thanks for the replies.
I checked out that page and saw the voltage info—it looks reasonable.
I was thinking about getting a Z390 Gaming Plus from MSI, and if I can use a non-stock cooler, it should work fine.
Yeah man, I'm definitely on board. I've got an i5 9400f and already installed the MSI MGP Z390 board. With a solid air cooler or a decent water cooler, you can really squeeze those boosts without any problems. It mostly depends on the motherboard you use when pushing the CPU to its limits. The B360 isn't great for overclocking, but a Z390 is perfect if you're after a good air cooler. For the water side, I'd recommend the Hyper 212 Evo for around 35 dollars or the Cooler Master, Master Liquid LC240E for about 70 dollars.