Conducted a 4690k at 4.5 GHz on AIDA64, but Linx test failed immediately
Conducted a 4690k at 4.5 GHz on AIDA64, but Linx test failed immediately
Dear fellow enthusiasts of overclocking,
I’m reaching out for your assistance (of course).
I’m relatively new to this field but recently acquired a 4690k and decided to give it a try.
After browsing the forum, I gathered some general insights and basic knowledge about my chip and overclocking in general.
Once installed, I managed to boost the frequency to 4.2 with the VCore set at 1.2V. I also adjusted Uncore to 3.3 at 1.05V, which was one of the recommendations.
I also experimented with 4.4 and 4.3, but both faced boot issues and stability problems, so I reverted to 4.2.
Life has been decent—playing demanding games mostly at high or ultra settings. However, after a month, I wanted to know if I could push this chip even further, just like you do.
Notably, I experienced some lag while playing GTA V in rural areas.
So, I decided to revisit the topic and tried some adjustments:
- Core multiplier set to 45, VCore at 1.265V, Uncore at 40 at 1.195V.
After a stable boot and an hour of AIDA64 testing with no issues, temperatures stayed between 65 and 75°C.
Then I started a game without crashes—everything seemed fine.
Next, I tried Core at 46, which booted up with VCore at 1.28V but ended with a BSOD after a minute of AIDA64 testing. Temperatures were within acceptable ranges.
I then increased it to 1.3V and again faced the same problem.
Finally, I returned to my last stable configuration: Core at 45 and VCore at 1.265V.
To ensure thorough testing, I installed Linx for serious evaluation.
As expected from the title, the results failed. After turning on the PC, it restarted immediately upon pressing Start. The issue repeated every time.
It seems my overclock may not be very stable after all...
What should I do next? Any suggestions on potential problems? Could it be related to Uncore?
you can leave the uncore at ~39 @1.2v - it is the CPU cache.
the CPU cores are those you are playing with - core.
you can go as high as 1.4V as long as the cores temperatures are under 80C (under load).
so step by step increase voltage while staying at the same multiplier value if it's not stable.
please note, that there is a "wall". in my CPU i can easily have 4.5 at 1.29v but to get 4.6 i need to jump to 1.4v.
add more voltage
but really, 100MHz don't make any difference in real life usage.
Linx is more abusive than AIDA64 so you can expect that it will cause to fail faster.
Also, the CPU is not the only component that can fail.
For example, I can't run long torture tests on my system as the CPU VRM on MB is getting past 100C and eventually failing when CPU constantly consumes 130-160watt. But for daily use, there is no problem.
Discussing whether to boost Core or Uncore voltage, how high you can go, and the limits of your setup. It seems some warn against exceeding 1.3V, but I'm curious about pushing beyond that. With my Hyper Evo 212 for cooling, I'm unsure how much higher I can get. A 100MHz difference might be subtle, yet what if my chip handles 4.7 or even 4.8 under the right conditions? I'm not sure if it's achievable but want to understand its capabilities.
you can leave the uncore at ~39 @1.2v - it is the CPU cache.
the CPU cores are those you are playing with - core.
you can go as high as 1.4V as long as the cores temperatures are under 80C (under load).
so step by step increase voltage while staying at the same multiplier value if it's not stable.
please note, that there is a "wall". in my CPU i can easily have 4.5 at 1.29v but to get 4.6 i need to jump to 1.4v.
to unlock your CPU's full potential, you'll need to improve your cooling system to handle the increased heat.
based on my own trials with an air cooler (be quiet shadow rock slim), I managed to run 4.6-4.7ghz on prime95, achieving average speeds in the 80s and occasional peaks around 90s, though one core would fail.
still, I maintained a 4.6 setting for about a week and games performed adequately.
similarly, I aimed to push more performance from my CPU.
then I installed an open loop AIO cooler and upgraded to 4.7, now reaching 4.8ghz @ 1.37vcore with temperatures under 70°C during regular tasks and gaming.
when working with 4.6 or higher, other factors can affect stability.
in my setup, I overclocked up to 4.6 and kept the uncore around 39.
at 4.7 I increased it to 46 and 47 for 4.8ghz.
make sure your RAM is compatible too—both components influence how smooth your system runs.
if they don’t sync properly, your computer might feel sluggish.
one way to test is right-clicking the desktop to see if it responds quickly, then checking Task Manager to verify responsiveness.
these are my observations and may differ from others, but they could guide your adjustments.