Discussing boosting voltages for i7-4790k
Discussing boosting voltages for i7-4790k
The stock voltage range is between 1.29 and 1.31 at full load in Aida64, and BIOS shows 1.29. This appears unusually high compared to common experiences. Temperatures peak around 85°C with a 4.4GHz Aida64 using Hyper 212 Evo. Adjusting the multiplier to 46 caused voltage spikes at 1.37 and throttling. Changing to multiplier 45 and manual voltage 1.215 stabilized performance, with better temperatures than at stock speed. Why are default voltages so high? Is there an issue with the readings or is Intel intentionally applying excessive voltage? I lack overclocking experience; maybe I missed something. With the 4.5 overclock, my system remains stable after an hour in Aida64, which meets my requirements. Should I also monitor frequency drops or other instability signs besides crashes?
Gigabyte has encountered the same problem with the Aorus 7 (or possibly the 9) motherboard. Updating your BIOS to the latest version should resolve the issue. Luckily, 1.3v and below are safe, so your CPU shouldn't fail.
1.3 is a bit too high for the stock voltage. 4.4ghz isn’t available for all four cores, but it should boost to 4.2ghz on four cores if temperatures stay under control. For comparison, I usually run between 1.32 and 1.35 at 4.7ghz. Around 4.8ghz needs about 1.35 or higher for stability, which doesn’t seem worth the heat increase without clear benefits. It’s better to set a manual voltage during overclocking; the boards often set it too high. I’d prefer 4.5ghz at 1.215v. When checking temperatures, I aim for 60-70* during regular stress tests and under 90 during Intel burn tests. Finally, an hour of testing isn’t enough to call it stable for my needs. Take your time, perform the test properly, and run it at least six hours with a mild stress task like x264 encoding, then follow up with an Intel burn test for 10-20 cycles to verify temperatures. If it succeeds, it’s likely stable enough. Most users wait 12-24 hours after reaching their target clock speed before considering it reliable.
What kind of motherboard are you using? I've heard some boards misbehave when the CPU runs at stock clocks. The 1.35v max vcore is usually safe for continuous use; exceeding it can cause issues. For a Hyper 212 Evo, stick to around 1.3v or lower, as higher voltages aren't recommended. I concur with firefoxx04—just a short stress test isn't sufficient. Run aida64 (or another stress test) for at least six to eight hours, preferably twelve hours.
What kind of motherboard are you using? I've heard some models misbehave with the default voltage when the CPU runs at stock clocks. A max of 1.35v is usually recommended for continuous use; anything higher can cause issues. I'm in agreement with firefoxx04—just a one-hour stress test isn't sufficient. Run AIDA64 (or another stress test) for at least six to eight hours, preferably twelve. It looks like the stock voltage was too high, and I've been using a Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming 5 chip. I haven't overclocked it before, so I kept it at the default voltage during regular operation for a year without realizing. When I tried an H100i on it, AIDA64 showed voltage fluctuations between 1.28 and 1.29, which feels more realistic. The temperatures stayed in the mid-70s to low 80s, which is acceptable for a stress test and unlikely to reach 80 during gaming or typical tasks. I didn't expect these boards to set the stock voltage so high.
Gigabyte has encountered the same problem with the Aorus 7 (or possibly the 9) motherboard. Updating your BIOS to the latest version should resolve the issue. Luckily, 1.3v and below are safe, so your CPU shouldn't fail.