How to overclock the i5 4690k
How to overclock the i5 4690k
The CX series power supplies aren’t exceptional, yet they’re not ideal either. We don’t suggest using them with gaming systems or for overclocking. However, given the unit already has a lot of extra load beyond what the system needs, it might still be acceptable at this point. The main issue is that they tend to fail early. They perform well at first but usually stop working quickly under continuous stress, such as during overclocking or when using gaming cards.
Darkbreeze :
The CX series power supplies aren't exceptional, but they're not ideal either. We don't suggest using them for gaming rigs or for overclocking. However, given that the system already has a lot of extra load, it might be acceptable at this time. The main issue seems to be early failures. They perform well at first but often stop working quickly under continuous stress, such as during overclocking or when running games.
What are the complete specifications of the target system? Particularly for the graphics card and CPU cooler? I think you're likely comfortable with a 4Ghz overclock on that board, perhaps. The turbo target speed is around 3.9Ghz, making it a mid-range option. I wouldn't exceed that unless you have a solid cooler. It's probably safe as long as the cooler is good enough.
That's a valid observation, and yes, he does want to extract more performance from it. He also bought a 980 gtx, which is impressive—though he mentioned not to buy cheap PSUs, saying they worked fine. I spent £200 on my PSU and didn't regret it. Still, I agree with your advice. Is a 4Ghz overclock reasonable here? That would be fine, but the extra 100MHz probably won't make much difference beyond what the stock turbo already provides. If you still go that route, just ensure you have a reliable cooler.
Also, 1.2V is the recommended voltage for this setup at 4Ghz? Correct?
The required voltage varies depending on the chip. What remains stable differs from what doesn't. For a 4Ghz OC, I'd likely just let the voltage auto-adjust, adjust the multiplier, keep speed step on, switch power mode to performance, and set the minimum value to 5% while leaving the maximum at 100%.
Darkbreeze:
The voltage needed varies depending on the chip. What remains stable in one might fail in another. For a 4Ghz OC, I think it's best to stick with the auto setting and adjust only the multiplier. I'd also keep the speed step active and switch the power option to performance. After that, go into advanced power settings, set the minimum value to 5% and leave the maximum at 100%. I didn't do everything, but it worked out by raising the multiplier to 4Ghz and installing the 980 and cooler. Thanks for your help!
I usually adjust these settings because they significantly reduce power consumption while browsing, handling light tasks, or when not under heavy loads such as gaming. This lowers wall usage by around 60% during typical use. Operating at 4Ghz continuously with full voltage will consume much more power regularly, and it could definitely show up on your energy bill if you spend a lot of time with the machine.
Here are the observed figures:
Skylake i7-6700k running at 4Ghz clock and full voltage.
Startup power draw: 119w.
Idle power draw: 45w when processor power management is set to 5-100% and Intel speedstep is active.
Running Prime95 Small FFT: 118w.
Furmark performance: 240w.
Furmark + Prime95 Small FFT: 275w.
Furmark and Prime95 Small FFT together: 670w.
Overclocked draw for 6700k at 4.5Ghz expected soon. I haven’t tested these values yet, and I don’t have an overclock enabled because of other ongoing problems. Also, I’ve noticed random worker stoppages linked to a microcode issue in Skylake’s prime number crunching. Still, it should run adequately for now, though the idle speed variation in power usage is noticeable enough to raise some concerns.
All measurements were taken using Kill-A-Watt at the outlet. The 4690k should be similar but slightly lower, since it’s an 88w chip compared to the 6700k’s 91w. Of course, with a 4Ghz overclock, your results will likely match those for the 6700k.