I tried overclocking my i5-4690K for the first time and believe I succeeded, but I would appreciate another perspective.
I tried overclocking my i5-4690K for the first time and believe I succeeded, but I would appreciate another perspective.
Yes, press F1, navigate to the bios, choose the default options, save your settings, exit bios, restart the system, then return to bios again. Adjust any necessary bios configurations if required. For example, set Windows boot manager as the main boot device, disable or enable CSM if no pre-UEFI hardware is present, and set fan curve profiles for the CPU and case fans. It’s best to keep the CPU and memory settings unchanged until you identify further issues.
Darkbreeze :
You should press F1, navigate to the bios, choose the default settings, save them, exit bios, restart the system, then return to bios again. Adjust any necessary bios configurations. For example, set Windows boot manager as the main boot device if needed, disable or enable CSM if no pre-UEFI hardware is present, and set fan curve profiles for the CPU and case fans. It’s best to keep the CPU and memory settings unchanged until you identify other issues. How will I tell if my motherboard, CPU, or PSU is broken? -.-
The situation unfolded rapidly. I attempted overclocking for the first time. Initially, I believed everything would proceed smoothly, adjusting my i5-4690K from 3.5GHz to 4.5GHz and seeking advice online. I learned about the necessity of stability checks and conducted tests using Prime95 and realbench. My first error came when I assumed the latest Prime95 version was optimal. During thermal testing, my CPU reached 100°C in just a few minutes. After reapplying thermal paste and restarting, I found the issue resolved with an older version, achieving normal temperatures of around 75°C. I thought it would be safer to play games before stability tests, which seemed like a risky move.
In Realbench, I completed a one-hour stress test. It failed after 20 minutes, dropping to 4.4°C, but succeeded on the second attempt. After powering off my PC and sleeping, I woke up to the sound of fans cycling and LEDs flashing. I discovered I was stuck in a boot loop, and after some assistance, I managed to reset it. I removed the CMOS battery, reinserted it, and restored settings once I reached BIOS after POST.
I now prefer keeping my PC at factory settings. It worked briefly before shutting down, then only the LEDs and GPU came on while the case and CPU fans remained inactive. A key detail: this occurred when I interacted with an NPC in AC Odyssey.
I removed the CMOS battery, reinserted it, and tried again after rebooting. I realized my overclock attempt might have caused damage—whether to the CPU during Prime95 testing, the motherboard, or the power supply. I need guidance on:
1) The software required to fix any corrupted files?
2) How to identify which component is faulty and replace it?
I’m considering an upgrade to a Ryzen 7 1800X with a compatible motherboard for $450 (currently on sale from $600). If the PSU is the issue, this wouldn’t resolve the problem.
My specs: GTX 970 GPU, Intel i5-4690K, Cooler Master G650M, 650W PSU, MSI SLI Krait Z97S, 16GB RAM.
By conducting tests, usually you check everything else and narrow down the issue to either the motherboard or CPU. If the CPU doesn’t have bent pins, it means no shorts or power spikes occurred, and there hasn’t been excessive long-term high voltage overclocking (which is likely with yours), then you should start by examining the motherboard or replace known good components to identify the problem.
You can also test the PSU.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7YMUcMjbw
Memory seems to be the next candidate, so swapping it out with known good memory—either bought or borrowed—can help confirm if that part is faulty.
I am now 90% sure my motherboard is damaged. I tried to reset the CMOS by shorting the pins, which worked when I unplugged it. At that time, I also reapplied thermal paste since I hadn’t checked temperatures closely and a Reddit user suggested they might help with my boot issues (they occur every fourth time I power it on). Meanwhile, a nut from the opposite side of the motherboard came loose while I was removing it. After resetting the CMOS pins and turning the PC on without problems, I lifted it up to put it back in place. By then, Windows hadn’t started yet. I heard the loose screw click and hit something, which caused the PC to malfunction—lights flashed, fans turned on and off repeatedly. When I cut power, I realized it was over. The only solution I tried was a full reset of the BIOS/ CMOS, but now it shows no signs of life. No known method seems to work.
Have you attempted this, even though it seems unlikely given the circumstances? Disconnecting all connections from the PSU to other hardware, unplugging the PSU from the wall, turning it off by flipping the switch on the back, then reconnecting it only to the motherboard—keeping the GPU card removed and using the iGPU output for display—while checking for any signs of life. It’s possible the protection on the PSU was triggered, requiring a reset. It could also be that the board is dead.
Darkbreeze :
Have you attempted this, and it seems like a risky move given the circumstances? Disconnecting every connection from the PSU, unplugging it from the wall, switching it off on the back panel, then reconnecting only to the motherboard—keeping the GPU card removed, using the iGPU output for display—and checking for any signs of activity. Maybe the protection system triggered and needs resetting.
I had it checked by a repair technician who diagnosed it at no cost (his usual approach). He inspected all components and confirmed he couldn’t revive the motherboard. Instead, I opted to upgrade. He offered a solid deal: a Ryzen 2700, a new motherboard, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz.
I chose not to go with the unlocked 2700X model since I’m aware of the risks of overclocking again. Thanks for all your support, man! Haha, what a wild ride!
Hope everything goes well for you. It seems like the board might have been problematic from the start, not just after the latest issue.