i5 4690k overclocking help
i5 4690k overclocking help
Hey guys
I'm planning to overclock my i5 4690k with a Deepcool Lucifer v2 cooler and an MSI Z97 gaming motherboard.
I'm a beginner, so I need some guidance.
I've read a few articles and watched some YouTube tutorials, but I'm not sure what I've learned yet.
So far, I understand that you should reach the highest clock speeds while using the lowest voltage possible.
What should my target be right now? Around 4.2 seems reasonable.
What should my starting core voltage be?
Which software do I need to use?
I'm thinking of using CPU-Z to monitor clocks and voltages, RealTemp for temperatures, and I'm unsure whether Aida64 or Prime95 is better for stress testing.
I've heard that Prime95 might risk damaging the CPU, so I want to be careful.
Also, how should I set up the stress tests?
I don't know much about this yet.
And how long should I run the tests?
Another question: increasing voltage usually raises heat output. Does boosting the clock speed alone, without raising voltage, also lead to more heat?
Any advice would be really helpful. Thanks!
Hi.
Prime95 Version 26.6 works well. Avoid using a higher version. ASUS's RealBench and OCCT are also reliable tests. OCCT offers a quick evaluation. If it completes 10 minutes of stress testing, I consider it stable and proceed with longer tests only when at full capacity.
Start Simple.
Your final overclock mainly depends on your chip. I had good luck. I reached 4.8Ghz at 1.378V. For continuous use I run at 4.6Ghz and 1.283V. I aim for you to reach 4.5Ghz with less than 1.300V.
Raising the clock frequency also raises the chip's power consumption, which leads to more heat, even without changing the voltage.
Begin by manually adjusting your CPU voltage to 1.250V and the multiplier to 42, checking stability. If stable, test 43, 44... If not, increase voltage gradually up to 1.26, 1.27... Locate the highest stable multiplier near 1.300V. Ensure under stress the temperature stays at 80°C or below, and under normal heavy gaming load it stays at 65°C or less.
DonkeyOatie shared his experience and advice on achieving stable overclocking. He recommends sticking to Prime95 Version 26.6 and suggests using ASUS's RealBench or OCCT for reliable testing. OCCT is praised for being a quick evaluation. If the stress test lasts ten minutes, it indicates stability; otherwise, proceed only with long tests at maximum capacity.
He emphasizes that the final performance largely depends on the specific chip. He recounts his success reaching 4.8Ghz at 1.378V, and plans to aim for 4.5Ghz at less than 1.300V. Raising the clock speed increases power consumption and heat generation, even without changing voltage.
He advises starting with a manual CPU voltage setting of 1.250V and a multiplier of 42, testing stability before adjusting. If stable, incrementally increase the voltage until reaching around 1.300V, ensuring temperatures stay within safe limits (80°C max under stress, 65°C under heavy gaming).
DonkeyOatie also reviewed a tutorial video from Tech Yes City on YouTube and followed general guidelines such as booting next, applying settings to all cores, using dynamic ratio mode, and setting adaptive voltage control. He used tools like CPU-Z, Real Temp, and Aida64 for monitoring.
He tested with an i5 4690K, MSI Z97 Gaming 7, Deepcool Lucifer v2 cooler, and a Seasonic M12ii 850W PSU. His results showed stable performance up to 4.4Ghz, but challenges arose when pushing further. He noted that 4690Ks can easily hit 4.6Ghz if calculations are correct.
He shared detailed stress test outcomes, including core voltages, temperatures, and crashes after certain attempts. He explained the importance of ring ratio and voltage in preventing overheating and maintaining stability. He also discussed the significance of the ring ratio and its role in controlling CPU performance.
DonkeyOatie asked for further clarification on why increasing ring ratio and voltage alone isn't enough to reach 4.5Ghz, and whether it's better to adjust one at a time or wait for the other to stabilize.
Thank you for the useful details. Keep the Ring on Auto at this stage. This setting relates to the CPU's memory cache voltage. We should begin with basic adjustments, adhering closely to your suggestions and adjusting only Voltage and Multiplier. After identifying the 'voltage limits' and 'thermal limits', we can determine the chip's full capabilities and plan further tuning. This approach helps clarify the reasoning behind each step.
Following a guide can be challenging because it often lacks clarity on the purpose or reasoning. Changing many variables simultaneously makes it difficult to pinpoint what should be modified.
An average chip typically reaches 4.5 or 4.6 Ghz with reasonable voltages, but many are significantly below this average. You have more voltage flexibility, giving you ample chances to reach your desired performance.