i7 4770k is unstable at 4.2GHz, assistance required
i7 4770k is unstable at 4.2GHz, assistance required
I am very new to overclocking but have read a lot/messed with everything a lot and still can't seem to get it to be stable. I just want to OC to 4.2 (or 4.5, wasn't sure if my cooler could handle 4.5 though) at least to get some better performance out of the expensive chip I bought for this exact reason. I have followed every guide, every tip, every video I have found to try and fix it. My PC specs are as follows:
MSI GD-65
i7 4770k @ 3.5 currently
CM 212 EVO CPU cooler
16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro RAM @ 1866
GeForce GTX 780
2x Samsung 840 EVO SSD
650W PSU
MSI has "OC Genie" which I see mixed reviews on but I used to try and get a simple start on my OC. Not even OC genie is stable in either Gear 1 or Gear 2. Prime95 instantly crashes on both settings. AIDA64 won't start EVER. No matter the settings in my BIOS, AIDA64 says the test started and instantly fails. Only after AIDA64 didn't work on about 10 different BIOS settings is when I switched to P95 (don't prefer P95 really). The only time I got P95 to not instantly crash my CPU temps skyrocketed to 90+ so I had to shut down my PC as to not damage my CPU.
I have my CPU multiplier at 42, fixed core mode (have also tried adaptive, not much difference), ring multiplier at 41, CPU core voltage between 1.1 and 1.2, sometimes as high as 1.25 but I don't prefer to go that high if I don't need to, and CPU ring voltage just under whatever I set the CPU voltage to.
As I said, I have followed many guides some of which had same mobo & CPU as I do and still had no good results. I understand all chips are different but I used those as a base start and adjusted slowly to what mine may need and either got BSOD instantly, or P95 crashes PC instantly. I am just completely lost. I have tried so many settings and tried every tip I found to get no results. Just getting frustrating after trying for hours and nothing works. I spent a decent amount of time learning/reading/watching tutorials before just jumping in to this and still have no idea. Any tips would help!
Since the voltage at that level makes the motherboard think the CPU is stable, you can make a small adjustment and set the manual voltage to 1.29 if it works, then reduce it to 1.28 and so on until it becomes unstable. I don’t believe you should go beyond 4.2 at 1.28V, but you can try to be certain it won’t exceed that. My suggestion is to keep it at 4.2 and gradually lower the voltage to test its limits, starting from around 1.3V.
hello to boat! i'm still working on my 4770k and haven't reached the 4.2ghz yet.
Begin by resetting your BIOS to its original settings.
Avoid using adaptive voltage or OC Genie; these can lead to voltages exceeding the safe 1.3V limit.
Start with a clock speed of 4.4ghz at 1.2v core, keeping it fixed. Adjust the GHz as needed until you encounter problems. Avoid changing ring voltage.
Ensure you're running p95 v26.6 small FFT for testing.
Check temperatures using hwinfo.
Confirm your cooling system is sufficient, keeping core temperature below 80°C during operation and observing closely. Minor spikes are acceptable.
If issues persist, stress testing your CPU will likely reveal more about your RAM. Windows includes a built-in memory diagnostic tool called "Windows Memory Diagnostic" which can be accessed via a search.
I have a 4790k that runs reliably at 4.7ghz with 1.25v.
I own a 4670k with the same chip but without HT, and to exceed 4.2 I need to increase the core voltage past 1.3v, even at 4.2 it takes about 1.265v to stabilize.
N3rdR4ge:
1. begin by resetting your bios to the factory settings.
2. avoid using adaptive voltage or OC Genie; adaptive settings may exceed safe voltage limits.
3. start with 4.4ghz at 1.2v, adjusting up or down as needed until you encounter problems. Avoid altering ring voltage.
4. ensure you're running p95 v26.6 small fft for testing.
http://www.bestdownload.com/view.php?detail=1587
5. keep an eye on temperatures using hwinfo. http://www.hwinfo.com/
6. confirm your cooling system is sufficient; maintain core temperature below 80°C under load and monitor closely. Minor spikes are acceptable.
7. if issues persist, stress testing your CPU will likely stress your RAM more. Blue screens may indicate loose or failing RAM. Windows includes a built-in memory diagnostic tool called "Windows Memory Diagnostic" – search for it in the Windows app store.
I have my 4790k running very stably at [email protected]
Thank you, I’ll try this now. I’ve reset it several times before and stopped using the OC Genie, knowing it was unreliable and would lead to poor overclock results. I’ll update later.
Using the 4770k at 4.2GHz is straightforward. Restore the BIOS to defaults, keep everything on auto and tweak the multiplier to 42. The manufacturer provides sufficient voltage to achieve this without altering other parameters. Adjustments become necessary only when aiming for 4.3GHz or higher.
If temperatures remain elevated, gradually reduce the vcore by 0.08v. My 3570k is fixed at a maximum of 4.3GHz but operates at 1.08v, whereas my 3770k reached 4.9GHz at 1.32v despite batch tests showing up to 5.1GHz at less than 1.4v. I’m currently at 4.6GHz with 1.208v and a minor increase in llc plus 10% amperage.
Search for OC guides, most suggestions should work, though component names may vary by board and BIOS. There’s a wealth of Intel optimization information available.
Begin by resetting your system to the original settings.
Avoid adaptive voltage or OC generation tools; they may exceed safe voltage limits.
Start with a clock speed of 4.4ghz at 1.2v core, keeping it fixed. Adjust the frequency as needed until you encounter problems. Avoid altering ring voltage.
Ensure you're using p95 v26.6 small FFT for testing.
Track temperatures via hwinfo.
Confirm your cooling solution is sufficient, keeping core temperature below 80°C during operation and observing closely for sudden spikes.
If issues persist, stress testing your CPU will likely reveal more about your RAM performance. Blue screen errors might stem from loose or failing RAM, which can remain undetected until stress testing. Windows includes a built-in memory diagnostic tool called "Windows Memory Diagnostic" – search for it in your system settings.
I have a 4790k running smoothly at 4.7ghz and 1.25v.
Following your advice, I received an immediate BSOD during a machine check. After restarting, my PC freezes before any loading occurs. If it doesn’t freeze long enough to enter BIOS, it freezes almost immediately afterward.
A few individuals struggle to reach 4.2ghz with just 1.35v, it's a silicon lottery with the Haswell chip (4770k). I managed 4.5ghz at 1.2v, but even higher voltage didn't help me surpass 4.6ghz.