I7 4770k operating at 4.2GHz with a temperature of 1.18V
I7 4770k operating at 4.2GHz with a temperature of 1.18V
worstshire :
I reached the maximum at 76°C, usually around 72, with idle temps between 35 to 40. What did you think? I’m using air cooling with a hyper-evo. The Hyper 212 is great, but I’d suggest upgrading. You could switch to a more powerful air cooler or try liquid cooling. Air cooling will generally give you lower temps overall, while liquid cooling won’t cut idle temps much but will keep things much cooler over time.
MegaBuns516 :
worstshire :
I reached my limit at 76°C, with an average of about 72°C and idle temps between 35 to 40°C. What did your team think? I’m using air cooling with a hyper-evo setup.
The Hyper 212 is really good, but I’d suggest upgrading. You could switch to a more powerful air cooler or consider liquid cooling. While better air cooling will bring you lower temps overall, liquid cooling won’t cut idle temps much but will keep things much cooler over time.
If space allows, the Noctua NH-D14 and NH-D15 are excellent CPU coolers. I’ve used them for years.
I recommend the brand new Hyper 212 EVO. It offers solid cooling for its price, and your temperatures stay under control at 4.2GHz. You won't be impressed by any faster speeds on your 4770K.
For a personal example, I previously had a 7700K with Cryorig H7 and tried to push it beyond 4.5GHz. I invested about $80 in a Noctua NH-D15S but still didn’t reach 4.8GHz. After adding some liquid metal (+$15), I managed to hit 5.0GHz at 1.4V without exceeding 80°C during stress testing. It didn’t significantly improve my gaming performance. Now I’m back to stock 4.5GHz and am just as happy with my setup.
In short, unless you really like the overclocking process, a more affordable cooler isn’t necessary.
If you decide to upgrade later, spending $45–$65 on an unlocked i7 CPU (like Cryorig H5 or Noctua NH-U14S) could be ideal. If you're on a tighter budget, the Hyper 212 or Cryorig H7 are both decent options that can handle an i7 without pushing for extreme overclocking.
worstshire :
I gave up on manually OC and used the EZ tuning tool from my Asus z97. Now I run at 4,2ghz with adaptive voltage around 1,22V. At about 35°C, I stress tested with Intel utility maxed out to 68. It's weird... it seems I might have done something wrong during my manual OC.
I've tried the same approach but considered lowering it to 4.2ghz instead of aiming for 4.4.
Do you prefer doing the ratio first or the block first?
When examining the EZtuner, it becomes clear that the BCLK value has shifted from 100 to a different setting. The actual performance is likely due to cores operating at around 41 times the multiplier, while the BCLK is increased to 103. Adjusting the multiplier to 42x100 BCLK results in speeds of approximately 4200MHz or 4.2GHz, and a 41x103 BCLK gives about 4222MHz or 4.22GHz. Reducing the core multiplier slightly reduces temperatures, though the vcore might be set higher than intended—likely around 1.09v for stability rather than the default 1.22v. The extra voltage is used to ensure reliability.
Software-only adjustments merely rearrange numbers; for such minor changes, it's usually fine. However, even small BCLK modifications can impact transmission rates, RAM speeds, and other parameters that aren't immediately visible but still affect system behavior. If the changes are successful and satisfactory, proceed. But avoid pushing performance beyond safe limits.
Other settings like LLC, ring voltages, SA agent, PLL voltages, timer power, phase power, EIST, and various c-states also play a role. Altering any of these can compromise a stable and effective overclock.