i7-4790k Overclocking
i7-4790k Overclocking
Hello Guys,
I understand it's old but I'm still using it.
I have a challenge to reach 4.7GHz with my i7-4790K.
It's stable at 1.25 Vcore with 4.6GHz, tested on PRIME for several hours.
But I can't hit 4.7GHz even at 1.34Vcore—it crashes during PRIME tests.
Is this possible or am I doing something wrong?
I set adaptive voltage and Vcore only, RAM is using XMP.
My specs: ASRock Z87 Extreme4, i7-4790K with fresh collab liquid ultra under IHS, temps are fine, 1600MHz Kingston 4x4GB, GTX 980ti.
Please give me some advice eventually.
Welcome to the fascinating realm of the Silicon Lottery. It controls every CPU. There are no two CPUs that are exactly alike—they are alike in many ways, but their silicon makeup is distinct. This ensures each processor has its own distinct traits. I once owned an i5-3570k that ran smoothly at 4.3GHz for the entire day at a voltage of 1.08v. It didn’t hold up at 4.4GHz, even though most users could run without problems at 4.5GHz. Even at 1.55v it struggled. I also had an i7-3770K, essentially identical to the i5 but with hyperthreading turned on. At 1.42v it could reach 5.0GHz. The voltage choice is a risk—AMD and Intel promise stable performance at base speeds, but anything beyond that isn’t assured.
Your temperatures while running Prime 95 at 4.6 were recorded.
Devil's Canyon
All Core SSE Frequency
All Core AVX2 Frequency
BIOS Vcore
% Capable
4790K
4.60GHz
Not Tested
1.296V
100%
4790K
4.70GHz
Not Tested
1.312V
Top 96%
4790K
4.80GHz
Not Tested
1.328V
Top 68%
4790K
4.90GHz
Not Tested
1.344V
Top 22%
4790K
5.00GHz
Not Tested
1.360V
Top 3%
in the most critical area temperature reaches 65°C within 5 minutes during complete stress testing
Avoid using prime95 and aida94 on that CPU. Stress it with RealBench for an hour. Check the voltage readings (stable and verified).
Not every 4790k is identical and it relies on your PSU&Mobo for precise adjustments. I achieved a 5ghz speed and later reduced it to 4.7ghz to 4.8ghz based on gaming needs. It operates around 1.4/1.42 volts. You might need more power, as the cooler can maintain temperatures below 70°C.
Thanks for the updates, currently it's working smoothly on 4,7GHz with a stable frame rate of 1.31vcore. However, I'm curious—why avoid using prime95 for testing and keeping temperatures below 70°C?
Welcome to the intriguing realm of the Silicon Lottery. It controls every CPU. There are no two CPUs that are exactly alike; they are alike in many ways but differ in their silicon composition, which makes each one distinct. This uniqueness gives every CPU its own personality. I once owned an i5-3570k that ran smoothly at 4.3GHz for hours at a time, maintaining stability even at 1.08v. It struggled at 4.4GHz, while most users handled 4.5GHz without trouble. Even at 1.55v, it didn’t perform well. My i7-3770K was essentially the same as the i5 but with hyperthreading turned on, reaching up to 5.0GHz at 1.42v.
OC settings are a matter of chance. Intel and AMD promise stable performance at base speeds, but beyond that, there’s no assurance or certification. The only certainty is that there are no guarantees. You receive what you get—pure luck, a risk-based decision.
Your CPU was rated at 4.6GHz. Prime95 small FFT works well for temperature checks, and Asus RealBench is better for stability testing. Use each tool separately. The gap between 4.6GHz and 4.7GHz is less than 2%, which translates to a noticeable improvement of about 2-3 frames per second in games. You might not notice it, but at higher voltages, the performance will be affected by increased electromigration and potential lifespan reduction. Avoid exceeding 1.3v on a 4th generation Intel chip, regardless of stability concerns.