i7 4790k unstable under any stress test software
i7 4790k unstable under any stress test software
PC specs:
i7 4790k
Asrock Z97 anniversary
PC cooler paladin 400
Corsair vengeance pro 1600mhz 4x4
Currently overclocking my CPU to 4.5 ghz (vcore 1.300, input 1.900) but it fails stress tests like P95 v26.6, aida64, and asus realbench.
I’ve reduced the overclock to 4.4/4.3 ghz yet crashes during stress testing.
Playing games such as Valorant and Apex Legends works fine with stable temps around 66°C.
My question is: what’s going wrong here? Should I really pass these tests? I don’t use it for heavy tasks like rendering.
It is not necessary to go through any specific "stress test." What matters is that you can run your system without crashes while overclocking or adjusting settings for gaming. If the stress test causes failure, it likely means the system has exceeded its limits. This is irrelevant if it doesn’t reflect real-world use. Stress tests work best when they help verify performance under expected conditions.
My desk chair would fall apart if everyone sits in it at once—why test it if it’s not a practical need?
It is not necessary to go through any specific "stress test." What matters is that you can run your system without crashes while overclocking or adjusting settings for gaming. If the stress test causes failure, it probably means the system has exceeded its limits. This doesn’t matter much if it’s not a realistic need. Stress tests work best when they help verify if a system can handle performance demands. Just like my desk chair would fall if everyone sat in it at once, testing under extreme conditions is useful only if it reveals real issues.
The current issue, without air cooling, doesn't work well with extreme overclocking. A better LGA 1150 air cooler is suggested, or a high-quality water block could be used if needed. The top CPU coolers for overclocking in 2023 have been carefully selected. cliffyb.com
The 4th generation CPUs included AVX support. This feature typically appears in every stress test unless turned off. AVX capabilities allow the CPU to operate at 120-150% capacity, varying based on the specific AVX version.
When testing P95 performance, it's recommended to use a smaller FFT and ensure AVX is disabled. This provides a consistent 100% workload, though it's more suitable for quick checks rather than stress testing. Most games don't reach full load even at 100%, usually staying around 50-60% actual usage, which differs significantly from a true stress test.
If you've only increased the voltage to 1.3v, expect instability and potential crashes. Any overclocking will require adjustments to current limits, voltage states, LLC settings, ring voltages, VDD, SA agent, VCIO, and possibly other parameters based on your CPU's requirements and system specs.
1.3v represents the maximum safe boost for short-term overclocks on 4th Gen Intel processors. For regular use, aim for around 1.20-1.25v at most. The goal is to achieve optimal speeds while maintaining low voltages, taking into account cooling capacity.
OC is OC. The ideas about different generations remain consistent, whether you're using an i5-4670k or an i7-4790k on various motherboards or chipsets. Vcore stays the same, regardless of the terminology. I'd begin at Asus ROG forums—they often discuss older OC posts for the 4th generation, and you might need to adjust the settings with slightly different names. The core settings stay identical; what matters is their meaning. Read everything about 4th generation OC, noting what succeeded or failed. Focus on understanding the concepts—how changes affect others—not just the specific numbers. You should grasp the distinctions between voltage levels, ring voltages, procedures, and limits, since altering one affects the rest. The key figures are the maximum limits, such as 1.3v for vcore.