Stuttering in games following a failed overclock
Stuttering in games following a failed overclock
I attempted to increase the clock speed of my new i7 7700k a few weeks back, but it didn’t work properly and Windows reinstalled itself after the crash alert appeared. I followed various tutorials and videos from others who overclocked their i7 7700k, but after reaching 5GHz at a 1.340Vcore setting, the system started reinstalling itself. Now, when I stream on Twitch through the second monitor, there are occasional stutters, especially in Runescape3 where small issues appear during intense gameplay. While some users reported similar problems with their clients, mine didn’t occur until this failed attempt. Certain YouTube videos also show stuttering in my games, though not consistently. I tried using a livestreamer tool to watch Twitch, but it only provided limited help. Occasionally, when checking CPU settings with CPU-Z, the core speed, multiplier, and voltage fluctuated, making me wonder if this indicates a hardware issue or just a temporary glitch.
My PC configuration:
- ASUS Prime z270-A motherboard
- i7 7700k processor
- GTX 1070 8GB graphics card
- 16GB (8x2) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 2666MHz CL15
- Corsair Cooling Hydro H110i Extreme Performance
- HyperX Savage 250GB SSD drive with a 1.65TB hard drive (~5 years old)
- Corsair VS550, 80 Plus White - ATX power supply (550W)
- I have not updated my system recently
I have tried:
- Reinstalling Windows
- Using 3DMARK Time Spy, which showed the same results before overclocking
- Setting game priority to high by default
- Running Aida64 for 30 minutes without crashes, but CPU remained at default settings
- Checking CPU-Z for fluctuations in core speed, multiplier, and voltage
I’m unsure what further steps I can take to determine if my CPU was affected during the overclock attempt. Please let me know.
I would begin after a failed OC to return everything to its default state, as you might think all is in order but could have overlooked something causing the problem. I recommend removing the power plug from the wall (it’s not enough to just unplug) and disconnecting the motherboard battery (CMOS) for two minutes (some boards have a CMOS reset jumper, refer to your owner’s manual). After that, reinsert the battery, connect the PC, and try booting; it should likely start in BIOS.
Concerning your "Windows is reinstalling itself," this seems unusual—Windows doesn’t reinstall itself after the first install unless you boot from the installation CD or thumb drive. You might check CPU and GPU temperatures using HWINFO while gaming (run it in the background and play until stutters appear, then press Ctrl+Alt-Tab to see max/min values). This could indicate overheating and throttling.
The Paladin would begin by removing the failed OC to revert to default configurations, as you might overlook something critical that’s leading to the problem. I recommend disconnecting the power cable from the wall (it’s not enough just to unplug) and removing the CMOS battery for two minutes (some boards include a CMOS reset jumper—check your manual). After that, reinsert the battery, connect the PC, and try booting; it should likely load into BIOS.
Concerning the "Windows reinstalling itself," this is unusual—Windows typically doesn’t reinstall on its own after the first install unless you boot from the installation media or thumb drive. You might use HWINFO to monitor CPU and GPU temperatures during gaming (run it in the background and play until stutters appear, then check for overheating).
After the OC failure, I went to BIOS and set default settings; would CMOS removal still assist? I found a Corsair link that displays component temperatures—GPU or CPU aren’t overheating. Windows reinstalled itself after the OC failed. After adjusting the PC to 5GHz and Vcore 1.340, I encountered a blue screen, which then triggered a full Windows reinstall.
take oc off, install a fresh copy of windows. ensure it's updated and your motherboard has all the bios firmware updates as well. back up your data.
overclocking isn't just about jumping values; it's not realistic to expect a 5ghz without proper testing. every cpu behaves differently, and you can't simply rely on others' settings. your processor isn't designed for maximum power at this frequency—slowly increase by 0.5 ghz at a time, monitor the results, then proceed cautiously.
you should read more about overclocking before proceeding further.
The Paladin:
remove OC, set a brand new Windows installation. Ensure it’s updated and your motherboard has all the BIOS firmware updates as well.
back up your data
OC isn't "oh I want 5GHz..." or "I saw a YouTube that got 5GHz" – that’s not realistic. Not every CPU is the same, and you can’t simply ask for maximum power from silicon valley luck.
OC is a gradual process. Copying values someone else used doesn’t guarantee success; in your case, your CPU isn’t capable of running at 5GHz with those settings. You should increase it slowly, about 0.5 GHz at a time, monitor the performance, then proceed to the next setting.
You should read more about overclocking before continuing.
After the OC failed, I reset the BIOS to default and reinstalled Windows again after a successful one-time update. All drivers were updated, and regarding overclocking, I know not everyone can reach 5GHz. I increased the Vcore in steps starting from 4.5, where the turbo boost was active, beginning at 1.3 Vcore. Everything worked until it crashed at 5GHz. Then I adjusted the Vcore to 1.330 in BIOS, following advice that 1.4 is the theoretical max. It’s on the edge. After logging back in with 5GHz at 1.340 Vcore, the PC crashed again and I reinstalled Windows. Now, after a strange reinstall, I noticed the wallpaper from August was still displayed, but all other settings were lost.