Testing the performance of a brand new i7 4790k processor
Testing the performance of a brand new i7 4790k processor
I finally upgraded my FX 4130 to an i7 4790k.
My motherboard is an MSI z97 PC mate with a click BIOS, and I’m trying to overclock it safely. Its temperatures are around 35°C during intense battles, and I rarely drop below 50 FPS in a 100 vs 100 match. The smooth 55+ FPS helps, but I have a CRYORIG H7 cooler, so I’m considering overclocking.
Any advice would be great—I’m just starting out.
I understand people might suggest asking on Google, but I couldn’t find any useful information.
A solid reference guide appears for overclock results at 4690K using a Z-97 Pro board and a Corsair H80i water cooler (the H80i cools a few degrees lower than an H7). The key factors involve the motherboard's BIOS settings: CPU multiplier, base clock, and Vcore. These parameters can be adjusted manually to achieve overclocking. At stock speeds and 3.9GHz turbo boost, this setup provides a 39x multiplier and 100 BCLK. To increase the speed further, such adjustments are necessary.
A solid reference for the 4690K overclock results using a Z-97 Pro board and a Corsair H80i water cooler (the H80i cools a few degrees lower than an H7).
The essential factors for boosting performance lie within your motherboard's BIOS. These include the CPU multiplier (typically 39x at stock), the CPU base clock (often called BCLK, previously known as the front side bus at 100MHz), and the Vcore or CPU voltage. Each of these parameters can be adjusted manually to achieve overclocking. At stock settings and a 3.9GHz turbo boost, this setup provides a 39x multiplier and 100 BCLK. To increase the speed to 4.4GHz, for instance, you would raise the multiplier to 44x. Some enthusiasts experiment with tweaking BCLK and multiplier values, such as using a 43x multiplier on a 102 BCLK to reach approximately 4.4GHz (around 4.386GHz).
The process mainly involves experimentation and balancing temperatures while maintaining voltage stability. Remember, chip performance varies, and some processors excel at lower voltages compared to others. Personally, I haven’t observed a significant FPS gain in games at 4.7GHz versus 4.4GHz on an SLI 970 build with a single 1440p display, nor is the difference dramatic on stock speeds.
The sole notable case is Microsoft FSX, which is heavily CPU-dependent and benefits from higher clock speeds. I also notice a clearer distinction between 3.9GHz and 4.7GHz when running productivity tasks like video rendering (which shows a noticeable reduction in render time). I often switch between BIOS settings for different overclock profiles depending on the application.
For those without a need to overclock, it’s unnecessary to worry about overclocking; custom profiles saved in the BIOS are beneficial.
The board's power phase design isn't very good for overclocking.
A mild overclock would be fine.
PC Mate is a budget Z97 board.
I'm just looking for a mild overclock, even if it's only a 0.1 ghz increase.
I want to learn how to do it but I don't know anyone who can help me.
I understand changing the core multiplier, but I'm unsure how to make an OC stable or what voltage settings to use.
I know how to adjust the core multiplier but I’m unsure about making a stable OC or deciding which voltage settings to use. That’s the example shown in the link I shared. The CPU voltage listed in the BIOS for a stable OC at each speed boost is found in the second column (CPU Volts). The sixth column displays the actual voltage during a stress test (Load Volts). Observe the contrast between the stock load and the “Auto” setting in the second column—CPU Volts—which actually requires a higher voltage (1.121) compared to a 4.0GHz increase at 1.048v. This clearly shows the motherboard opting for a higher voltage than necessary. Keep in mind this is just a reference; you might achieve better or worse results depending on whether you lower or raise the voltage. If you don’t have it, try downloading HW Monitor (http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/hwmonitor...r_1.28.exe) to monitor temperatures and voltages during a stress test, such as with OCCT. If you encounter a blue screen or crash, it could mean insufficient voltage, excessive overclocking, or a mix of both. Run the test for several hours to ensure stable performance. Happy overclocking!