The I7 2600k at 4.9 GHz is running smoothly, but the 5.0 GHz setting isn't starting up.
The I7 2600k at 4.9 GHz is running smoothly, but the 5.0 GHz setting isn't starting up.
Hey everyone,
After going through numerous guides and discussions, I managed to upgrade my i7 2600k to a stable 4.4 GHz @1.35V, with HT turned off and PLL/OV disabled. The results were impressive – great performance and a solid sweetspot for me. When fans are running at full speed, the temperature stays around 60°C.
Intel Burn Test setup:
- Motherboard: AsRock P67 Pro 3
- CPU: I7 2600k
- Cooler: Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT (similar to Noctua D15 and Alpenföhn Olymp)
- Power Supply: Be Quiet Straight Power 500W
- Case: Cooler Master Silencio 550 (quiet but warm)
- Fans: 3x Silentwings 2 (2 front, 1 rear; all facing back)
I didn’t find anyone claiming my i7 failed after this overclock. I decided to push it further to 5.0 GHz.
Changes made:
- Disabled everything
- Changed voltage settings instead of offset
- Adjusted voltages:
- Vcore: 1.45
- RAM: 1.50
- PCH: 1.012
- PLL: 1.791
- VTT: 1.077
- VCCSA: 0.925
- Other settings are listed below
My issue:
- At 4.9 GHz it boots and stays stable, especially during Rocket League – even with Prime and Intel Burn stable, the game would freeze my system.
- At 5.0 GHz it doesn’t boot at all. The BIOS screen works, but a faint gray bar appears in the top-left corner of the screen. I attempted to adjust voltages quickly, but the Vcore spiked to 1.5V – no Windows booted.
Possible reasons:
- There might be something unusual that could cause this failure.
- Maybe there’s a hidden setting or configuration that would trigger a crash.
Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Rasmus
Raaz0r:
Thank you so much for all those quick answers. I'm glad I can stay at my 4.4 GHz.
4.4 GHz is a reasonable choice for continuous use. Keeping the voltage below 1.35 would be even better, as it would make the system more efficient than standard speeds.
It's clear you haven't grasped much about overclocking as much as you believed. Not every chip can reach 5GHz, and it looks like yours won't either. Unless you invest in water cooling, your clocks will likely stay low, and you'll end up spending a lot of money for almost nothing except bragging rights.
It seems you haven't grasped as much about overclocking as you believed. Not all chips can reach 5GHz, and it looks like yours likely can't. At least not officially—water cooling might help a bit, but you'll end up spending a lot of money for very little gain (except maybe some bragging).
First, thank you for your reply.
You seem to be a bit "offended." I didn’t intend to come across as overly proud or boastful; it’s not about showing off, but about single-core performance for games like Gothic 3 where FPS is dropping in Cities.
You’re right, I’m not very familiar with overclocking, which is why I asked you in a friendly way.
To the Watercooling: I don’t see why this would make it bootable. More stable under load? Yes, that’s clear. But will the CPU get too hot before it even starts up? My fans are at 100% when I power on (assuming it gets hot before then).
Anyway, I didn’t find much about the idea that my CPU can’t reach 5 GHz, so maybe others could confirm this. I just thought perhaps I’m missing a special setting needed for higher clocks.
Raaz0r:
I didn't intend to come across as overly proud, and it's not about showing off. It's just about single core performance in games like Gothic 3 where FPS are decreasing in Cities. That's not the point of bragging, it's more about getting a 2% boost and being able to claim you reached 5GHz. 😉
Raaz0r:
You're correct, I'm not very familiar with overclocking, so I asked for advice in a friendly way. To Watercooling, I don't understand why this would improve boot stability. Is it really more reliable under load? Yes, that's clear, but could the CPU get too hot before it even starts up? Right now my fans are at full capacity when I power on (assuming it gets warm before then).
Anyway, I haven't found much about the idea that my CPU can't reach 5GHz. Maybe others could confirm this. I just thought perhaps I'm missing some special settings needed for higher clock speeds. Water cooling might not help with booting directly, but it could allow you to lower your voltage slightly (since stability isn't as critical), which might make it work. Still very uncertain, and it could cost a lot without any benefit. 1.45V is too high for Sandy Bridge—it's close to an "instant failure" point and will definitely reduce your CPU's lifespan by years.
I really don't want to destroy your hopes, but try to force it! It's not very reliable—only about 4.9 out of 100—and you're aiming for 5.0? The problem is it will quickly lose performance and eventually stop working properly. You should lower the voltage back to around 1.3 and stop before it's too late.
If you truly want to hit 5Ghz, then boost the BCLK. Sandy Bridge overclocking is quite straightforward. The voltage can be pushed as high as desired, provided the CPU and VRMs remain cool. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
Basroil :
Bicycle_repair_man :
The voltage might be as high as you desire, but only if you manage to keep the CPU and VRMs at a safe temperature. Of course, that sounds simpler than it is.
Are you certain you're ready for that? At 1.45V it's already pushing limits, and I wouldn't expect anything beyond 1.5V without damaging the chip instantly—no time to heat it up.
Definitely, boosting the voltage is what overclockers use to hit those record speeds. It's just harder to do in practice because maintaining a stable, cool environment is tough for most people.
Bicycle repair expert:
Increasing the voltage is the sole method record-breakers use to reach those astonishing speeds. As I mentioned, it's simpler to say than to implement, since maintaining optimal temperatures is a challenge for most users. Overclockers who break records don't mind their chips failing once the record is achieved. Voltage acts like a powerful force, and its impact varies greatly depending on the intensity—short bursts versus sustained loads. Most temporary boosts target heat management rather than voltage itself, but it's evident that a lasting solution requires higher voltages, particularly for gaming tasks with quick data transfers. Referring back to my earlier comments, there isn't a universal setting for 5GHz, as not every chip can reach such speeds without risky voltage levels, and even fewer can do so safely at air speed.