the need for a higher vcore voltage is required at 7.7 9700K to achieve stable OC
the need for a higher vcore voltage is required at 7.7 9700K to achieve stable OC
Enter the BIOS, reset it to default settings, and exit without saving changes. Restart and enable XMP to choose your memory profile. Adjust the Vcore to 1.35 V, leaving other settings as automatic. Exit saving again. Observe the results. After rebooting, verify the operating and boost frequencies using CPU-Z. Perform a stress test to confirm stability. Modify the Vcore slightly if needed, but do not exceed 1.4 V, then recheck stability.
The process involves entering the BIOS, resetting it to default settings and saving before exiting. After that, restarting into the BIOS and enabling XMP allows selection of your memory profile. Adjust the Vcore to 1.35 V, leaving other parameters as automatic. Once saved, verify the operating and boost frequencies using CPU-Z. Perform a stress test to confirm stability. Then modify the Vcore slightly—either up or down to 1.4 V—but avoid exceeding it. Recheck stability afterward.
Following the same steps you recommended, I followed along but encountered an issue: my motherboard lacks the "Auto OC" feature, unlike other guides using the same board and BIOS version. This is perplexing. Despite having the latest BIOS update, I managed to achieve a stable 4.9GHz performance on CineBench R15, RealBench for an hour, Prime95 26.6 for two hours (following the setup from der8auer), and using HWiNFO64.
I prefer not to rely on auto settings when everything is configured automatically. My adjustments were minimal: Core set to All Core 49, Vcore fixed at 1.300, LLC level at 3, LLC voltage at 1.35 (causing crashes with other configurations), XMP Profile 1, and all other parameters left as automatic.
Results showed maximum temperatures ranging from 75-85°C during tests, with ambient temperature rising slightly this morning. I also configured my H115i motherboard with push/pull fans on the front of the case (Phanteks P400S) and paired Corsair ML140 PWM Premium fans for balanced airflow. Using 75°C - 90% speed and 90°C - 100% capacity, the performance remained consistent.
The rest of the settings were kept unchanged except for Vcore, which I adjusted to 1.296 V max and 1.216 V min. Core voltage varied between 1.332 V (max #7) and 1.195 V (min #2), and core clock stayed at 4.902.4 MHz with a maximum of 799.4 MHz and minimum of 799.0 MHz.
Last night, under identical conditions, I observed lower Vcore readings (1.360 V max in CPU-Z and HWiNFO64) and a drop to 1.216 V when under load, which aligned with the expected LLC behavior from der8auer. Perhaps my system needed a rest period. Still, I’m relieved everything is functioning well. I plan to play games during the day and render videos for further "real-world" testing.
Thank you very much for your helpful tips and guidance. Your resources have greatly improved my understanding of overclocking. If any readings seem unusual, please let me know—it appears stable from my side, though I’m still learning.
I'm happy to assist you with that.
There seems to be an "auto OC" feature available. When using the Motherboard monitoring or utility, there should be a Windows-based version. I know Asus motherboards well, but even within that brand, the UEFI BIOS can differ significantly.
Inside the BIOS it doesn't mention it as an "auto OC", it just offers three GHz levels. Their BIOS contains a menu named "Ai Tweaker" where you can adjust memory and CPU overclocking settings. However, Asus provides another method in the "EZ Mode" which allows "EZ tuning". This is essentially similar to calling for an "auto OC". You can achieve a comparable effect through the Ai Tweaker settings.
I don't prefer the EZ Mode, but it has improved in newer BIOS versions.
For more details on Asus Ryzen overclocking, you can check this guide: https://www.anandtech.com/show/12542/ove...-results/4
A similar guide exists for Asrock UEFI BIOS overclocking. On the second screen, a section named CPU configuration is available. This is where you adjust the manual core voltage. It's likely that setting "CPU Frequency and Voltage Change" to Auto provides several CPU BOOST frequencies, as mentioned in the description box. Refer to the motherboard manual for more details. A download link for the manual is provided.