Trouble overclocking i7 9700k
Trouble overclocking i7 9700k
I7 9700k paired with an Asus Maximus XI Hero Z390 motherboard.
The system performs well with default settings, but achieving a good overclock requires significantly higher voltages than expected. Starting at 5GHz demands core voltage of 1.385V, after which thermal throttling becomes an issue. Based on the review at guru3d.com, reaching 5.2 GHz should be feasible at 1.30-1.35V.
I also came across a similar discussion here: techpowerup.com.
My question is why I’m struggling to push this processor beyond its stable limits. I believe my hardware is solid, so it’s hard to pinpoint the problem. I’m currently on my phone and away from the PC, but I’ll have more details if needed tomorrow. Thanks all.
Bolide wanted to share an update with those who responded and anyone facing similar problems. I realized my previous reading on overclocking lacked detail on AVX or AVX offsets. AVX is a technology that some tasks can use, but it demands higher CPU power and more voltage for stability. I adjusted the AVX offset to 1, which reduced my core ratio and consequently my clock speed for those workloads.
Bolide shared a concern about receiving a lemon motherboard during shipping. He mentioned encountering difficulties with his new i7 processor exceeding 5ghz at a stable voltage, leading him to suspect a faulty board. He detailed his experience with an Asus Maximus XI Hero Z390, purchased from Amazon, and noted that while he could run it stably under certain conditions, stability issues arose when adjusting the overclock ratio. He also discussed problems with memory performance, referencing a forum post about potential throttling at higher voltages. He emphasized the need to verify his setup and consider seeking advice from others who might have faced similar issues.
Be honest, is it more probable I missed the lottery or that I made a mistake? I tend to care if I end up with something less than what I expected, but it could still not be worth the effort.
If I choose an exchange, should I go for CPU and motherboard together, or should I pick one over the other? I invested extra money in a configuration that would let me push it a bit higher, especially considering how much manufacturers like Asus (and others) charge for overclocking their gaming parts.
What components are functioning properly within their intended operating conditions? If they pass the test, you might still incur replacement costs.
If you need a CPU that consistently exceeds the stock version's performance, there are platforms that evaluate and offer them at a higher price.
One such platform is available here: https://siliconlottery.com/
I somewhat disagree. Intel advertises the i7 as "up to 4.9 ghz turbo" and I am seeing application crashes at those speeds so that's not what I'd call working as advertised. If it's the mobo, it is advertised as a high end gaming motherboard with significant overclocking ability designed into it. So if that's what's holding me back and other people are seeing greater success (and asus has put out videos on overclocking up to the point I want to be on my cpu) then I would say the board is not working as advertised. I understand what binning is and I'd be ok without getting an ultra perfect chip/board combo, but if I'm not even able to get advertised functionality while still paying significantly extra for it, I'd say that's a problem.
Am I wrong to feel this way? This is an honest question, I'm not being sarcastic or anything, I really do want to know if I'm looking at that the wrong way.
The advertised 4.9Ghz turbo boost applies to one core at a time, not all of them. The highest possible turbo boost across all eight cores is 4.6.
It's clearly frustrating, but I hope the seller understands. I'll reach out to clarify my situation and check if they'll apply a restocking fee based on my experience. If they do, I'll consider dropping it; otherwise, I might opt for an exchange. Thank you for your time—it really made a difference.
I wanted to share an update with both those who responded here and anyone facing a similar problem. In short, the articles I read about overclocking didn’t go into enough detail about AVX or AVX offsets. AVX is a technology that certain tasks in your computer can use, but it demands more power from the CPU and needs higher voltage to run smoothly.
I adjusted the AVX offset setting, which reduces your core ratio by the specified amount, bringing my clock speed down for AVX workloads while also reducing the voltage needed. Right now I’m running at 5GHz overclocked but stable at a much lower voltage.
Thanks all, and I hope this helps someone. I tried to keep it simple—more details are available on Google if you’re interested.