Using BCLK 2021 to boost a 2.5GHz 4690T chip to above 3.7GHz is possible with careful tuning.
Using BCLK 2021 to boost a 2.5GHz 4690T chip to above 3.7GHz is possible with careful tuning.
Today was quite interesting. I came across an old discussion about overclocking Non-K 4th generation CPUs. I decided to give it a try. The build included: Z97 Pro Wifi AC (ASUS), CPU 4690T, 45W TDP, up to 3.5GHz turbo, single core PSU RM1000 for strong power delivery, clock speed 106.5, RAM 24GB with 1704MHz CL9 across four slots (Gskill 1300MHz & 1600MHz), no GPU using the built-in HD4600, and I managed to push the 4690T to over 3.7 GHz on all cores with a locked 35x and 106.5 BCLK—no problems at all. The motherboard and BIOS handled voltages automatically, and I achieved a 915 Intel UTX score along with a 4500+ R23. I ran 24 consecutive hours at P95 on blend. Anyone serious on a tight budget looking for an affordable setup? An older Intel non-K system with a decent board might be the best option—just someone with time and a few old machines around.
Bclk is linked to other peripherals such as USB or PCIe, so if you increase its clock speed too much it can cause instability. You might need to separate it from those connections and use an external clock source instead. Upgrading the crystal in your motherboard PLD could also help achieve a higher bclk frequency. This process often involves some modification and careful handling of components.
if BCKL is the base clock speed, the chipset operates at that frequency. raising it boosts connected components and generally improves performance. For Z97 boards, 107MHZ BCLK is typically the maximum before issues arise. Going higher can cause instability, leading to boot loops until the system detects a problem and restarts. Most Z97 boards fall in the 106-106.9 range, which works well for non-K CPUs and even helps optimize K CPUs with proper tuning. The Z170 was the last generation to support this on some models. Linus shared a video on the topic.
You need to remove parts that cause instability when using things like PCIe or USB. Connect them to an external clock source so you can increase the clock speed more. If you still face issues with high clock speeds, consider replacing the crystal on the board with a faster one.
This CPU performs well for office work, especially with an SSD. It handles indie and esports games smoothly, often reaching 60 FPS. Back in the day I used Intel XTU with my i5 4690 HD4600 to boost it to around 1600-1650 MHz, which was a test for BF4 MP with Quicksync REC. It also ran well on Farcry 3 and Sniper Elite 3. Before planning a new build, I just wanted to see how it performed.