Voltage issue at 9900kHz with 5.0GHz.
Voltage issue at 9900kHz with 5.0GHz.
Hey everyone,
I just tried my first CPU overclock and managed to push my 9900k up to around 5 ghz across all cores (sometimes it dips between 4998 and 5004 mhz). I also set the ring frequency to 47. Is that acceptable?
I wasn’t sure about the voltage settings, so I left it on auto to check stability during gaming and benchmark tests. The voltage readings at peak were around 1.305. Should I keep it on auto or adjust it?
I’m completely new to this process and would really appreciate any advice you can offer.
I have an MSI MPG Z390 gaming pro carbon AC motherboard, but that doesn’t seem important right now.
EDIT: My temperatures stayed under 76°C.
To sum up, should I stick with a 5.0 clock and 4.7 ring frequency, or should I tweak the ring frequency?
Is it okay to leave the voltage on auto in BIOS, given that 1.305 is the highest I’ve seen?
Are there any downsides to keeping it on auto?
Thanks,
Andrew
Exactly. Run Prime95 with AVX/AVX2 disabled, which it gives you the option to do by unchecking the boxes next to one, then the other, and run for 15 minutes. If you exceed 80°C in HWinfo or Core Temp while running Prime then you need to either reduce the multi, reduce the voltage or get better cooling. A 360mm AIO is not comparable to a 360mm custom loop, by any stretch, but is still fairly decent if expectations are reasonable. There is a reason why they came out with a 9900ks and that reason is because an all core 5Ghz OC as daily driver is generally not reasonable on standard 9900k. Possible but not common, at least at that voltage and still be reasonably or fully stable.
For stability testing, as outlined in my guide, I'd recommend...
Ring frequency is acceptable, but 45 could serve as a better initial value. It is not advisable to keep it on auto; leaving it that way would waste significant thermal headroom. It’s acceptable as a starting point, but you shouldn’t keep it in that state long-term. I will assure you without any doubt that with a 5Ghz all-core OC and a core voltage of 1.305V, achieving only a 76°C full load temperature is not feasible. That level would require a custom 360mm loop with powerful fans and a very low room temperature—probably not even possible on that CPU. My assumption is you used a program or tool that doesn’t truly enforce a 100% TDP steady-state thermal load. Could you share your CPU cooler model or type? What utility or software did you employ to simulate the stress and reach a peak temperature of 76°C? How extended was the stress test, if at all, to confirm that maximum temperature reached 76°C? Did you also verify stability, since thermal compliance and stability testing are fundamentally different processes? I would strongly suggest beginning with these resources: - CPU overclocking guide and tutorial for beginners - A beginner-friendly guide covering the fundamentals If you’re here seeking basic overclocking help, you’re likely looking for assistance. Alternatively, if you’re an experienced overclocker interested in gaining new insights, feel free to share your findings. I’m not providing this information for free—I just want to ensure you have all the details. Forums. And here’s another link: How To - Intel CPU Temperature Guide Update: February 9th, 2025 – Preface The subject of processor temperatures can be quite perplexing. Misunderstandings about terms, specs, and testing methods often leave users unsure about proper cooling evaluation. This guide aims to clarify...
Here are some recommended programs for testing.
What software do you suggest using?
I'm doubtful about using 5Ghz across all cores and only 1.305v. I have the same CPU, so I can run it at 5Ghz but it needs a higher voltage than I'm used to and would struggle with long-term performance without reducing the clock speed. That's why I prefer 4800Mhz on all cores with a 4600Mhz ring and a voltage of 1.255. Open HWiNFO64, keep it running during benchmarks or games, then review min/max frequencies and 'Performance limit reasons'.
Irrespective of whether you're just playing games, it's essential to test thoroughly and achieve genuine stability to avoid minor issues appearing in your software.
Exactly. Run Prime95 with AVX/AVX2 disabled, which it gives you the option to do by unchecking the boxes next to one, then the other, and run for 15 minutes. If you exceed 80°C in HWinfo or Core Temp while running Prime then you need to either reduce the multi, reduce the voltage or get better cooling. A 360mm AIO is not comparable to a 360mm custom loop, by any stretch, but is still fairly decent if expectations are reasonable. There is a reason why they came out with a 9900ks and that reason is because an all core 5Ghz OC as daily driver is generally not reasonable on standard 9900k. Possible but not common, at least at that voltage and still be reasonably or fully stable.
For stability testing, as outlined in my guide, I'd recommend you run Memtest86, run Prime95 with the custom options and run Realbench stress test. All tests times/lengths are outlined in there.