You want guidance on how to overclock an i5 4690K, and you'd like the explanation rephrased.
You want guidance on how to overclock an i5 4690K, and you'd like the explanation rephrased.
I will guide you through the process of overclocking your i5 4690k one step at a time. I have an ASRock fatality killer Z97 with 8 power phases and a Thermaltake NiC C4 Air Cooler. My goal is to push my CPU to around 4.5 to 4.6 GHz, and I’m not sure where to begin.
I’ve already installed Prime95 and Intel Burn Test. Could someone assist me?
Additionally, I have two 4GB DDR3 RAM modules at 1600MHz in XMP profile, which might be useful.
You can begin by configuring the main voltage to 1.200v and adjusting the multiplier to 4.4. Check stability; if unstable, raise the voltage slightly (my 4690k remains stable at 1.230v/4.2 @ 1.130v). Remember, each CPU behaves differently, so this is just a reference point. It’s not advised to run an Intel Burn test—it generates excessive heat and performs AVX tests, reaching up to 110% usage. Consider using Prime95 v26.6 Small FFT instead.
For your RAM, simply keep it as it is; it doesn’t significantly boost gaming performance and offers minimal gains for other tasks.
Prime95 and IBT aren't ideal for stress testing. They rely on specific routines to create heat. I prefer OCCT, which uses a more standard instruction set. It will terminate the test if you surpass 85°C. You can overclock via BIOS settings, setting everything to default. Gradually increase the multiplier while keeping voltage at auto, and aim for 4.2-4.4. Watch the VCORE value; CPU-Z can help. Stay under 1.3v max. As you boost the multiplier, Vcore increases, which also raises temperature. You’ll likely hit Vcore limits before thermal ones. Avoid boosting RAM speed beyond stock voltages—this reduces overclocking margin and higher speeds don’t help much.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7364/memor...on-haswell
After finishing, apply adaptive voltage and speedstep to lower the multiplier and Vcore when the CPU is idle.
You can begin by configuring the main voltage to 1.200v and adjusting the multiplier to 4.4, checking for stability. If it doesn’t work, raise the voltage slightly—my 4690k remains stable at 1.230v with a multiplier of 4.2 and 1.130v—but keep in mind each CPU behaves differently, so this is just a reference. It’s not advised to use Intel Burn test as it generates excessive heat and runs AVX tests, reaching up to 110% usage. Consider using Prime 95 v26.6 Small FFT instead.
For your RAM, leave it unchanged since it doesn’t significantly boost gaming performance and may not be worth the effort for other tasks.
Temperatures below 85°C are acceptable during stress tests; gaming temperatures should stay under 80°C, ideally under 70°C for optimal comfort.
I have no prior experience with your cooler, but if you plan to start with a 4.5Ghz processor immediately, try setting the voltage at 1.280v and see how it holds.
Good luck!