2500K Beginner Overclock Review--4.00GHz OC

[ManusDei]

I just finished up my first OC, that i judge successful at least. I was attempting to OC to 4.00GHz on my i5 2500K. I tried going up to 4.5GHz with little success and decided all i need for now is 4.00GHz (may try to work my way up eventually, but for now i just want to game). Listed below are my system specs, BIOS settings, and CPU-Z screenshots. I tested this OC with Intel Burn Test and Prime95 and these results/temps/voltage readings are listed below (sorry for the lack of screenshots for these tests). I have been running this OC for about a week now with no problems whatsoever. From a practical testing standpoint, have ran Skyrim heavily moded for increased visuals,etc. and on Ultra settings with no problems and at a good performance level (no other games as of yet). My voltage Max has never gone over 1.28V (according to CPUHD and HWINFO64) while playing games and generally using my computer at normal load and my temps are usually around the 30C range. My voltage normally is around the 1.26-1.27V range under normal conditions.

So basically, is this a good OC? What do you think? If the forum could review my settings and give any advice/suggestions i would really appreciate it. Thanks!


BIOS Settings (version F6)

--Advanced Freq Settings
CPU Clock Ratio [33x]
BCLK/DMI/PEG Clock Control [Disabled]
BCLK/DMI/PEG Freq [1000--100.00MHz]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) [Profile1]
System Memory Multiplier [Auto]
Memory frew [1600] [1600]
Internal Graphics Clock [1100] [Auto]

--Advanced CPU Core Features
CPU Clock Ratio [33x]
PWM Freq control [auto]
Cpu over current protection [auto]
Internal CPU PLL Overvoltage [auto]
Real-time ratio changes in OS [disabled]
Intel Turbo Boost Tech. [auto]
Turbo ratio (1-core) [37] [40]
Turbo ratio (2-core) [36] [40]
Turbo ratio (3-core) [35] [40]
Turbo ratio (4-core) [34] [40]
Turbo Power Limit (watts) [95] [auto]
Core current limit (amps) [97] [auto]
CPU Cores enables [All]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) [auto]
C3/C6 [auto]
CPU thermal monitor [auto]
CPU EIST Function [auto]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT [auto]

--Advanced Memory Settings
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) [Profile1]
System memory multiplier [auto]
Memory Freq [1600] [1600]
Performance Enhance [turbo]
DRAM Timing Schedule [auto]
Profile DDR Voltage [1.5V]
Profile VTT Voltage [1.05V]
Channel interleaving [auto]
Rank interleaving [auto]

--Channel A/B timing Settings
CAS Latency Time [9][9]
tRCD [9][9]
tRP [9][9]
tRAS [24][24]
tRC[33][auto]
tRRD[5][auto]
tWTR[6] [auto]
tWR[12][auto]
tWTP[24] [auto]
tWL[8] [auto]
tRFC[128] [auto]
tRTP[6] [auto]
tFAW[24] [auto]
Command Rate (CMD) [2][2]
IO latency [1][auto]
Round trip latency [37] [auto]

--Advanced Voltage Settings
Multi-Steps Load-Line[disabled]
CPU Vcore [1.335V] [1.280V]
Dynamic Vcore (DVID) [+0.000V][Auto]
QPI/VTT Voltage [1.050V][Auto]
System Agent Voltage [0.920V][auto]
Graphics core [1.075V] [auto]
Graphics DVID [+0.000V][auto]
CPU PLL [1.800V] [auto]
DRAM Voltage [1.500V] [auto]
DRAM VRef [0.750V] [auto]
DRAM Termination [0.750V] [auto]
Ch-A Data VRef. [0.750V] [auto]
Ch-B Data VRef. [0.750V] [auto]
Ch-A Address VRef. [0.750V] [auto]
Ch-B Address VRef. [0.750V] [auto]

--Miscellaneous Settings
Isochronous Support [enabled]
Virtualization technology[enabled]


OC Testing Results—4.00GHz
-Intel Burn Test (IBT)
-Prime95
• 4.00GHz, 1.250V
o Load-line DISABLED
o BOOST TECH RATIO 1 - 4 [40]
o QPI/VTT VOLTAGE [AUTO]
o TURBO POWER LIMIT [AUTO]
o CORE CURRENT [AUTO]
o EIST ENABLED
o Intel burn test-FAILED
 Maximum setting, 20 passes
• 4.00GHz, 1.280V
o IBT-PASSED
 Maximum Setting, 20 passes
 IBR test CPU Vcore Max-1.284VV
 IBT test CPU Temps Max- 57,63,61,59
o Prime-Passed Large FFT’s-6.17hours
 Prime test CPU VCore Max-1.32V
 Prime test CPU Temps Max-53,58,56,54
o Prime-Passed Blend-10.34 hours
 Prime test CPU VCore Max- 1.32V
 Prime test CPU Temps Max-53,58,54,53


CPU-Z Screenshots while running my PC under normal load








System Specs:

-EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1573-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
- GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - OEM
- CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
- Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
- COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL (9-9-9-24-2N; 1.5V)
-COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible
-3 [200mm] fans (side, front, top) & 1 [120mm] rear fan; 2 [120mm] push/pull heatsink fans
-ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X OEM
-Intel i5 2500k 3.3 GHz 6MB Cache CPU

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Thats a 4GHz overclock.

 

[Smoblikat]

Thats a 4GHz overclock.

Indeed it is.

 

[jszklany]

Looks good!

 

[WT]

The Gigabyte UD3P is their lower end board, but its still a good choice for a 2500. I have mine at 4.1, but I plan on bumping it to 4.4 like yours. An Asus board may squeeze an extra 200-300mhz out of the chip, but I'd hardly say that is noticeable as well.

 

[Charlie98]

The Gigabyte UD3P is their lower end board, but its still a good choice for a 2500. I have mine at 4.1...

I've got mine at 4.1GHz as well, and it's doing fine there. As soon as I tried to go over that, it became unstable, and I don't really care to go in and dink with the BIOS settings to try to get another .2-.3GHz out of it.

I know some make fun of the crude Giga BIOS, but it's simple and it works... aesthetics aside.

 

[ManusDei]

Yeah my OC is at 4.00Ghz, my bad on the original posting. I tried going 4.44/4.45GHz and decided to just stay at 4.00GHz. So my settings/voltage is acceptable for a 4.00GHz OC?

Thanks btw all...

 

[Charlie98]

The only other thing I would probably do is disable your C3/C6 states. I left mine enabled and there was a marked decline in write speeds on my SSD. Once I disabled C3/C6, my write speeds normalized.

 

[Dribble]

I just ran the asus tool in windows, pressed the go faster button, it rebooted at 4.3, job done.

 

[Jman13]

One thing about those auto-overclock things is that it likely will run much higher voltage than you need. What settings is it using?

 

[Puppies04]

I just ran the asus tool in windows, pressed the go faster button, it rebooted at 4.3, job done.

One word. Don't. Those auto overclock programs are junk and will run way too much voltage, either do it yourself or leave it stock.

 

[Charlie98]

One thing about those auto-overclock things is that it likely will run much higher voltage than you need. What settings is it using?

^^^yes... D:

 

[ManusDei]

So im going to try and lower my voltage to 1.26V for my 4.00GHz OC. I know this is still somewhat high for a 4.00GHz OC but my chip failed IBT 20 max turns at 1.25V so it may just be a less than ideal chip. Does running 4.00GHz at 1.26V sound acceptable?

 

[Charlie98]

So im going to try and lower my voltage to 1.26V for my 4.00GHz OC. I know this is still somewhat high for a 4.00GHz OC but my chip failed IBT 20 max turns at 1.25V so it may just be a less than ideal chip. Does running 4.00GHz at 1.26V sound acceptable?

That's about where mine is at. I couldn't get it any lower without crashing.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Even I have a terrible experience with my p67a ud4 b3 and 2600k, it just doesn't become stable over 4.3ghz even at 1.36volts. This is the reason that my next Mobo will be a msi gd65 or gd80, when I change to ivy

 

[mkmitch]

So im going to try and lower my voltage to 1.26V for my 4.00GHz OC. I know this is still somewhat high for a 4.00GHz OC but my chip failed IBT 20 max turns at 1.25V so it may just be a less than ideal chip. Does running 4.00GHz at 1.26V sound acceptable?

I am running at 4.2 and 1.26v. Ran prime 95 and OCCT with no issues. i5 2500k and MSI z68a gd55 g3 mainboard.

 

[slpnshot]

So is it generally preferred to OC by auto voltage + offset rather than manually setting the voltage?