3770K OC. Am I doing something wrong?

[CarlCAgathon]

I am using a 3770K with a Gigabyte GA-Z77X UD5H and Noctua NH-D14. My goal is to run a 24/7 stable overclock at 4.5 GHz. I will be using C1E to allow the CPU to downclock when 4.5 is not needed. These are my BIOS settings.

Advanced Frequency Settings
CPU/PCIe Base Clock - 100.1MHz
Processor Graphics Clock - 1150
CPU Clock Ratio - 35
XMP Profile - Disabled
System Memory Multiplier - 16.00 (My Corsair Vengeance came stock at 1333)



Advanced CPU Core Features
CPU Clock Ratio - 35
Internal CPU PLL Overvoltage - Auto
Intel Turbo Boost Technology - Auto
Turbo Ratio (1 Core Active) - 45
Turbo Ratio (2 Core Active) - 45
Turbo Ratio (3 Core Active) - 45
Turbo Ratio (4 Core Active) - 45
Turbo Power Limit (Watts) - Auto
Core Current Limit (Amps) - Auto
CPU Core Enabled - Auto
Hyper Threading Technology - Auto
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) - Enabled
C3/C6 State Support - Enabled
CPU Thermal Monitor - Auto
CPU EIST Function - Enabled

Advanced Memory Settings
XMP - Disabled
System Memory Multiplier - 16.00
Performance Enhance - Turbo
DRAM Timing Selectable - Auto

Advanced Voltage Settings/3D Power Control
*Everything Auto Besides Vcore Loadline Calibration - Extreme

Advanced Voltage Settings/CPU Core Voltage Control
CPU Vcore - 1.350 V
DVID - Disabled
CPU Vtt - Auto
CPU PLL - 1.650 V
IMC - Autp
Dynamic GFX Core - Auto

Advanced Voltage Settings/DRAM Voltage Control
*Everything Auto

These are my Idle Temps and CPU Z readings

And these are my Load Temps and readings after 10 minutes of Prime 95

My questions are:

1) Am I doing everything correctly in the BIOS?

2) 1.320 Volts crashed when running Prime 95. Why do I need to go so high on the core voltage do get a relatively mild 4.5 Ghz? I'm aware that these chips are a lottery, but 1.35 V for 4.5 GHz seems SO high. Tell me if my expectations are off here.

3. Why are the load temps so high? Is it just too much voltage or is the Noctua not doing it's job?

As you can probably tell, I am completely in the dark here as this is my first attempt at overclocking. Any advice on where I can go from here is greatly appreciated.

 

[Muyoso]

I have the same exact motherboard/cpu and cooler as you. I am running my 3770k at 4.5Ghz with all of the power saving features on, exactly how you want to run it.

First thing I will say is that my D14 was not perfectly flat. I sent that one back, but even the one I got in return was not perfectly flat. Also, the IHS on my processor was also not perfectly flat. Both were concave leaving a bit of a gap, not huge, but enough to effect temperatures.

Why don't you try loading the XMP profile for the memory? Are you overclocking the memory? If so, get rid of that overclock while you are testing out what your CPU can do. Also I'd lower the "Performance Enhance" on the memory to Standard or whatever is below Turbo.

When your computer crashed, what was the error code?

 

[Goros]

That's a lot of volts.

I run at 4.4ghz with a high temp of 82 and 1.24v.

 

[CarlCAgathon]

I have the same exact motherboard/cpu and cooler as you. I am running my 3770k at 4.5Ghz with all of the power saving features on, exactly how you want to run it.

First thing I will say is that my D14 was not perfectly flat. I sent that one back, but even the one I got in return was not perfectly flat. Also, the IHS on my processor was also not perfectly flat. Both were concave leaving a bit of a gap, not huge, but enough to effect temperatures.

Why don't you try loading the XMP profile for the memory? Are you overclocking the memory? If so, get rid of that overclock while you are testing out what your CPU can do. Also I'd lower the "Performance Enhance" on the memory to Standard or whatever is below Turbo.

When your computer crashed, what was the error code?

When I go to low on the voltage I get a variety of BSODs. One I just got said Bad Pool Header. What is your CPU core voltage. Do you use the DVID offset or a fixed voltage? Thanks!

 

[Goros]

I run a fixed speed/voltage. 24/7 at 4.4, 1.205v in bios with LLC at extreme puts it at 1.22 idle/1.24 loaded.

I also took manual control of all voltages on the board related to my overclock (vccsa, vccio, etc)

All c states disabled, spread spectrum disabled, virtualization disabled, speedstep disabled.

 

[Termie]

When I go to low on the voltage I get a variety of BSODs. One I just got said Bad Pool Header. What is your CPU core voltage. Do you use the DVID offset or a fixed voltage? Thanks!

It actually sounds like you have a particularly below-average chip. Needing that much voltage for 4.5GHz isn't a good sign. I need 1.18v.

One way to get a feeling for the chip's limits is to find the stable overclock at stock voltage. Have you tried that?

 

[Goros]

I almost wonder if damage has been done by overvolting and now the chip has degraded to a point where he needs that much juice?

Or if his vccsa or vccio were turned up too high?

Could be his RAM is oc'd also, making fine tuning slightly harder.

Too many variables, not enough detail.

 

[tweakboy]

Your not dont sweat it.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Not all cpus are abv avg ocers.

 

[Muyoso]

I have my 3770k @ 4.5Ghz and 1.228v I think. Its perfectly stable without any WHEA errors or anything. I could probably bump that down slightly, but its a pain in the ass trying to find the perfect voltage and I am happy at 1.228v. I use the offset set at Normal voltage -. 035 I think. Going off of memory as I am not at the computer right now.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Just reduce to 4.2 or 4.3 prolly 1.25 tops will work.

 

[guskline]

I can run mine at 4.5 Ghz and it passes Prime 95 and IBT even Intel's own stess test utility. However during IBT some of the cores are as high as 91C. Backed it off to 4.4Ghz and it runs 5 C cooler under the most rigorous tests. Again, it is stable at 4.5 Ghz but I don't like that much heat so 4.4Ghz is fine. BTW, my cooler is the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro. I'll be upgrading to a Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme when it arrives. After I install it I'll see if the temps come down.

 

[blackened23]

Your voltage is kinda high. My 3770k hits 4.6ghz at 1.24V (maximum) with voltage offset.

 

[Goros]

Not all cpus are abv avg ocers.

He's not even in the ballpark of average, let alone above average. He's running way high. Average is 1.22-1.25 at 4.5GHz. He's over 1.35. That's even too high for SB-E and SB-E isn't a 3d chip.

Bad mojo.

 

[Idontcare]

I am using a 3770K with a Gigabyte GA-Z77X UD5H and Noctua NH-D14.

Advanced Voltage Settings/CPU Core Voltage Control
CPU Vcore - 1.350 V

My questions are:

1) Am I doing everything correctly in the BIOS?

2) 1.320 Volts crashed when running Prime 95. Why do I need to go so high on the core voltage do get a relatively mild 4.5 Ghz? I'm aware that these chips are a lottery, but 1.35 V for 4.5 GHz seems SO high. Tell me if my expectations are off here.

3. Why are the load temps so high? Is it just too much voltage or is the Noctua not doing it's job?

Your high temps are because of your high CPU voltage. And unfortunately your high CPU voltage is partly because of your high temps.

(it is a catch-22, seriously)

You need to improve the thermal conductivity (more efficient cooling) or you need to back off on your OC and just accept it as it is.

In terms of improving your cooling efficiency, your NH-D14 probably needs to be lapped. I lapped mine to 3000 grit.

Next is to consider lapping your CPU's IHS.

However with IvyBridge you may find lapping the IHS gives you no improvement in cooling efficiency unless you also delid and replace the underlying TIM.

With my lapped NH-D14 my stock 3770k (no lapping or delidding) would do 4.5GHz with 1.184V but it would hit 82C during LinX. Eventually I was able to improve on that by delidding and using Liquid Ultra on the die, my temps were reduced to 66C at the same CPU volts.

That said, be aware that lapping and/or delidding will invalidate your warranty (including the performance tuning plan). So only do it if you are truly ready to write off your CPU in the event that it dies from the testing.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Disable C3/C6 states, I couldn't get mine stable at 4.5GHz with those enabled. Idle power does take a hit. If that's important to you use lower frequency.

You use low cpu pll, standard is 1.8V. Did you manually change this?

Also use XMP profile. You can't be completely sure your mobo is using the correct timings now.

 

[boondocks]

I have two UD5H boards, and someone always brings up disabling power states, which I never found the need to do.
Anyway both boards are running 3770K's with +.015 - .020 DVID for 4.5GHz.

If using one of the later BIOS you should probably set PLL over voltage to Enabled. (option didn't exist on earlier BIOS).

As was mentioned, the cpu pll looks pretty low. Sometimes you can drop it a bit for lower temps, but until I was stable at the stock 1.8v I would leave it alone.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Ofcourse I'm just stating some options. If it works for you it doesn't mean it works for everyone. It sure didn't for me but I use a different mobo and I'm not even sure if the problem is the mobo or the cpu.

I don't think enabling internal PLL overvoltage is necessary for 4.5GHz but op can try ofcourse. Could also just be a bad chip, seen a few like these so far.

 

[tracerbullet]

FWIW, Disabling C3 and C6 kept me from throwing WHEA's at idle, surfing Anandtech and such. I didn't try them independently so maybe just one of them would have done it. But that change (C3/C6) was the difference between throwing an error every 5-10 minutes to not throwing any at all for a couple weeks now.

Disabling them might or might not help anything at high multipliers under load, but definitely helped me at idle.

 

[guskline]

I can run mine at 4.5 Ghz and it passes Prime 95 and IBT even Intel's own stess test utility. However during IBT some of the cores are as high as 91C. Backed it off to 4.4Ghz and it runs 5 C cooler under the most rigorous tests. Again, it is stable at 4.5 Ghz but I don't like that much heat so 4.4Ghz is fine. BTW, my cooler is the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro. I'll be upgrading to a Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme when it arrives. After I install it I'll see if the temps come down.

Just installed the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme and it made a nice difference. Running IBT 20x at 4.4 Ghz showed max temps of 69-74-69-70. Extremely pleased.