Got the 2500k to 4.5; can I do better?

[Ketchup]

So I have been seeing what I can get out of a 2500k, and it has been doing well. Right now I am at 4.5 GHz, very impressed. I am wondering if there is any farther I can go, or if I have pretty much hit the top, with these numbers:

CPU Voltage: Still set on auto, currently maxing out at 1.31
CPU Temp: 33-36 at idle, 56 to 63 at full load (all cores)
CPU Cooler: Running at auto and full speed, only a couple degrees difference
RAM: 1.5v, not overclocked at all, value never changes

I have seen numbers all over the place, so I am hoping that since SB has been out for a while, there is a consensus on what these numbers should be.

 

[Ed1]

I think you know answer already but it depends on how much voltage and other power setting you setup , along with how hot you may want to go .
Since your doing 4.5 with basically auto settings, thats good sign . why not bump up voltage to something like 1.4 and raise multiplier only issue I would have is how hot are you comfortable running the chip .

Ever chip is different so hard for anyone to say x will work but seems so far your doing good with nice baseline, if it is stable at those values (at least few hrs of prime95 or use something more stressful like linx ).

 

[Ketchup]

Thanks for the quick response. Do you think 1.4 is the top safe voltage for a SB chip?

 

[Yuriman]

I think most people try not to go much above 1.3 for 24/7 operation. Personally, I'd try lowering your voltage and see how low you can go at 4.5, it'll give you some idea of how much higher you can go.

 

[Ed1]

I think most people try not to go much above 1.3 for 24/7 operation. Personally, I'd try lowering your voltage and see how low you can go at 4.5, it'll give you some idea of how much higher you can go.

He's got a SB so he is already at 1.3v now in auto , that said again you want as low a voltage increase as possible , your using air cooled cooling .

For sure if you were running IB I would not go up much .
OP is 4.5 the highest it goes while still stable on auto or you just tried 4.5 to see ?

 

[guskline]

So I have been seeing what I can get out of a 2500k, and it has been doing well. Right now I am at 4.5 GHz, very impressed. I am wondering if there is any farther I can go, or if I have pretty much hit the top, with these numbers:

CPU Voltage: Still set on auto, currently maxing out at 1.31
CPU Temp: 33-36 at idle, 56 to 63 at full load (all cores)
CPU Cooler: Running at auto and full speed, only a couple degrees difference
RAM: 1.5v, not overclocked at all, value never changes

I have seen numbers all over the place, so I am hoping that since SB has been out for a while, there is a consensus on what these numbers should be.

I have both of mine at 4533 (44 x103) and they are rock solid. See sigs below. Can you go higher ? Probably, but not a whole lot more before you have to start increasing voltage or use more exotic cooling or risking instability. WHY???? You have OC's the 3.3(3.7 Turbo) stock SB I5-2500k to 4.5GHZ rock solid.

Rejoice and enjoy an outstanding CPU.

 

[Kenmitch]

Anything under 1.4v's should be safe enough as long as temps are OK.

:f worried buy protection plan from Intel.

My 2550k has been up to 5.6ghz @1.7v's and it's still alive.

Idontcare did a oops at 2.4v's on one of his chips and it's still alive.

 

[Ketchup]

Thanks for the answers folks. 4.5 is the fastest I can go at 1.3 v. It will run all day with gaming, benchmarking, etc. 4.6 blue screened just in normal windows activities. As I mentioned down in C%C, I was considering adding a second fan, but it sounds like I wouldn't pick up much with the stock fan in place. It sounds like I am at a nice spot for everyday use.

I asked about the voltage because I would like to try a run to see how fast I could go, but not for everyday computing. I had a heater in my Core 2 Quad system, I am not looking for another one.

So what kind of voltage do you guys use for everyday computing?

 

[Arkaign]

With your current 660, I think you're golden at 4.5.

 

[jacktesterson]

I've been running mine @ 1.4v (4.5GHz, your chip is much better) 24/7 forever without issue.

 

[Ketchup]

Worked on it some this afternoon and made it to 4.9, but took a bit of voltage and heat to get there (core 2 hit 80 at one point). 4.5 is a good number, thanks for the input guys.

 

[FalseChristian]

I have my i5 2500K at 4.5GHz at 1.275v. Going any higher isn't going to make a difference in gaming so why risk 5Ghz at 1.50v? You'll just cut in half the lifespan on your CPU for no noticable gain in performance.

 

[Yukmouth]

I've been at 4.8ghz/1.350v (1.371v actual in windows) for a long time now without issue and it barely hits mid fifties gaming, absolutely amazing CPU.

 

[Ketchup]

Going any higher isn't going to make a difference in gaming so why risk 5Ghz at 1.50v? You'll just cut in half the lifespan on your CPU for no noticable gain in performance.

I know, right? These are great chips, at just about any speed.

 

[guskline]

I use auto voltage on both 2500ks at my OC speed. The difference from stock to my max OC without a voltage mod is a lot greater than a "tweeked" chip with upped voltage for what/ a few 100 Mhz higher? Not worth it.

My 8150 Bulldozer is a different story. Needs a modest volt increase to run at a respeckable clock rate.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

4.8GHz @ 1.36V fixed (loaded and unloaded) on Biostar TZ77XE4.