I7 3770K Overclocking / Asrock Z77 extreme4

[1b0b1]

Hey guys,

Anyone here got the i7 3770k with the Asrock extreme 4 and successfully overclocked it ? if so, please share the results (frequency/voltage used and the temperatures reached). The reason behind this is that I am going to get the exact components and planning to overclock the CPU to get the most out of it, so it is nice to know what should I expect.

My rig (ordered and waiting for the parts to arrive):

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K
Cooler: CM Master Hyper 212 EVO
MOBO: Asrock Z77 Extreme4
GPU: MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (Lightning Edition)
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1 TB 7200 RPM 64 MB
SSD: Corsair Force GT 240 GB
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800)
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze

Thank you.

 

[lehtv]

With 8 power phases to the CPU, your 212 EVO is the bottleneck, not the motherboard. You'll be able to reach around 4.2-4.4GHz depending on your tolerance for temperatures.

What case btw?

 

[1b0b1]

Oh sorry I forgot to mention the case. It's the NZXT 410 phantom.

I know my 212 will be the bottleneck, but I won't do extreme overclocking. Also, later on, I'll get a new cooler. I just wanted to know some of the results if any.

 

[Shmee]

mine does 4.4 on about 1.15 vcore or so, if I remember correctly. Different board though.

 

[1b0b1]

mine does 4.4 on about 1.15 vcore or so, if I remember correctly. Different board though.

Thanks for sharing

 

[1b0b1]

Please share your results, if any.

I am struggling to make my system stable with the below settings:

Multiplier: 42
Fixed voltage: 1.095v (after 4 hours of maximum temp prime95 test, it gave errors so I am planning to try 1.1v)
LLC: level 1 (highest available)
Maximum temp reached: 66c (3~4 hours test)
Idle temp: 23c~32c

Everything else is on default settings.

 

[Termie]

As I mentioned in the other thread, you're undervolting too much. Your board has a stock voltage, according to your other thread, of 1.25v. That's quite high, but most boards provide 1.16-1.18v to a 3770k at stock.

If you're trying 4.2Ghz, begin with voltage at 1.16v and then go down from there. You're doing this in the opposite direction it seems, starting with very low voltages. That's just a recipe for lots of time-consuming testing.

 

[1b0b1]

As I mentioned in the other thread, you're undervolting too much. Your board has a stock voltage, according to your other thread, of 1.25v. That's quite high, but most boards provide 1.16-1.18v to a 3770k at stock.

If you're trying 4.2Ghz, begin with voltage at 1.16v and then go down from there. You're doing this in the opposite direction it seems, starting with very low voltages. That's just a recipe for lots of time-consuming testing.

You are right, but from what i noticed, at 1.095v it was semi-stable, i think I am almost there. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[lehtv]

Why use fixed voltage? I would recommend using the minimum offset voltage you can set on your board, that will give voltage as close to VID as possible. Then start downvolting from there, or if your temps are fine, increase MHz first

 

[Redmenace]

I'm running my I7 3770 on an Extreme4 with a 42 multiplier, using a 212+ cooler and haven't changed any other settings. I haven't run Prime95 but I only care if I have problems with BF3, which I haven't had. Of all my games, BF3 (64p multi) seems to be the only one that gets the fan going at max speed on the 212+ and I've seen temps in the 70's using RealTemp.

 

[1b0b1]

I'm running my I7 3770 on an Extreme4 with a 42 multiplier, using a 212+ cooler and haven't changed any other settings. I haven't run Prime95 but I only care if I have problems with BF3, which I haven't had. Of all my games, BF3 (64p multi) seems to be the only one that gets the fan going at max speed on the 212+ and I've seen temps in the 70's using RealTemp.

IT will work fine, but if you monitor your Vcore you will see that it is quite a lot for a 42 multiplier. I suggest that you check your Vcore when it is maxed (During a stress test) and then go to bios and do it manual, you will be able to reach same speeds at low Vcores which will eventually limit the temperature rising.

By the way, I am currently testing the multiplier 42 with the below settings:

Vcore: Fixed on 1.15v
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
LLC: Auto (LLC 1 selected automatically)
Everything else is set on auto.

I am running a custom prime95 test and till now everything is working fine. Max temperature reached is 73c
Max Vcore noticed 1.160v

Note that those temperatures will be observed only when using a stressing program like prime95, while in normal use, expect the temps to be much lower, even while gaming.

Think about it

 

[1b0b1]

Why use fixed voltage? I would recommend using the minimum offset voltage you can set on your board, that will give voltage as close to VID as possible. Then start downvolting from there, or if your temps are fine, increase MHz first

Are you talking about negative offset values ?

 

[Arkaign]

A warning about that ram. I went through FOUR unstable 2x8gb and 2x4gb packs of Vengeance recently, in both 1600 and 1866 speeds. Unstable on every motherboard I tried to install them in. Swapped out for Kingston and everything is good. I have no idea why, I've never ever had trouble with Corsair ram before.

That was one of the mainboards I was using as well, with a 3770K. It worked quite well, have it at 4.5ghz with a 212 Evo. Ivy Bridge is somewhat of a crapshoot with overclocking, the exact same board wouldn't run a new 3570K any more than 4.2Ghz even with an H100.

 

[1b0b1]

A warning about that ram. I went through FOUR unstable 2x8gb and 2x4gb packs of Vengeance recently, in both 1600 and 1866 speeds. Unstable on every motherboard I tried to install them in. Swapped out for Kingston and everything is good. I have no idea why, I've never ever had trouble with Corsair ram before.

That was one of the mainboards I was using as well, with a 3770K. It worked quite well, have it at 4.5ghz with a 212 Evo. Ivy Bridge is somewhat of a crapshoot with overclocking, the exact same board wouldn't run a new 3570K any more than 4.2Ghz even with an H100.

What are the settings and temps for the 4.5ghz OC ?

 

[Arkaign]

I used 1.2v, default offset or whatever that was, and temps stay in the mid 60s while gaming. It's just so unpredictable though, in the same board with the same cooler the 3570k was hitting 90s at 4.2 with less voltage, and swapping in an h100 did nothing. It's because the TIM was just particularly poor in that 3570, and cooling the IHS to hell and back wouldn't fix that.

 

[lehtv]

Are you talking about negative offset values ?

Yes. I'm running my 3770K @ 4.2GHz on a negative offset, i.e. undervolted with regard to VID. It's -0.040 for me, IIRC. Unlike fixed voltage, this allows the CPU to adjust Vcore dynamically which means the CPU will use less power at idle.

You might be able to get 4.3 or 4.4 out of it too, but if your chip is anything like mine you'll have to use positive offset instead and perhaps higher Load Line Calibration. I run my CPU fan at very low RPM so it wasn't worth it to me to go above 4.2 for everyday use

 

[1b0b1]

Yes. I'm running my 3770K @ 4.2GHz on a negative offset, i.e. undervolted with regard to VID. It's -0.040 for me, IIRC. Unlike fixed voltage, this allows the CPU to adjust Vcore dynamically which means the CPU will use less power at idle.

You might be able to get 4.3 or 4.4 out of it too, but if your chip is anything like mine you'll have to use positive offset instead and perhaps higher Load Line Calibration. I run my CPU fan at very low RPM so it wasn't worth it to me to go above 4.2 for everyday use

This is my current settings now:

Multiplier: 4.2GHz
Vcore: -0.100v
Intel SpeedStep Tech: Enabled
Intel Turbo Boost Tech: Enabled
LLC: Level 2 (Second highest)
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Additional Turbo Voltage: +0.004v
Internal PLL Voltage: Disabled

Idle vcore: 0.776v - 0.896v
Max Vcore (during prime95 test): 1.160v

Max temperature (during prime 95 test): 74c
Max temperature (during games): 58c

What do you think ?

 

[felang]

For what it´s worth, this guide was a great starting point during my overclocking efforts with that same motherboard, I see that you´re running mostly auto values, adjusting some of the current limit settings might help.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1198504/...-guide-sandy-bridge-ivy-bridge-asrock-edition

Also, depending on how comfortable you are pushing it temp wise (I personally wouldn´t mind a 3770K reaching between 80 or 90 deg while stress testing if system is mainly used for gaming and during normal use stays cooler) you still have room to push the volts amd mhz a bit further IMO.

 

[1b0b1]

Alright gents, I think I found my sweet spot:

settings and results: (mind the negative offset)

cpu-z: (on complete idle for 8 hours):

realtemp (complete idle for 8 hours):

As you noticed, one of the cores reached 40c on complete idle, any comments about that ?

I did the idle test because the offset was set to -0.115v which will make make the Vcore start at 0.7**v. I think that this voltage is relatively low and may cause BSOD, I guess I was wrong, no BSOD's or whatsoever, either during idle or on startup.

If you have any feedback,comments.suggestions, please let me know. I am eager to know some expert opinions about this OC settings.

 

[Vectronic]

Yours is a 3770K, but this *may* help you:

Unless you had no luck at all and got a screwed up 3770 or a bad board, you should be able to follow those same settings but at 0.02 to 0.050 volts less.

SpeedStep/Turbo: Enabled
Additional Turbo V: Auto
PLL Overvolt: Disabled
PLL Voltage: 1.603 (from 1.832, might want to leave yours on auto, for me this works)
For "Fixed" I was using LLC auto, and for "Offset" I was using LLC1

C1E: Enabled
C3/6/States: Disabled
All IGPU stuff disabled

Otherwise default settings.

 

[1b0b1]

Yours is a 3770K, but this *may* help you:

Unless you had no luck at all and got a screwed up 3770 or a bad board, you should be able to follow those same settings but at 0.02 to 0.050 volts less.

SpeedStep/Turbo: Enabled
Additional Turbo V: Auto
PLL Overvolt: Disabled
PLL Voltage: 1.603 (from 1.832, might want to leave yours on auto, for me this works)
For "Fixed" I was using LLC auto, and for "Offset" I was using LLC1

C1E: Enabled
C3/6/States: Disabled
All IGPU stuff disabled

Otherwise default settings.

I am trying the offset -0.080v right now at a multiplier of 44.
Running a custom Prime95 test:

Vcore spotted on CPU-Z (during the stress test): 1.176v~1.184v
Temp (during stress): started at hi 50's, now in 60's

We'll see how it works, the Vcore is great for this multiplier if it worked

 

[Vectronic]

Using In-Place Large FFT?... if you really want to test temperatures, use Small FFT... or even worse/better IntelBurnTest/LinPack...

Small FFT/IBT... are pretty much the maximum... you'll probably never run into that much "stress" using normal applications.

 

[1b0b1]

Usually i use In-place large FFts or custom:

Min FFT size: 8
Max FFT size 1792
Memory to use: Actual memory x 512, which is 16 * 512 = 8192 (for me)
Time to run: 5 minutes

Btw, 1 worker stopped, so I guess I have to modify the offset a little bit. Brb

 

[felang]

Why are you idling @ 4.2ghz with Speedstep on?

 

[1b0b1]

Alright, now I am using the offset -.080v.

running prime with Small FFT, the temps started at 70 max till now: 78 (do i really have to run this test to assure the stability ? knowing that I might never reach those temps while gaming/video editing or using normal applications

Vcore: 1.184v~1.192v