i7 4790K - May be my first cpu w/ no overclock

[Hauk]

Starting new build today around a 4790K, Asus Z97 Pro, and GTX 980. Considering the 4.0ghz base and 4.4 turbo, this is the first cpu I'm uncertain I'll overclock. 80% gaming, 20% surfing rig. Single gpu, plan to o/c it a bit.

Thoughts? Thanks..

 

[Ketchup]

Most will only do a moderate overclock before the volts and temps go through the roof, followed by a hard stop. After a "see what she will do" couple of days, mine is running stock and doing very well.


Here is one thread about it:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2396155

 

[Yuriman]

I'd probably turn on "multi-core optimization" at the very least, and get max turbo bin on all cores. Going for, say, 4.6 over 4.4 is less than a 5% improvement and probably not worth any extra voltage, though definitely test to see if you got a golden chip.

 

[Hauk]

Thanks for the link and comment. Yea long term I think stock is gonna be just fine for this one.

 

[cytg111]

I'd probably turn on "multi-core optimization" at the very least..

This. Other than that I wouldnt bother with OC'in that chip. Well if it will do 5Ghz at stock voltages and sub 80 degree celsius at load, then why the hell not, but other than that, no, it is allready a rockstar chip.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I agree as well. Hardly worth overclocking. I think the 4 core turbo is 4.2 and realistically even a good chip will not overclock much more than 10% above that. In fact I would even be tempted to forgo overclocking altogether and buy a cheaper non-Z motherboard.

 

[BSim500]

Thoughts? Thanks..

I have an i5-3570 (non K) at 4.2GHz, and quite honestly I don't regret not getting the "K" version and pushing it higher because there are zero games I own that come close to loading the cores even 65-70% and given the recent spate of 30fps bad ports / increasing "platform parity" attitude amongst devs / games plagued with non-performance related stutter, etc, that's probably unlikely to change in the near future. The only thing I can think of that may need ramping up speed is 120Hz gaming, but personally I'm not into that and can't really advise on it. Nice choice of GFX card though. :thumbsup: The Maxwell's are an enormous leap up in perf/watt. Thinking of getting one myself.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I agree as well. Hardly worth overclocking. I think the 4 core turbo is 4.2 and realistically even a good chip will not overclock much more than 10% above that. In fact I would even be tempted to forgo overclocking altogether and buy a cheaper non-Z motherboard.

I thought the turbo-spec for that chip was 4.4. And this is where the enthusiast should take stock of "ambitions."

If, with adequate cooling, you can get 4.4 Ghz out of it with little effort, it could make for a great computer. I'm pretty sure the i7-4770K @4.4 just edges beyond my 2600K @ 4.6/4.7 in cinebench. [Maybe I should re-bench, since I've made some adjustments for faster memory.]

Do you have "a great computer?" Do you need another "great computer?" or do you need/want a good chance for a "great computer" now?

Going from 4.4 to 4.7 may only be "possible" depending on your lottery. You can also de-lid the 4790K, for the risk and tedium, but getting better temperatures would be good for the processor in the long run.

What other processors released by intel will give you 4.4 turbo with stock settings?

 

[Rakehellion]

Any chip will overclock by 5%-10% for free. Beyond that, I seldom bother.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I thought the turbo-spec for that chip was 4.4. And this is where the enthusiast should take stock of "ambitions."

If, with adequate cooling, you can get 4.4 Ghz out of it with little effort, it could make for a great computer. I'm pretty sure the i7-4770K @4.4 just edges beyond my 2600K @ 4.6/4.7 in cinebench. [Maybe I should re-bench, since I've made some adjustments for faster memory.]

Do you have "a great computer?" Do you need another "great computer?" or do you need/want a good chance for a "great computer" now?

Going from 4.4 to 4.7 may only be "possible" depending on your lottery. You can also de-lid the 4790K, for the risk and tedium, but getting better temperatures would be good for the processor in the long run.

What other processors released by intel will give you 4.4 turbo with stock settings?

Single core (and maybe 2?) is 4.4. I am pretty sure if all 4 cores are loaded the turbo is 4.2. Realistically, overclock on all 4 cores with a good motherboard and aftermarket cooler is about 10% above that. Whether that is worth the trouble (fun??) of overclocking, buying more expensive MB and aftermarket cooler is up to the user I guess. Delidding should give lower temps, but not really that much more overclocking headroom I think, unless you get extremely lucky in the silicon lottery.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Single core (and maybe 2?) is 4.4. I am pretty sure if all 4 cores are loaded the turbo is 4.2. Realistically, overclock on all 4 cores with a good motherboard and aftermarket cooler is about 10% above that. Whether that is worth the trouble (fun??) of overclocking, buying more expensive MB and aftermarket cooler is up to the user I guess. Delidding should give lower temps, but not really that much more overclocking headroom I think, unless you get extremely lucky in the silicon lottery.

I'm wondering how far you can go as "by all cores" at the reported "auto" voltage. And I'm betting that 4.4 is a pretty easy clock speed to reach without breaking 70 to 75C with only slightly enhanced cooling of either the heatpipe or liquid/radiator variety. I'd even be interested to see the highest stress temperatures without de-lidding.

Now I understand what someone meant about "overclocking" the processor to 4.4. I'm even amazed that nobody made subtle comment about my . . spotty knowledge. I think I'd forgotten what happens with my own old CPU with default settings.

Everybody should take more time to study what happens with their system at totally default settings. . . . When I started collecting "baseline" data on my SNB/SB-K, it was already OC'd for "per-all-cores" and in "Turbo" mode. That was AFTER I'd run the BIOS OC tuner that pushed it to 4.4 and something like 1.44V. I was already in a hurry to avoid that setting again . . .

 

[Hauk]

I'd probably turn on "multi-core optimization" at the very least, and get max turbo bin on all cores.

Did that thanks. Asus scores with another stable board in Z97 Pro. Up and running without a hitch. Great to know all power optimizations are active while still enjoying a 4.4ghz max.

Off topic.. Samsung 850 Pro SSD's are amazing! Fastest install, updates, boot times I've ever seen. Wow..

 

[Bman123]

I've been waiting on black Friday hoping that microcenter runs a deal on this cpu. I won't be over clocking it tho as I plan to put it in a cheap motherboard to save some cash to put towards a ssd. I mainly use my ps4 for gaming but this will be more then enough to last me thru this console Gen playing pc ports of Xbox one games and last Gen 360 games I missed out on

 

[Hauk]

I've been waiting on black Friday hoping that microcenter runs a deal on this cpu. I won't be over clocking it tho as I plan to put it in a cheap motherboard to save some cash to put towards a ssd. I mainly use my ps4 for gaming but this will be more then enough to last me thru this console Gen playing pc ports of Xbox one games and last Gen 360 games I missed out on

Microcenter had a good price on cpu and mobo, grabbed mine for $279 and $179. Cheaper would be better though

 

[Bman123]

I'm hoping they do the occasional $199.99 for the cpu and $40 off a motherboard so I can get a $100 board and be out the store for the regular price of just the cpu alone. That would be nice

 

[jkauff]

I have the 4790K / Asus Z97 Pro combination from Microcenter, too. I don't game, but I do use Handbrake regularly for video transcodes. I'm running at 4.7, 1.38v with no problems, and it shaves a few minutes off a Handbrake job. I've got it set up as an OC profile in the BIOS so I can run at stock normally, and switch to OC when I've got some HB work to do. Best of both worlds.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I have the 4790K / Asus Z97 Pro combination from Microcenter, too. I don't game, but I do use Handbrake regularly for video transcodes. I'm running at 4.7, 1.38v with no problems, and it shaves a few minutes off a Handbrake job. I've got it set up as an OC profile in the BIOS so I can run at stock normally, and switch to OC when I've got some HB work to do. Best of both worlds.

Cooling system? Load temperatures and stress-test programs?

 

[StinkyPinky]

I just bumped mine to 4.4 on all four cores and called it a day. I couldn't be bothered doing anything else

 

[JBT]

Yep same here. I just can't tell the difference with this chip. Any heat increase from going faster just isn't worth it to me.

 

[JimmiG]

Did that thanks. Asus scores with another stable board in Z97 Pro. Up and running without a hitch. Great to know all power optimizations are active while still enjoying a 4.4ghz max.

Off topic.. Samsung 850 Pro SSD's are amazing! Fastest install, updates, boot times I've ever seen. Wow..

4.4 GHz with just a small tweak is very convenient indeed. I reached 4.5 GHz with my 4770K but only after a de-lid and a lot of time spent tweaking voltages and monitoring temperatures. If this CPU dies I'll probably just get a 4790K and not bother with overclocking or de-lidding (technically the multi-core optimization is overclocking too, but the chip itself is rated for that speed so it doesn't really count IMO).

 

[jkauff]

Cooling system? Load temperatures and stress-test programs?

Corsair H100i. Full load temps are in the high 70s. I have Prime95, but I haven't run it on this system. The only program I use that stresses the system is Handbrake, so if it's stable running a long Handbrake job at 4.7, I'm good.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Corsair H100i. Full load temps are in the high 70s. I have Prime95, but I haven't run it on this system. The only program I use that stresses the system is Handbrake, so if it's stable running a long Handbrake job at 4.7, I'm good.

I can only guess. I wouldn't be surprised if the processor throttles with small-FFT, but then I wouldn't know for sure, either. There aren't any formal spec guidelines for the voltages on these Haswell puppies. You're pushing the commonly accepted "guess" about an upper limit for my 32nm Sandy Bridge.

But I still see a lot of folks pushing voltages higher than that. I tend to be more cautious about it. REally, though. Who knows for sure?

 

[jkauff]

I can only guess. I wouldn't be surprised if the processor throttles with small-FFT, but then I wouldn't know for sure, either. There aren't any formal spec guidelines for the voltages on these Haswell puppies. You're pushing the commonly accepted "guess" about an upper limit for my 32nm Sandy Bridge.

But I still see a lot of folks pushing voltages higher than that. I tend to be more cautious about it. REally, though. Who knows for sure?

My previous system, with an air-cooled 3570K, would hit its head on the temp ceiling running Prime95 at 1.3v, although Handbrake temps stayed in the low 90s. Now, with better cooling and better on-chip TIM I feel quite comfortable at that voltage. Since I'm only using the OC for Handbrake, I don't worry about the electric bill either.