Mildly overclocking i5-3570k

[Ime]

So I built a new computer yesterday and decided to give it a moderate overclock on the CPU and videocard. I have a few questions. I've never overclocked before now, so please bear with me if I ask anything stupid.

I have:
i5-3570k
Artic Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2
ASRock Z77 Pro3
Sapphire 7970
Samsung 1600 RAM rated for 1.35v

At 4.2GHZ my 3570k, my temp reads 79C max in Coretemp. Vcore reads 1.216 (still set to auto) in CPU-Z. All this while running Prime95 using the maximum heat option. My RAM voltage reads 1.585v. (checked in BIOS) I haven't OC'd my video card yet.

Question 1: Are the CPU temp and voltage at safe levels?

Question 2: Why is my RAM running at 1.585v when it's rated for 1.35v?

Question 3: What's the best utility to use to OC/test OC my Sapphire with?

 

[ShintaiDK]

1. Temps and voltage is fine. The tjmax for the CPU is 105C. Remember to check the voltage under load and not in idle.

2. Remove autooverclocking or voltage for the memory. And run it at 1.35V instead of you run it at 1600Mhz.

 

[tweakboy]

You have a 7970 yet you have a budget 180 dollar CPU ? I dont get it ,,,, i5 means the people thath go to costco and buy a pc. i7 is for the enthusiast.. I guess your not one... 600 for video card, yet 180 for CPU sounds very disturbing to me. :thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

 

[fralexandr]

3. i would either use AMDs catalyst control center, or sapphire's gpu overclocking tool Sapphire Trixx Tweak Utility. I would probably just go with CCC because it comes with the default AMD driver install package. It shouldn't matter too much for most uses.

One of the best ways to test it would be with a game like metro 2033 or something , but you can also use unigine heaven i suppose.
http://unigine.com/products/heaven/

 

[LoveMachine]

Auto-overclock utilities tend to bump voltage a bit too much. My 3570K is currently at 4.4GHz at 1.16V or somewhere thereabouts (not at that computer atm). If you can manually change timings and voltage, I'd try bringing voltage down and seeing if the system stays stable. You will get a little lower temps, lower power consumption, and potentially a little more life out of the CPU. You current voltage is fine, it's just higher than it really needs to be.

Also, your RAM voltage seems high as well. Is that overclocked as well? I have the same sticks at 1866mhz at 1.4V.

 

[FlanK3r]

newest batchs are not much good...I had one, which can not worked with stock VID! Max stable OC was about 4.5 GHz for 3/4 pieces. The last one could hit 4.6 GHz stable.

 

[dragantoe]

wow I don't know about those temps 0_0, mine is at a constant 4.6 ghz and never reaches more than 60 C in prime95, using the ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX

 

[Ime]

Apologizes for taking so long to get back. I had to run a battery of tests on my system. Namely, I ran all the tests listed in the sticky! Here's what I came back with.

My CPU has started jumping between 4.2ghz and 3.4ghz. Vcore keeps dropping to 1.131 to 1.157. I'm going to turn off auto voltage try setting the voltage manually like a previous poster suggested.

The package for the RAM says it works at 1.35v and 1.5v. Since my post I've OC'd the RAM to 2000mhz, and lowered the RAM voltage to 1.5v in BIOS. Memtest ran to 500% with zero errors, so it looks like my RAM is solid.

My video card does not want to OC. Any increase in clocks for either the processor or ram causing video errors after 10 minutes of testing. The main issue is any voltage I select in Trixx doesn't want to stick. The 7970's default clocks are 1000 and 1450 for proc/ram, respectively. I double checked the packaging and the card is already factory overclocked. (says 7970 OC with Boost). Perhaps I can't overclock the card any further? Or maybe I should try another program to overclock it? Suggestions here would be welcome!

 

[imported_paulc871]

Wow that is some good advice. thanks guiz

 

[Vectronic]

mine ... constant 4.6 ghz ... never ... more than 60 C ... using ... CNPS9900MAX

Wait wait wait... couple questions:

1. Do you live in an igloo?
2. Voltage?
3. Test bench, desktop, or tower?
4. Small FFT, or Blend?
5. What about IBT/Lin?
6. Did you de-lid?

Granted your board is probably better than mine (ASRock Z77 Ext4)... so you probably have better/more stable voltage ***, but otherwise same config as me... there's no way I'd get 60C @ 4.6 ... I could probably get 60C at 4.2GHz if I ran all 5 fans at max (22C ambient).

*** Z75 is 4 phase, Z77 is "8" phase, but it's actually 4 doubled, so theoretically, it's the same... in actuality, 4 is probably better.

Hmm... seems to differ over here.