New Build $1300

[lehtv]

I'll check for the alcohol when I get to work, if not i'll order it when I get home later. Man can't believe their was absolutely no compound on the cpu. Also what application method did you use?

I just put a little blob on the center and then put pressure on two opposing corners, then the other two. There are many methods, and in the end it doesn't matter much what method you use.

You don't have to use much paste - it doesn't even have to cover the entire surface once spread by the heatsink's pressure. The part of the CPU you see is the integrated heat spreader (IHS), the area of the CPU itself (i.e. the cores) below the IHS is much smaller.

Something like this is enough

 

[tg2708]

I just put a little blob on the center and then put pressure on two opposing corners, then the other two. There are many methods, and in the end it doesn't matter much what method you use.

You don't have to use much paste - it doesn't even have to cover the entire surface once spread by the heatsink's pressure. The part of the CPU you see is the integrated heat spreader (IHS), the area of the CPU itself (i.e. the cores) below the IHS is much smaller.

Something like this is enough

ok I will have to try that, its actually the method I prefer. I hope their is enough compound left in the syringe that came with the i30; just post a link to one for me in case I might need one.

 

[lehtv]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835242028

Edit: that is actually a really small tube... Better get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003

 

[mfenn]

I see now that your OCCT graphs were from the GPU test, not the OCCT CPU test. I'm not sure if mfenn noticed this when he said the CPU temps are very good... it's irrelevant what the CPU temps are when testing the GPU.

Busted. Good eye!

 

[mfenn]

dp

 

[tg2708]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835242028

Edit: that is actually a really small tube... Better get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835154003

Can Q-tips be used to clean the heatsink and cpu surface or any other clean recommendation? I don't think I have a lint free cloth.

 

[lehtv]

Q-tips can leave threads which you don't want anywhere near electrical components, so you need to be careful with them. I've used them before with success, but I'd rather use fine microfiber cloth which can be washed after use e.g. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA24G0P76259

 

[tg2708]

Well temps aren't as high as before but it still peaked at 89 after 20 linx test. Any advice is more that welcome at this moment. FWIW is never stayed at 89 it just fluctuated their and drop back to to 60s.

 

[lehtv]

Can you also test Prime95 small fft's

 

[tg2708]

Can you also test Prime95 small fft's

I just started to run the large one, doing it for 30 mins. The upside to all of this that its not peaking a 100 on prime95 the minute i start it. So far is it looks good in between 60 and 70. Man the only option for me now is watercooling, but not now. And the other issue is the gpu. Running at constant 4.2 is giving me 90. know of any programs to control fans?

 

[lehtv]

Between 60 and 70 is great, that's in the range I would expect it to be. But 90 degrees at 4.2 is quite high and unexpected. Not sure what's wrong there... It's unclear to me what your case fan setup is currently

 

[tg2708]

Between 60 and 70 is great, that's in the range I would expect it to be. But 90 degrees at 4.2 is quite high and unexpected. Not sure what's wrong there... It's unclear to me what your case fan setup is currently

Yea I stopped it but I have only 2 case fans the noctua at the back (seems to be running at 1500rpm, quite noisey and unsure if their is an issue) and the front stock fan and also the cpu fan.

 

[lehtv]

OK. I'm suspecting that (a) either your heat sink is still incorrectly mounted, or more likely (b) your voltage for 4.2GHz is too high. Have you tried whether 4.2GHz stays stable at a lower voltage? If you just let the motherboard automatically set voltage for you, it's probably much higher than needed.

 

[tg2708]

OK. I'm suspecting that (a) either your heat sink is still incorrectly mounted, or more likely (b) your voltage for 4.2GHz is too high. Have you tried whether 4.2GHz stays stable at a lower voltage? If you just let the motherboard automatically set voltage for you, it's probably much higher than needed.

the cpu heatsink is alot more bolted down than before.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1722630/intel-god-quick-dirty-guide-4ghz-haswell.html

I followed this link while setting the minimum values.

 

[lehtv]

I would recommend not using fixed CPU voltage. That means your CPU will not downvolt when idling, and will therefore run hotter and consume more power when idling. I would use offset voltage instead... but it shouldn't have impact on load temperatures.

For 4.2GHz, you shouldn't need to touch any other voltage besides CPU core voltage. Just leave everything else at stock, adjust only CPU turbo multiplier and core offset voltage.

The fact that your 4.2GHz temps are so much higher than stock indicates, to me, that you're using a higher voltage than is normally expected for that speed... although, I can't speak that confidently about Haswell; I only know that Ivy Bridge chips should OC to 4.2 with minimal voltage increase.

I suppose it's possible your particular chip just isn't a good OC'er at all. You could try 4.0GHz and see what the lowest stable voltage is for that speed. If it's significantly lower than for 4.2GHz then that's a pretty good indication that your chip doesn't OC well.

 

[tg2708]

I would recommend not using fixed CPU voltage. That means your CPU will not downvolt when idling, and will therefore run hotter and consume more power when idling. I would use offset voltage instead... but it shouldn't have impact on load temperatures.

For 4.2GHz, you shouldn't need to touch any other voltage besides CPU core voltage. Just leave everything else at stock, adjust only CPU turbo multiplier and core offset voltage.

The fact that your 4.2GHz temps are so much higher than stock indicates, to me, that you're using a higher voltage than is normally expected for that speed... although, I can't speak that confidently about Haswell; I only know that Ivy Bridge chips should OC to 4.2 with minimal voltage increase.

I suppose it's possible your particular chip just isn't a good OC'er at all. You could try 4GHz and see what the lowest stable voltage is for that speed. If it's significantly lower than for 4.2GHz then that's a pretty good indication that your chip doesn't OC well.

yea their is too many settings in the bios to mess with too. and their too many setting to manupulate the cpu voltage and cache.

 

[lehtv]

What do you mean there are too many settings? There are TWO settings. Boost multiplier and voltage setting, those are the only ones you need to touch.

 

[tg2708]

What do you mean there are too many settings? There are TWO settings. Boost multiplier and voltage setting, those are the only ones you need to touch.

ok but their is more than one options for voltage of the cpu. Also the gpu, I donnt think it overclocks well neither. Any tips?

 

[lehtv]

ftp://europe.asrock.com/manual/Z87 Extreme4.pdf

Set CPU Voltage Mode to 'Adaptive' and then adjust CPU Voltage Offset. Don't touch the Cache voltages or any other voltages.

As for GPU overclocking, are you sure you have the power limit set to +20? Are you using MSI Afterburner to overclock? Have you enabled voltage control in the MSI Afterburner settings?

 

[tg2708]

ftp://europe.asrock.com/manual/Z87 Extreme4.pdf

Set CPU Voltage Mode to 'Adaptive' and then adjust CPU Voltage Offset. Don't touch the Cache voltages or any other voltages.

As for GPU overclocking, are you sure you have the power limit set to +20? Are you using MSI Afterburner to overclock? Have you enabled voltage control in the MSI Afterburner settings?

Ok will do that. Also I did not change anything in msi I was trying to use the amd one and just increase the voltage but ill just use msi. Also my new dell monitor has a purple pixel that is not going away, still have the benq and I have to say apart from colors i prefer the benq based on first impressions.

 

[lehtv]

Yeah, use Afterburner. For reference, this is what my Afterburner window looks like, using Sapphire 7950 Vapor-X which is voltage unlocked.

Settings:

 

[tg2708]

Ok after enabling those core voltage is 1175 (1200), Power limit is 20, Core clock is 950 (1000), memory clock is 1425(1450), fan speed is is auto 43. how do I manipulate these to a get a decent overclock, try your setting?

Numbers in bracket is what I adjust it to.

 

[lehtv]

1175mV is your default core voltage? I would do this first:

1) set Afterburner voltage control off (or exit Afterburner)
2) use Techpowerup GPU-Z or HWinfo64 to determine the GPU voltage reading is while running Unigine Heaven benchmark
3) repeat step 2 with Afterburner voltage control enabled but set to default value

That way you know for certain whether the 1175mV voltage setting is the default value used by the GPU BIOS.

Then to overclocking. First see how far the core clock goes on stock voltage. Auto fan speed is fine. You can set the core clock slider to a value that is often expected from 7970 cards, e.g. 1150MHz or 1100MHz. Then test Heaven bench for a while to see if it's unstable. If it is, you can start increasing voltage in SMALL steps, 10-15mV at a time. Pay close attention to temperatures as you do so - you don't want the card to overheat. Once it seems stable, you can do a longer test or you can increase core clock and voltage even more, but don't get too greedy

Also, see if GPU-Z or HWInfo64 tells you the GPU VRM temperature, that's the voltage regulator.

 

[tg2708]

1175mV is your default core voltage? I would do this first:

1) set Afterburner voltage control off (or exit Afterburner)
2) use Techpowerup GPU-Z or HWinfo64 to determine the GPU voltage reading is while running Unigine Heaven benchmark
3) repeat step 2 with Afterburner voltage control enabled but set to default value

That way you know for certain whether the 1175mV voltage setting is the default value used by the GPU BIOS.

Then to overclocking. First see how far the core clock goes on stock voltage. Auto fan speed is fine. You can set the core clock slider to a value that is often expected from 7970 cards, e.g. 1150MHz or 1100MHz. Then test Heaven bench for a while to see if it's unstable. If it is, you can start increasing voltage in SMALL steps, 10-15mV at a time. Pay close attention to temperatures as you do so - you don't want the card to overheat. Once it seems stable, you can do a longer test or you can increase core clock and voltage even more, but don't get too greedy

Also, see if GPU-Z or HWInfo64 tells you the GPU VRM temperature, that's the voltage regulator.

Ok will do some testing after get home from work. Also whats the temp I should be looking to stay below on average.

 

[mfenn]

Ok will do some testing after get home from work. Also whats the temp I should be looking to stay below on average.

Anything below 90C at load is good. Realistically you can push it to 95 without much cause for alarm.