Noob requesting help with some overclocking, 2500k.

[Whiper]

Okey, this is my first time at this forum and i'm looking for some help with a stable 24/7 overclock. Nothing fancy, just boosting performance a notch.
(oh, and i'd like to point out that i'm a noob as well, haven't done much overclocking before.)

My current rig is:http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...w.inet.se/artikel/1901969/msi-p67a-c45-rev-b3
MSI P67A-C45 REV B3http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...kel/5305673/corsair-4gb-2x2048mb-1600mhz-xms3
corsair 4GB 1600 MHzhttp://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...kel/5305673/corsair-4gb-2x2048mb-1600mhz-xms3
Intel core I5 2500k 3.3
Cooler master hyper 212 Plus (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002G1YPH0/...SIN=B002G1YPH0)
Fractal Design Tesla 650W 80+
Fractal Design Define R3 with 2 additional fans,
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 560 Ti OC 1GB
I have no clue which information you need, but i wrote down most of it.

Since i'm kinda new to this, i followed this guide: (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2011/01/07/how-to-overclock-the-intel-core-i5-2500k/5)
And disabled, enabled the settings they recommended.
So i raised the multiplier to 40, thus gaining an 4.0 ghz clock. Set the CPU Vcore to 1.20 (too low?). Everything is fine, The tricky part is that when i run intel burn test v2 i get temps around 70-75 degrees,
But when i run prime95 i get temps around 60-65. Idle temps around 35-40 degrees. The air in my room is around 19 degrees, i've used different temp monitoring programs and they show practically the same.
I know it probably isn't a problem, but why do these programs show so different results? which one should be trusted?

And i guess- Higher volt = higher temperatures? should i aim for the lowest stable voltage ? and try going lower? around 1.15-1.18 ?
I haven't changed the RAM clocks anything, (seemed kinda unnecessary , correct me if I'm wrong and if this is essential)

Generally, what is a "stable" overclock, if you want your computer to last a couple of years. Which temperatures should i be aiming for? How high should i raise the voltages?

 

[Tuna-Fish]

They run different loads, which utilize the CPU in different ways. Intel burn test is designed to try to use all parts of the processor. This is very unrealistic in normal use -- typically programs only use a subset, that is different for each program. Prime95 runs a really heavy floating point load, but leaves the integer units relatively idle.

Basically, Intel burn test is the absolute worst case. Prime95 is much more typical for normal loads. Intel says max temps for i5 2500k are 72C -- I'd say you're fine.

Set the CPU Vcore to 1.20 (too low?)

So long as your computer is stable, lower vcore is always better. So if your machine can survive 24 hours of prime95 and some 3dmark, I'd say it's good.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

I would avoid loadline calibration on that motherboard, it tends to cause negative vdroop. You shouldn't need it for less than 4.8ghz anyways. I also think that they are a bit too liberal with vccio and vccsa in that guide.

I would supplement the info in that guide with this one. I have also found that Linpack with AVX support is good for a quick stress test but Prime blend seems to be the best stress test for sandybridge. It just may take a while to fail.

 

[pantsaregood]

Your temperatures seem awfully high. My 2500K is running at 4.5GHz at 1.35v or so, and it idles around 23C. Highest temperature I've ever hit was 60C. Be sure you have decent airflow and a good application of thermal paste.

I'd also recommend running both Linpack and Prime95 for a relatively long time. Not simultaneously, of course. I managed to run Linpack for about twelve hours with no errors, but Prime95 picked some up within two hours. I bumpted the voltage from 1.33v to 1.35v and it ran 38 hours of Prime95 before I finally stopped it.

 

[MrTransistorm]

Everything is fine, The tricky part is that when i run intel burn test v2 i get temps around 70-75 degrees,
But when i run prime95 i get temps around 60-65. Idle temps around 35-40 degrees. The air in my room is around 19 degrees

With an aftermarket HSF and 19C ambient, you shouldn't be getting temps that high at only 4GHz. Try reseating the heat sink. Also, how good is your case air flow?

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

Have you tried Intel Burn test with AVX support? It gets these chips hot.

 

[Whiper]

I would avoid loadline calibration on that motherboard, it tends to cause negative vdroop

This loadline calibration, is it the same as the settings for Vdroop?
Are you suggesting i should leave it at Auto instead of high? Aswell i can't seem to even find vccio and vccsa in my bios? Meaning my bios seems to have left out a few options which the msi P67A-GD55 has.
Also, while playing games, Crysis, the witcher 2,maffia II. on max settings my cpu never goes above 50 degrees. So i should be fine, shouldn't i?

With an aftermarket HSF and 19C ambient, you shouldn't be getting temps that high at only 4GHz. Try reseating the heat sink. Also, how good is your case air flow?

Well, i have 1 140mm fan at the bottom, 2 120 mm at the front, 1 120mm at the top outflow, and one 120 mm on the back outflow. I'm also alittle concerned with these temps, although i've been reading alot of articles that people with the standard cpu cooler from intel run 35-40 idle temps (no oc). So i should be fine shouldn't i?
Reseating the HSF, should i just remove it - reapply thermal paste and mount it again? As i said, i'm kinda new to this. Any advice is appreciated

Your temperatures seem awfully high. My 2500K is running at 4.5GHz at 1.35v or so, and it idles around 23C. Highest temperature I've ever hit was 60C. Be sure you have decent airflow and a good application of thermal paste

What kind of airflow/cpu cooler are you using?, Chassi?

 

[Whiper]

Oh i forgot to mention:
Applying the thermalpaste properly. Is this valid? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7rPqCvCt0g
Or should i use some other method?

 

[Axon]

Your temps are not that high. My 2600k at 4.6 hits 82c at load, occasionally 83-84. My chips always have high temps, both AMD and Intel. So I've either had the worst run in luck with CPUs in the history of man kind (dating back to the AMD 64+ days), or its just because my co-op apartment is hot. Never once have I had a stability issue, however. And trust me, I've got enough air to test the aerodynamics of an aircraft in my case.

OCing a SB chip is very easy. Just set the multiplier to 44 and forget it. I've yet to see a k series CPU that can't hit 4.4 without breaking a sweat.

Applying thermal paste is not the surgical procedure people make it out to be. I use a small dab in the middle of the CPU, about the size of a grain of rice, then I apply the heatsink and move it around and spread it. Good to go. You can try a million ways, and your result will be almost identical each time. Just don't use a ton of paste.

 

[flexy]

...and it idles around 23C.

This is, IMO, not possible unless you live in an igloo in Antarctica.

Example:

I myself live in Spain, we have A/C, but nevertheless my own room ambient temperature is certainly way over 23C, in Summer 25C-27C or similar is quite possible.

How could your CPU (or whatever other component inside a PC) be less cool than the ambient room temp...mind you that they will always be higher, even on idle.

 

[pantsaregood]

This is, IMO, not possible unless you live in an igloo in Antarctica.

Example:

I myself live in Spain, we have A/C, but nevertheless my own room ambient temperature is certainly way over 23C, in Summer 25C-27C or similar is quite possible.

How could your CPU (or whatever other component inside a PC) be less cool than the ambient room temp...mind you that they will always be higher, even on idle.

You're right. 23C is damn close to average room temperature. You'd need amazing cooling to achieve that. I think the thermal sensor for that core is screwed up.

Core 0 is currently sitting at 18C idle.
Core 1 is currently sitting at 25C idle.
Core 2 is currently sitting at 28C idle.
Core 4 is currently sitting at 25C idle.
Motherboard sensors are at 25C and 30C.
HDD sensor at 22C.
GPU sensor at 30C.

Ambient room temperature is probably about 19C.

 

[Axon]

Someone exaggerated about how low their temps are? No way!!!

 

[edplayer]

You're right. 23C is damn close to average room temperature. You'd need amazing cooling to achieve that. I think the thermal sensor for that core is screwed up.

yeah, doesn't sound right.

2500K at 4400MHz but speedstep is on w auto voltage so it drops to 1600MHz and 1.0something V. 21°C ambient and somewhere around 31°C idle usually in a HAF 922 with a H50.

 

[betasub]

Just put it down to idle temps (that are long way below Tmax) being notoriously inaccurate.