Overclock stable under load but computer can hang during idle

[Bouowmx]

Computer: GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H, 179 MHz clock, Intel Core i7-870 3938 MHz, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer 120, 2×4 GB DDR3 716 (1432) MHz 7-8-8-22-1T, EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB SC 2137.5 MHz, ADATA Premier SP550 120 GB, Antec EA-550 Platinum, Cooler Master N200
Voltage is set to 1.2 V, load-line calibration is turned on, and running voltage is 1.232 V.

Computer can run stable without end under load, the load being BOINC project theSkyNet POGS and stable being project servers not marking any of computer's submitted tasks invalid. However, if I take away the load, system can sometimes hang, forcing a reset by power supply's on-off switch.

What kind of backwards sorcery is this and how can I resolve the problem? I initially thought fluctuating frequencies were to blame, but the problem persists after I turned off Intel SpeedStep.

 

[Andrei.]

The CPU cools down too much leading to a higher Vt meaning the voltage you're running at is no longer sufficient.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I thought IDC's threads showed CPUs taking less voltage needed to OC, at cooler temps?

Anyways, this phenomenon is normally seen when overclocking, say, Sandy Bridge (or newer) rigs, using Offset Voltage, with a negative offset. Under load, it may be sufficient, but at idle, the negative offset may be too much.

If you're not using offset voltage for overclocking, then I'm not entirely sure what the issue is. Maybe you should consider a positive offset voltage?

 

[Bouowmx]

I use static voltage.

I tried 1.3 V but computer can still hang at idle.

Oh well, the computer is rarely ever idle, so a minor loss.

Voltage settings:

 

[Mr Evil]

I had a similar problem last year - the computer was stable indefinitely under load, but on returning to idle it would lock up randomly until it cooled down. The obvious culprit was the CPU, so I tried locking it in the highest power state, but that didn't help.

I therefore deduced that the motherboard must be faulty, being the only other thing that both has power states and gets hot when the CPU is loaded. And indeed, replacing the motherboard fixed it.

 

[wilds]

On a different note, I had system hanging during idle (forcing a reset) after installing my 1070 after upgrading from a 290; even after using DDU. A fresh Windows install fixed this.