What is the i5 2500k overclocked, capable of?

[computerbuildin]

Im looking for 4 GHz+ I have a nice cooler, the coolermaster v8, it give great temps ive heard, but I was wondering what a stable OC would be for this. looking at anywhere in the 4 GHz section..

 

[Maximilian]

It could be capable of almost... anything!

4.4-4.8ghz range is what i see from others, 4.5 & 4.6 ghz being very common.

 

[Harrod]

I got mine up to 4.6 and change on water cooling. It could probably go higher, but my days of tuning for an extra couple hundred mhz are over.

 

[computerbuildin]

Yeah, ive seen many, I know its capable of high numbers, but im looking for a solid, stable OC, with temps that are considered fine, for gaming. Like 4.5 would be nice. But im a HUGE noob in overclocking, I know how to do it, its just I dont want to break it, because chances are id screw something up. I know the multiplier etc, but the voltage, im not good at voltage numbers, like what would be a stable one for 4.5 or 4.6?

 

[paperwastage]

it depends on what voltage you want to put...

5ghz stable on 1.6V is probably doable on a lot of the chips.... but your temps might be really high (or you need water cooling), and I dont like going above 1.45V above daily use

usually at 4.5ghz, people need ~ 1.3-1.4v

 

[Wuzup101]

Voltage depends on the processor itself... so your results may vary. IMHO, if you keep it below 1.4v you should be pretty well assured that you are safe (many people run with their voltages even higher). The 2500k in my main machine (first in my sig) is running 4.6ghz @ 3.6v (as reported by cpu-z and hw monitor. I bought 2 additional 2500k's about 2 weeks ago. One is in a second HTPC type machine (second in my sig) and the other went to my brother with a z68 motherboard. Both of those chips hit 4.8ghz fairly easily at reported load voltages of <1.35V (I'd have to check exact voltages as I've since set my second build at 4.0ghz@1.19V and my brother's machine was at 1.33ish IIRC). All 3 machines have 212 heatsinks (212+ on my main and evo's on the other two).

2500k's truly are a joy. If you are looking to upgrade and overclock they have great bang for the buck. While it's impossible to gaurantee anything... I would be VERY suprised if anyone couldn't hit 4.4ghz rock solid stable with a mid range motherboard and a modest voltage increase (probably even on the stock cooler - despite horiable temps).

 

[Kenmitch]

Yeah, ive seen many, I know its capable of high numbers, but im looking for a solid, stable OC, with temps that are considered fine, for gaming. Like 4.5 would be nice. But im a HUGE noob in overclocking, I know how to do it, its just I dont want to break it, because chances are id screw something up. I know the multiplier etc, but the voltage, im not good at voltage numbers, like what would be a stable one for 4.5 or 4.6?

So what's the rest of your rigs specs?

Here is some data from my 2500k. I've been going thru my profiles and double checking stability, temps, voltages.

3.4ghz 0.952v(idle) 1.216v(load) stock speed vcore (auto)
4.0ghz 0.928v(idle) 1.264v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset - 0.025v
4.2ghz 0.960v(idle) 1.291v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.005v
4.4ghz 0.984v(idle) 1.352v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.030v

4.5ghz 0.992v(idle) 1.368v(load) vcore(offset mode) offset + 0.045v (102.3 x 44)

4.5ghz 0.992v(idle) 1.384v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.055v
4.6ghz 1.008v(idle) 1.392v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.065v
4.7ghz 1.040v(idle) 1.432v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.100v

My chip seems to be average. Will do 5ghz @1.5v like alot of them. I most of the time run my chip at 4.5ghz unless I'm playing around with overclocks. My CPU and GPU are water cooled so I pretty much don't worry about temps.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

A lot of people don't like anything above 1.3V due to concerns of longevity and heat.

You will get plenty of performance with that voltage from what I see too.

 

[computerbuildin]

Here is everything
intel DP67BG extreme series mobo
Corsair professional gold series 850w(Yes, its overkill, but I dont plan on buying a new psu anytime soon, for resistor aging etc. also for future upgrades)
nvidia GTX560 1gb (will have 2 in the future)
NZXT phantom case, has all fans, except one on the top
WD caviar blue, 500gb
v8 cm cooler
G skill 8 gb 1600 mhz ram, dual channel

 

[Arkaign]

I run @ 4.5, I can go higher but see no point.

 

[computerbuildin]

4.5 is great for me. If i can get stable temps with that v8... Id be fine. But the v8 gives very good temps so i can try that out.

 

[MrX8503]

I'm also at 4.5 and don't see the point in going higher as it requires much more voltage and tweaking.

 

[Meghan54]

Well, I got lazy with my 2500k. While I do enjoy the sometimes tedious task of adjusting everything to get the best OC I can, with this cpu I just used the "stupid easy" preset 4.6GHz OC on my Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboard, then went through and dropped some of the voltages down a tad. The OC was almost too easy, really. Just pick the OC profile built into the BIOS and away it went.

 

[Kenmitch]

Sometimes you can just up the fsb a little an possibly shave off a little voltage at the same time. I was playing around yesterday with 4.5ghz overclock.

4.5ghz 0.992v(idle) 1.368v(load) vcore(offset mode) offset + 0.045v (102.3 x 44)

4.5ghz 0.992v(idle) 1.384v(load) vcore (offset mode) offset + 0.055v

Not like it saved alot of voltage but results may very depending on overclock speed and chips requirements for voltage. SB's overclock so easy it's almost no fun at all as far as overclocking goes!

 

[Puppies04]

Everyone has their own take on what is a "safe" voltage for SB chips. My personal number that I would recommend to anyone for a 24/7 OCwould be 1.35v. I'm quite happy running mine higher than that but if it breaks it is my problem and not somebody elses.

 

[MrTransistorm]

Even though the max Vcore for SB was never stated directly by Intel, the max for Gulftown and SB-E is 1.4V. It is reasonable to assume that it applies to SB as well.

 

[peonyu]

5ghz here @1.36v. I was surprised myself to see it but its fine at this voltage and speed. I think most chips can do 5 ghz but the voltage may be in the 1.4+ range for most. Anything above 4ghz is great though, its not like there is much out there that needs more than that.

 

[Hikeon3]

I just got mine yesterday. Just to see what I could do at stock voltage, I tried 45x (failed) and then 44x (Prime95 small FFT stable 1 hour @ 56 celcius max).

I'm pleased with that for now. I'll mess with voltage and higher multipliers some other time.

This is on a Xigmatek Gaia w/ the single stock exhaust fan.

 

[TemjinGold]

World Domination.

 

[Puppies04]

5ghz here @1.36v. I was surprised myself to see it but its fine at this voltage and speed. I think most chips can do 5 ghz but the voltage may be in the 1.4+ range for most. Anything above 4ghz is great though, its not like there is much out there that needs more than that.

Want to swap chips.....? Is that stable stress testing i.e prime/IBT because if so that is a sweet chip.

 

[Ryland]

I finally get to put the new parts into my system tomorrow but am planning on leaving my 2500k stock for a week or so to verify full system stability.

 

[sm625]

I dont get the whole 4.5GHz thing. Compared to your best stock cooler overclock, you're only getting 10&#37; more speed and probably only 3% overall performance boost, for an increase in total system cost of much more than 3%.

 

[peonyu]

Want to swap chips.....? Is that stable stress testing i.e prime/IBT because if so that is a sweet chip.

Yea its stable in those programs. The only problem i have is heat, one of the cores reaches 80c in IBT but it never crashes.

 

[peonyu]

I dont get the whole 4.5GHz thing. Compared to your best stock cooler overclock, you're only getting 10% more speed and probably only 3% overall performance boost, for an increase in total system cost of much more than 3%.

Some games are still CPU limited, not the newest ones usually, but MMOs for the most part are. I dont play EQ2 much anymore but if you want a CPU limited game thats the one...And in a raid in that game its all to easy to see a 4ghz system hit 20-30fps, so the faster the better. WoW with a decent gpu is similar [but not as drastic].

 

[computerbuildin]

i got this down, but now I need someone to reply in the section cases and cooling, thread "phantom case and fans for cooling" and "thermal compound method?"