Overclocking My System!

[CDsDontBurn]

I've been reading how to do this, but I'm still a bit nervous on doing it. From what I understand thus far is pretty simple. "FSB" (not really FSB w/today's boards) stays locked at 100 and all you do is increase the multiplier. My CPU is the i5-3570k so it runs at 3.4Ghz, which means 100 ("FSB") x 34 (multiplier) gives the stock clock speed of 3.4Ghz. If I want faster, I increase the multiplier to w/e I want. If unstable, I add more voltage until I can't go any further with the cooling I currently have. Simple stuff. I get it.

My nervousness comes from messing with all the other settings. For example, where do I go to make sure that the multiplier isn't dynamic so that when under idle it doesn't clock down to 1Ghz or w/e? c1e halt state seems a lot more complex now compared to my "olden days" of overclocking. There are a lot more options of c1e halt state and other power saving features as well. What should I disable and what should I leave enabled? Another setting is CPU "FSB" to RAM ratio. In my BIOS I saw two settings, 100:100 and 100:133. Which of the two is the one I want to use? When do I want to use one and when do I want to use the other? Why do I want to use them in this fashion? Speaking of RAM, there are A LOT of settings for RAM outside of the 9-9-9-24 1T. Do I play around with those other settings or leave them alone?

With help from the OC masters here, I'm sure I'll be able to get some decent and excellent clock speeds, and hopefully, I'll be able to throw down a good benchmark or two afterwards

[PP Mguire]

I go in there and turn off ALL power features when benchmarking, but for regular use I just leave them all on. There is no point in wasting all that power and creating heat when you're on Facebook. Doing this meant the difference between 20w usage and 115w usage 24/7.

I would also leave the RAM ratio and timings alone. You wont exactly gain any performance from messing with these. If you have 1600MHz RAM at timings of 9 then just leave them. There isn't a significant increase in benchmarking either unless you're going for uber speeds. I noticed this going from 9 to 8s on my Patriot kit. Their XMP profile actually out performed the 8s in a lot of cases.

So basically, if it was my setup I would just raise the voltage higher, set it to say, 40x on the multi, then boot up and test it. If it works cool. You can either raise the multi, or stress test to see how low you can bring down the voltage. I'm a "dirty" OCer on my own rigs as usually if it works, I don't lower voltage. I had my 3960x sitting at 1.325v for the longest time for only 4.2GHz simply because it worked and it wasn't running hot. I don't tell people to do this or advise it, but it doesn't hurt anything. It's lazy but whatever it works lol. If I'm benching or being serious about it for a review I don't do that. That's how I found out at that voltage I could easily do 4.5!

[CDsDontBurn]

With voltages, I will keep them stock for as high a clock speed as possible. What is the default voltage anyways? 1.25v, lower, higher? This is something else I need to know I guess.

[PP Mguire]

Never personally used an IB CPU so I do not know.

[CDsDontBurn]

Gotcha. Well, I guess somebody else will have to chime in on that

[Joshua_Mahr]

Chime Chime. Ivy is the same as sandy, lil more hot headed but you can play more with her bclock. Also if you raise the multi on that board and do not take the CPU vCore off auto you could see voltage over 1.3 from the mobo to your CPU. You are going to want to manually set your voltage.

[CDsDontBurn]

What is the default voltage for the CPU and what a safe maximum voltage for the CPU when OC'ed? You mentioned 1.3v is too high, so I imagine it'd probably be something like 1.275 would be the highest safe voltage when OC'ed?

[PP Mguire]

1.3 isn't too high, but for stock clocks it is. More heat for nothing.

[Joshua_Mahr]

Intel did not list the voltage that I can find in their Ark. I would suggest for daily use to stay under 1.285. Also I believe Tcase is just under 70C on that package. Yes 1.275 would be a decent voltage should get x41-x43 with that.

[PP Mguire]

Went through a few benchmarking threads on other forums. Saw a few 3770ks doing 4.5 around 1.28/9v.

[CDsDontBurn]

Intel did not list the voltage that I can find in their Ark. I would suggest for daily use to stay under 1.285. Also I believe Tcase is just under 70C on that package. Yes 1.275 would be a decent voltage should get x41-x43 with that.

I won't keep my system OC'ed 24/7 like some people do. My OC'ing will be only for benchmark purposes. However, I am interested in removing the power saving / down-clocking features and keeping my system clocked at 3.4Ghz 24/7 though.

[PP Mguire]

I won't keep my system OC'ed 24/7 like some people do. My OC'ing will be only for benchmark purposes. However, I am interested in removing the power saving / down-clocking features and keeping my system clocked at 3.4Ghz 24/7 though.

And lose turbo boost to 3.8 in the process? Doesn't seem like a smart idea. What is the reasoning for that?

[CDsDontBurn]

And lose turbo boost to 3.8 in the process? Doesn't seem like a smart idea. What is the reasoning for that?

Because 400Mhz slower for playing Angry Birds on Google Chrome is still fast enough...

[PP Mguire]

Indeed, but it doesn't answer why you want to turn them off completely.

[Joshua_Mahr]

Went through a few benchmarking threads on other forums. Saw a few 3770ks doing 4.5 around 1.28/9v.

That's pretty standard for them, for everyday my 3770k is at 4.5 @ 1.280 CD's has a 3570k so he should need less volts for more clock (should).

Also CD's: For IVY don't jack the LLC to ultra keep it in the middle. I have found it doesn't help as much as it did with my Sandys'.