i7 4790k unstable at 4.4 GHz, BSODed later at stock clock

[unknown2374]

 First, here is my build:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $409.98)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (Purchased For $119.99)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  (Purchased For $164.99)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (Purchased For $148.00)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $129.98)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $129.98)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card  (Purchased For $679.99)
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $126.90)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $129.99)
Keyboard: Logitech G710 Wired Gaming Keyboard  (Purchased For $149.99)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse  (Purchased For $79.99)
Headphones: Logitech G430 7.1 Channel Headset  (Purchased For $54.99)
Total: $2324.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-24 10:19 EDT-0400

It's a pretty long story that I have to tell since I think that the problem could be from different sources, so here it goes:

When I first built my PC, I ran prime 95 and got really high temps on my CPU (85 avg, 92 maximum). I was pretty surprised because I have liquid cooling. So I decided that I won't overclock the chip since the temps were so high, at least for now. Later on, I turned on the XMP profile on my RAM, and there was a feature called "Memory Try It!" in the motherboard BIOS, so I clicked on one of 9/10/11 performance and selected 2133 (the lowest option) and the computer gave me a memory error and wouldn't start. So I went back into the BIOS and turned on XMP (which boosts the RAM clock to 1600 MHz). I got the same error and the computer wouldn't start. Then I went into the BIOS and turned XMP off, the RAM clock dropping down to 1333 MHz and the computer started fine. To confirm the problem, I turned on XMP (again) and this time the computer started. Fast forwarding to last week, I thought that I would give overclocking my CPU another chance. I watched Linus' devil's canyon guide and set the clock to 4.4 GHz with 1.2V core voltage. I ran AIDA64 and got a crash. I notched it down to 4.3 GHz and it overheated to 100 degrees quite a few times. I accepted that I was doing something wrong. So I gave up and flashed my BIOS, turned XMP back on and turned on OC Genie (a MSI motherboard BIOS feature which auto overclocks the CPU). I didnt run any stress tests as I assumed that OC Genie used adaptive voltage. Every thing was fine for a while, but after gaming for an hour, my game froze. So I had to disable OC Genie, but kept XMP on, the same settings that kept my PC stable for months. I started gaming and everything was fine again. Then I started browsing the web and my browser (Firefox) crashed multiple times. I thought it was just a bad update for firefox. But then I launched Far Cry 3 and I immediately got BSODed, with the MEMORY MANAGEMENT error. I tried rebooting and got this error.


I turned everything off, and reset to the factory BIOS settings and still got the same error. So my OS is definitely fried. I know I can just fix it with a Windows 8 USB but I know that this is just a rebound error from my previous problems. I know the problem is one or more of my CPU, RAM or Motherboard. So before I start writing any angry emails, which one of these is most likely causing the problems?


My GPU is over clocked and has been stable for months at 1475MHz, so I doubt that caused any of the problems.

[ImBleu]

I run my i7-4790k at 4.9Ghz with 32C idle / 60C under load with a Corsair H105. I think you lost the silicon lottery.

[BrandonTheCat]

omg pls no prime95 

 

With that out of the way use AIDA. its a bit more safer. its not prime, but i feel like AIDA is a bit nicer. 

 

Edit: reading the whole article, it looks like you got a bad chip. nothing to do now. test it with aida. i guarantee lower temps 

Edited May 24, 2015 by BrandonTheCat

[Wingfan]

Mines at 4.8Ghz 73c under load (Aida)

 

With an H105

[Wingfan]

I run my i7-4790k at 4.9Ghz with 32C idle / 60C under load with a Corsair H105. I think you lost the silicon lottery.

and i think you won the Lottery lol

[Wingfan]

@unknown2374 what are your volts at?

[unknown2374]

it was at 1.25 when I was overclocking, and the default auto one when no overclock. its not an overclocking problem, it is either: a mismounted heatsink, or a disfunctional CPU, RAM or mobo. I just want to what you guys' think is the problem

[unknown2374]

I run my i7-4790k at 4.9Ghz with 32C idle / 60C under load with a Corsair H105. I think you lost the silicon lottery.

yeah i lost the lottery that's why its unstable at stock clock. just leave if you don't have any relevant thoughts

[Wingfan]

Is the pump on the H100i running?

[unknown2374]

Is the pump on the H100i running?

yeap its running at default settings

[Wingfan]

Do you have another cooler you can try? Its almost as if the CPU isnt being cooled at all

[unknown2374]

Do you have another cooler you can try? Its almost as if the CPU isnt being cooled at all

umm, i think I realized the problem, I know for a fact that I put too much thermal compound so that could be a big issue. But my question is, does that explain all the RAM issues and the memory management errors too??