Question on Overclocking

[TehJim]

So I was looking at the i5-4690k and when I went on Intel's overclocking guide, I noticed that it said "equip yourself with appropriate parts". One of the parts needed was a Z97 chip motherboard.

Is it needed or is it a recommendation?

I was wondering this because I wanted to know if you could overclock on any Intel based motherboards.

Many thanks

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

Yes it is needed. Only specific platforms support overclocking. 

[Nexxus]

So I was looking at the i5-4690k and when I went on Intel's overclocking guide, I noticed that it said "equip yourself with appropriate parts". One of the parts needed was a Z97 chip motherboard.

Is it needed or is it a recommendation?

I was wondering this because I wanted to know if you could overclock on any Intel based motherboards.

Many thanks

No you cant there was more detailed info on this lettme see if I can find it.

Edit 

 

z87

The Z87 chipset is the most feature-rich chipset and is the only one to offer full CPU overclocking for supported (K-series) processors. This chipset can easily handle SLI/Crossfire configurations by allowing the 16 PCI-E lanes from the CPU to be divided into either a single x16 slot, dual x8 slots, or a single x8 plus two x4 slots. While this means that the Z87 chipset can support triple SLI/Crossfire configurations, we typically recommend against doing so except in isolated circumstances. In most cases a Socket 2011 system is a better option as the additional PCI-E 3.0 lanes will provide improved performance.

 

h87

The H87 chipset is very similar to Z87, but lacks a few important features including CPU overclocking. In addition, this chipset is not able to divide up the PCI-E lanes from the CPU so it cannot handle SLI/Crossfire configurations.

Like Z87, H87 supports Rapid Storage Technology, Smart Response Technology (otherwise known as SSD Caching), six SATA 6Gb/s ports and six USB 3.0 ports. Unlike Z87, it adds Small Business Advantage support, but removes support for Lake Tiny (SSD caching performance and power optimization). Finally, it supports two DIMMs per memory channel so it will be able to utilize up to four sticks of RAM.

H87 provides most of the same features as Z87 including plenty of SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 ports. The only major features it lacks is CPU overclocking support and support for SLI/Crossfire configurations. Unfortunately, many motherboard manufactures attempt to push users to Z87 motherboards by limiting the number of ports and headers on their H87 motherboards. Because of this, Z87 motherboards are sometimes a better choice than H87 even when you do not need overclocking or SLI/Crossfire.

 

h81

The H81 chipset is the "budget" option and as such is very limited compared to the other consumer chipsets. It does not support SLI/Crossfire at all, has only two SATA 6Gb/s ports (plus four SATA 3Gb/s ports), and only two USB 3.0 headers. In addition, it does not support any of the major features found in the other chipsets like RST12 and Smart Response Technology. Finally, H81 only supports one DIMM per memory channel so it will be limited to a maximum of two sticks of RAM.

H81 is a great option for small form factor systems where you rarely have more than one discrete card and a couple of SATA drives. For larger desktop systems, we recommend avoiding the H81 chipset and using either Z87 or H87 instead to allow for the possibility of future upgrades.

[Bananasplit_00]

you need Z97

[Oshino Shinobu]

Yes it is needed. Only specific platforms support overclocking. 

Z97 isn't the only chipset that can overclock. H81, H87, H97 and B85 can. Pretty much all of ASUS's boards of those chipsets can OC, and a lot of MSI, Gigabyte and ASRock's can. 

 

However, Z and X series chipsets are still; the best, seeing as they have beefed up power delivery. 

[TehJim]

what is the cheapest z97 chip motherboard you can find?

[Nexxus]

what is the cheapest z97 chip motherboard you can find?

where you located?

[Oshino Shinobu]

No you cant there was more detailed info on this lettme see if I can find it.

Edit 

 

z87

The Z87 chipset is the most feature-rich chipset and is the only one to offer full CPU overclocking for supported (K-series) processors. This chipset can easily handle SLI/Crossfire configurations by allowing the 16 PCI-E lanes from the CPU to be divided into either a single x16 slot, dual x8 slots, or a single x8 plus two x4 slots. While this means that the Z87 chipset can support triple SLI/Crossfire configurations, we typically recommend against doing so except in isolated circumstances. In most cases a Socket 2011 system is a better option as the additional PCI-E 3.0 lanes will provide improved performance.

 

h87

The H87 chipset is very similar to Z87, but lacks a few important features including CPU overclocking. In addition, this chipset is not able to divide up the PCI-E lanes from the CPU so it cannot handle SLI/Crossfire configurations.

Like Z87, H87 supports Rapid Storage Technology, Smart Response Technology (otherwise known as SSD Caching), six SATA 6Gb/s ports and six USB 3.0 ports. Unlike Z87, it adds Small Business Advantage support, but removes support for Lake Tiny (SSD caching performance and power optimization). Finally, it supports two DIMMs per memory channel so it will be able to utilize up to four sticks of RAM.

H87 provides most of the same features as Z87 including plenty of SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 ports. The only major features it lacks is CPU overclocking support and support for SLI/Crossfire configurations. Unfortunately, many motherboard manufactures attempt to push users to Z87 motherboards by limiting the number of ports and headers on their H87 motherboards. Because of this, Z87 motherboards are sometimes a better choice than H87 even when you do not need overclocking or SLI/Crossfire.

 

h81

The H81 chipset is the "budget" option and as such is very limited compared to the other consumer chipsets. It does not support SLI/Crossfire at all, has only two SATA 6Gb/s ports (plus four SATA 3Gb/s ports), and only two USB 3.0 headers. In addition, it does not support any of the major features found in the other chipsets like RST12 and Smart Response Technology. Finally, H81 only supports one DIMM per memory channel so it will be limited to a maximum of two sticks of RAM.

H81 is a great option for small form factor systems where you rarely have more than one discrete card and a couple of SATA drives. For larger desktop systems, we recommend avoiding the H81 chipset and using either Z87 or H87 instead to allow for the possibility of future upgrades.

 

 

you need Z97

H81 H87 H97 and B85 can overclock as well. If it's an Asus board, it can almost certainly OC.

[TehJim]

So as long as I have an overclockable motherboard I should be fine?

[Nexxus]

H81 H87 H97 and B85 can overclock as well. If it's an Asus board, it can almost certainly OC.

I realized he was asking about 97 but im pretty sure it all still applies.

[Nexxus]

So as long as I have an overclockable motherboard I should be fine?

Technically yes but I dunno if I would recommend a bottom of the barrel z97 board if you wanna oc

[TehJim]

basically whats happening is I have a fairly small budget of £250 to upgrade my PC. I'm thinking of getting a i5 4690k and a motherboard. I already have a hyper 212 evo cooler

[Nexxus]

basically whats happening is I have a fairly small budget of £250 to upgrade my PC. I'm thinking of getting a i5 4690k and a motherboard. I already have a hyper 212 evo cooler

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97anniversary

 

thats as cheap as its going to get probably and seems to be an ok option but I have no experience with asrock

[TehJim]

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97anniversary

 

thats as cheap as its going to get probably and seems to be an ok option but I have no experience with asrock

Ok thanks ill have a look

[Nexxus]

Ok thanks ill have a look

Just keep in mind if you want to SLI or crossfire on it you cant. other cheap baords are likely the same.

[TehJim]

Would this board be ok?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-b85mg43

It has a B85 chipset

[0x1e]

Would this board be ok?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-b85mg43

It has a B85 chipset

Go with the z97 option given to you. It's a few quid more and will give you far more features.

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

Would this board be ok?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-b85mg43

It has a B85 chipset

 

You should seriously consider a Z97 chipset if you really want to overclock. Even though other chipsets can overclock it. It usually lacks the vrms to push additional voltage to the cpu safely. Also on those chipsets you'll often lack overclocking features of a Z97 board. 

 

The only exception is the g3258 cpu which can be overclocked safely on most of the chipsets.