Overclocking question - voltage offset vs manual

[fluffy_ninja]

What's the benefit to offset and manual voltages when overclocking?

 

Right now, my system has an i7-4790k with a stable overclock of 4.6GHz at 1.225v (static voltage, 1.225v even at idle). Temps are fine, 65 degrees max under full load and around 38 at idle.

 

Here's the thing - if I have the voltage set to offset, my temps drop about 7-8 degrees and voltage drops to about 1.08v at idle, but when stress testing they hit 75-80 degrees and 1.35v.

 

I know that 75 degrees is a safe temperature, I'm more uncomfortable with the 1.35v. Sometimes the voltage will jump that high even under 50% load. Also, I could get a higher overclock with if the voltage is set to manual 1.225 or if I raise it to 1.23.

 

Also, this isn't just my gaming rig, I use it for video editing and 3d rendering, so the computer is usually running at 100% for at least 45 minutes every day (I don't know how significant that is, but I figured it's worth mentioning).

 

So should I stick with manual voltage or is it better to use offset?

[Glenwing]

What's the benefit to offset and manual voltages when overclocking?

 

Right now, my system has an i7-4790k with a stable overclock of 4.6GHz at 1.225v (static voltage, 1.225v even at idle). Temps are fine, 65 degrees max under full load and around 38 at idle.

 

Here's the thing - if I have the voltage set to offset, my temps drop about 7-8 degrees and voltage drops to about 1.08v at idle, but when stress testing they hit 75-80 degrees and 1.35v.

 

I know that 75 degrees is a safe temperature, I'm more uncomfortable with the 1.35v. Sometimes the voltage will jump that high even under 50% load. Also, I could get a higher overclock with if the voltage is set to manual 1.225 or if I raise it to 1.23.

 

Also, this isn't just my gaming rig, I use it for video editing and 3d rendering, so the computer is usually running at 100% for at least 45 minutes every day (I don't know how significant that is, but I figured it's worth mentioning).

 

So should I stick with manual voltage or is it better to use offset?

Whichever one gets you better results is better, in this case it looks like manual. The processor only cares about the actual voltage, it doesn't care how it's being decided. If you can get the same OC at 1.225V with manual instead of 1.35V with offset, then use manual.

[App4that]

Manual is better because it offers a level of protection for sending too much voltage through the CPU. This is mostly in benchmarks and stress tests though. But setting the voltage manually is the way to go IMO.

[CaptainPebbleDash]

It more so sounds like your using adaptive over off-set really. Adaptive will give the CPU what it think's it need's for the task, i.e benchmarks and certain programs will pull way too much voltage than what is actually needed. 

 

Try using the offset and put your normal 1.225v in and have a little play around, it could be that it still pulls that as prime 95 and aida64 can cause that issue sometimes.

 

Also try using balanced power saving mode instead of power if possible.

[fluffy_ninja]

It more so sounds like your using adaptive over off-set really. Adaptive will give the CPU what it think's it need's for the task, i.e benchmarks and certain programs will pull way too much voltage than what is actually needed. 

 

I think you might be right, I'll double check the settings but I think the voltage automatically resets to auto when I switch to offset mode. Thanks

[fluffy_ninja]

It more so sounds like your using adaptive over off-set really. Adaptive will give the CPU what it think's it need's for the task, i.e benchmarks and certain programs will pull way too much voltage than what is actually needed. 

 

Try using the offset and put your normal 1.225v in and have a little play around, it could be that it still pulls that as prime 95 and aida64 can cause that issue sometimes.

 

Also try using balanced power saving mode instead of power if possible.

 

So I set the voltage to 1.225v with a -0.005v offset, and now the voltage drops at idle but under load it seems to max out at 1.266. Shouldn't a negative offset lower the voltage under load?

[App4that]

If you have adaptive voltage running as well it will go over .01v what you have selected as the voltage. I have my voltage set to 1.220 but adaptive voltage regularly takes I to 1.236.

[fluffy_ninja]

If you have adaptive voltage running as well it will go over .01v what you have selected as the voltage. I have my voltage set to 1.220 but adaptive voltage regularly takes I to 1.236.

Right, so that makes sense with adaptive, but if I just have 1.225v with a negative offset why is the voltage higher under load?

 

So what's the real difference between adaptive and offset? (Probably a stupid question, but I'm kinda new to overclocking)

[App4that]

Adaptive is the CPU and usually the offset is the Motherboard. I ran into a HUGE problem with this when adaptive voltage and my motherboard fought over control of the voltage. So I let the CPU use adaptive and have a manual voltage set with the bios of the motherboard. Seems to be happy.

[fluffy_ninja]

Adaptive is the CPU and usually the offset is the Motherboard. I ran into a HUGE problem with this when adaptive voltage and my motherboard fought over control of the voltage. So I let the CPU use adaptive and have a manual voltage set with the bios of the motherboard. Seems to be happy.

Interesting. Well I'll mess around a bit more and see what I can do. Thanks 

[App4that]

One thing I have found is the difference is not set, no idea why. When I increased my voltage trying to stabilize a clock speed the voltage actually didn't increase because the adaptive voltage stayed the same... Pain in the ass. I've been trying to turn off adaptive voltage for a week. Once I crossed 1.236v then it jumped up, beyond where I wanted to run so I went back to my previous clock speed. I'm a noob to, just sharing since I've run into similar problems.