Overclocking i7 4790k

[xDylanio]

Well after watching some videos I want to overclock. The only thing is. I just don't understand how to do it. My mobo has a feature where it automatically does it for me. But what I do know is to not use that feature. But my question is, what is the ratio of volts to ghz. I just don't understand how to do it. But im determined to do it. Any videos to watch are appreciated

[airdeano]

due to the nature of silicon, there is no linear graph ratio of volts to GHz.

easiest to follow would be TTL guide (although a different intel platform, the same processes to achieve):

 

[Imakuni]

8 hours ago, Imakuni said:

Quick guide:

1. Put voltage on manual, I suggest 1.15v as a starting point. Leave the frequency at stock.
2. Stress test with Prime95 Small FFT for about 5min.
3. If max temp is:
   1. Below 81C, increase voltage a notch and repeat step 2
   2. Between 81~83, move on.
   3. Above 83, reduce voltage a notch and repeat setp 2.
4. Once you've found your max voltage, start increasing core frequency. Stress for about 1h, until you've found instability; at that point, back off to the previous value.
5. Once you've got that, go for a lengthier 8~24h test. If stable, congrats, you've got your OC. Otherwise, knock the multiplier down a little.

[xDylanio]

22 minutes ago, Imakuni said:

 

 

What do you mean by instability, how would I know what that looks like, and what should I look for in the ghz. What would it show that lets me know everything is okay?

[Enderman]

There is no ratio. It is random, like the lottery.

That's why it's called a silicon lottery.

You need to overclock it to find out.

[Imakuni]

1 minute ago, xDylanio said:

What do you mean by instability, how would I know what that looks like

You know, the program throws an error at you, the PC freezes, restarts or BSODs... that kinda stuff.

 

1 minute ago, xDylanio said:

what should I look for in the ghz

?

 

What do you mean "look for in the ghz"? You just set it to whatever you want and see if any problems show up.

 

3 minutes ago, xDylanio said:

What would it show that lets me know everything is okay?

You can never know for sure that your PC is "okay". You can only know if it has a problem, at which point you just have to back off your OC.

[VolkA]

Just now, xDylanio said:

What do you mean by instability, how would I know what that looks like, and what should I look for in the ghz. What would it show that lets me know everything is okay?

instability would be a screen that you do not want to see at all, the legendary BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). As per mentioned above, test what is your max voltage first, then play with the multiplier. Play would equal to slowly increasing the multiplier. If default is 40, change it to 45 for a start. Then after that slowly move up 1 by 1 (46, 47 and etc). You will go to a point where it becomes unstable (BSOD), then go back to the last stable multiplier and then stress test that for 8 - 24hrs.

[xDylanio]

1 minute ago, Enderman said:

There is no ratio. It is random, like the lottery.

That's why it's called a silicon lottery.

You need to overclock it to find out.

So for example, linus tech tips video on overclocking an i7 4790k, his ghz and voltage, will not work with mine. Even though it's a same cpu. Because of something called a silicon lottery?

[xDylanio]

Just now, Imakuni said:

You know, the program throws an error at you, the PC freezes, restarts or BSODs... that kinda stuff.

 

Okay so I would just set a speed of like 4.6 ghz (Using this as an example) and put a voltage of 1.25 and it will automatically shut down my pc or so?

 

2 minutes ago, Imakuni said:

 

What do you mean "look for in the ghz"? You just set it to whatever you want and see if any problems show up.

 

Like by what would I increase it. My stock is 4.0 ghz, would I increase by increments of 1? so like 4.1? or what?

 

[xDylanio]

4 minutes ago, VolkA said:

instability would be a screen that you do not want to see at all, the legendary BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). As per mentioned above, test what is your max voltage first, then play with the multiplier. Play would equal to slowly increasing the multiplier. If default is 40, change it to 45 for a start. Then after that slowly move up 1 by 1 (46, 47 and etc). You will go to a point where it becomes unstable (BSOD), then go back to the last stable multiplier and then stress test that for 8 - 24hrs.

Oh okay im starting to understand. One thing though, if I do get the BSOD, what would happen. I start my pc, it passes thru the bios logo, and then just give me a blue screen. Or like once I start my pc, it automatically shows a BSOD, also how would I remove it, do I clear my cmos or what?

[Enderman]

5 minutes ago, xDylanio said:

So for example, linus tech tips video on overclocking an i7 4790k, his ghz and voltage, will not work with mine. Even though it's a same cpu. Because of something called a silicon lottery?

Yes.

Well, it may or may not work.

You don't know until you try it.

 

[xDylanio]

1 minute ago, Enderman said:

Yes.

Well, it may or may not work.

You don't know until you try it.

 

Okay so which do you prefer

1) manually try to figure out my own overclock

2) try to start using linus's overclock

[VolkA]

1 minute ago, xDylanio said:

Oh okay im starting to understand. One thing though, if I do get the BSOD, what would happen. I start my pc, it passes thru the bios logo, and then just give me a blue screen. Or like once I start my pc, it automatically shows a BSOD, also how would I remove it, do I clear my cmos or what?

When you get the BSOD, restart the PC then spam on the "del" button to enter into BIOS again. From there, turn down the multiplier by 1 (or back to the last stable point that you know of). Then tentatively, that will be all (in simple terms). Example would be Voltage 1.3V then multiplier 50 = unstable, turn down the multiplier to 49 and see if it is stable. If yes, then your final OC would be 1.3V and multiplier 49 = 4.9Ghz @ 1.3V

[Enderman]

2 minutes ago, xDylanio said:

Okay so which do you prefer

1) manually try to figure out my own overclock

2) try to start using linus's overclock

3) follow an overclocking guide

[ATFink]

I saw your monitor on the PCPart Picker list is only 60 Hz. If you're just gaming there isn't really a point in you OCing your CPU with your given monitor. A stock 4790k will handle 60 fps no sweat. If you get a monitor with a higher refresh rate this would be a different story. If I'm wrong about the OP overclocking being pointless someone please point out my mistake, otherwise I stand by my statement and don't see any point in OCing.

[xDylanio]

3 minutes ago, ATFink said:

I saw your monitor on the PCPart Picker list is only 60 Hz. If you're just gaming there isn't really a point in you OCing your CPU with your given monitor. A stock 4790k will handle 60 fps no sweat. If you get a monitor with a higher refresh rate this would be a different story. If I'm wrong about the OP overclocking being pointless someone please point out my mistake, otherwise I stand by my statement and don't see any point in OCing.

This would be true, except I'm hooking up my pc to my new tv, so I kinda have to overclock it now. (Its 120hz)