I can't get a stable overclock no matter what i try

ma5tah

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
22
0
10,510
So I've tried overclocking over a million times by now and I can never get it to be stable. Yesterday I almost succeeded a 4.7 ghz, fixed v core - 1.25 oc with stress test temps of up to 80C and almost 6 hours of constant gameplay with no BSODs or crashes. Today however, I have no idea how, the temps were higher from the start (Up to 90C when gaming sometimes) and my game crashed a few times.

My question is if you can give me any tips on what I'm doing wrong, or my setup is just to week to handle any overclock.

Please help and thank you :)

(Also don't blame me if I'm just being stupid, because I don't have much experience with overclocking. Its my first gaming PC I've built myself and I'm still learning. TY)


My specs:
CPU: i7 7700k
Heatsink : BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Pro
MOBO: Asrock Z270 Extreme4
GPU: GTX 1080 msi gaming x
case: phanteks eclipse p400s
PSU: XFX Black Edition XTR 550W

 
Solution


First, get some reliable numbers from a 15-20 minute p95 run (and the 26.6 version is good). Whatever programs you're using to monitor temps may also have a logging feature.

Let the PC cool down for another 15-20 mins.

Then, WITHOUT...


Prime95 and CPU-Z, but im pretty sure its the right prime95 since i already had the problem of the too high stress temps withe the wrong version
 
What version of P95?

Does your BIOS allow you to do an AVX offset for overclocking? AVX instructions are operations that aren't widely used, but are typically result in unusually high power/heat. If you're able to do an multiplier offset of say -1 or -2, then your CPU would only run at 4.5 GHz if running AVX instructions, but 4.7 GHz for everything else. Possibly improving temps/stability.
 




the version of prime95 im using is p95v266
 
IIRC v26.6 is the last version that didn't use AVX. It's possible the game you're playing does use AVX (not common for games AFAIK, but there are some), explaining why the game ended up being more stressful than P95. Unless it was the same game you were playing previously with much lower temps, but now suddenly results in your CPU running 10+C hotter than it used to, in which case I'm not sure.
 


First, get some reliable numbers from a 15-20 minute p95 run (and the 26.6 version is good). Whatever programs you're using to monitor temps may also have a logging feature.

Let the PC cool down for another 15-20 mins.

Then, WITHOUT making any changes to overclock or ANY other settings, run that "hot" game, and use the same program to monitor and log temps. Again, try to go at least 15-20 minutes if you can.

I advise using some kind of logging as it is more "scientific" and reproducible than just looking at an on-screen display once in a while. (like for example, p95 might have been hitting 98 degrees, but you just so happened to look at the temperature at a period of low activity)
 
Solution