[SOLVED] I overclocked my 9900k to 5.0Ghz but when I run Cinebench R15, the cores only run at 3.6ghz

[SeriousGaming101]

Hello, I followed these steps on MSI's page to overclock my 9900k to 5Ghz:
https://www.msi.com/blog/intel-9th-cpu-overclocking-5ghz-with-z390-motherboards

But when I run Cinebench R15, all my cores/threads only run at the 9900k base speed of 3.6ghz and I get the low score of 1545. Why?

 

[vMax]

What CPU cooler are you using...Also be great to understand your setupo, motherboard, RAM and PSU...

 

[SeriousGaming101]

What CPU cooler are you using...Also be great to understand your setupo, motherboard, RAM and PSU...

CPU Cooler: Thermaltake C5 Untouchable Air Cooler rated at 230TDP
Motherboard: MSI Gaming Edge AC Micro ATX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 Running at 4400Mhz
PSU: EVGA Supernova 650 G2 80+

 

[vMax]

Okay, can you run a Prime95 version 26.6 Blend test and let me know the temps it reaches with something like RealTemp running or Hardware Info...I have a feeling that you are throttling...

 

[vMax]

Anything over 1.35v is going to cause a lot of heat on the 9900K especially at 5GHz so very, very good cooling is required...Like a 280mm/360mm AIO or a top Noctua NH-D15 and even then the Noctua might struggle...Even your RAM at DDR4 4400 is contibuting to the heat with the integrated controller on the CPU...

 

[BringerOfTea]

what temps are you getting, it might throttle like crazy

 

[SeriousGaming101]

Okay, can you run a Prime95 version 26.6 Blend test and let me know the temps it reaches with something like RealTemp running or Hardware Info...I have a feeling that you are throttling...

I did not use Prime95, but I re-ran the tests using Cinebench and used Speccy to see the temps. The temps were like 88'C on average and the max temp I saw was 90'C

 

[sizzling]

I’ve read that some Z390 motherboards have poor VRM’s. I don’t know your motherboard but from a quick search (on my phone) it looks like the VRM’s don’t have a heatsink. Have you seen any reviews on your motherboard for overclocking?

 

[vMax]

Okay, can you run a Prime95 version 26.6 Blend test and let me know the temps it reaches with something like RealTemp running or Hardware Info...I have a feeling that you are throttling...

I did not use Prime95, but I re-ran the tests using Cinebench and used Speccy to see the temps. The temps were like 88'C on average and the max temp I saw was 90'C

Well I would say you are throttling and thus not reaching max clocks to get you the best scores....As I said, it would be good for you to understand what a stable 5GHz overclock will require in terms of cooling to stop any throttleing and fine tuning your vcore to get the lowest vcore for your maximim overclock will allow your 9900K to run cooler.

The 9900K is a beast at 5GHz but also a beast at producing heat...So good cooling is required and that means cpu cooler, case airflow and VRM cooling...

 

[vMax]

Running something like AIDA64 will show you where your CPU is throttleing...

 

[BringerOfTea]

Ive read that it pulls about 200 watts alone when clocked to 5 ghz. But leave it to turbo only TS, untill you can get the temps under control with a better cooler fo example-

 

[SeriousGaming101]

Okay, can you run a Prime95 version 26.6 Blend test and let me know the temps it reaches with something like RealTemp running or Hardware Info...I have a feeling that you are throttling...

I did not use Prime95, but I re-ran the tests using Cinebench and used Speccy to see the temps. The temps were like 88'C on average and the max temp I saw was 90'C

Well I would say you are throttling and thus not reaching max clocks to get you the best scores....As I said, it would be good for you to understand what a stable 5GHz overclock will require in terms of cooling to stop any throttleing and fine tuning your vcore to get the lowest vcore for your maximim overclock will allow your 9900K to run cooler.

The 9900K is a beast at 5GHz but also a beast at producing heat...So good cooling is required and that means cpu cooler, case airflow and VRM cooling...

How does this "throttling" translate as to the reason why my Cinebench R15 is only testing my OC 5.0Ghz CPU at 3.6Ghz, whereas my default CPU settings tests the CinebenchR15 at 4.7Ghz?

 

[vMax]

Thats a good point but I think that comes becouse of the extra voltage that is now being used by the CPU and a few things come into play like LLC etc....I think the real issue here is just to test the stability of the overclock first at the required vcore and see where you end up. If you can carry a 5GHz overclock in a test like Prime95 and not go beyond say 95 degrees then you are okay...

It's always worth testing overclocks first to find your baseline limits...

 

[BringerOfTea]

and as far as I know, it only default turbos to approximately 5,0 ghz... so the 4,7 you get "default" is the turbo...

 

[vMax]

and as far as I know, it only default turbos to approximately 5,0 ghz... so the 4,7 you get "default" is the turbo...

Yep at default auto it should allow 1 core to hit 5GHz and the rest to 4.7GHz if MCE is enabled....Ic ould be wrong as I don't have the 9900K but a 8700K...