i5 4670K OC 4.2GHz Max temps question

[Dom_79]

I just built this rig (specs on avatar) and I'm using H100i cooler. I ran Intel burn test (x10 passes) at high load and my Core temps hit 89C.
I've OC'd to 4.2GHz so I thought I'd see a little higher temps than when I did the same tests @ stock 3.4GHz (got to about 50C)
Is this too high? Should I think about re-applying thermal paste? Any help is very much appreciated as I'm new at building computers and OC'ing

 

[envy14tpe]

Wow. that's high. With a H100i I'd expect this cpu to stay at 60C even at 4.5GHz. Something doesn't seem right. Did you give your setup some time to adjust before overclocking?

 

[kitsunestarwind]

Your quite possibly running too much voltage if your pushing temps that high, I would not call that a safe overclock unless you can get your temps down

 

[Dom_79]

Wow. that's high. With a H100i I'd expect this cpu to stay at 60C even at 4.5GHz. Something doesn't seem right. Did you give your setup some time to adjust before overclocking?

I built the rig on Sunday. So a couple days.

 

[Dom_79]

Your quite possibly running too much voltage if your pushing temps that high, I would not call that a safe overclock unless you can get your temps down

I used the easytune app. The voltage was set to 1.341 V. Reading some OC threads that seems a little high.

 

[photonboy]

At 4.2GHz on my i7-3770K I get 69degC with the Noctua NH-D14 while stress testing with Prime95 (max heat).

My temperature did go to 85degC however if I went to 4.6GHz which required me to alter the voltage etc. My 4.2GHz was obtained by ONLY altering the Multiplier for each core so that the Intel Power Management was kept optimal for reduced temperatures.

If your room temperature was high, AND you had to overvolt I could see 89degC.

Keep in mind that the Tj max is about 105degC and you'll likely run no hotter than 70degC in games.

 

[Dom_79]

At 4.2GHz on my i7-3770K I get 69degC with the Noctua NH-D14 while stress testing with Prime95 (max heat).

My temperature did go to 85degC however if I went to 4.6GHz which required me to alter the voltage etc. My 4.2GHz was obtained by ONLY altering the Multiplier for each core so that the Intel Power Management was kept optimal for reduced temperatures.

If your room temperature was high, AND you had to overvolt I could see 89degC.

Keep in mind that the Tj max is about 105degC and you'll likely run no hotter than 70degC in games.

This is what had me worried. My room temp is about 18-20C. System temp (as reported by easytune app) is 23C.

 

[kitsunestarwind]

I would consider trying to back off the voltage a touch and see if it's still stable, a lot of tuning apps and auto tuning and Bios's tend to over do the voltage

 

[Dom_79]

I just realized that I don't have the corsair link app installed. My mobo is reporting my CPU_OPT fan (where the H100i sends sensor data) at 2300+RPM. There's no way they are spinning that fast as I am not deaf now from constant noise pollution, LOL. I noticed by listening while I was running the burn test that the fans in my system never sped up at all. Is that normal? I will install the corsair link software right now and check the fan and pump speeds.

 

[Dom_79]

Using the corsair link, I adjusted the fans and got slightly lower temps, 86C max on core#0 - 79C max on core#3
My idle temp is about 23C. This is what's making me wonder if there is a thermal paste issue. I think I may have used too much (did the pea sized drop and spread method).

@kitsenustarwind : How low would you set the voltage? I was thinking 1.285V

 

[Dom_79]

After reviewing LOTS of threads and articles and videos about thermal paste application and voltage for OC I've concluded the following:

1. I incorrectly applied too much thermal paste; I am using Arctic MX-2 and applied too much in the ineffective "spread a pea sized amount over the entire CPU surface with a latex glove" method. Will be cleaning and re-applying later today.

2.Easytune voltage was too high (1.341v @ 4.2GHz). The app is handy but that voltage is in the highest margin for only 4.2GHz (from 3.4). Will be setting back to 4.2 later today or tomorrow by increasing core multipliers only and adjust voltage if unstable during IBT(x10 passes at High stress) and Prime95(x4 hours on Small FFT)

Thanks very much to everyone for quick responses and help. kitsenustarwind wind thank for pointing me towards voltage but photonboy gave me the multipliers tip that will make a lot of difference with my OC'ing in the future.

 

[Y0GI]

I recommend that you completely uninstall the EasyTune App from your system. Automatic OC programs are mostly bad news. Also reset your BIOS to "Load Optimized Defaults" to clean out all extraneous settings left by that program.

There is one application which does not do auto OC but makes OC'ing much easier: Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (IXTU). Get it HERE.
With IXTU you can make changes to your CPU settings without rebooting and going into the BIOS each time that you wish to make an adjustment.

HERE is a thread with lots of good info on OC'ing Haswells. Really helped me a lot!

Yogi

 

[photonboy]

Hi again,
I can't comment specifically on your CPU cooler though you can get advice elsewhere. If the CPU fans can connect to your motherboard CPU_FAN slot then maybe just use your motherboard fan control software instead (i.e. 50% load at 40degC then ramp up..).

I've heard of other people having major issues with the fan control software for some Corsair liquid coolers.

Paste:
It sounds like this is fine, no need to reapply.

Go back to the default "XMP" settings and SAVE those.

Reboot, and confirm the CPU Turbo and DDR3 settings are correct (3.9GHz for CPU?).

Then, ONLY do the following:
1) CPU-> Manual-> each CORE MULTIPLIER to "40"
2) SAVE and Reboot back into BIOS (confirm 4GHz for CPU)

3) Windows-> Prime95-> Monitor CPU temp
4) REPEAT up to 4.2GHz

*If you can get to 4.1 or 4.2GHz without modifying the voltage at all, then just stay there.

Other:
Linus from NCIX Tech Tips has some Youtube videos you can find, but really you should be fine provided you can figure out what's going on with your fan control.

 

[Dom_79]

Hi again,
I can't comment specifically on your CPU cooler though you can get advice elsewhere. If the CPU fans can connect to your motherboard CPU_FAN slot then maybe just use your motherboard fan control software instead (i.e. 50% load at 40degC then ramp up..).

I've heard of other people having major issues with the fan control software for some Corsair liquid coolers.

Paste:
It sounds like this is fine, no need to reapply.

Go back to the default "XMP" settings and SAVE those.

Reboot, and confirm the CPU Turbo and DDR3 settings are correct (3.9GHz for CPU?).

Then, ONLY do the following:
1) CPU-> Manual-> each CORE MULTIPLIER to "40"
2) SAVE and Reboot back into BIOS (confirm 4GHz for CPU)

3) Windows-> Prime95-> Monitor CPU temp
4) REPEAT up to 4.2GHz

*If you can get to 4.1 or 4.2GHz without modifying the voltage at all, then just stay there.

Other:
Linus from NCIX Tech Tips has some Youtube videos you can find, but really you should be fine provided you can figure out what's going on with your fan control.

I re-applied the paste anyway. How long should I run Prime95 for? (after 20mins @ 4.0GHz I still haven't hit 60C)

About the fans. I've got Corsair link pretty much figured out. I can set a power curve (or whatever it's called) for the fans based on CPU load or temp. Previously the rad fans had been running @ default - 840~890RPM fixed. I think that might be one issue for my previously high temps (although I haven't changed anything but the thermal paste and voltage and +/-30C drop so...).

I had an option to set the core multipliers in a semi-automatic way. The voltage has only risen like 0.01~0.005 so possibly I won't have to go into the advanced cpu settings (yet 😉 ) and other then that I could see no changes. On this note though, there is a CPU Uncore setting that the bios recommends setting at or above the core multiplier. It is currently still set to 34 (3.4GHz). Think I should up that or wait and see if tests reveal instabilities?

Thanks again for your help. I'm really interested in OC (been wanting to have a rig to do this sort of thing for 20 years)
and coming from 0 Experience Points, things can be kind of confusing 😀

 

[Y0GI]

I would recommend leaving the Uncore where it is. Increasing Uncore/CPU Cache/CPU Ring increases instability and thus limits your OC. There is a slight performance penalty when Uncore ratio is less than CPU ratio but it is more than made up for by the higher CPU clock potential.

Yogi

 

[Dom_79]

I would recommend leaving the Uncore where it is. Increasing Uncore/CPU Cache/CPU Ring increases instability and thus limits your OC. There is a slight performance penalty when Uncore ratio is less than CPU ratio but it is more than made up for by the higher CPU clock potential.

Yogi

Thanks YOGI!

 

[Y0GI]

You're welcome, Dom!

Yogi