IRQL not less or equal when I overclock

[Gron113]

Hi,

I am currently running a stable OC of 4.4 ghz on my 6600k, hooked up to a 280mm rad.
However, every time I try and go higher, no matter how many times I try it out with different voltages and such, it always crashes as soon as i get to windows, with the dreaded 'irql_not_less_or_equal' error, sometimes with 'driver_irql_not_less_or_equal'.

I just got 16 gigs of fresh ram today, and that's not the issue. Everything runs fine on the 4.4ghz overclock, it's just when I try to go higher.

Any ideas? Just to test it, recommend to me a voltage and clock that every 6600k should be able to hit, and if I can't hit it, then... well I don't know.

 

[Deniedstingray]

Causes i've found in the past are RAM / overclocking mistakes.

If you are 100% sure it isnt RAM than it might be overclock settings. Maybe voltage is too low?

 

[chenuki]

Bump up to 1.44V and see how high you can POST with it. That should give you an idea of an upper limit. Then back down a few steps of 0.05V and start testing for stability and heat, and adjust as necessary.

 

[Gron113]

OK, I've just gotten back home now and I'll try with the voltage that chenuki mentioned. I am ABSOLUTELY certain it isn't the RAM, because it is brand new, had it for literally hours. Unless, you know, I got bad RAM, but that's unlikely. I didn't ship it from anywhere, I bought it straight from the store. 1.44v it is, and I'll try maybe 4.8 ghz

 

[Gron113]

Just a few seconds and it's working, I'm typing this from a 4.5ghz overclock, with AIDA running in the background! I must've been too frugal with the voltage. Thanks again! I wish I could mark both of you down as best answers, but I have to pick chenuki.
Thanks to ya both.