[SOLVED] Need help overclocking i7 4770K

[MaxTehLegend]

For more a year now I've been researching on the best settings to use for overclocking for the MSI Z97 Gaming 3 motherboard and for my i7 4770K. I feel like my motherboard settings are holding me back from getting the most overclocking potential out of my i7 4770K.

I've also been reseaching for the right stress test to use and I end up using Intel burn test straight away, then do intel burn test again 20 times, then I use AIDA64 stress FPU & CPU only 15~20 minutes, then Prime95 v26.6 small FFTs for 15~20 minutes, and 10 cinebench R15 multi core runs, and 2 cinebench R15 single core runs. I've recently delidded my CPU which has helped me dramatically and has decreased my temps by a unbelieveable amount so that is definitely going to help me out when I'm reaching my high and stable OC.

my main issue is my BIOS settings. I have never really seemed to crack down on them and still don't fully understand all the options I have available.

My PC Specs
i7 4770K Delidded Liquid Metal Pro
NZXT Kraken X62 280mm AIO
MSI Z97 Gaming 3 Motherboard
16GB Hyper Savage 2400MHz RAM
Corsair Force MP500 M.2 SSD
Kingston V300 SATA SSD
CORSAIR Enthusiast RM750X Power Supply

My BIOS Settings

CPU Ratio Apply Mode > All Core
CPU Ratio > 45
CPU Ratio Mode > Fixed Mode
EIST > Disabled
Intel Turbo Boost > Disabled
Enhanced Turbo > Disabled
Legacy Tweaking > Disabled
OC Genie Function Control > By BIOS Options
Ring Ratio > 45

CPU Base Clock (MHz) > 100.00
CPU Base Clock Apply Mode > Auto
CPU PCIE PLL > Auto
Filter PLL > Enabled

DRAM Frequency Clock > Auto
DRAM Frequency Clock > 2400 MHz
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) > Enabled Profile 1
Memory Try it! > Enabled CL11 Compatibility CL11 2400
DRAM Timing Mode > Link
Memory Fast Boot > Enabled

DigitALL Power

CPU Phase Control > Normal
CPU Vdroop Offset Control > Mild +37.5%
CPU Over Voltage Protection > 600mV
CPU Under Voltage Protection > 600mV
CPU Over Current Protection > Disabled
CPU Switching Frequency > 740KHz
CPU VRM Over Temperature Protection > Disabled
CPU VRM Over Temperature Shutdown > Enabled
Digital Compensation > x1.2
Imon Overwrite > Auto
Transient Boost > Disabled

SVID Communication > Enabled
VCCIN Voltage 2.200
CPU Core/Ring/GT Voltage Mode > Override Mode
CPU Core Voltage 1.280
CPU Ring Voltage 1.350
CPU SA/IOA/IOD Voltage Mode > Manual Mode
CPU SA Voltage > 1.050
CPU IO Analog Voltage > 1.100
CPU IO Digital Voltage > 1.150
CPU IOA/IOD Voltage Boost > Auto
DRAM Voltage > 1.650
PCH 1.05 Voltage > Auto
PCH 1.5 Voltage > Auto

CPU Specifications

Hyper-threading > Enabled
Active Processor Cores > All
Limit CPUID Maximum > Disabled
Excute Disable Bit > Enabled
Intel Virtualization Tech > Enabled
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch > Enabled
CPU AES Instructions > Enabled
Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor > Enabled
Intel C-State > Disabled
Long Duration Power Limit (W) > 4096
Long duration Maintained(s) > 128
Short Duration Power Limit (W) > 4096
CPU Current Limit (A) > 1024
VR Iout Slope > Auto
VR Iout Offset Sign > Auto
VR Iout Offset > Auto
Internal VR OVP OCP Protection > Disabled
Internal VR Effeiciency Management > Enabled
Internal VR Switching Frequency > +6
DMI Gen 2 > Enabled
DMI De-emphasis control > -6 dB
CFG Lock > Enabled

Also what should I set my PCI latency timer to? 32? 64? 96? 128? the default is 32.

Is there anything here I should change to increase stability?

Is it weird that I can hit 4.6GHz at the same core frequency but to maintain stability I have to increase my Ring voltage instead of my Core Voltage? even when setting my ring ratio to auto and ring voltage to auto it suddenly becomes unstable? hence why I've stuck to 4.5GHz core & ring.
if you see anything in my bios that you think I should change let me know.

Thanks for reading.

 

[rory-tickner]

Im getting the same sort of thing. My 4770k is stable at 4.5Ghz and thats it, none of settings i change in the BIOS make any difference at all which is annoyign as just with my Corsair H100x im getting full load temps of around 60 degrees. I think for me and I guess for you that it has reached its limit? going from 3.5 base clock to 4.5 and still being stable is no small thing so i guess we just have to accept it for what it is?

What were you aiming to get anyway? 4.7+???

 

[MaxTehLegend]

Im getting the same sort of thing. My 4770k is stable at 4.5Ghz and thats it, none of settings i change in the BIOS make any difference at all which is annoyign as just with my Corsair H100x im getting full load temps of around 60 degrees. I think for me and I guess for you that it has reached its limit? going from 3.5 base clock to 4.5 and still being stable is no small thing so i guess we just have to accept it for what it is?

What were you aiming to get anyway? 4.7+???

sorry for extremely long reply, yes I was aiming for 4.7 but only managed to get 4.6GHz out of it in the end. on a different platform now.