[SOLVED] Overclocked CPU...?

[Viorala]

My CPU is only 3.6 GHz but both HWiNFO (under clocks) and SIV show that it's running at around 4800 MHz permanently, even while idling. I never overclock so I don't know what that's about.

I read a thread yesterday with the same problem but their resolution happened naturally. I've run stress tests (Cinebench) and my CPU package runs really hot, at 100 c, probably higher. So if I'm overclocked I need to change it until I can get some more fans and figure out where to place them. If I'm not overclocked that's cool but what does the 4800 GHz mean?

Motherboard - Z490 UD AC
CPU - i9 10850K
CPU Cooler - Cooler Master MasterAir G200P (I had to find one to fit in case; I also have a push fan and a pull fan)
RAM - (2x8)x2 = 32 GB, all Corsair Vengeance
PSU - EVGA 550w
GPU - Sapphire Radeon RX 570 (to tide me over until June)
Drives - 1 SSD and 2 HDD

edit: It's 4800 MHz, not GHz

 

[geofelt]

What you are seeing is likely a turbo speed.
To get it to lower when not much is going on, you need to implement speedstep and adaptive voltage.
That could be the default in your bios or not.
Also, in windows power options under minimum processor state, the number should be something like 20%.

 

[Viorala]

It was at 100% for minimum processor state, I changed it to 20%.

I'll work on the speedstep and adaptive voltage.

Thanks for your help!

 

[geofelt]

Run cpu-z.
If you see the multiplier varying, you need to do no more.
I am beginning to think that overclocking the I9 processors is not much worth it.
They seem to turbo up and maximize performance even at stock.


What is your case?
How much height do you have available for a cooler?
What is your fan arrangement?

I think the cm g200P is totally inadequate for your processor and it is keeping you from a turbo of 5.2

There are better low profile coolers, and in a truly restrictive case, you may need to resort to liquid cooling(not my favorite)

 

[Viorala]

Changing that to 20% must have done the trick because my my core speed is now running at 3600 MHz during the stress test (CPU-z). The multiplier moved between x 50 to x 48 while idle, and from x 36 to x 34 during stress test. Now idling after the stress test, my core speed is 4800 to 5000 MHz. All those numbers seem backwards intuitively but that's what came up.

My case is a very old NZXT for an ibuypower that I bought sometime around 2009. I've modified the bays a bit, trying to clear more room. My PSU cords suck, they're the thickest I've ever seen, but that's not a good enough reason to buy a new one.

The fan configuration is the same as it was when it was just a lowly prebuilt: Radiator (exhaust) fan in the back. Intake fan set in a plexiglass window on the left wall. The intake fan faces the GPU and the CPU/ heatsink/ fan that's a little bit above it on the right wall. It's the problem: I've tried a Cooler Master Hyper 212 evo (159 mm) which was too big for the case even, then I tried a slightly smaller Deepcool Assassin (155 mm) that would have fit in the case and is actually a very good heatsink/fan (I used it for 10 days while waiting for Newegg) but it collides with the intake fan and keeps that side from closing. It looks like I can't get one any taller than 150 mm. You're right, the g200p is not enough for my cpu. But in tests against the little Noctua heatsink/fan it performed well enough to be good competition so it's not a completely crappy fan. It also means the Noctua wouldn't be good enough either.

The obvious solution would be to buy a new case, but the ones that come with fans are hundreds of dollars. (!!) I can move my drives to the 5.25" bay and get rid of the 3.5" bay thingy altogether, making room for some fans, either front, side, or bottom of case. I also have room at the top of the case. Really, I could toss some (magnetic) fans in like they're frisbees and see where they stick. They would have to be push fans though, and I have to research wind patterns or something first. No point in just pushing hot air all around one area of the case. I've been avoiding water cooling but I'll look into that also, although I don't think my configuration would support more than one fan in one spot, let alone a row.