Overclocking, PSU enough W?

[bradatje]

hey guys,

So I want to overclock my i7 4790k and I only have a air cooler.
I wanna know if I can overclock it with a psu from 600W, so I can buy watercooling.

My SPECS:

Computer Case: Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01 Red LED
Motherboard: Gigabyte z97x Gaming 5
Processor: Intel Core i7 4790K, 4,0 GHz (4,4 Turbo Boost)
Memory: Corsair 8 GB DDR3-1600 x2
Hard Drive: Seagate Desktop SSHD, 1 TB
Video Card: GIGABYTE GV-N970G1
PSU: Corsair CX600M
CPU-Cooler: hyperx 212 evo

 

[Blueberries]

That's far more than you need to OC, it's less about wattage and more about amperage and efficiency and quality of MOBO mosfets.

 

[ajhockey3]

CX Series has a horrible reputation. Please look at the PSU tier list.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

 

[NormH]

enough W yes but bad quality I have linked your psu with one that is same price but way better and a seasonic (top 3 maker) for $10 more id get one of those

 

[Blueberries]

CX Series has a horrible reputation. Please look at the PSU tier list.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Truth, those CX PSUs are terrible. If you can afford it a SeaSonic SS FL-2 520W is my recommendation, and you could even install a single video card later if you wanted.

 

[geofelt]

PSU requirements are almost entirely gated by the graphics configuration, not the cpu.
You are good there.

I have become a bit jaded on the subject of haswell cooling for overclocking.
How high you can OC is firstly determined by your luck in the bin lottery.
I had high expectations from the Devil's canyon parts and their better thermals.
I found out that the thermals really do not matter unless, perhaps, you are a competitive overclocker.
Haswell runs quite cool, that is, until you raise the voltage past 1.25v or so.
Once you go past 1.3v, then you really do need very good cooling to keep stress loads under say 85c.
But, the consensus is that voltages higher than 1.30 are not a good thing for 24/7 usage.
I have been unable to find any official Intel recommendation on what is a safe vcore limit.

Even if you can handle the heat, how much do you really need that extra multiplier from say 4.4 to 4.6?

Your air cooler will be fine, assuming it is better than the stock intel cooler.
You will exceed a safe vcore limit most of the time before you run out of cooling capability with a decent air cooler.

 

[NormH]

CX Series has a horrible reputation. Please look at the PSU tier list.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Truth, those CX PSUs are terrible. If you can afford it a SeaSonic SS FL-2 520W is my recommendation, and you could even install a single video card later if you wanted.

he has a video card listed its a gtx 970

 

[bradatje]

CX Series has a horrible reputation. Please look at the PSU tier list.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

oops, not the solution, can u change that? but whatever, so u suggest I buy a new PSU?

 

[bradatje]

PSU requirements are almost entirely gated by the graphics configuration, not the cpu.
You are good there.

I have become a bit jaded on the subject of haswell cooling for overclocking.
How high you can OC is firstly determined by your luck in the bin lottery.
I had high expectations from the Devil's canyon parts and their better thermals.
I found out that the thermals really do not matter unless, perhaps, you are a competitive overclocker.
Haswell runs quite cool, that is, until you raise the voltage past 1.25v or so.
Once you go past 1.3v, then you really do need very good cooling to keep stress loads under say 85c.
But, the consensus is that voltages higher than 1.30 are not a good thing for 24/7 usage.
I have been unable to find any official Intel recommendation on what is a safe vcore limit.

Even if you can handle the heat, how much do you really need that extra multiplier from say 4.4 to 4.6?

Your air cooler will be fine, assuming it is better than the stock intel cooler.
You will exceed a safe vcore limit most of the time before you run out of cooling capability with a decent air cooler.

So what do you think, Overlock big and safer with a watercooler and a better PSU, or overclock only with watercooler, or what?
And sorry, I have never overclocked before

 

[ajhockey3]

You cannot change the answer...sorry. You should be good to overclock PSU wise. I just wanted you to note the PSU has a bad rep and could result in it blowing up in the future and taking something with it

 

[NormH]

solution unselected per OP's request

 

[bradatje]

You cannot change the answer...sorry. You should be good to overclock PSU wise. I just wanted you to note the PSU has a bad rep and could result in it blowing up in the future and taking something with it

pff, what a dilemma

 

[NormH]

if you already own the psu go for OC if not then don't buy it and buy the evga or seasonic I listed for same price. either way you should be happy as long as you don't go crazy with the OC

 

[geofelt]

First of all, the 4790K runs at 4.0/4.4 stock. No overclocking is really needed.
If you have a good chip, that 4.4 turbo may go as high as 4.6 with overclocking.
My advice is to not even bother with overclocking a 4790K.

I would use a simple air cooler to keep the noise down.

My canned rant on liquid cooling:
------------------------start of rant-------------------
You buy a liquid cooler to be able to extract an extra multiplier or two out of your OC.
How much do you really need?
I do not much like all in one liquid coolers when a good air cooler like a Noctua or phanteks can do the job just as well.
A liquid cooler will be expensive, noisy, less reliable, and will not cool any better
in a well ventilated case.
Liquid cooling is really air cooling, it just puts the heat exchange in a different place.
The orientation of the radiator will cause a problem.
If you orient it to take in cool air from the outside, you will cool the cpu better, but the hot air then circulates inside the case heating up the graphics card and motherboard.
If you orient it to exhaust(which I think is better) , then your cpu cooling will be less effective because it uses pre heated case air.
And... I have read too many tales of woe when a liquid cooler leaks.
google "H100 leak"
-----------------------end of rant--------------------------

Your pc will be quieter, more reliable, and will be cooled equally well with a decent air cooler.

 

[bradatje]

if you already own the psu go for OC if not then don't buy it and buy the evga or seasonic I listed for same price. either way you should be happy as long as you don't go crazy with the OC

thanks a lot man! whats the safest OC u suggest? and should I buy a watercooling or is the hyper 212 fine for a little OC?

 

[bradatje]

First of all, the 4790K runs at 4.0/4.4 stock. No overclocking is really needed.
If you have a good chip, that 4.4 turbo may go as high as 4.6 with overclocking.
My advice is to not even bother with overclocking a 4790K.

I would use a simple air cooler to keep the noise down.

My canned rant on liquid cooling:
------------------------start of rant-------------------
You buy a liquid cooler to be able to extract an extra multiplier or two out of your OC.
How much do you really need?
I do not much like all in one liquid coolers when a good air cooler like a Noctua or phanteks can do the job just as well.
A liquid cooler will be expensive, noisy, less reliable, and will not cool any better
in a well ventilated case.
Liquid cooling is really air cooling, it just puts the heat exchange in a different place.
The orientation of the radiator will cause a problem.
If you orient it to take in cool air from the outside, you will cool the cpu better, but the hot air then circulates inside the case heating up the graphics card and motherboard.
If you orient it to exhaust(which I think is better) , then your cpu cooling will be less effective because it uses pre heated case air.
And... I have read too many tales of woe when a liquid cooler leaks.
google "H100 leak"
-----------------------end of rant--------------------------

Your pc will be quieter, more reliable, and will be cooled equally well with a decent air cooler.

ur the best! I will follow ur advice, and spare my money for, uhhm another 970? idk

 

[geofelt]

If you OC, do what you can, keeping the vcore at 1.30 or less. At that vcore, a hyper212 will be decent at about $30.

Your case has limited height for a cooler, look for a cryorig H7 which I like better than the hyper212.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF2DZ6565

 

[geofelt]

If you are gaming at 1080P, a GTX970 will be very good.
At higher resolutions, or triple monitors, you may want more.
If you are in doubt, buy a EVGA GTX970 superclock. EVGA has a free 90 day step up program where you can trade in your old card for a better one within 90 days.

600w is ok, even for a GTX980ti.
I would agree with earlier posters that there are better power supplies than corsair. I would look at Seasonic 620w.
Here is a list of quality power supplies:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

 

[bradatje]

If you are gaming at 1080P, a GTX970 will be very good.
At higher resolutions, or triple monitors, you may want more.
If you are in doubt, buy a EVGA GTX970 superclock. EVGA has a free 90 day step up program where you can trade in your old card for a better one within 90 days.

600w is ok, even for a GTX980ti.
I would agree with earlier posters that there are better power supplies than corsair. I would look at Seasonic 620w.
Here is a list of quality power supplies:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

I already have this pc, but I want to get more out of it, I want to upgrade it, so whats the next upgrade, I was thinking of another 970, I do care the most about FPS

 

[geofelt]

A GTX980ti is the next logical upgrade.
Yes, sli GTX970 will win synthetic benchmarks, but gameplay is more consistent with a single great card.