scared of overclocking 4790k

[shazlow]

i've been using the 4790k now for 3 years at the default factory setting.. 4 ghz base and 4.5k turbo boost...

when im playing games, i noticed the turbo boost is on all the time at 4.5 ghz...

just want to know if i can overclock this cpu to base speed 4.2ghz.. is it worth it?

i am scared to do it because i dont know how the voltages work.. i used ai suite 3 before, but i cant download it anywhere now...

thanks.

 

[Dunlop0078]

So you want to underlclock it to 4.2ghz? Why? Cant see the point in that unless you just want lower temps and less power consumption or something. I would not recommend using ai suite to overclock or underlclock, never had good luch with it. I use the BIOS. What is the VCORE voltgage set to currently? You can find out with something like HWmonitor.

 

[geofelt]

You bought a "K" to be able to overclock.

The key to safety is to keep the vcore under control.
That is, as I recall 1.3v.

Overclock using the bios.
Keep all voltages on auto and gradually raise the all core multiplier.
When you reach your limit, back off a notch.
If you reach 85c. under load, that is about the limit.
With a good cooler, you are likely to reach your vcore limit before you reach your thermal limit.

Do not worry too much about heat. The cpu will slow down or shut off if it detects a dangerous temperature.

Then implement adaptive voltage and speedstep.
That will reduce the multiplier and vcore when there is little to do.

 

[spdragoo]

i've been using the 4790k now for 3 years at the default factory setting.. 4 ghz base and 4.5k turbo boost...

when im playing games, i noticed the turbo boost is on all the time at 4.5 ghz...

just want to know if i can overclock this cpu to base speed 4.2ghz.. is it worth it?

i am scared to do it because i dont know how the voltages work.. i used ai suite 3 before, but i cant download it anywhere now...

thanks.

That Turbo speed you're seeing (which should really be 4.4GHz, as that's the limit on a non-overclocked i7-4790K) only applies when one core is in use. If all cores are in use, the i7-4790K maxes out at...4,2GHz.

Since 4.2GHz on all 4 cores is entirely within its normal non-overclocked performance, "overclocking" it to that level or higher should be fairly easy. Assuming, of course, you're using a motherboard that you can actually overclock with. Full overclocking requires a "Z" series motherboard (i.e. Z87); other boards might allow you to adjust the multiplier, but that's more limited.

Assuming you can overclock with your motherboard, since you had to buy a CPU cooler in the first place ("K" CPUs aren't sold with one by Intel), you can probably go ahead & try overclocking. If not, a decent air cooler should maybe run $20-50 USD. With that, I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't get that CPU to get to 4.5GHz on all 4 cores, if not higher.

 

[TwilightRavens]

i'd keep it below 1.25v if you are on air cooling. But that chip is capable of 1.35v (i think) as its safe max voltage, but that's assuming temps are reasonable (below 80 degrees)