Simple Method to Overclock i5-3570K CPU?

[steve489]

My PC hardware is:

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard
Intel i5-3570K CPU & Noctua cooling fan on Normal BIOS profile
16GB GSkill memory

I've just started experimenting with overclocking and found this simple approach which increases the Turbo ratios http://

I've obtained a stable overclock by setting the Turbo ratios to x42 and CPU PLL to 1.65V. All other settings are on Auto.

At this setting the PC runs the Intel Burn Test at 77C and the Prime 95 Blend Test at 66C which I understand is quite reasonable.

However, if I increase the Turbo ratios above 42 , I have to terminate the Intel Burn Test since the temperature ramps up above 90C and I get an audible CPU warning.

Has anyone any tips on how to achieve a higher stable clock by increasing the Turbo ratios. I'm aiming for a stable, reasonably quiet overclock.

 

[IInuyasha74]

Yea, the best tip for you is to lower PLL back to its stock setting. It is not recommended to increase PLL because it tends to cause hardware to fail sooner. Much sooner. It also increases heat, and does little to help you overclock.

If you drop PLL to the stock setting, you could probably achieve the same overclock, if not higher without increasing voltage at all. If you do increase voltage, you want to use the offset mode to do it.

 

[steve489]

I don't understand - I lowered the CPU from the Auto setting to 1.65V

 

[IInuyasha74]

Many Z77 motherboards have a PLL Overvoltage setting that should be disabled. The manual controls for the PLL voltage should be set to their default values. This voltage setting can vary from system to system, so the way you wrote it I thought you had increased voltage. If you have decreased it, that isn't good either. PLL voltage isn't something you want to play with at all. Too much or too little voltage here will cause system instability and can damage components.

If you want to overclock, reset this value to its default, and use the CPU voltage offset to raise the voltage small amounts as you overclock.