Undervolting and underclocking i5-4690K

[harkes]

Hi

Goal: To make my gaming as quiet as possible

i5-4690K
Zalman CNPS8000
Gigabyte Z97N-Wifi

So, my CPU is stable @ -0.110v vCore offset running Prime95 for 5min reaching 70°C. This is with all clock frequencies in Auto mode (stock).

I would like to lower the default frequency (3.5GHz stock) to, lets say, 2.6GHz. On top of that I would like a Turbo setting like: 1-2 active cores x39, 3-4 active cores x26. Hope fully this will keep the CPU nice and quiet while gaming and doing desktop work while I will still get that boost when needed.
However - as you can see XTU and CPU-Z does not agree what is going on - so what IS going on / what am I doing wrong? Does the above make sense at all?

- Thanks, Niels

 

[Neutr1n0]

Sorry, but no it doesn't make sense to buy an unlocked cpu to underclock it. If you want a silent pc, buy noctua cooler and noctua fans.

i don't know your cooler, but 70° at offset -0.110v (equals 0.883v?)... Can be one of two things: eigther that cooler is even worse than the stock intel cooler or you did a bad install...

forget about that... just noticed something... you running prime95 later than v26.6? I think so. You shouldn't! Prime95 later than v26.6 runs AVX instructions on the FPU. You should not do that on haswell CPU! It causes it to overheat and can even damage your CPU at stock setting by sheer current draw!

 

[Neutr1n0]

Since you likely used the 'turn your haswell into a stove' program, what are your real life temps? Idle & gaming? Probably you have PLENTY headroom and you can:
- set lower fan profile to lower fan rpm
- use 'silence' module to lower rpm on fans you can not control
- buy lower rpm or better (=noctua) fans

 

[harkes]

Well the thing is that its a gaming rig 90% of the time and it seems that 2.6GHz is more than enough to run any game with good FPS's (can probably go even lower). So, back to my original question...how to make it run 2.6GHz when using 3-4 cores (default) and Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz using 1-2 cores?

Been testing using Prime95 v28.5

30min of FarCry 4 gaming 1080p Ultra settings = 66°C

 

[logainofhades]

Turbo, on the 4690k, only goes up 4 multipliers. Best you could do is 2.6ghz, up to 3.0. Get a better cooler, or make sure you installed yours correctly. I do not remember the temps, but my 3570k @ 4.0ghz doesn't ever reach that high of a temp, even when running F@H. Lowering the frequency makes 0 sense.

 

[Neutr1n0]

hmmm... something ain't right. 66° in-game which is alot, but only 70° with 'forbidden' prime95.

Thing is you should be able to get near silent rig with decent temps without downclocking it. That is with properly installed decent cooler with decent fans.