VCORE is 1.71V on i5 4690k without overclocking. Should I be concerned?

[Ewan22]

I've had my i5 4690k for about a year and I just started reading up on overclocking to see if I could get a little more performance out of it. By reading threads here I've gathered that OCCT is the software to use so I downloaded it and fired it up. I've read that VCORE is the value to pay attention to and that it should not exceed 1.3V, however on starting the program it shows VCORE at 1.71V before I've even clicked test or changed anything at all. Can I still overclock? Is my computer broken? I would appreciate any advice.

 

[anbello262]

I would believe that the program is either reporting the wrong values, or using a different nomenclature. Try CPU-Z and HWMonitor, and report back.
I wouldn't believe that it would run so stable and cool with such a Vcore.

After we check the credibility of those values, you should go into the BIOS, and set the voltage to Manual instead of Auto. Set it at 1.2V (with stock clock speeds), and check the readings with all 3 programs again.

DON'T try any stress test or benchmark until we are sure about the Vcore.

 

[Ewan22]

I would believe that the program is either reporting the wrong values, or using a different nomenclature. Try CPU-Z and HWMonitor, and report back.
I wouldn't believe that it would run so stable and cool with such a Vcore.

After we check the credibility of those values, you should go into the BIOS, and set the voltage to Manual instead of Auto. Set it at 1.2V (with stock clock speeds), and check the readings with all 3 programs again.

HWMonitor says 1.712V. In CPU-Z the Core Voltage (I'm assuming that's VCORE?) seems to fluctuate between 0.75V and 0.85V. I also checked SpeedFan which says VCORE is 0.86V.

In the BIOS it says my VCORE is 1.007V. It doesn't seem to allow me to change the voltage even after setting it to manual. Should I enable 'extreme over voltage'?

 

[anbello262]

What motherboard do you have?
Look carefully and try to see about power saving features, automatic overclocks, "gaming modes", and disable every one.
Try to do something just a bit cpu intensive while you check speedfan and cpuz, like compressing with 7zip or winrar a ~1gb file, for example. You can also try RealTemp, and maybe Aida64 (trial).


About that setting, try to enable it to see if it lets you manually set the Vcore. If it doesn't, disable it again before exiting BIOS.

 

[Ewan22]

What motherboard do you have?
Look carefully and try to see about power saving features, automatic overclocks, "gaming modes", and disable every one.
Try to do something just a bit cpu intensive while you check speedfan and cpuz, like compressing with 7zip or winrar a ~1gb file, for example. You can also try RealTemp, and maybe Aida64 (trial).


About that setting, try to enable it to see if it lets you manually set the Vcore. If it doesn't, disable it again before exiting BIOS.

Alright, I increased it to 1.2V and compressed a large file while watching the values. Not really sure what I'm looking for though. CPU-Z shows core voltage at 1.2V which is unchanging. Speedfan shows VCORE at 0.9V. HWMonitor and OCCT are both displaying some new values now including CPU VCORE at around 0.9V. I guess I was looking at the wrong value before, and the VCORE that shows 1.7V is actually something else?

edit: motherboard is an ASUS Z97-K

 

[panathas]

The VCORE is actually the voltage of your entire CPU. It's the voltage that your motherboard applies to the voltage regulator which is integrated in all the Haswell CPUs and controls the power to all the cpu parts such as the memory controller, cache, CPU cores, PCIE controller etc. Your actual CPU core voltage is the VID which is exactly the voltage that is applied to the CPU cores.

EDIT
I also have a haswell CPU and I have similar voltages with you. You should be fine.

 

[anbello262]

Maybe the 1.7V Vcore from OCCT is what some others might call Vccin.
But now that Vcore (or VID, slight different meaning, but in this context can be the same) is 1.2V, we can be sure that it is in a safe value.
Now, there's nothing left to worry.

I asked you to compress a file because Haswell will jump to lower voltages when idle (unless every power saving feature and C state is disabled), and will only yse the real Vcore when under load, so it doesn't really make sense to check voltages when idling.


But now, problem solved. You can go back to overclocking, if that was your original objective. Here are some guidelines that you could use as reference later:

I strongly recommend carefully reading this guide:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1411077/haswell-overclocking-guide-with-statistics

As safe voltages for a stable overclock to set once and use everyday, Tom's community usually recommends 1.3V CPU Vcore as a maximum, although that depends also on your temperatures.
Try to keep your chip below 80ºC. What is your cooler?

As an average, which may or may not apply to your particular cpu, you can expect aroubd 4.5GHz with 1.25-1.30V CPU Vcore. This is only a guideline.




I just gave you a lot of information in only 1 post, sorry. It's not meant for you to take it all in at onxe, but to use as reference as you advance with each step.

 

[Inflam3s]

I had this happen when i changed to a different motherboard.

One was reporting the VCCIN which is the voltage supplied to the cpu itself, the Vcore though was down at 1.1-1.2 while running.
My usual motherboard just reports Vcore which is always around 1.1-1.2.

 

[Ewan22]

Maybe the 1.7V Vcore from OCCT is what some others might call Vccin.
But now that Vcore (or VID, slight different meaning, but in this context can be the same) is 1.2V, we can be sure that it is in a safe value.
Now, there's nothing left to worry.

I asked you to compress a file because Haswell will jump to lower voltages when idle (unless every power saving feature and C state is disabled), and will only yse the real Vcore when under load, so it doesn't really make sense to check voltages when idling.


But now, problem solved. You can go back to overclocking, if that was your original objective. Here are some guidelines that you could use as reference later:

I strongly recommend carefully reading this guide:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1411077/haswell-overclocking-guide-with-statistics

As safe voltages for a stable overclock to set once and use everyday, Tom's community usually recommends 1.3V CPU Vcore as a maximum, although that depends also on your temperatures.
Try to keep your chip below 80ºC. What is your cooler?

As an average, which may or may not apply to your particular cpu, you can expect aroubd 4.5GHz with 1.25-1.30V CPU Vcore. This is only a guideline.




I just gave you a lot of information in only 1 post, sorry. It's not meant for you to take it all in at onxe, but to use as reference as you advance with each step.

Thanks for your help. I will read that guide carefully. I have the intel e97378 which I'm pretty sure is just the stock cooler. I'm hoping to still be able to overclock by a moderate amount but I'll keep a close eye on the temperature.

 

[anbello262]

You can get some decent CPU coolers for about $30, and they will last years, you can even use then for new builds when you get a new PC in some years. They will decrease temps a lot and increase OC headroom.
The most commonly recommended is the Cooler Master 212 Evo, but there are some that are better.
If you wish to buy one, at any time you can start a new thread in the 'Coolers' section and ask for recommendations.