How to overclock? (BIOS screenshots inside)

OldWorld · Jun 3, 2014

Hey guys, I'm looking to overclock my CPU preferably to at least 4.5Ghz. Currently the way I've been doing it, is by going into Advanced Frequency Settings, and simply changing it from the default 3.4GHz to 4.3Ghz. I'm not entirely sure if that is actually increasing the voltage, or making the CPU run at 4.3GHz with the same voltage. Any higher and the PC will bluescreen every so often, leaving me to assume the voltage isn't increasing. I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject though, so I'm not entirely sure how it works. Turbo Boost is enabled, which is supposed to only overclock the CPU when under load (in my case games, I imagine), although overclocking it with Turbo Boost enabled higher than 4.3Ghz without changing the voltage will bluescreen it even when idle.

I've taken pictures of multiple different screens within the BIOS, linked below. If anyone would be so kind as to write a short little guide on how I'd go about doing that (preferably by referring to the screens shown in the pictures, rather than a default guide that would apply to any motherboard - I'd feel more secure if I knew exactly which screen(s) to do it in), words wouldn't describe how grateful I'd be. Some of the images may not be relevant, so apologies for that:

http://i.imgur.com/JqabXS3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wH3KiSK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VNLukaK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/N7MF4C2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aHeXg8T.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KVQwbKB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4tDmEEv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Zc0eY67.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/q80eAIS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GCBcHOh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1L0HR70.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/d8C69f7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KQ7HL6O.jpg

I'm not sure if my specs are relevant, but I'll paste them anyway:
EVGA GTX 780ti
i5 2550k 3.4GHz (4.3GHz Turbo Boost)
8GB DDR3 RAM
Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H-BW Motherboard
EVGA Super NOVA 850W PC Power Supply - Gold
Noctua D2H-B14 Heatsink
1920 x 1080
Windows 8.1

An infinite amount of thanks in advance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Obnoxious · Jun 4, 2014

Firstly, I apologise I can't give a detailed answer at the moment as I'm on my smartphone in the middle of the night; thanks insomnia.

The way you've overclocked seems good. Don't change any settings to overclock, only bump up your "CPU Clock Ratio" which in other words is your CPU multiplier. Since you have a k edition CPU, your CPU's multiplier is unlocked, hence designed for overclocking as you already know. Increasing the multiplier will only overclock your CPU, which is what you desire. You don't want to overclock your entire FSB; so increasing only your clock ratio is safe.

Again only increase your "CPU Clock Ratio" to overclock, and that's it. You've safely overclocked.

One thing I noticed which is not related to overclocking, I've noticed you've got your "SATA Mode Selection" in IDE. It's better to have it on AHCI, but you cannot change it now. If you do, you'll have to reinstall Windows.

All the best, and please reply if you want more information and I will reply with more detail when I'm on a computer during the day.

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

Thanks for the reply, it is highly appreciated!

I've noticed that when increasing the CPU clock ratio to around 4.5GHz, my PC fails to boot.

I think what's happening is that I'm not changing the turbo boost settings, but the speed of the CPU seems to be at 4.5GHz at all times. If you look at the fourth screenshot, you are able to change the ratio to 45 (4.5GHz) on all four cores.

I haven't done it that way without increasing the voltage also, would changing the turbo boost settings only, from within the Advanced CPU Core Features without changing the CPU Clock Ratio work?

Thanks in advance.

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

These spots are most relevant to simplify the list;

http://i.imgur.com/N7MF4C2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JqabXS3.jpg

This; Leave it on Turbo;
http://i.imgur.com/KVQwbKB.jpg

CPU core Voltage change is here;
http://i.imgur.com/1L0HR70.jpg

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

Thanks, what should I change them to, for a stable 4.5GHz overclock? Potentially slightly higher if still safe (obviously I'll monitor the temps with a fine-tooth comb).

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

With Z87 boards, when you overclock it tends to change the voltage automatically for the speed applied. If you have the UEFI BIOS, voltage should be done automatically, makes life easy.

For 4.5Ghz, if needing to Start at 1.23V and if not working correctly, which i can explain what to look out for possible symptoms of an unsuccessful OC, Increase voltage by [0.01V] until it is at it's prime lowest voltage that it works.

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

When you say "start at 1.23V", what screen/section am I changing exactly? Would I enter 1.23 manually, or another figure? Thanks again.

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

manually. Depending on what the core V is on already, add the voltage until it reaches 1.23V.

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

How do I tell what the core V is currently on? Does it say in a specific screen? Also, what section/screen of the BIOS do I change this? Cheers.

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

it will say it here;

http://i.imgur.com/JqabXS3.jpg

I thought you were using 4670k from another thread I just answered, voltage for the i5 2550k CPU will be higher then 4670k.

4Ryan6 · Jun 4, 2014

I would like to share with you that my 2550K was an extremely finicky CPU when it came to overclocking compared to the 2500K, for some reason of which I don't have a clue as to actually why?, it just flat refused to clock at 4500mhz or a 45x multiplier, I had to either go to 44x or 46x to get it to stabilize.

My 2500K could be overclocked to any multiplier I threw at it, but not the 2550K, and like I said, I don't know why, it mattered not the voltage it was supplied with, it just wouldn't do it at 45x, and it was extremely baffling.

So just in case your 2550K is like the one I have, (That my wife has now inherited!), and 45x won't work for you, then try either going above or below the 45x multiplier and you should find stability.

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

Thanks, have I got the below correct?

In this screen, change the Turbo Ratio on all 4 cores to 45 (4.5GHz), or further, if what 4Ryan6 says applies to me too?
In this screen, increase the Dynamic Vcore (DVID) by 0.01 until stable?

Will I need to do anything else? Thanks in advance.

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

I thought it was 4670k, but the 2550k is not as good when it comes to OC, but it is doable. Maybe not to 4.5Ghz as such.

yes, what 4Ryan6 said also applies to you, if you have the same issue.

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

Thank you. Are there any other steps?

Just to confirm, say the Dynamic Vcore (DVID) was set to 0 by default, but I found it was unstable, I would first increase it by 0.10? What would it display on this screen (http://i.imgur.com/1L0HR70.jpg)?

Would it say +0.010V, +0.100V, +0.001V?

Thank you for all your help, are there any more steps?

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

that should be it, If you increase by 0.1V, it should say +0.1V, and also show voltage below as 0.1 higher.

http://i.imgur.com/JqabXS3.jpg

OldWorld · Jun 4, 2014

So by following the image, 1.236V + 0.1V = 1.336. Is that correct? If so, is that a safe voltage?

Thank you so much for everything.

unknownofprob · Jun 4, 2014

that is correct, and depending on the speed, that should be fine.

How to overclock? (BIOS screenshots inside)

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