OC Genie with MSI Z97 Gaming 5

Jacobq · Nov 25, 2014

Hey everybody. I just finished building my computer yesterday, and I am now on the overclocking stage. I have a MSI Gaming 5 Z97 motherboard, which comes with an OC Genie feature, and I don't quite understand how to check if my OC was successful, not enough, or too much (Voltage). I entered BIOS and turned on the OC Genie feature, but I don't know if it worked or not! If anyone can tell me how to check if it was successful, and what program I should use to test it, then that would be greatly appreciated! (Side note: I did NOT update my BIOS, as I haven't had time to get on my computer yet today.)
Edit: If you need my parts for any reason: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/WJw9RB

MeteorsRaining · Nov 25, 2014

Advise: Don't use Software OCing. Learn about conventional BIOS OCing, which deals with increasing the multiplier and voltage if required. It's more stable in general.

To stress test CPU for stability: Prime95 or OCCT or Intel Burn Test.

To monitor temps: HWinfo.

To check CPU specs: CPU-Z.

If a 5-6hr test with Prime95 is successful with temps below 80C and no BSoDs, then the OC is good enough. Also, I hope you're not using stock CPU cooler.

Jacobq · Nov 25, 2014

MeteorsRaining :

It just looks too confusing to me - And how would I reverse the overclock then? And it's not a high end cooler, but it's a hyper evo 212

MeteorsRaining · Nov 25, 2014

CM Evo 212 is perfectly alright for moderate OCing.

Sorry to sound confusing. To understand terminologies, please read a couple Haswell OCing guides. I'm not familier with MSI boards but there should be an option in the OC Genie to disable the OC. Anyways, to explain what I meant in my first reply:

Software OCing refers to OCing using a software like OC Genie. This is not the best kind as it doesn't deal with CPU at the most basic level like BIOS and may cause instability. OCing from Advanced features like Ratio Multiplier and VCore in BIOS are considered a part of BIOS OCing, which is generally preferred. Please read this to learn about the terms more:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2383165/motherboard-tier-list-x99-chipset.html

Now, simply put, when you OC, you increase the core speed. To do that, you need to increase a multiplier in BIOS, which's basically a variable, say x, with core speed as x*100Mhz. It is default on the CPU stock speed, and you can increase it, to say 40 and resulting OC will be 4Ghz.

But, you need to ensure that the system is stable on that OC, meaning not too low or high voltage, which can be tested using Stress testing tools as mentioned earlier. The temps are an indicator of the stability, very high temps will result in throttling and so aren't desirable. Upto 80C after OCing while doing stress test is fine.

Also, Vcore, or the voltage delivered to CPU can also be altered. More voltage= more stability, but very high voltage= danger to CPU. If you take multiplier to say 40 and crash on stress testing, then you need to increase Voltage for stability, increase by 0.05V and test for stability, if it's not stable, continue giving increaments till it gets stable. But VCore should normally not exceed 1.35V, that too on OC of about 4.5Ghz or higher.

After you've figured out the final OC, test for a couple hours to be able to conclude that OC is stable.

Jacobq · Nov 25, 2014

MeteorsRaining :

CM Evo 212 is perfectly alright for moderate OCing.

Sorry to sound confusing. To understand terminologies, please read a couple Haswell OCing guides. I'm not familier with MSI boards but there should be an option in the OC Genie to disable the OC. Anyways, to explain what I meant in my first reply:

Software OCing refers to OCing using a software like OC Genie. This is not the best kind as it doesn't deal with CPU at the most basic level like BIOS and may cause instability. OCing from Advanced features like Ratio Multiplier and VCore in BIOS are considered a part of BIOS OCing, which is generally preferred. Please read this to learn about the terms more:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2383165/motherboard-tier-list-x99-chipset.html

Now, simply put, when you OC, you increase the core speed. To do that, you need to increase a multiplier in BIOS, which's basically a variable, say x, with core speed as x*100Mhz. It is default on the CPU stock speed, and you can increase it, to say 40 and resulting OC will be 4Ghz.

But, you need to ensure that the system is stable on that OC, meaning not too low or high voltage, which can be tested using Stress testing tools as mentioned earlier. The temps are an indicator of the stability, very high temps will result in throttling and so aren't desirable. Upto 80C after OCing while doing stress test is fine.

Also, Vcore, or the voltage delivered to CPU can also be altered. More voltage= more stability, but very high voltage= danger to CPU. If you take multiplier to say 40 and crash on stress testing, then you need to increase Voltage for stability, increase by 0.05V and test for stability, if it's not stable, continue giving increaments till it gets stable. But VCore should normally not exceed 1.35V, that too on OC of about 4.5Ghz or higher.

After you've figured out the final OC, test for a couple hours to be able to conclude that OC is stable.

Oh, okay! Thank you a lot for the reply! I'll try to remove the OC when I get home from school, then i'll attempt the overclock. Just to clarify: You said if the multiplier was x40, it would be a 4ghz OC. So would lower be the way I want? Because I know it is already at x100 already, which is the base clock,. (maybe the OC Genie didn't work?)

MeteorsRaining · Nov 25, 2014

The multiplier acts as variable, the bus speed of 100Mhz is constant unless you play with BLCK, but that's a story for another day. As you stated, if multiplier is 40, then the core speed is 40*100Mhz= 4000Mhz= 4GHz. It's not exactly right to go lower, as in OCing you go higher, but to start from stock speeds, lower that ratio (ie, multiplier) to stock speed.

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