Need help Overclocking my i5 6600k

Lethath67 · Oct 18, 2015

First of all, here is my system spec:
Help Overclock ME!

I've been messing around a bit and it seems that the most stable setup is at 4.2 Ghz. All I do is go to the BIOS Advanced setting and change the AUTO Speed to 4.2 Ghz. I tried others and seem to get faults, bsod and freezeups.

Can someone help me figure out how to get to 4.5 Ghz and keep it stable? My Vcore max voltage at 4.2 Ghz is reading 1.236v according to HWiNFO64.

I'm thinking the RAM is a possible culprit to bottlenecking the system.
Help?

AlexBrinkz · Oct 18, 2015

What temps are you getting?

IInuyasha74 · Oct 18, 2015

Are you letting the BIOS auto-manage the voltage? If so, you will likely encounter heating issues before you get to your optimal clock speed. BIOSes tend to be too generous with voltage when overclocking.

It is best you switch off of auto voltage before continuing. See what your possible options are to change it. Some systems only let you switch between Auto, Offset Mode, and a Fixed Voltage mode. You don't want a fixed voltage as that will disable your power saving features, so if you just have these three options go to Offset Mode, and set the Offset to +0.000 or the smallest increase possible either being +0.001 or +0.005 usually.

After that increase your multiplier slowly, and make sure you watch the temps. If you aren't giving it enough voltage, it will likely crash when booting or testing with IntelBurnTest. Or IntelBurnTest will report the failure. If it is getting too hot, it probably won't crash, but you risk thermal throttling and may shorten the life span of your CPU, so make sure to keep an eye on it.

Lethath67 · Oct 18, 2015

I'm new to OCing. When I go into Bios I see many different Voltage settings. It's why I linked my System above, so people can look at it and first off let me know if it's feasible to get to 4.5 Ghz...Then go from there.
Also, Don't I have to adjust memory settings too?

Ok...I followed this VIDEO to get an idea how to overclock.

I got my system to 4.2 Ghz at 1.150 VCore and the temps are about 65 celcius during a OCCT Stress test.

What do you all think?
I may tweak more.

Lethath67 · Oct 19, 2015

Ok,
I did a stress test using OCCT with my Build (Link in OP)..
Came up with 4.3 Ghz @1.176 VCore at max temp of 70C for 30 mins...So far.

Thoughts?

IInuyasha74 · Oct 19, 2015

Your temp isn't bad and the voltage isn't bad. Try pushing it to 4.4 GHz, test again. Increase by 0.1 until it is unstable.

Lethath67 · Oct 19, 2015

I need this computer to last me 3-4 yrs. hehe
Was debating keeping it at 4.2 just for gaming. Think it will make a huge difference?
According to Intel, the safe cap should not exceed 1.35v.

Ok...trying 4.4Ghz......

Results:
Ok, Did a 15 Min test @ 4.4Ghz
VCore Set at: 1.225v
Thruout the test it used 1.212v
Max use (Seems to be initialization): 1.224v

Crashed at: 1.215v

CPU Use: 100%
Temps: 73-75c steady
Max: 76c

All this without the heat from the GTX 980ti GPU LOL

As soon as I stopped the test the temps immediately dropped to 35c across the board.

Going back to 4.2 Ghz for Gaming. Stock is 3.5, so not too shabby at 1.125v for 4.2Ghz.

IInuyasha74 · Oct 19, 2015

Nah, not a huge amount of difference really. In fact this overclock will be more significant later when software becomes increasingly more power hungry. Right now, it doesn't matter too much. I'd advise to leave the voltage alone where you have it, and just see how high you can take the multiplier. Very low risk of damage if you don't increase the voltage, so should keep ti save and working for a long time.

Lethath67 · Oct 19, 2015

Yeah, I don't keep the VCore on Ato, it sucks. So I use whichever voltage I can get at minimum to keep system steady and it's locked in 24/7. So I will constantly run at (whatever voltage I select) at all times and keep the temps low.

IInuyasha74 · Oct 19, 2015

Overclock looks good. 4.4 GHz, temps are good, voltage is good. I'd say the system is running fine.

Just be sure you have the voltage on offset mode and not fixed voltage. With Auto, the BIOS can increase voltage on you even if you don't want it to. Which is bad. With a fixed voltage, your system constantly consumes that much power, which can increase the heat in your system and shorten the lifespan of the CPU. With CPU offset voltage, it will increase to the max voltage that you set when your CPU is being stressed, but then it will drop back down to a much lower voltage when you aren't doing much. This will cut back on your electric bill, and be better for your components.

So double check that, otherwise everything looks good. You could push even higher if you want. 4.5 GHz may run without a problem too.

Lethath67 · Oct 19, 2015

IInuyasha74 :

No idea where offset mode is in this BIOS.
Edit: I found the Mode (Called DVID, Dynamic VCore) but no matter what I tried I could not get it to work. The VID keeps changing as the system is running. Hard to find the exact number to put in.
Might revert back to Stock and then just use Gigabytes Auto- Overclock feature. It keeps temps and voltages down as needed.

IInuyasha74 · Oct 19, 2015

Hmm, sorry. Here it will be very hard for me to help you. Most BIOS systems are unique to the board, and so without owning the same board or being there to look myself it is hard to direct you. If you can't find it, then just go back to what you had set before. It may cause it to consume more power, but it is better than letting it possible adjust voltage automatically.

Lethath67 · Oct 19, 2015

IInuyasha74 :

I was about to type to say that. lol

I decided to go back to the 4.2 Ghz at a constant 1.128 VCore. When not under load, the Volts stay the same even thou the cpu get's cooled down to 28-30c with the Evo 212 Hyper.

Been fiddling with this for 2 days and not played one game haha.

IInuyasha74 · Oct 19, 2015

Been fiddling with this for 2 days and not played one game haha.

Then you are truly learning what it is to be a tech enthusiast

Lethath67 · Oct 20, 2015

IInuyasha74 :

I'm far from being Tech minded. lol

After computer gaming for 20+ years, I STILL to this day can not type without looking at my keyboard. Hows that for tech Savy? lol

Oh, btw, I might take it up to 4.4Ghz again, because when I play The Witcher 3 @ 4.2Ghz on Ultra at 1440p at 60FPS and my CPU temps only get up to 50c.

So I might tweak.....MORE.

Lethath67 · Oct 20, 2015

Here are System Specs again with new OC Update:

1. CPU: i5 6600k
2. CPU Cooler: Hyper EVO 212
3. Motherboard: Gigabyte Z170 UD5
4. RAM: Crucial 16Gb DDR4 2133
5. Boot/OS Drive: Samsung EVO 850 250GB
6. Data/Games Drive: Samsung EVO 850 500GB
7. GPU: EVGA GTX 980ti DDR5
8. Case: Fractal Design R5
9. PSU: Corsair 750W CX750M
10. Fans: 2x Noctua Fans 120mm (One for CPU cooler, other to add to front of Case)
11. Monitor: Acer 1440p 25"
12. Windows 7 64 Home Premium.

Ok, the newest (Steady so far) OC:

Using CPU-Z (1.74) , HWiNFO64 (v5.06-2640) to Monitor and OCCT 4.4.1 I achieved the following results:

Everything in BIOS was set to AUTO except for:

1. VCore at 1.220
2. Clock to 4.4 Ghz
3. CPU VCore Loadline Calibration: High

Results are as follows...

In a 30 Min test the CPU was at 100% Load.

MAX Temps:
Core 0: 76C
Core 1: 73C
Core 2: 74C
Core 3: 67C
Core Max: 76C

During test temps stayed around 71-75C.

MAX VCore: 1.212V

Current IDLE: 30C @ 1.212 V

If anyone has any better advice on how to bring down voltage and temps but keep 4.4Ghz, I'm all ears.
System did BSOD @ 1.200 V in setting, but now @ 1.220 (Above Test) it seems stable.

Edit: I just downloaded RealTemp and while doing a 100% Full Load test via OCCT and confirmed by HWin, Real Temp showed Load at 24%. Did I miss anything?

Winston Ivan · Jun 6, 2016

your voltage is i think in my opinion low that why it was bsoding you dont want to increase it to 1.250 - 1.275v

PCG4M3R101 · Jun 23, 2016

Lethath67 :

I can run mine at 4.5GHz at a max temp of 55C for 30 mins - I'm using the be quiet! shadow rock 2.

philipew · Oct 2, 2016

PCG4M3R101 :

I think that 70 C is too high for a low 4.3 GHz although it is still safe (I wouldn't go over 80 C). I get 67 C max and stable after 2 H on Prime95 with 4.5 GHz on a cheap CPU air cooler. Although it also depends on the ambient temp in which your rig is placed - hopefully not in a baby's bedroom;-). Check your fans (make sure they blow as intended - use a tissue or something - even remove the dust filters if necessary). Go in the BIOS and "manually" (don't use any software app. for this) set CPU VCore at 1.35 V (this is super safe still for a 6600K) - CPU Clock Ratio at 45 (=4.5 GHz) - Uncore Ratio (cache) at 44 (1 less than for the CPU) - FCLK at [1 GHz] - X.M.P. set on Profile 1 (or 2 if available) this is for the memory OC - disable the "on chip" graphics, wasteful if you use an external graphics card (as you preferably should).

As for the memory, give us some details. It should be pumping at ~3000 MHz but it also depends on the CAS of your chips. Your DRAM voltage should be at least at 1.35V (I got mine at 1.36 V - 14 16 16 28) to be safe (from 1.2 V).

philipew · Oct 10, 2016

Lethath67 :

Here are my current, and ultra stable, BIOS settings for i5 6600K on Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI:
[1] - CPU Core Ratio: 46
[2] - FCLK Frequency For Early Power: 1 GHz
[3] - Uncore Ratio: 46
[4] - CPU Flex Override: Disabled
[5] - Intel Turbo Boost Technology: Disabled
[6] - CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E): Disabled
[7] - C6/C7 State Support: Disabled
[8] - C8 State Support: Disabled
[9] - CPU Thermal Monitor: Enabled
[10]-CPU EIST Function: Enabled
[11]-Voltage Optimization: Enabled
[12]-Residency State Registration (RSR): Disabled
[13]-Hardware Prefetcher: Enabled
[14]-Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch: Enabled
[15]-Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.): Profile 1
[16]-System Memory Multiplier: 32
[17]-Memory Enhancement Settings: Relax OC
[18]-Channel Interleaving: Enabled
[19]-Rank Interleaving: Enabled
[20]-CAS Latency: 15
[21]-tRCD: 17
[22]-tRP: 17
[23]-tRAS: 28
[24]-Command Rate (tCMD): 1
[25]-CPU VCore Loadline Calibration (LLC): High
[26]-CPU VCore: 1.355V
[27]-CPU VCCIO: Normal
[28]-CPU System Agent Voltage: Normal
[29]-PCH Core: Normal
[30]-DRAM Voltage (CH A/B): 1.360 V
[31]-Internal Graphics: Disabled

My temps are low at around 65C max on IBT (Intel Burn Test), 52C in-game, 55C absolute max on Prime95 (constant). I think that using 4 sticks of 4 GB is better than using 2 sticks of 8 GB for a total of 16 GB.

Need help Overclocking my i5 6600k

Distinguished

Honorable

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Commendable

Commendable

Reputable

Reputable

Share this page