Overclocked my i5-4690K for the first time - I think I got it, but I need a second opinion

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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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Okay so I decided to upgrade my PC with a budget of 0, so I researched overclocking. Apparantly my CPU was unlocked, and my Graphics card was very common so it was fairly easy to research.

15 minutes ago my pc Blue Screened - that was a bit unsettling. I overclocked my CPU from 3.5 GHz to 4.5 GHz, and set the voltage to 1.250. I have since then upped it to 1.265, and I'm hoping that is enough to keep it stable. My temperatures are a pubes hair below 80 degrees, but my fan isn't even trying to I guess it is just the PC auto-keeping it just below 80.

How does this all sound to you? I also increased the GPU clock by like 165(core) and 210 (memory) and no tampering with the voltage here as this is the only part I plan on reselling.

I have pieced this together from countless of videos and forums, so I hope I am not embarassing myself here. I have already gained MASSIVE performance in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. +10 fps in crowded areas with many npc's (and therefore many processes I assume) and staggering is gone for good. Still 100% usage in those areas, but I guess that is another discussion..

Specs: MSI GTX 970
CPU: i5-4690K
mobo: MSI SLI KRAIT z79S
16 gigs of ram and 650W psu
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU Cooler
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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I wouldn't say that. Not until you've run a proper stability test. Download and run Realbench. Choose 8 hours and choose the 8GB option. Do not plan to use the machine while it is testing stability.

Prior to that, download and run Prime95 version 26.6 and choose the small FFT option. 15 minutes of that, if you stay below 80 degrees, you are at least marginally thermally compliant. I like more in the 70-75 range, max. But below 80 is plenty safe, probably loud fan though.

All of this and more can be found here. Might be helpful to you.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3761568/cpu-overclocking-guide-tutorial-beginners-work-progress.html
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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Okay so when i temperature torture test with Prime 95 WITHOUT overclock i get 90 degrees. With i get 98. I know it sounds bad, and probably is. It worries me, but it never reaches those temperatures at any other point
Furmark's CPU test leaves me with 85-88 degrees.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey in crowded areas: 75.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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What version of Prime did you run? Did you run a non-AVX version like version 26.6, or a later version that uses AVX instructions? You'll get highly unrealistic results with AVX versions.

If you DID run version 26.6, and chose the small FFT option, and got 90 degrees, then you have cooling problems.

I suggest that you do not have your cooler installed correctly if that is the case. Read this guide I wrote. It's likely you will need to RE-paste and mount your CPU cooler.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2520482/solving-temperature-issues-hyper-212-evo.html

If it was NOT a non-AVX version, then download the correct version and retest.

Games do not IN ANY WAY qualify as an adequate thermal test of the CPU. EVER.

Neither does Furmark. You must run a steady state, 100% all core load and verify that you are within the allowable thermal envelope. Otherwise, you risk substantial damage to your CPU. Running at temps above 80°C is likely to result in BAD things happening. So even Furmark has your CPU exceeding what is within spec.
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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EDIT EDIT: Ignore this, read next

Okay so I reapplied thermal paste. It still gets around 93 with 4.5 OC, 86 with OC geenie (4.0 OC) and high 70's at normal... seems a bit weird to me, that my tempts are so high with prime95

EDIT: Readjusted the middle screw's pressure point like ur guide said (MOD EDIT:Langauge is that such a big deal??) and getting around 60 normal now. Will try OC when i'm home from the gym
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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OMG dude I'm a MOD EDIT: Language. I didnt use the 26.6 version, though I thought i did. I get high 70's low 80s when overclocking and running the small test. Hope my cpu wasnt damaged by getting 100 degrees a few times xddd. Doesnt seem like it though, not short term anyways.

I have read that the highest acceptable temperature for a cpu is 85 C before experiencing issues. I got a spike to 83 but it's largely 79 when stress thermal testing it, So I'd give it a pass. Thanks for the advice. I dont know if I'm gonna do the 8 hour stress test. I might just run with it, and adjust if I get a blue screen. Maybe stress test if it works for a week or so to make sure everything is k.

Mod Note: PLEASE watch your language, family friendly site.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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THAT, is a very bad idea. I'll tell you why. Don't cut corners. DO the 8 hour test. You can run it overnight so it doesn't affect you, or some time when you'll be gone for 8 hours. Since it's at least marginally thermally compliant, there is no reason you have to be present while the test runs, you just need to see if it matches all hashes and passes or if it does not. Here's why it's important.



Sounds good, doesn't work that way though. It might seem ok until three months later when your system starts spewing errors or misbehaving and you can't figure out what is causing it. You'll end up doing this every three to six months and blame it on Microsoft sending out bad updates. Then at some point you'll realize most of your personal files are corrupt too after a six months to a year of this.

NOT WORTH THE RISK. Test correctly or don't overclock the cpu or use memory settings different than the default or XMP values. Even for XMP settings, testing should still be done. In most cases, the XMP values are both an overclock and a tightening of timings and need to be tested for stability.

An hour isn't enough to do anything besides give you a false sense of security no matter what you are using and most utilities do not actually DO what they are intended to do, which is to ensure stability running processes or calculations known to commonly create errors or corruption on unstable configurations.

Instability does not have to be to the degree where you see blue screens or freezing. It can be at the micro-error level where nothing fails to continue running but small errors like a zero here where a one should be or a couple of ones where zeros should be, and before long you end up with a completely fubared OS or personal files.
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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A whole other non-cpu related (I think) problem occurred. I was stuck in a boot loop. I removed the CMOS battery for 5 minutes, held the power button pressed for a lot of that time, and put it back in. I am now greeted with a post screen! F1 to run setup, f2 to continue, alt+F1 to run oc profile. It detects all my devices.

Did this happen because of my overclock? Can I safely restore oc settings to those when it passed the stress test at +0.9 GHz?

Edit: selected f2 and it boot loops again after I got into my PC and turned it off.......

Sooo back at POST. Not touching anything
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Yeah, you want to press F1, go into the bios, select default settings, save settings, exit bios, system restarts, then go back into bios again, and configure any NECESSARY bios settings if you need to. Like, maybe selecting Windows boot manager as the primary boot device if you need to, turning off or on CSM (Compatibility support module) if you don't have any pre-UEFI hardware running, configuring the desired fan curve profiles for the CPU and case fans.

I'd suggest leaving the CPU at it's default settings as well as the memory, for now, until you determine if there are other problems going on.
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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How will I know if my motherboard, CPU or PSU is faulty? -.-


 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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MERGED QUESTION
Question from andreas.scott : "Things went south VERY quickly..."







Cooler Master G650M, 650W PSU
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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By testing. Generally, test everything else and by process of elimination you end up with either motherboard or CPU. If there are no bent pins on the CPU, nothing has been shorted or power surged, and no excessive long term high voltage overclocking (Which of course, yours has) has been done, then usually you look at the motherboard first or swap in known good parts to see what makes it run, then replace that part.

You can test the PSU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7YMUcMjbw

And memory pretty much has to be swapped out by using known good memory, either purchased or borrowed, to eliminate that as being faulty.
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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I am now 90% certain my motherboard is fried. I went to reset the CMOS by shorting the pins for the purpose. Ofc when it was unplugged and all. At the same time I re-applied thermal paste because I hadn't really monitored my temperatures and some dude on Reddit said they might help with my boot loop problems (happened every 4th time I turned it on). Anyways, a nut from the other side of the motherboard went loose when I screwed it off without me noticing. After shorting the CMOS ram reset pins and successfully turning my PC on no problem, I lifted up my PC to put it in it's place. It had not reached windows yet at this point. I hear the loose screw scramble and hit something. The second it did the PC goes haywire - everything flashes, fans turn on and off repeatedly. I pulled the power, realizing it's done for, and the second I did the potential fix by completely resetting the bios/ CMOS whatever. Now it shows no signs of life. No CPR that I know works
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Have you tried, and this is a long shot considering the situation, disconnecting all connections from the PSU to all other hardware, unplugging the PSU from the wall, flipping the PSU switch on the back of the PSU to the off position, then plugging it back into the wall, back into ONLY the motherboard, WITH the GPU card OUT of the motherboard, using the iGPU output on the motherboard for display, and seeing if there are any signs of life.

Might have tripped the protection on the PSU and it needs to be reset. Probably a dead board though.
 
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andreas.scott

Oct 10, 2018
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I gave it to a repair guy who diagnosed it for free (that's his business model - diagnose for free and then offer a deal on a repair). He told me that he tested all the parts, and he can't breathe life into my mobo. So i decided to upgrade. He gave me a good deal on a Ryzen 2700, new mobo and 16 gigs of ddr4 ram at 3200mhz. So that's what i'm doing. I decided not to get the unlocked 2700X version because then I might attempt to overclock it again, because I know I never learn. Thanks for all your help man.. haha what a rollercoaster
 
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