i7-4930k OC, results, advice on offset

[DarthMurdicide]

Hello to everyone, this is my first post here, was glad to see the site was back up, this looks like a lot more noob-friendly forum than the other OC sites I tried while ROG was down. Most of those users seem like egomaniacs filled with hubris who don't like to be bothered with "easy" questions, and do nothing but condescendingly berate your decisions, and flame in other ways like tell you "that's a stupid purchase". I hope I'm not naïve in thinking that there are helpful people out there on this site who can assist an old man!!

Here is the rig I just built, first build in 6 years, really had a blast doing it, until I found out Haswell-E came out two weeks later (lesson learned about not doing enough "futures" homework :mad:)!!

CPU
Intel Core i7-4930K Ivy Bridge-E 6-Core 3.4GHz LGA 2011 130W Desktop Processor BX80633i74930K
Motherboard ASUS Rampage IV Black Edition LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard
Graphics BFG Tech GTX 260 Maxcore x 2 SLI
RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 64GB (8 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C9Q2-64GZH
Hard Drive SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Optical Drive LG Blu-Ray Burner MODISC
Cooling Cooler Master Nepton 140XL – Push-Pull CPU Liquid Water Cooling System with 140mm Radiator and 2 JetFlo Fans
OS Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Power LEPA G Series G1600-MA 1600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI CrossFire 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Power Supply
Case Cooler Master HAF X Blue Edition - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with Windowed Side Panel and USB 3.0

Do I did an initial OC by simply choosing the XMP profile for 2133mhz and set the multiplier to 44. Ran memtest86+ for 24 hours, no errors. At 4.4ghz with 64GB of RAM running at 2133mhz, the hottest the CPU got was 85c during 24 hours of Prime95 small FFTs. Please see screenshot at the bottom.

So now what I want to do is make this thing stable with offset voltage. Here are the settings I'm planning on using. Admittedly I copied them from another user on one of the other sites (one of the "good guys" I encountered), fully aware they may not work for my CPU / set-up:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner …………………………………………………….. Manual
CPU Level Up ………………………………………………………………. Disabled
BCLK Frequency ………………………………………………………….. 100
CPU Strap ……………………………………………………………..……. 100
ClockGen Full Reset ……………………………………………………. Enabled
CPU Core Ratio …………………………………………………………… Synced All Cores
1-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
2-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
3-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
4-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
5-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
6-Core Ratio Limit ………………………………………………………. 44
Internal PLL Overvoltage …………………………………. Enabled
DRAM Frequency ……………………………………………………….. 2133 MHz
Xtreme Tweaking …………………………………………………….…. ENABLED
EPU Power Saving Mode ……………………………………….……. Disabled
Extreme OV ………………………………………………………….….…. Disabled
BCLK Skew …………………………………………………………….……. Auto
CPU VCORE Voltage ………………………………………..……….…. OFFSET MODE
Offset Mode Sign …………………….……………………………..…… +
CPU VCORE Offset Voltage……….……………………………..…… 0.095
VTT CPU Voltage …....………………………..……..….. 1.20
2nd VTTCPU Voltage ………………………..……….…. 1.10387
CPU VCCSA Voltage ……………………………..................…..... Manual
CPU VCCSA Manual Voltage ……………..…..…................…. 1.150
DRAM Voltage (CHA, CHB) …………………….................……. 1.65
DRAM Voltage (CHC, CHD) ……………………….................…. 1.65
CPU PLL Voltage …….…………….................……..…. 1.9
PCH 1.1v Voltage ………………………………………................... 1.1
Initial PLL Termination Voltage …………………................... Auto
Eventual PLL Termination Voltage ………….................…… Auto
VTTDDR Voltage (CHA, CHB) …………………..............…..... Auto
VTTDDR Voltage (CHC, CHD) ……………………………………... Auto
CPU PLL Termination …………………………………................ Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum …………………………..............……… Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum ……………………………................... Disabled
BCLK Recovery ………………………………………………………... Enabled
DRAM TIMING CONTROL
Rampage Tweak ……………………………………….. Auto
Latency Boundary ……………….………………………………….. Auto
Primary Timings……………………………………………………….. 9-11-11-31 Command Rate 2
DIGI+ Power Control
CPU VCORE
CPU Load-Line Calibration …………………………….. Auto (CPU LLC )
CPU Current Capability .………………………………. 180%
CPU Voltage Frequency ….……………………………… Manual
CPU Fixed Frequency (KHz) ….……………...………… 350
VRM Over Temperature Protection ……………………………. Auto
CPU Power Duty Control …………………………………………….. T.Probe
Vcore MOS volt. Control …..…………………………….. Auto
CPU Power Phase Control …......................................…… Disabled set to Extreme
CPU Spread Spectrum ………………………................………… DISABLED
Current Inrush Inertia …………………………………………………. Auto
CPU VCORE Boot Up Voltage ………………………………………. Auto
CPU VSA
VCCSA Load-Line Calibration ………………………………………. Regular
VCCSA Current Capability ……………………………………………. 120%
VCCSA Fixed Frequency ………………………………………………. 300
CPU VCCSA Boot Up Voltage ………………………………………. Auto
CPU VTT
CPU VTT Switching Freq ……………………………………………… 1.3X
CPU VTT Over-Current Protection ………………………………. Auto
DRAM Voltage
DRAM-AB Current Capability ………………………………………. 130%
DRAM-AB Voltage Frequency ..……………………………………. Auto
DRAM-AB Phase Control …….………………………………………. Optimized
DRAM-CD Current Capability ………………………………………. 130%
DRAM-CD Voltage Frequency ..……………………………………. Auto
DRAM-CD Phase Control …….………………………………………. Optimized
PCH 1.1V Switching Freq ……………………………………………… 1.3X

So, here are my questions:

1) Under the CPU settings, here are my current values:
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology: AUTO
Turbo Mode: ENABLED
CPU States: AUTO
Should I keep these as-is, or in your opinion, change them? If so, what should I change them to? In particular, If I change the CPU States, what settings should I use for the ones that appear when not AUTO (like C3 reporting, etc.)?

2) Are there any other settings above that look problematic?

I really appreciate everyone's time in taking a gander at this long post. Your thoughts / comments / opinions / criticisms are most appreciated!! I plan on starting Prime95 small FFTs with these settings today.

Thanks so much!! 😄

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Hi DarthMurdicide 🙂

Probably came to the right forum for a civil response...

Can I just ask if you left CPU voltage on auto when you changed multiplier to 44?

The reason I ask is that you should probably spend a bit of time finding the ideal voltage for your CPU yourself...using Manual voltage.

You can see the value in CPUz...1.376...so you could start setting manual voltage there and then drop that by 0.01v at a time until you encounter instability running a stress test...

Or is that manual voltage you have found?

My settings for various OCs on IB-E http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?48635-Novice-overclocker-needing-some-help&p=413357&viewful...

I'd advise Medium LLC and find manual voltage for 4.4 while running a stress test in CPUz. Then find offset value for your CPU that gives you same load voltage in CPUz on same stress test of course...

So, settings I'd change above:

Exact VCORE offset value (from finding your own)
CPULLC....to MED
VTT and VCCSA I would set to 1.1 or 1.05v and see if you can run that....basically, again, find your own but 1.2v would start to be too much for me...
CPU PLL can often be run lower than 1.8 not higher..like 1.75...1.7...1.65

[DarthMurdicide]

Arne, thank you so much for your input. Yes, I did indeed use Auto for the voltage. I'll definitely take your advice and see what manual voltage I can get by with. Then I'll also use your settings recommendations to find my offset.

Are all of these OK in your opinion?:

Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology: AUTO
Turbo Mode: ENABLED
CPU States: AUTO

Thanks again so much for your reply and time.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Sorry forgot those...yes, all OK....you want turbo enabled to OC...speedstep is fully compatible with OCing and indeed you want to use offset mode to take advantage of Speedstep for downclocking core speed and voltage at idle....and C states are fine left at auto

Find your manual voltage for 4.4GHz with LLC at MED and then we'll convert that to an offset...

🙂

[DarthMurdicide]

Great, thanks SO MUCH again Arne, I'll report back!!

[DarthMurdicide]

Arne, two quick questions for you:

1) I am trying to find my manual voltage. When it's too low, and I get a BSOD; do BSODs affect your HDD / file systems in any way? Do you think once I find my manual voltage and my offset, I should reinstall the OS?
2) In trying to dial in my manual voltage; what I've been doing is running the 8-hour stress test in ASUS Realbench, and when I find a voltage that will get the stress test to pass, I was going to run Prime95 for 24 hours and also memtest86+. Does that seem like a good way to find my manual voltage before I start looking for my offset "sweet spot"?

Please advise, and thanks so much...I appreciate your time, and it looks like you respond to a LOT of people's posts, so I hope they send their thanks to you as well!!

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Yes, they can...especially Windows 8 ...windows 7 was much more robust.

You can check for errors running "sfc /scannow" in command prompt as administrator to see if any system files are corrupt.

If it's easy enough for you to do then yes, reinstall a fresh OS after finding your stable OC.

Personally I run a couple of hours of Realbench stresstest...and then simply use the computer for my normal computing.....running 24 hours of Prime proves nothing more than you ran 24 hours of Prime.....often people playing a game after are surprised when they crash.....

Realbench puts a much more holistic load on the computer but again 8 hours is way to much....for me anyway.

Couple of hours to really work the system and then on to the real test....gaming....watching videos....surfing the net....put computer to sleep and wake it up.....

The help? you're welcome :o...but it is nice when people say thanks...I thank you for that!

[DarthMurdicide]

Cool, that's what I've been doing, I'm running 1.28v right now, looking good...

That's one thing I've been "schooled" on the last couple of weeks researching...holistic vs. synthetic testing, and practicality of testing. When I OC'd my Q9650 years ago, I did that exact thing...question why my Prime95 stable computer would tank on Crysis. I started down that road again on this build...glad I'm doing more homework.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Yeah, 1.28 sounds a lot better than 1.38...

[DarthMurdicide]

OK Arne, and anyone else who might want to contribute, I think I'm almost there. I dialed in my VCORE finally to 1.3v. Then I started working on my offset. With the settings below for my Offset Profile (called ARNE ;)), I was able to run the RealBench stress test for 8 hours, the RealBench benchmark for 5 passes, and the Cinebench CPU tests, all with no errors. Maximum temp hit 73c, and the voltage varied from .088v - 1.36v. AND I didn't shut down any of my background programs; I figured why turn them off when I am trying to get a 24/7 stable OC? They'll be running in the background in normal circumstances!

Arne, I tried your recommendation of .02 for the negative offset...no joy, BSOD. So I went in the opposite direction to .005 for the negative offset. Works fine.

So my (possibly) final questions are:

1) Should I keep increasing the negative offset by .001 until I get a BSOD again, to try and get the negative offset closer to the .02 Arne recommended? I'm still a little fuzzy with this offset concept...how important is it to get the negative offset "dead nuts on"?
2) Are there any other settings below you recommend I change?

Thanks so much again to Arne, and also anyone else who would like to weigh in!! 😄

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner X.M.P.
CPU Level Up Disabled
BCLK Frequency 100
CPU Strap 100
ClockGen Full Reset Enabled
CPU Core Ratio Synced All Cores
1-Core Ratio Limit 44
2-Core Ratio Limit 44
3-Core Ratio Limit 44
4-Core Ratio Limit 44
5-Core Ratio Limit 44
6-Core Ratio Limit 44
Internal PLL Overvoltage Enabled
DRAM Frequency 2133 MHz
Xtreme Tweaking ENABLED
EPU Power Saving Mode Disabled
Extreme OV Disabled
BCLK Skew Auto
CPU VCORE Voltage OFFSET MODE
Offset Mode Sign -
CPU VCORE Offset Voltage 0.005
VTT CPU Voltage 1.05
2nd VTTCPU Voltage Auto
CPU VCCSA Voltage Manual
CPU VCCSA Manual Voltage 1.05
DRAM Voltage (CHA, CHB) 1.6
DRAM Voltage (CHC, CHD) 1.6
CPU PLL Voltage 1.7
PCH 1.1v Voltage 1.1
Initial PLL Termination Voltage Auto
Eventual PLL Termination Voltage Auto
VTTDDR Voltage (CHA, CHB) Auto
VTTDDR Voltage (CHC, CHD) Auto
CPU PLL Termination Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum Disabled
BCLK Recovery Enabled

DRAM TIMING CONTROL
All Settings Auto, Primary Timings 9-11-11-31 Command Rate 2

DIGI+ Power Control
CPU VCORE
CPU Load-Line Calibration Medium
CPU Current Capability 160%
CPU Voltage Frequency Auto
VRM Over Temperature Protection Auto
CPU Power Duty Control T.Probe
Vcore MOS volt. Control Auto
CPU Power Phase Control Disabled set to Extreme
CPU Spread Spectrum DISABLED
Current Inrush Inertia Auto
CPU VCORE Boot Up Voltage Auto
CPU VSA
VCCSA Load-Line Calibration High
VCCSA Current Capability 120%
VCCSA Fixed Frequency 300
CPU VCCSA Boot Up Voltage Auto
CPU VTT
CPU VTT Switching Freq 1.3X
CPU VTT Over-Current Protection Auto
DRAM Voltage
DRAM-AB Current Capability 120%
DRAM-AB Voltage Frequency Auto
DRAM-AB Phase Control Optimized
DRAM-CD Current Capability 120%
DRAM-CD Voltage Frequency Auto
DRAM-CD Phase Control Optimized
PCH 1.1V Switching Freq 1.3X

Advanced CPU Configuration
Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor Enabled
Hyper Threading Enabled
Active Processor Cores All
Limit CPUID Maximum Disabled
Execute Disable Bit Enabled
Intel Virtualization Technology Enabled
CPU Power Management Configuration
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology Auto
Turbo Mode Enabled
CPU C States Auto