3930k @ 4.6Ghz Feedback

[Malachor]

Hi All,

First time overclocker here looking for feedback and/or suggestions.

I've just overclocked my 3930k to 4.6Ghz on my RIVE mobo for the first time having spent a week reading up here and there on the various guides and forum posts available. There is certainly a lot of ground to cover but I think I've covered most of the basics.

What I'm looking for is advice, comments, suggestions etc on my current o/c settings and if they seem safe, stable and efficient. Here are the settings I've changed based on my reading thus far:

Hardware Info
RIVE BIOS: 3404
CPU Intel 3930k C2 Stepping @ 4.6Ghz
Memory 32Gb (8 x 4GB) Gskill RipJawsZ @ 2133Mhz X.M.P (9-11-10-28-2N)

Settings
BLCK: 100
By all cores: 46
CPU Strap: Auto
VCORE: 1.32V
VTT: 1.13750V
VCCSA: 1.135V
DRAM: 1.65V
CPU PLL: 1.8V
CPU LLC: HIGH
VCCSA LLC: HIGH
CPU CURRENT CAPABILITY: 140%
VCCSA CURRENT CAPABILITY: 110%
DRAM CURRENT CAPABILITY: 110%
SPEEDSTEP: ENABLED
C1E, C3, C6, C7 STATES: AUTO

Here are the results of testing the above settings using Intel Burn Test on Maximum:





Here are the results of testing the above settings using Prime95 small FFT's for 6 hours:




Everything is cooled by a custom water loop. I can provide details if needed.

Do the above seetings seem ok? Does anyone have any recommendation and/or suggestions? I basically want to be sure i'm within safe operational tolerances for 24/7 use whilst ensuring the logevity of the CPU is not degraded (I'd like to be able to use this machine for at least 3-4 years).

Feedback appreciated.

Kind Regards

Malachor.

[Chino]

You have a nice chip there. The IMC looks strong and your voltages are ideal for that level of overclock. Temperatures are also within the acceptable range. Everything looks fine for daily usage. Very nice work on the overclock. Enjoy your system. 😉

[Zka17]

About stability - you're the only one who can test/see that... 🙂

I am a little bit concerned about the temps... they seem too high for me... - but, I don't know 2 important things to really appreciate the temps...

First, whenever one talks about the core temps (those are the most important for the CPU), the ambient temp should be mentioned... - i.e. if your ambient is 30C, then those temps are looking very good... but if your ambient is below 25C, then your cooling is not enough...

Second, "custom water loop" does not really says too much about cooling... would you, please, give some more details? Specially, loop order, pump/coolant flow rate, radiator and fan setup...

[Malachor]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the feedback - it's appreciated 🙂

My custom loop is set up as per the picture embedded into this thread:
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?28190-Crossfire-7970-Lightnings-Only-1-GPU-being-used&highl...

Loop order is Res -> pumps ( 2 x Koolance PMP-450S in series) -> GPU's (parallel) -> Black Ice GTX 360 Rad -> CPU -> Black Ice SR1 480 External Rad -> Res

Fans are:

360 rad -> 3 x Apollish Vegas 2000rpm [(push) with 2 x 200mm coolermaster megaflow fans pulling out the top of the case)]
480 rad -> 4 x Aerocool Shark 1500rpm (push)

Not entirely sure what my flow rate is, but having used martins pump/rad optimizer and accounted for all QDC's/blocks/fans etc; it puts the flow rate between 1.2 and 1.4GPM. Both pumps are over-volted to 24V using a Koolance CTR-SPD24X2. Ambient is between 18-25 depending on when the central heating kicks in and how much kit I have turned on in the room (sorry I can't be precise but I don't have a thermometer and my room is dreadful for temp fluctuations; it's either ridiculously cold or ridiculously hot).

Thermal paste on the CPU is Phobya Hegrease Extreme using the "X" method and a tiny dab in between each upper quadrant.

The temps actually worried me in all honesty and it's why I started this thread. To seek feedback from those who are more experienced and know better.

Thanks again.

Malachor.

[Zka17]

Thanks for your detailed description! 🙂

As I suspected, temps are too high for my taste... - let's see what could be the problem...

If the flow is slow in your loop, then having the GPUs before the CPU may be a problem... two HD7970 Lightnings can produce quite a bit of heat... - with a fast flow though, should not be a too big problem...

About the rads: the Black Ice GTX ones are high fins per inch rads, which means that you need high static pressure fans on them... and, unfortunately, those Enermax fans are way below the requirements... those rads have 20 fins per inch, I would use fans at least above 3 mmH2O (vs the 1.8 those Enermax have)... - and having those 200mm fans above, it won't matter much... the air is going mostly around the radiator not through it... yeah, unfortunately it won't be quiet...

The BI SR1 have more looser fin configuration (9 fin/ inch), so those Aerocool Sharks should do the job... - of course, whenever you can setup a push-pull config, that will be a little bit better...

Now, the biggest issue I can observe... - your method of applying TIM on CPU... I have the feeling that you're using way too much! In my experience, on a 3930k a small blobb (about 4mm diamaeter) on the center is the best amount... I never tried your TIM, but should not give too high differences... - our friend, WhitePaw, loves the PK-1... 🙂

So, I would try first re-applying the TIM... then, better fans...

[HalloweenWeed]

CM Excalibur 2K RPM fans R4-EXBB-20PK-R0, Air pressure: 3.53 mmH2O, 13-30 dBa. But that is if you are looking for 4-pin PWM fans.
If not, I would also suggest you look for ball-bearing fans as they are likely to last longer.


There's nothing wrong with your static Vcore settings, and I see you have set your VCCSA to an expected number for your OC level too; but do you know it will take much more amperage, and thus $$ when idle like that? And your idle temps will not be low neither. I have been to 4.7 on variable, but Vreg throttling occurred during LinX; and at 4.6 stable (for a few months) without Vreg throttling - on variable Vcore - without sleep issues. I have C1E - C6 enabled, and I get great idle economy. That said, it is a personal preference and you can do what you want; I will help you with it either way. If you do not want to try variable, I will not push it.

On static Vcore, when you set 1.4Vcore you theoretically get 1.4Vcore (perhaps modified a bit by LLC, Anti surge support, and CPU current capability) no matter what your CPU is doing, and no matter what your current operating Turbo (or not) multipliers are. When you use variable, the Vcore decreases when the CPU is idle (at lower - 12 - multiplier). However, set wrong this can cause a sleep/idle issue. If you are going for max. benchmarking - competition level - OC, for bragging rights or whatever, then static is the way to go; but then you should also have extreme cooling W/a Vreg cooler too.


The next thing I need to discuss with you is your CPU LLC. If you go variable Vcore (offset mode + NOT auto), the LLC will have a slighlty more dramatic effect on Vcore. I see you do not have any VRM cooling. In that case, you should avoid going over Medium Vcore LLC - if you use variable Vcore. You will eventually run into VRM downclocking, you can see this as LinX/IBT Gflops reducing over time - generally after 10-20mins. testing but not always. You might wat to consider VRM cooling (wait until you see the downclocking first).

[Malachor]

Thanks for your constructive feedback everyone. It's exactly what I was looking for. 🙂

The fans I have on my 360 rad are rated as shown below, as I recall reading somewhere that you need a minimum of 2.0 mmH2O for high FPI rads.



When I crank these up via my Lamptron FC9 fan controller, they are quite loud, and I really don't want to go any louder, or spend more money on fans given that I paid a hefty premium for these fans as they're not available in the UK. If I absolutely must change them, I will, but if you think I can get away with bare minimum spec then I'll opt to keep them.

I'm happy to re-apply TIM if needed; after all, that's why I fitted QDC's everywhere - to make scenario's like this easier. I also have some PK-1 available 🙂

As for the voltages & related settings I'd like to thank you for the information. I have a few questions because, as a first time o/c-er; I'm struggling to come to grips with a few of the terminologies you used and their impact on the overall stability of the system.

VRM - can I ask what this is and what I should use to cool it? I have plenty of extra fans lying about from 80mm/25mm to 120mm/35mm and zip ties. I've never used offset overclocking and, although I have seen this option in the BIOS, I'm not overly confident in its use. If you're saying I'll get a more efficient o/c by using offsets, please could you suggest a good starting point?

I would really like the machine to use less power at idle i.e. clock down when not in use because, as you say, i'll get better temps and it'll save me CPU lifespan and money in the long run. I have speedstep enabled but the C-states are on Auto. Should I put all of these to enabled because the CPU is currently staying at 4.6Ghz regardless of tasks being carried out.

Would you suggest I set my CPU LLC to medium given that I don't have adequate VRM cooling? If I do that, will I have to re-run all stability tests? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I'm doing this the correct and most efficient way. I've paid enough for the components, I should do my best to keep them optimal!

Thanks again

Malachor.

[z0ki]

I got the new AX360 rad, 406mm thick (should i say thin) and i am running 6x Corsair SP120 (2350rpm) fans in push full and my temps are great, Though a little noisy but crank up my fan controller during rendering or gaming and temps are not even hitting over 60c on a hot day and my 3930k is OC'd to 4.6ghz at 1.36vcore. Higher RPM for dense rads. slower fans for the fatter rads.

[Zka17]

z0ki wrote:
Higher RPM for dense rads. slower fans for the fatter rads.

Sorry, z0ki, you're wrong there... if the rad has high fin per inch counts, you need static pressure to push air through... - low static pressure and high airflow won't do the job... What I'm trying to say here is that RPM does not have any direct effect in this case...

Malachor, as I said before, first repaste your CPU... it could turn out that you don't even need more/different fans...

[HalloweenWeed]

Zka17 wrote:
Sorry, z0ki, you're wrong there... if the rad has high fin per inch counts, you need static pressure to push air through... - low static pressure and high airflow won't do the job... What I'm trying to say here is that RPM does not have any direct effect in this case...

^ +1 I concur.
However, as to whether or not 2mmH2O is enough I'll leave it up to you guys, IDK. I just know my Excaliburs in p-p are sufficient, even W/a dust/lint buildup.