Rampage IV Extreme + 3930k Overclocking help

[Nillus]

Hey ROG Community,

I've recently discovered Offset overclocking through Raja's guide. Now I can get a stable 4.5 GHz with a VCore load of 1.37 with an offset of + 0.05, with load temps of mid 60's so I'd like to push it a little bit further.

I've read Raja's other guides for "Easy Overclocking" & the "UEFE Overclocking" but I'm still unsure about the Offset so rather to be safe than sorry I'm asking for some more guidance from the ROG Community.

Now I would like to try and get a stable 4.8 - 5GHz.

I just don't REALLY understand how to increase the VCore to get it at a stable 4.8GHz. Do I just keep adjusting the Offset +0.05 each time until I get it stable OR is there more settings I have to change for that.

I'll post my rig specs so you all get an idea what I'm running with.

ASUS Rampage IV Extreme BF3 Edition
Intel Core i7 3930k @ 4.5GHz
16GB G.Skill Ripjaw Quad Channel 1600MHz
Corsair Force Series 3 240gb X2 in Raid0
Silverstone ST1500
GTX 680 3-way SLI

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you 🙂

[Zka17]

Hey Nillus, welcome to the ROG forum! 🙂

Is this guide you are mentioning? http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?2162-Overclocking-Using-Offset-Mode-for-CPU-Core-Voltage

If I got it correctly, you will increase the Vcore in offset mode by simply changing the CPU's frequency.

So, after you set the "CPU voltage" to "Offset mode", "Vcore Phase Control" to "Optimized" and "Vcore load line calibration" to "75%" just adjust the "Max Turbo Ratio setting" to the required level. Check your temps and then try adjusting the offset... preferably to "-", since you want to find the lowest sufficient voltage for that frequency...

Don't forget, the goal of the offset mode is to reduce the overall power consumption/heat production... So, before you start with "+" offset, you better try in the other way...

If I would be you, I would start OC'ing in "Manual Mode" at "CPU Voltage" to find out where are my system's limits... when a stable OC at the desired level is acquired, I would note that Vcore. Then, after loading the default setting in BIOS, I would switch to the "Offset mode", do the settings according Raja's guide and see what Vcore BIOS is assigning for the selected frequencies - presumably will be higher then in the "Manual Mode", so just adjust offset accordingly... 🙂

Please, be aware that I had the RIVE board for just a short period of time and I didn't try what I wrote above! It's just how i would do it...

Also, be sure that you have adequate cooling! You didn't mentioned what type of cooling you're using...

[Nillus]

@Zka17

Thanks so much for the response. Very helpful!

I'll be sure to try this when I have some spare time later tonight.

Just a few questions. When I enable XMP I can't seem to change the "Vcore Phase Control" because its auto selected to "Extreme" and then the option is greyed out. Would I be better off just adding the timings for my RAM instead of using the XMP profile so I can change the "Vcore Phase Control" to "Optimized".

Also as for cooling I have a custom loop and after 12 hours of prime95 on 4.5GHz I had a max temp of 70 degrees which I thought it pretty good.

[Zka17]

I think you could write down the settings from the XMP profile and introduce it manually...

Regarding your cooling loop, it seems pretty good, indeed - although is getting close to the limits... Of course, prime95 will stress your CPU in a way that practically no other, real life application would do - so, you still have some room for the "real life" 🙂

Have you tried lowering the Vcore at 4.5GHz? For some reason, 1.37 seems a little bit high... but I may be wrong...

[Nillus]

Hey,

I was running on "High" LLC with the +0.05 offset so probably why it was high. I haven't tried your suggestions as of yet because I'm just playing some games with some friends.

If I change my "Turbo Multiplier" and I BSOD on start with the Windows logo what could that be an indication of?

Thanks 🙂