Trouble overclocking 4770K with Maximus VI Formula

[sotiris_bos]

System specs:

4770K
Maximus VI Formula Latest 6/8/2013 no.0804 BIOS
Kingston HyperX Beast 8GB (2x4GB) 2400MHz
Corsair TX750M
Sapphire HD7950 VaporX oced (1000/1300)
Samsung 840 Pro
Seagate 7200.14 2TB
Swiftech H320
Corsair 900D


I can't get them stable at 4.2GHz. I can do 4.0GHz at 1.13v, 4.1GHz at 1.18v but cannot get it stable at 4.2 in a range of 1.2-1.3 volts. I need some assistance. Ram is left clocked at 1600MHz at 1.65v. Temps are not a problem. I use OCCT Large Data Set to stress it.

[jeffclimbsrocks]

i7-4770K 3.5GHz Intel Processor
Maximus VI Formula w/ 0804 BIOS
Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz
Corsair HX850 PSU
Noctua NH-D14
Cooler Master HAF922 Case (w/ 6 total fans, 2 on CPU, 2x240 input, 1 240 output, 1 120 output)

I am also having issues with stability when I try and just clock to 4.2GHz. I tried 4.6 and got shutdown. Kept trying to go lower with no luck. When I use the Asus Suite III application I can run at 3.9GHz. However, I would like to have the settings stored in the BIOS. When I try and use the standard settings in the BIOS by setting the CPU Level UP to anything other than AUTO it becomes unstable. By unstable, I mean when I run Prime95 it gives me the blue screen and memory dump before I have even warmed up completely on the test. So just like sotiris, I don't think that temperature is a problem. BTW, what would the temperature have to be in order to be a problem? In any event, I am wondering if it is another setting that is causing it to become unstable. I spent alot of money on this setup and would like to overclock. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I should also mention that 3 other people I know have the same setup and one is getting 4.6GHz through the CPU level up settings in the BIOS. Everyone else seems to be stable at least at 4.2GHz.

Thanks in advance!

[HiVizMan]

Hello guys

The key thing to understand is that no two CPUs are equal. I am really sorry to have to say that but it is true.

In my case I have a couple of 4770K processors. My best will do 5GHz at 1.26

But my worst CPU will not do higher than 4.3 GHz. Not for love or money. So it really is the luck of the draw.

Now what you can do is try the following.

In bios F5 to restore defaults.

Now set your multi to 42

In vcore set voltage to 1.35

Leave all else on auto.

Boot into Windows and run ROG real bench. Not the stress test part the benchmark part.

Post back how it goes.

[sotiris_bos]

I managed to get it stable at 4.3GHz at 1.24v. I am trying to get the cache ratio stable now. I am using Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

[HiVizMan]

Why would you need to change the chache ratio from Auto?

[sotiris_bos]

I want to get it as high as I can. If you leave it in auto it clocks it a bit lower than the cpu

I am using 3 power strips one plugged to the other to be able to reach my room's power socket. Could this be a problem?

[Praz]

sotiris.bos wrote:
I want to get it as high as I can. If you leave it in auto it clocks it a bit lower than the cpu

With the exception of some benchmarks there is little difference to be seen changing the cache speed.

[sotiris_bos]

I now but why shouldn't I if I can? That is the basic idea of casual overclocking, right?

[HiVizMan]

Not sure I agree with you, the idea of basic overclocking is to make a positive difference to your system. Changing the cache ratio is not going to make any difference besides potentially causing instability I guess. But you are right it is your system and you should be able to do what ever you wish with it.