Is it my mobo or cpu that's limited the overclock on my 2500k?

[poohbear]

Hey all, i've done all kinds of testing on my 2500k to try and push it past 4.5ghz using reasonable vcore, but this cpu simply won't go beyond 4.5ghz regardless of vcore (tried going all the way up to 1.55!). I settled @ 4.4ghz @ 1.35 because the vcore needed to be @ 4.5ghz was simply too much (1.45v).


Is it my CPU that's limited, did i just luck out with a weak chip? or is my mobo not up to the task? Its a pretty solid midtier "Gigabyte Z68 UD4 B3" with good voltage regulators and all that. If i get a higher end Z77 based mobo do you think i can push it to 4.8ghz? or is it simply not worth even trying? I was waiting for haswell but seeing the results of haswell i'm thinking of just buying a used Z-77 and trying my luck to see if i can get it to 4.7-4.8.

thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[CakeMonster]

This is SB, a two-and-a-half year old 32nm chip. 4.5GHz is a very decent OC. Contrary to what these kinds of forums would lead you to expect, you usually do NOT get 5GHz out of a SB. If you are upgrading anything here, I would strongly recommend going to Haswell and get the two generation IPC leap instead of putting your bets on a last generation motherboard for your older chip which already has a better than average OC.

 

[lehtv]

It's probably that you just have an average 2500K

I would strongly recommend against going to Haswell, the performance jump is pretty marginal. EDIT: my point is, there's nothing to upgrade, especially with your GPU

 

[CakeMonster]

Notice the "if" there if that was directed to me. I don't imagine that any normal user would need any CPU upgrade in this case, but if he wants more, he should get Haswell instead of tweaking his older system. But I would of course also recommend against upgrading CPU/Mobo/HSF in this case.

 

[MrTransistorm]

With SB it was common to find a hard frequency limit that couldn't be passed even with lots of additional Vcore. The solution was to enable CPU PLL Overvoltage.

On my Gigabyte P67A-UD7 board, I had to turn it on to get past 4.7 GHz. I was able to get it stable at 5 GHz, but it took more Vcore than I was comfortable with. I'm currently running it at 4.5 Ghz for longevity.

My Z77X-UD5H board doesn't have this setting since it was designed for IB CPUs. My guess is it's either enabled all of the time or switched on automatically when needed for SB CPUs.

On my P67 board, the setting is found in MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) -> Advanced Frequency Settings -> Advanced CPU Core Features -> Internal CPU PLL Overvoltage. Since you have a GB Z68 board, the setting should be located in the same place (unless your BIOS is considerably different).

 

[Ketchup]

It's the chip. In my experience, once you have to start going over stock vcore, your overclock is almost done. And the further up you go, the less it will help.

Honestly, I think the SB is still a fantastic chip, even at stock speed. I did one big overclock just to see how far she would go, and have "only" been running 4.2-4.4 (when turbo kicks in) since.

My newest laptop has an IB I7, and the only difference I can tell between it and the last one (a SB i5) is the temperature fluctuation: runs a little cooler when idle, a good bit hotter when under load. Speed-wise, they are about the same for what I do with them.

 

[redy2rumbl]

I have an I5 2500k and clocked stable @ 4.4GHz but have had sooo much trouble with any combination over that and temps were pushing the threshold then (on air). I backed it off to 4GHz. It's a good round number on stock voltages with very good temps and besides I do not notice a very big performance jump if I stay at 4.4GHz. Absolutely no change it gaming FPS.

__________________
Intel Core i5-2500k @ 4GHz | Biostar z77b | 8 GB DDR3 | EVGA GTX 480 | 850w Thermaltake PS | Seagate 7200 rpm HDD's| Zalman cpu cooler | BR 6x Burner

 

[poohbear]

thanks for the input guys. Yea 4.5ghz is standard, reading too many of these posts in enthusiast forums makes u think 4.8 should be the minimum.

CPU PLL Overvoltage is already enabled, so that's not gonna make any difference. Guess 4.4 is good enough. the extra 300mhz to reach 4.7ghz wouldnt have much of an impact in real world apps, it'd just be in my head that i'm running 4.7ghz. I'll leave it be and put my money elsewhere.... towards an IPS display!

 

[toyota]

4.4 was max here too. I am ocing just raising the turbo for all 4 cores though with everything else left on auto.

 

[lehtv]

Notice the "if" there if that was directed to me. I don't imagine that any normal user would need any CPU upgrade in this case, but if he wants more, he should get Haswell instead of tweaking his older system. But I would of course also recommend against upgrading CPU/Mobo/HSF in this case.

Yes it was directed at your comment. If he was upgrading anything here, I would recommend against it on any practical grounds. If he's upgrading just because he wants a new toy to play with, I suppose a 3770K would be pretty nice. It'd be easily better than a 4670K and wouldn't require a new motherboard

 

[sm625]

I dont see how anyone can say it is worth spending $200 just to possibly get 5% more performance. If anything, buy a 4670K and do the delid/refit operation and clock that to 4.5GHz. That should buy you a > 10% performance boost, and only cost $60 once you sell the old chip.

 

[nyker96]

I actually bought a 2500k (D2 stepping) + Z68 board off ebay recently so have done some research on OC while waiting for the parts to snail mail to me.

from what I read, if you got a D1 stepping, you can do 5ghz w/o fuss. If you got a D2 chip, you need to boost PLL voltage to get close to 5ghz otherwise probably 4.5ish is respectable.

suggest do a quick search on PLL and D2 stepping, will yeild the info you need, who knows might be the magic bullet. To see your stepping just use CPUZ. hope this give you some hope if not help.

 

[poohbear]

I actually bought a 2500k (D2 stepping) + Z68 board off ebay recently so have done some research on OC while waiting for the parts to snail mail to me.

from what I read, if you got a D1 stepping, you can do 5ghz w/o fuss. If you got a D2 chip, you need to boost PLL voltage to get close to 5ghz otherwise probably 4.5ish is respectable.

suggest do a quick search on PLL and D2 stepping, will yeild the info you need, who knows might be the magic bullet. To see your stepping just use CPUZ. hope this give you some hope if not help.

5ghz with no fuss eh? Hmmmm guess i'll put up a post of "wtb 2500k D1 stepping" just to test that theory. Gives me something to play with @ no extra cost once i sell my old 2500k. But i havent seen many 2500k cpus past 4.7ghz on air though.

 

[MrTransistorm]

AFAIK all retail chips are D2. D1 was ES only.

It's unfortunate that you got a bit of a dud chip. 4.4 GHz is not a bad overclock though.

I generally keep both of my 2600K chips at 4.5, but I drop the one in my home server down to 4.3 during the summer since it's air cooled (and running Folding@Home 24/7).

 

[lenjack]

I get 4.5 with no problems. Have not tried going higher. Don't see the point.

 

[futurefields]

isnt 4 ghz enough?

 

[toyota]

isnt 4 ghz enough?

what does that mean? enough for what? and why not 3.9 or 4.1? lol