2500k stuck at 4.2GHz :<

Setroc · 14 Sep 2011 at 10:49

Hey, I'm trying to overclock my 2500k with a new build using the asrock extreme3 gen3 board (same bios as the extreme4) and can only get a measly 4.2ghz out of it atm. I'm a bit confused at the core voltages to be honest. At 4.2 I'm running stable with 1.28V fixed, and CPU-Z shows

It never seems to actually produce 1.28. trying to take it to 4.3ghz, I went all the way up to 1.38V but could barely get it to show the bios splash screen let alone boot windows. Would really appreciate any tips or thoughts on what's happening.

edit: Thought I'd drop my other settings in here too:

Ratio: 42
Int. PLL Overvoltage - Enabled
Speedstep - Enabled
Short duration power limit - 230
long duration power limit - 200
long duration maintained - 1
additional turbo voltage - Auto
Core current limit - 230
BCLK - 100
Spread Spectrum - Disabled

DRAM all auto

CPU LLC Level 4
non vcore voltages on auto, C1E, C3 etc all left enabled

Stone22uk · 14 Sep 2011 at 15:17

You could try to increase the LLC, this will compensate for vdroop. (Which i think is why you dont get 1.28v) and set your DRAM timings manually see if that helps.

Setroc · 14 Sep 2011 at 22:24

Thanks I tried playing with the LLC but it doesnt seem to help. I also set the DRAM stuff manually, but that didn't change anything either.

Do you think I have just got an unbelievably poor cpu out of the factory? I'd have thought that since it's prime95 stable at 1.28v you'd be able to get more out of it by upping the voltage..

TheJackal · 14 Sep 2011 at 23:14

I have that board too for a build I have yet to do.
How are you finding it generally?

Setroc · 15 Sep 2011 at 20:15

no problems with it other than the poor overclock

logi-cat · 15 Sep 2011 at 23:40

For now leave the voltage on auto and raise the clock speed to see if you can get over 4.2ghz. My set up with a 2500k and Asus P8P67 MB, i have 4.5ghz at 1.27v.

pgi947 · 17 Sep 2011 at 17:55

logi-cat said:
For now leave the voltage on auto and raise the clock speed to see if you can get over 4.2ghz. My set up with a 2500k and Asus P8P67 MB, i have 4.5ghz at 1.27v.

This.

Leaving it on auto and raising MP you should be able to see what kind of voltage is being fed to the chip on the auto setting, you can then try using that voltage manually and dropping back from there to find your stable min voltage.

Some SB chips require more voltage than others for some speeds, its just the luck of the draw, but I would be surprised if you can't at least squeeze 4.5 out of that for ~1.4v

Setroc · 18 Sep 2011 at 10:48

well that's what I thought too, but doing this I hit the brick wall at 4.2. Cant even get in to bios leaving the voltage auto when the multiplier hits 43

pgi947 · 18 Sep 2011 at 12:20

are there any bios updates for your board? Never heard of a SB chip not hitting at least 4.5 for ~1.4v

TheJackal · 19 Sep 2011 at 00:01

The rest of my bits will be here the middle of next week so I will be trying the same thing.

subbytna · 19 Sep 2011 at 00:07

Is real life 4.2 much diffo from 4.5 though?

Davefran · 19 Sep 2011 at 00:38

Int. PLL Overvoltage - Disable

You don't need this enabled till you get above 4.6-4.8 GHz

Setroc · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:24

pgi947 said:
are there any bios updates for your board? Never heard of a SB chip not hitting at least 4.5 for ~1.4v

Nope, no BIOS updates for it. Is it possibly something else that's going wrong if it's so unusual? Maybe RAM - I'm using XMS3 2x4GB 1600mhz.

Thanks to other commenters also - I'll keep PLL overvoltage off.

Davefran · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:21

Is your ram set to profile 1 ?

Can you provide screenshots of your bios settings.
Have a pendrive in a usb2 slot, press F12 to save screenshot in UEFI

Setroc · 19 Sep 2011 at 17:35

Sure:

Rest should be set to default but let me know if there's anything else you want to see.

Another odd thing that's happening is that with speedstep off as in the bios pictured, the CPU still underclocks when there's no or only a small amount of load.

Amraam · 19 Sep 2011 at 22:39

I see you have your load line calibration to level 5. This is too high and is not compensating for vDrop enough. Set it to level1 and you'll be good to go

RichBowman · 19 Sep 2011 at 23:17

If that's corsair RAM, it might need to be command rate 2(T) at 1600mhz - I think 1T is only at 1333mhz. Might be worth just trying for stability and be able to rule it out if it's not the case...

Rich

Setroc · 20 Sep 2011 at 11:42

Thanks for the comments, I'll do that with the RAM although it isnt the underlying problem as I had it running at 1333 until recently. As for the LLC, I've tried it at every level with no joy at 4.3, but have just left it at 5 atm since it hasnt affected stability while at 4.2

TheJackal · 23 Sep 2011 at 19:15

Same board and CPU here. Using the bios presets it went to 4.6 without breaking a sweat.
Speed.....Temp......vCore
3.3Stock............. 1.192
4.2.........57C........1.368
4.4.........60C........1.376
4.6.........64C........1.410

CPU fan is on auto, do those temps and voltages look ok?
Have decided to stick with 4.4Ghz for the moment. Seems to be overclocking nicely as far as I can see.

nerobart · 5 Oct 2011 at 22:14

TheJackal said:
Same board and CPU here. Using the bios presets it went to 4.6 without breaking a sweat.
Speed.....Temp......vCore
3.3Stock............. 1.192
4.2.........57C........1.368
4.4.........60C........1.376
4.6.........64C........1.410

CPU fan is on auto, do those temps and voltages look ok?
Have decided to stick with 4.4Ghz for the moment. Seems to be overclocking nicely as far as I can see.

What program do you use to stress it?

Use IBT 2.52 and Prime 95 post some screen shoots.