Help overclocking 2700K

AVZ

AVZ

AVZ

Associate
Joined
27 Mar 2012
Posts
10
My PC configuration:

Intel Core i7 2700K
Thermaltake Frio aftermarket cooler
Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3
Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 16GB DDR3-1600
Nvidia GTX580
Thermaltake 850W PSU

I am not new to overclocking, however I am new to core i7 overclocking.

I have the CPU currently overclocked to 4.5Ghz with some of the following settings:

CPU clock ratio: 45x
BCLK: default of 100
Internal CPU PLL overvoltage: Disabled
Intel Turbo Boost: Enabled
CPU vCore: 1.385
QPI/VTT: default of 1.050
System Agent Voltage: default of 0.920
CPU PLL: 1.88
DRAM Voltage 1.6
RAM timings are set manually to 9-9-9-24 and 1600

Getting 65-67C on prime95 Small FFT load - not completely stable (got a blue screen at some point in the night while testing, with the error code being 101, as in not enough vCore). 1.385 on the vCore in the info is the new voltage I put, no idea how stable that is, but at the end of the day, I have had my Q9650 @ 4Ghz work unstably for pretty much a year without a single BSOD or freeze).

I am trying to get the overclock to about 4.8Ghz, however it seems to want too much vcore.
What I am interested in is why does the vCore not exactly apply to what I have set? As in, when I am in my BIOS on the voltages section, next to vcore, it says, for example, 1.36 when in all matter of fact it is set to about 1.40. I heard that what you set is not actually applied, or something. I would like some insight into this phenomenon.
How far is it safe for my processor's PLL to be set? I read that it's something like 1.9... which seems pretty low... I think.
What should I try and set so that I can possibly stabilise the CPU at lower vCore voltages?
I haven't really tried (maybe just slightly) changing the QPI voltage. I mean, if I understood correctly, it's the voltage that supports the RAM and all the other things on the motherboard itself. After increasing the voltage, I wasn't sure whether it did anything to help stabilise the overclock.

I am basically interested in the maximum safe 24/7 operating voltages for the various settings I have talked about above, as well as all the help, tips and tricks I can get to get a safe overclock above 4.5Ghz on this beast :cool:
 
That's a lot of volts for a 4.5GHz OC. where did you get the chip? On mine I need 1.368v load in offset mode for stability both under load and while idle.

Could be a stinker of a 2700k :(
 
Last edited:
it's an OEM chip. I mean, I can start the PC and everything at your volts, but when I run prime95 it hangs and/or I get the BSOD with the 101 insufficient vCore error.

What can I try and compensate with? in th settings?
What is the offset mode btw? I don't think I have that option in my motherboard BIOS... unless it is called something else.
 
Offset mode is a value added to the base voltage of your Vcore. It should be in the Vcore tab in bios. It can help with some finnicky chips like yours seems to be that are unstable in fixed mode. So if you set it to offset mode instead of fixed mode at something like 0.020v then it would add +/- 0.020v to your vcore kind of like vdroop (if possible on your mobo). Speaking of vdroop, whats your LLC set to?
 
Krono5 said:
whats your LLC set to?
Click to expand...

+1

Sure I saw a thread about on here dedicated to overclocking SB chips on the Gigabyte boards, should be worth a read to see if the board has specific settings you may need to use.

I'd be pretty annoyed if I got a sandy chip that required in excess of 1.385v to hit 4.5ghz unstable.
 
I haven't messed around with LLC (or Multi-Step Load Line as it is called on my motherboard) at all. It is disabled. What do you suggest I try out? Lowering the vCore and adding more LLC? Are all LLC values safe? What values should I not go over to stay safe? I am aware that LLC makes sure you have a constant current going through the chip, to eliminate vDroop, but what values could be applicable to me?

Oh and, I am not sure about what setting on my motherboard is the 'offset' setting. In my CPU voltage section, I have the following main options: QPI/VTT voltage, System Agent Voltage and CPU PLL. I also have the Dynamic vCore (DVID) option, which is greyed out, probably until I have enabled LLC.
 
Last edited:
I'm afraid most of your questions are too generalised. It's almost impossible for anyone to comment and give you an exact answer.

I know you have a Gigabyte motherboard but this link provides lots of useful information:

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?2162-Overclocking-Using-Offset-Mode-for-CPU-Core-Voltage

Also, you'll want to have a good read of your motherboard manual and check the Gigabyte forums. I'm sure you'll receive lots of information specific to your motherboard there.

Before doing any more fiddling with settings make sure you have a good understanding of how everything works.
 
LLC will probably be the problem then. Without knowing the specifics of your motherboard it's hard to advise you further, however I've just looked up your mobo's manual and it appears LLC can be set to a value of 1-10 with 1-5 undershooting the voltage at load, so I'd recommend an LLC of 6 which matches idle and load volts, or possibly 7/8 so it's slightly higher at load.

Yes the DVID is the 'offset' setting so that could also help. If it were me I'd choose the max vcore I'd be happy running at 24/7, say 1.4v. In the case of 1.4v I'd then set the Vcore to 1.38, enable LLC at the value of 6 and set the DVID to +0.020v which will give an overall net maximum vcore value of 1.4v. From here I'd slowly increase the multiplier until it became unstable and then drop it down a little bit.

For reference level 7 LLC overshot the set vcore at idle by 0.0012v at idle and 0.036v on full load and level 8 was 0.024v and 0.072v respectively in the post I found detailing the gigabyte LLC levels where someone tested them.

I'd leave all the other settings if I were you but with those settings I feel you should get 4.7Ghz at a minimum even with a fairly naff chip as LLC disabled will undervolt your CPU by as much as 0.15v at load when you most need it which is the difference between 1.2v and 1.35v to put it into perspective.
 
LLC was the problem. I am up to 4.6Ghz now - 4.7Ghz works as well but I didn't go ahead and make it stable since the maximum heat is on the threshold when I configure it to that, so I will stay a step back. I mean, currently, on 4.6Ghz, I saw my Tcase go to 70 degrees celsius - 71.something is the max... so I think the chip should be fine with operating 24/7. Oh and btw, on my motherboard an LLC level of 6 overshoots the set voltage by up to 0.4-0.5 volts.

Currently I have decided to stay at a vcore of 1.345, with an LLC level of 5 giving me a max cpu voltage of 1.38, and 1.37 on idle. Would having a CPU have a constant current of anything below 1.4 be considered 24/7 safe for operating for multiple years?

It also seems that my CPU prefers LLC level 5 more than any other level out there, no matter what I do with the default vCore.

Is there anything I can do to trade off the vCore and stabilise it with something else? I mean... will doing anything with QPI/VTT, System Agent Voltage help? I know changing the PLL helps, I have been messing around with it - it's not too effective I might have to say. I did however get a memory management BSOD last night - was taken by surprise. Should I up the DRAM voltage (I have it up to 1.63) or touch QPI/VTT?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated :)

Oh and one more thing, is it better to have the LLC level set so that the vCore value is overshot using LLC, or is it better/safer to make it so that the vCore is met with the LLC level - at least as close as possible?
 
Last edited:
Good to know. There's not really any "best way" and is more of a preference. I know people who have 1.4Vcore and LLC maxed out running 24/7 since SB was released as LLC only increases volts when under load and they're still running perfectly comfortably and will bee for years to come.

70c is about the maximum temp I'd let it get to. Core temp seems to give the most accurate temps so I'd test in IBT and core temp and that should stress your CPU the most to see where you stand temp wise. If you still have any room to adjust the Voltage or LLC you can go higher unless you're happy with 4.6Ghz.

Usually I don't touch QPI/VTT and leave them on defualt but someone else may be able to advise you bnetter about them.
 
AVZ said:
I haven't messed around with LLC (or Multi-Step Load Line as it is called on my motherboard) at all. It is disabled. What do you suggest I try out? Lowering the vCore and adding more LLC? Are all LLC values safe? What values should I not go over to stay safe? I am aware that LLC makes sure you have a constant current going through the chip, to eliminate vDroop, but what values could be applicable to me?

Oh and, I am not sure about what setting on my motherboard is the 'offset' setting. In my CPU voltage section, I have the following main options: QPI/VTT voltage, System Agent Voltage and CPU PLL. I also have the Dynamic vCore (DVID) option, which is greyed out, probably until I have enabled LLC.
Click to expand...

dvid only gets unlocked for adjusment when you set cpu voltage to "normal" in cpu voltage list

unfortunatly you cant use dvid and llc together on gigabyte z68,thats probably why your gonna have to settle for a higher cpu voltage or accept the vdroop and adjust dvid to compensate for it
 
Right, well, I am having blue screens about RAM once in a while, quite rarely, usually when multitasking. I have increased the QPI from 1.050 to 1.060... looks like the RAM is more stable - is that a good thing to do?what QPI's are safe up to, without damaging any hardware, that is?
 
I have just found my culprit - it has been the RAM all along. I just changed a certain 'RAM Performance Enhance' setting from the default of 'Turbo' to 'Standard' - no more blue screens, and I have been able to pass the Intel Burn Test on Maximum RAM consumption! As for QPI, I am still interested in what values are safe, since it looks like it is definitely able to stabilise the RAM, which is why I am thinking of going to higher CPU frequencies. Currently, I am unable to pass the 4GB and Max RAM Intel Burn test with the following settings:

Multiplier: 46x
BCLK: 100
vCore 1.34
LLC: Level 5 (giving a max load of 1.38, if need be)
DRAM 1.63
QPI/VTT: 1.050
PLL: 1.8
PLL overvoltage: Enabled

One more thing, what about this 1T or 2T setting for the RAM which I have seen numerous people talk about. Can it stabilise the RAM? Does it slow down the RAM in the process of setting it to 1T?
 
Last edited:
1t is quicker than 2t,so try 2t to be more stable ect

ram performance enhance tightens up the advanced timings

can use upto 1.2v for qpi/vtt
 
AVZ said:
I have just found my culprit - it has been the RAM all along. I just changed a certain 'RAM Performance Enhance' setting from the default of 'Turbo' to 'Standard' - no more blue screens, and I have been able to pass the Intel Burn Test on Maximum RAM consumption! As for QPI, I am still interested in what values are safe, since it looks like it is definitely able to stabilise the RAM, which is why I am thinking of going to higher CPU frequencies. Currently, I am unable to pass the 4GB and Max RAM Intel Burn test with the following settings:

Multiplier: 46x
BCLK: 100
vCore 1.34
LLC: Level 5 (giving a max load of 1.38, if need be)
DRAM 1.63
QPI/VTT: 1.050
PLL: 1.8
PLL overvoltage: Enabled

One more thing, what about this 1T or 2T setting for the RAM which I have seen numerous people talk about. Can it stabilise the RAM? Does it slow down the RAM in the process of setting it to 1T?
Click to expand...

Drop your ram voltage back to 1.5v and set your QPI/VTT to 1.112 and try again with your ram timmings set to what it's factory rated at with 2T. Will check back an see how you have got on.
 
putting the RAM back to 1.5 and putting on a QPI of 1.120 was totally unstable, it didn't even last a second on any test without BSOD'ing, unlike the 1.63 volts DRAM and QPI 1.050, where it actually lasted for quite a bit.

Here's another question, does CPU damage start to occur immediately, as soon as the CPU reaches the Tcase threshold (or just after it that is?), or is it one of them things that take a bit of time to happen?
 
Last edited:
isnt your ram rated at a voltage of 1.5V? run it at 1.5V, increase QPI/VTT to 1.1V as it will help with stability since your running 4 DIMMs i assume.
also what is your voltage when the cpu is running under load? you need to use LLC to help become stable, its more or less a must
Heres a little guide i wrote about explaining LLC on gigabyte boards:
i'll try to make it easy for you to understand, i'll be using two terms which helped me understand it too
Vdroop - voltage drops under load
Vgain - voltage increases under load

Disabled - BOTH Vdroop and Vdrop are on full; vdrop is a motherboard system which lowers all voltages on the board
Level 1 - FULL Vdroop is on but Vdrop is turned off (think of this as being 100% of the Vdroop on)
Level 2 - 75% Vdroop
Level 3 - 50% Vdroop
Level 4 - 25% Vdroop
Level 5 - 0% Vdroop and 0% Vgain (voltage stays mopre or less constant, i say this because it does fluctuate a tiny bit)
Level 6 - 25% Vgain
Level 7 - 50% Vgain
and so on.....
so levels 1-4 Vdroop but the higher the number the less it droops
level 5 more or less constant
levels 6-11 Vgain, the higher the number the more it gains

Hope it helps
 
A14M3D said:
isnt your ram rated at a voltage of 1.5V? run it at 1.5V, increase QPI/VTT to 1.1V as it will help with stability since your running 4 DIMMs i assume.
also what is your voltage when the cpu is running under load? you need to use LLC to help become stable, its more or less a must
Heres a little guide i wrote about explaining LLC on gigabyte boards:
i'll try to make it easy for you to understand, i'll be using two terms which helped me understand it too
Vdroop - voltage drops under load
Vgain - voltage increases under load

Disabled - BOTH Vdroop and Vdrop are on full; vdrop is a motherboard system which lowers all voltages on the board
Level 1 - FULL Vdroop is on but Vdrop is turned off (think of this as being 100% of the Vdroop on)
Level 2 - 75% Vdroop
Level 3 - 50% Vdroop
Level 4 - 25% Vdroop
Level 5 - 0% Vdroop and 0% Vgain (voltage stays mopre or less constant, i say this because it does fluctuate a tiny bit)
Level 6 - 25% Vgain
Level 7 - 50% Vgain
and so on.....
so levels 1-4 Vdroop but the higher the number the less it droops
level 5 more or less constant
levels 6-11 Vgain, the higher the number the more it gains

Hope it helps
Click to expand...

I am already well aware of what you have mentioned above about the LLC level's and what kind of vdroop to expect, however, according to my hardware monitor tool, at my current vCore of 1.34, an LLC level of 5 gives me a max of 1.38v on the CPU, and on full load, the CPU runs at 1.37v - all in all, level 5 overshoots the vCore by up to 0.4v. At the moment, I have managed to get my hardware Prime95 and Intel Burn Test stable (on the maximum setting) with the following settings:

Multiplier 45x
BCLK 100
vCore 1.340
LLC: level 5 (1.37v on full load)
QPI: 1.080 (1.050 is also stable, but this one gives a bit of an edge)
PLL: 1.800
DRAM: 1.6

I will attempt to try what you have suggested about the QPI and DRAM, with the same multiplier of 45x; however, the last time I tried to do 1.5 DRAM and a QPI of 1.12, the system didn't even manage to last a second on Intel Burn test on the lowest setting - it froze straight away.
 
Yesterday, I did a test of my RAM using Memtest86+. One of my memory modules was not working correctly - I RMA'd it today and got a new batch - the set works without a single problem, and I have been able to get a stable 4.5Ghz (Intel Burn test Maximum setting stable) with the following settings:

CPU clock ratio: 45x
BCLK: default of 100
Multi-Step Load Line: Level 5
Internal CPU PLL overvoltage: Enabled
Intel Turbo Boost: Enabled
CPU vCore: 1.330
QPI/VTT: 1.130
System Agent Voltage: default of 0.920
CPU PLL: 1.800
DRAM Voltage 1.500
RAM timings are set manually to 9-9-9-24 and 1600

Looks like it was that 4th RAM stick not operating correctly.

Thank you for all the help I have been able to get from this forum!

If I get better cooling, I will see how far I can push towards 5.0Ghz, and check back here for more tips :)
 
Last edited:
Can you boot with a higher multiplier 46x or 47x? If you're running 1.37v full load you might be able to get another notch out of it. 5Ghz will probably be a struggle if you can't :(

Even with a decent wc loop you will have a hard job keeping it cool enough to allow you to raise the voltage any higher.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom