First time overclocking - please scrutinize my process

[Samwood]

Ok, first my system:
I7-3770k, CM Hyper 212 Evo (stock paste), Asus P8Z77-V, 8GB Corsair Dominator, 128GB Samsung 830, XFX Pro 450W, XFX HD 6950 2GB, Corsair Carbide 300R

Where I am with my OC:
CPU: 4.4Ghz @ 1.210V (BLCK @ 100.00, Multiplier @ x44), with max temps of 76C
RAM: 1800Mhz, 1.65V, 10-10-10-27

How I got there:
CPU:
1) Got to 4.2Ghz (adjusting multiplier only on stock voltage).
2) Reduced the multiplier to stock, tested temp rises on voltage increases - 65C @ 1.200V, 70C @ 1.250V, 75C @ 1.300V, 80C @ 1.350V
3) Reduced voltage to 1.300V, tested multiplier increase - stable up to 4.5Ghz @ 84C
4) Raised voltage to 1.320V, stable at 4.6Ghz @ 89C
5) Raised voltage to 1.350V, stable at 4.7Ghz @ 95C
6) 95C is too high for my liking - reduced OC back to 4.4Ghz, 1.210V
7) Began testing BLCK - required v.large increase in voltage for any decent increase (i.e. took 1.300V to hit 103 with x44 and hit 90C). Decided to keep at stock.

RAM:
1) Increased voltage to 1.65V (as rated)
2) Increased multiplier (with stock latencies) to 1600Mhz
3) Relaxed timings from 9-9-9-24 to 10-10-10-27. Increased multiplier to give 1800Mhz. Ran stable on Prime95 memory intense test.
4) Would not Post at 2000Mhz even with 11-11-11-30 timings (didnt want to raise voltage past rated 1.65V)

Methodology:
RealTemp and Core Temp were used throughout to monitor CPU temps.
Prime 95 was used throughout to test stability, standard 'Blend' test was used. Where I have stated a 'Stable' overclock this means Prime 95 was used, and the temps associated are the peak values recorded during the test.
When I state 'Increased'/'Raised' this was raised and tested (via Prime 95) one unit at a time (i.e. 0.005V for voltage).

So how have I done?
Is there anything I should have done differently?
Are there any other settings I should be looking at changing/ playing with?
Is 4.4Ghz @ 1.210V hitting highs of 76C (on Prime 95 test) a good stable overclock?
Can I push the temps much higher? If so, what can I push it to without doing damage to my CPU?

Thanks,
Sam

[carvedeye]

4.7ghz Is a decent overclock so if you say it is stable at that, then i would it at those settings tbh.

[Samwood]

Yes that was my thoughts. However its 20C hotter at 4.7Ghz than at 4.4Ghz, I'd imagine that would shorten the life of the CPU and 300Mhz wont really provide a noticeable boost... Please correct me if i'm wrong tho

[kalniel]

By life, do you mean total life, or usable life? Usable life is more determined by outdated-ness or being too slow than concerns about temperature.

[Samwood]

Well I'm kinda new to this (gaming PC's in general). Its my first gaming rig, I was on consoles prior to this. So i'm not really sure how long it will be before I need to upgrade...
All I know is that heat causes degradation, how much so I don't know. Would 90-95C be too high for a 24/7 OC? Aka, am I being a bit too conservative at 75C?

For now, even with CPU intensive games (i.e. GTA4, C&C) im not seeing any drop in performance or frame rates, so I dont think the extra power will make any difference.
So I'm also thinking that If (in a year+ time) I do begin to get a little CPU bottle-necking I can upgrade the cooler and push the OC a bit further. Is that a good plan?

[carvedeye]

Well I'm kinda new to this (gaming PC's in general). Its my first gaming rig, I was on consoles prior to this. So i'm not really sure how long it will be before I need to upgrade...
All I know is that heat causes degradation, how much so I don't know. Would 90-95C be too high for a 24/7 OC? Aka, am I being a bit too conservative at 75C?

For now, even with CPU intensive games (i.e. GTA4, C&C) im not seeing any drop in performance or frame rates, so I dont think the extra power will make any difference.
So I'm also thinking that If (in a year+ time) I do begin to get a little CPU bottle-necking I can upgrade the cooler and push the OC a bit further. Is that a good plan?

Well if it was me i would scrape of the stock paste for one and apply some artic silver, with that you will see a drop in temps. I use an h100 and have my 2500k oc'd to 4.8 ghz (stock is 3.6ghz) and load temps dont exceed 60c.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Yes that was my thoughts. However its 20C hotter at 4.7Ghz than at 4.4Ghz, I'd imagine that would shorten the life of the CPU and 300Mhz wont really provide a noticeable boost... Please correct me if i'm wrong tho

From what I gather the IB based Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs show this behaviour unlike the SB based ones. Stick to 4.4GHZ and you will be fine for years.

Edit!!

If I were you I would stick to the 4.2GHZ on stock voltage.

It seem around 70C is the maximum temperature of the Core i7 3770k:

http://ark.intel.com/products/65523/...to-3_90-GHz%29

This will give you a safe margin. IB does produce less heat than SB,but runs hotter and thereby needs better cooling than SB.

[ladcrooks]

will there will be a point of no return? - area covered by heat sink must make a difference

And they used (TIM) used by Intel, inside the integrated heat spreader - Ivybridge.

[obev0098]

From what I gather the IB based Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs show this behaviour unlike the SB based ones. Stick to 4.4GHZ and you will be fine for years.

Edit!!

If I were you I would stick to the 4.2GHZ on stock voltage.

It seem around 70C is the maximum temperature of the Core i7 3770k:

http://ark.intel.com/products/65523/...to-3_90-GHz%29

This will give you a safe margin. IB does produce less heat than SB,but runs hotter and thereby needs better cooling than SB.

What is the stock voltage? Currently I have it set to auto as default as I'm looking to OC at 4.2GHZ.

Many Thanks