Overclocking 920

[piemanpm]

Hey guys.

I've read countless threads on different forums on how to overclock. And TBH. It's just going straight over my head because of all the different processors, timings, different motherboards ECT. So I'm wondering if any of you delightful people could help me out with re-overclocking my system.

I've had this system a while now, and a friend helped me OC when I first got the system, but my BIOS got wiped a few weeks back and I've just not got round to overclocking it again, and I'm no longer in contact with the friend who helped me do it before.

Specs:
Asus P6T SE iX58 ( BIOS 0808 )
Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz D0 with Corsair H60 cooling.
G-Skill 12GB (3x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz RipjawsX Memory Kit CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V
OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 2 700W POWER SUPPLY

I'd like to get the full speed out of my RAM, and maybe 3.2GHz - 3.6GHz out of my processor. If anyone could give me some values to work on and build up from, it'd be greatly appreciated.

[Bonebreaker777]

Easiest would be to see the BIOS and the ADVANCED TUNING / SETTINGS section. To be able to to see what options you have there.

Honestly, I wish I would have more experience with first generation i7 and so on CPU OC, but I don't, so sorry.

I think it should be the same as old school OC, as raising the FSB speed and adjusting the memory/FSB speed ratio.

[Phage]

I know exactly what you need. It's the guide I followed.
http://forums.hexus.net/cpus/168306-...beginners.html

[Bonebreaker777]

I know exactly what you need. It's the guide I followed.
http://forums.hexus.net/cpus/168306-...beginners.html

Following that, it's highly unlikely that he will be unsuccessful. Good luck with the tuning.

[piemanpm]

The guide did help slightly, thanks guys. But as my motherboard BIOS layout is completely different, it wasn't quite the same. Learn by doing though right?

Here are the values I've got running ( what seems like ) a stable 3.6GHz : ( Copy and paste into address bar, forum dictates that I have to have 5 posts before posting links, and I don't want to spam the forums up trying to get to 5 posts. )

img809.imageshack.us/img809/665/img20130128015754.jpg

img35.imageshack.us/img35/7862/img20130128013946.jpg

I ran OCCT for about 20 minutes and got max around 85°C - 90°C.

I left DRAM Timing Control as it was, because I have no idea what I'm putting in there and there is a shed load of stuff in there.

If I want to go any higher if I get a H80, will I need to change the voltage aswell as the BLCK?

Edit -
Windows 8 shows me still at 2.67GHz, and CPU-Z jumps from 2.1GHz Core Speed with x12 Multiplier - 3.6GHz Core Speed with x 20 multiplier. Is there something I missed or is it supposed to do this?

[kalniel]

Yes, it's meant to downclock on idle to save power. When needed it'll shoot up to full speed.

[scaryjim]

... Edit -
Windows 8 shows me still at 2.67GHz ...

The computer information section in Windows usually reports the CPU speed based on a database, so regardless of the actual speed your CPU is running at Windows will always show the stock speed. CPU-Z is generally trustworth

As kalniel points out, the CPU will reduce both the clock speed and the voltage at idle to save energy. As you've already noticed, when you apply a load to the CPU it will jump back up to the overclocked speed

As to whether you'll need to increase the voltage for a higher overclock - you won't find that out until you try it! Basically, if you up the clock speed and start getting instability when you test the overclock, you might need a bit more voltage to get it stable. However (iirc), the i7s are quite sensitive to voltage increases, so you should be very careful when increasing the voltage - it's not like the old Core 2 days when you could just keep cranking up the volts as long as you had sufficient cooling! A quick google search should find you plenty of discussion on safe voltages for your CPU.

[Phage]

90c is quite hot, although acceptable. I would certainly look at a bigger heatsink if possible.

[piemanpm]

Yea I suspect this is because my PC hasn't been cleaned for a while, so I'm guessing dust accumulation is what's causing the bit higher than normal temperatures. Getting some canned air to clean it tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help guys!