Many are requests asking for an overclocking guide for Intel processors. Very recently the new platform (socket 1150) known as Haswell was launched. So I have put together this getting started guide for overclocking with Z87 Gigabyte motherboards.

* Note: Before continuing, we want certain positions and warnings to be clear. Profesonal Review as well as the manufacturers of the hardware and software used in this review (and in your home) are not responsible for the malfunction that may have been caused by incorrect handling. This type of adventure is always at the risk and expense of the people who use it, accepting and understanding these warnings.

System and components

- Intel i5 4670k processor.

- Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H motherboard

- 2x4Gb Adata 1866Mhz 10-11-10-30.

- Noctua NH-U12S

- Antec HCP-850W modular power supply.

- Crucial M4 256Gb HDD

Software and applications

- Windows 7 64bit Service Pack 1 operating system.

- Processor control and monitoring: CPU-Z.

- CPU temperature monitoring: Core Temp 64 bits and AIDA 64 Bits.

- Stress software: Prime95 27.7 x64 bits and Linx or IntelBurn TestV2.

In this guide we will use a 4670k processor and a motherboard with Ultra Durable 5 plus technology Gigabyte Z87-UD3H. That it is a plate that has nothing to envy in this sector to other plates of great value.

Under my experience with this new range of processors, the i5-4670k are capable of better frequencies and voltages than the i7-4770k (4 cores with hyperthreading). The question we must ask ourselves is: Why do we need our PC? If it is only to play and make normal use of applications… For example: Photo retouching, home video editing, and office automation we can easily spare with the 4670k. If your case is the rendering edition and every minute / second is very valuable… Then the price difference between the 4670k and the 4770k will compensate you.

Some terms to keep in mind

It is very important to know what values ​​we are going to modify within our BIOS, because we cannot go crazy touching voltages or raising multipliers, the only thing we will achieve is degradation in the components, even their death.

• CPU MultiplierCPU Vcore.CPU VRin Override LLC.CPU VRIN Override Voltage.BLCK.Extreme Memory Profile (XMP): Turbo.PCH Voltage.C1E, C3, C6 / C7 and EIST.

We find two classics, the first is the CPU multiplier (previously known CPU Clock Ratio). it is the multiplier that determines the speed of our processor, if we mark x 42 the default processor will go up to 4200 mhz…. The second is the CPU VCore is in charge of applying the voltage to the processor (EYE: Be very careful with the values ​​that we type). Some of the list will not ring a bell or they are new, but all in good time.

Step 1: Know the VID of our processor.

What is the VID? It is the minimum voltage that the processor demands at its serial speed, obviously not everyone will have the same. The less VID the better temperatures and the more possibility to climb. Although then each processor is a world and the environment (hardware, temperatures and climate) that accompanies it. For this reason, many times we see in forums or web the denomination of processor "black leg" or "special for overclock leagues".

First we have to detect what is the VID of the processor. To do this, we will start the PC and press the "DELETE" key.

On previous platforms you could see when the PC was at rest, but the only way, at least on this platform and with Gigabyte boards is within the BIOS. As we can see on the “Home” screen, I have marked it in red:

Step 2: Overclocking 4, 200 MHz and 4, 500 MHz High with i5-4670k

I have put a 4200 mhz profile inside the guide, because it would be the lowest possible Overclock profile inside a 4670k with good cooling, with the stock sink it is forbidden to do so. While at 4500 mhz we would consider it a high overclock, reaching the limit by air. In the case of using an i7 4770k it would be a serious overclock without doing the IHS mod.

We already know our VID, we go to the Home -> Performance -> "CPU Clock Ratio" screen and dial 42. 100 of the multiplier x 42 = 4200 mhz.

We will also mark in the CPU VCore 1, 125 (if it is not enough, you must raise 0.005 more and DRAM Voltage at 1.50v.

For air or liquid cooling I do not recommend exceeding 1.35v, first for temperatures that are excessively high, for strong electro-migration and acceleration of the degradation of the processor.

How do I identify the data in my memory?

There is always a sticker next to the memories, we just have to identify them. In our case they are ADATA X 1866 mhz (Frequency), 10-11-10-30 times and 1.50 voltages.

We are going to Performance -> Voltage -> CPU VRIN Loadline Calibration with Medium and PWM Phase Control Perf and we will be pretty good.

CPU Core Voltage Control we mark the CPU Vcore at 1.20.

Advanced CPU Core Features -> we leave everything as it comes. If we do not want the frequencies to drop, we deactivate the energy saving options. C3 / C6, EIST, CPU Enhanced C1E.

For the 4200 mhz we will only use 1, 125v and the CPU Clock Ratio at 42.

TEMPLATE OVERCLOCK 4670K TO 4200MHZ
Processor Configuration CPU Base Clock CPU Clock Ratio CPU Base Clock System Memory Multiplier Vcore CPU DRAM Voltage Memory Configuration System Memory Multiplier Performance Enhance DRAM Timing Selectable Channel A Timing Setting Voltage setting CPU VRIN Loadline Calibration PWM Phase Control Vcore CPU	- - AUTO or 100. 42. Auto or 100. 16.00 (1600 mhz of memory). 1, 125V. 1, 505V - - 16.00 Turbo Quick Our memory times: 10-11-10-30. - - Medium Perf. 1, 125V

Now I leave you a table with the values ​​at 4500 mhz and the three parameters that I have modified in blue.

TEMPLATE OVERCLOCK 4670K AT 4500MHZ
Processor Configuration CPU Base Clock CPU Clock Ratio CPU Base Clock System Memory Multiplier Vcore CPU DRAM Voltage Memory Configuration System Memory Multiplier Performance Enhance DRAM Timing Selectable Channel A Timing Setting Voltage setting CPU VRIN Loadline Calibration PWM Phase Control Vcore CPU	- - AUTO or 100. Four. Five. Auto or 100. 16.00 (1600 mhz of memory). 1.20V. 1, 505V - - 16.00 Turbo Quick Our memory times: 10-11-10-30. - - Medium Perf. 1.20V

We start Windows and check through Core Temp and the CPU-Z that the equipment is working at 4500 mhz.

Step 3: Checking stability in Windows

The computer comes to Windows and has allowed us to start some programs and work normally. But that does not mean that the overclock practiced is 100% stable. Now we have to be very patient to be stable as a rock. We are going to use two stability programs such as Prime95 and IntelBurn TestV2.

We already explained how to make an overclock stable with only 2 hours with Prime95 FTT1792. It is recommended to read the guide quickly.

In my case I consider an overclock stable when the following Prime95 profiles with 90% used memory spend between four to twelve hours. 4GB = 3000, 8GB = 7000 and 16GB: 15000. Example with 16GB.

• 4 hours Prime95 27.7 1792 FFTs + 15000 memory and time to execute each FFT in 1.

• 4 hours Prime95 27.7 1344 FFTs + 15000 memory and time to execute each FFT in 5.

• 4 hours Prime95 27.7 Min 8 - Max 4096 FFTs + 15000 memory and time to execute each FFT in 10.

And 25 passes with IntelBurnTestV2 with “Very High” profile. The parameters are those marked in the previous image.

Controlling the Voltage with CPU-Z (observing the Vdroop, which with the Gigabyte is non-existent) and the temperature with Core Temp. It is recommended that each core never exceed 75ºC, otherwise we will have to look for a lower voltage and if it is not possible to lower the frequency. Everything will depend on our luck.

If it passes all the tests it means that it is stable as a rock and surely we will not have failures or hangs during daily use.

Errors and / or Common Blue Screenshots

We can find many screenshots but the two most common when we overclock are:

• 0x101 = increase vcore0x124 = Increase / decrease VCCIO if our board incorporates it. But also raise voltage in vcore.0x050 = The memory does not have enough voltage or its latencies are very aggressive.

Lastly, remember that a blind overclock can do more harm than good. And that whenever something does not go, we can return to the series values ​​or to our previous frequency. That is better than inadvertently torturing our processor and motherboard. But the most important thing is to know our components first and our intention. That is why I have put two profiles of 4200 mhz and another of 4500 mhz. But these already standard processors are great.

WE RECOMMEND YOU Intel will launch Haswell-E at the end of the year