4770k Overclocking for total beginners?

[WonkeyDonkey]

Hi Donkey, I have read all of the links below and they suggest tweaks in BIOS (which is fine, I can do that), but also Windows-only programs. I'm just wondering if it is possible to tweak a Hackintosh in OS X Mavericks alone.

Theres nothing you can do in the software that you cant do in the bios. The software version just offers more convenience since they think everyone uses Windows.

 

[valkeriefire]

Hi Donkey, I have read all of the links below and they suggest tweaks in BIOS (which is fine, I can do that), but also Windows-only programs. I'm just wondering if it is possible to tweak a Hackintosh in OS X Mavericks alone.

Most over clockers run Windows, so all of the guides for testing overclocks are in Windows based scenarios. Testing an OC in Windows is easier due to all the software available for free to test. CPU-Z, CoreTemp, HWinfo64, Prime95, AIDA64 are all commonly used Windows apps for OCing. The actual OC is done in the BIOS settings, but the software in windows lets you determine if the OC is actually stable or working correctly. OCing Haswell is more complicated than Ivy bridge was, so Windows is even more useful.

If you have a space Windows 7 disk, you can actually install windows 7 without a license and use it for FREE for 30 days. That is more than enough time to test and get a solid OC working. You would need a space HDD/SSD for that too obviously.

You could test an OC in OS X, but it would be harder. You could use the HWmonitor app available through Multibeast to check your voltages and clock speeds to see if the OC is working. Then you could the OS X version of Prime95 to create 100% load and test stability. If it freezes or crashes, then your OC is not stable and you probably need more vcore to stabilize it. If the temps are too high (anything over 85C is too high IMHO), then you need better cooling or need to reduce vcore to bring the temps back down. I've noticed Haswell seems to suck at OCing vs Ivy or Sandy. Getting 4.5-4.8ghz with the 2 older chips was relatively easy. With Haswell it is much harder. Most Ivy and Sandy chips can do 4.5ghz, but most Haswell chips will not.

 

[ngc7789]

You can also use Intel(R) Power Gadget (supposedly more accurate than HWMonitor for clock speed) to monitor temps and use GeekBench3 stress test. It's maybe not as robust as Prime95 but it was easy and my OC is stable although I only got to 4.4GHz. For me that was plenty good enough and I just didn't want to spend more time tweaking to eek out another 5% performance.

 

[valkeriefire]

You can also use Intel(R) Power Gadget (supposedly more accurate than HWMonitor for clock speed) to monitor temps and use GeekBench3 stress test. It's maybe not as robust as Prime95 but it was easy and my OC is stable although I only got to 4.4GHz. For me that was plenty good enough and I just didn't want to spend more time tweaking to eek out another 5% performance.

Nice work, if my 4770k did 4.4ghz and was remotely stable, I would be very happy.