2500k Ocing with P8Z68-V Pro and 16GB RAM

[Patriote]

Hey guys!

I hope this is the right place to post this!

Just built a new RIG last week. Haven't upgraded since 2008 so I had to read a lot of guides before overclocking since I was totally outdated Heh! Specs in SIG!

I'd need a little help and I'd have a few questions regarding my Ocing!

First would be : Is it possible that my 2500k can do 4.5Ghz 12+ hours Prime95 Blend test Stable with 1.360v but that it would need 1.460v to do 4.8Ghz Stable? Could there be something holding me or that is making me having to up the Vcore like that just to reach a stable 4.8Ghz?

Here is what I have set in the BIOS.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1771.jpg (I know it's written in yellow that the target specified is 4500Mhz but It's just because I was running 4.5Ghz and had just loaded my 4.8Ghz profile in Asus O.C profile to take the pictures)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1772.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1773.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1774.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1775.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_1777.jpg

4.5Ghz 1.360v Prime95 Blend test : http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...TABLE_LOAD.jpg

Second question would be : I run 16GB (4x4GB) of RAM @ 1600Mhz 1.50v 9-9-9-24 2T (Rated specs for my kit). When working on Ocing the CPU, I always drop to 1333Mhz even tho I haven't touched BLCK yet. Could that be my problem? Too much RAM could cause me problems overclocking the CPU like it used to be back in days? Or maybe I should think of manually upping the VCCIO voltage?

If you guys have any ideas on what I could try to get that 4.8Ghz Stable with less CPU Vcore post 'em!

Temps wise, with 1.460v CPU Vcore, I reach a max of 74c (using Realtemp) when Prime95 Blend test is running. I just don't feel safe running 1.460v for the CPU even tho temps aren't that high. Never goes above 60c when playing Crysis 2. Plus I think it would be stupid to run 4.8Ghz @ 1.460v when 4.5Ghz only need 1.360v ... It's not like if it would make much of a difference when gaming. Don't get me wrong, I'd love having the CPU @ 4.8Ghz+ but in my case, having to shoot 1.460v through the CPU just to get + 300Mhz stable isn't a good idea IMO.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks guys!

[swaaye]

I think that these CPUs are pretty often capable of 4.5 GHz with nearly stock voltage but yeah that as you go above that the voltage requirement spikes. This is common behavior as you reach a chip's clock limit.

I'm not sure if you're running the CPU voltage offset on auto but if you are that's part of why the voltage shoots up. The CPU may be stable with less voltage. The auto offset really cranks voltage when you go above 4.6GHz. You can switch to a manual offset voltage. Start at say +0.080v and go up/down from there. I am running +0.050v at 4.7 GHz with High LLC to keep the voltage from varying too much under heavy / light load.

With respect to RAM speed, just set the speed manually to the RAM specs. I'm running the same board and CPU, but have 16GB CAS8 PC1600 running its specifications even at 4.7 GHz.

[OS-Wiz]

.988 is stock voltage and 1.52 is max VID. I like to run best freq 24x7 at the halfway point, or, for you, 1.254 VID/Vcore.