HiI have a simple question regarding the core voltage showing on the CPU page of CPU-Z. When using prime 95 the core voltage is showing 1.32v. Is this the same as the v-core voltage in the bios ? I understand if this is I should not exceed 1.35v if I want to overclock some more ? At present I am at 4.2 Ghz on my i5 2500k.I have upped the Dynamic Vcore by only 0.05v from base to start overclocking but in the bios the v-core is showing 1.356v. Is this OK ?Thanks

It's probably Vdroop.Vdroop is a voltage drop under load, so you have more voltage when the CPU is idling than at full load. To compensate this you have to enable Load Line Calibration in your BIOS.Enabling LLC will probably increase your load Vcore even with the same +0.050 Dynamic Vcore. Try it and see what you get:- Enable LLC, check your idle Vcore in CPU-Z (post it here)- Run Prime95 and check your full load Vcore in CPU-Z (post it here)- Check your temps in Core Temp while running Prime95 (post them here)Up to 1.375V and 80ºC on the hottest core you are fine. It's all about finding the max overclock below those temps and Vcore, with the minimum Vcore that will make it all stable.

Hi DazHere are the screenshots

Your temps are fine, your Vcore too. You can bump your Vcore & multi a few notches, something like 1.35 - 1.36V and 4.5GHz maybe?You have plenty headroom there for a higher OC. Just find your max OC below 1.37V & 80ºC (doesn't look like temps will be an issue) and then lower your Vcore at the minimum needed for that max OCStep by step:- up your Vcore. Boot into windows. Run Prime and check your Vcore. Tweak Dynamic Vcore until you have something like 1.36V for example.- Start bumping your multi (44, 45, 46... ) and run Prime until it's not stable anymore.- Once you have the max multi, start lowering your Vcore until you find the minimum you need for that max multi

Thanks for your input Daz. But will I see much of an improvement if I go to 4.5 Ghz from my current 4.2 Ghz ?????and finally should I be looking at v core in bios ( setting it to 1.36) or checking it in cpuz or does it not matter ?

Thanks for your input Daz. But will I see much of an improvement if I go to 4.5 Ghz from my current 4.2 Ghz ?????

well, it's a 7% overclock, 7% more performance. If you can hit 4.8GHz, that would be a 14%It's up to you to decide if it's worth it or not

Finally should I be looking at v core in bios if I overclock again when under load and checking that that the voltage reading does not exceed 1.36v ?Sorry for so many questions ....................

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No problem Paul :)Always check your Vcore in Windows at full load. That's the one that matters. What you see in BIOS can be an indication but it doesn't take into account Vdrop and Vdroop, so always double check in Window and at full load (Prime or whatever)Full load Vcore in Windows is what shouldn't exceed your max safe Vcore of choice (mine is 1.375V)

Thanks DazYou have been most helpful. Thankyou for your time, wish I could return the compliment.

No prob. Enjoy your great rig!