MSI MEG Z390 ACE and i7-8086K OC

[WebMaximus]

I just built a new system based on the MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard, an i7-8086K and 4x8 GB Corsair 3200MHz DDR4 RGB memory with the goal to find the highest possible but yet stable and safe 24/7 OC.

The CPU has been delidded and the thermal paste replaced by liquid metal. I'm using a Corsair H115i RGB Platinum for cooling in a Corsair 500D RGB SE case with 3 120mm fans as intake in the front and one 120mm fan in the back as exhaust. The H115i's 140mm fans is in a push config.

At this point I've been able to reach what so far seems to be a stable OC of 5.1 GHz with the below changes done in BIOS. The highest temp after stress-testing the CPU is about 75 C.

CPU Ratio: 51
CPU Ratio Mode: Fixed
XMP: Enabled
CPU LLC: Mode 2
CPU Core Voltage Mode: Override
CPU Core Voltage: 1.300
Intel Virtualization Tech: Disabled
Intel C-State: Disabled
Intel Speed Shift Technology: Disabled

I have tried going for 5.2 GHz but so far with no luck. Mostly, it will BSOD during Windows startup. Have been able to get into Windows a couple of times but no stability when stress-testing.

The highest voltage I've tried to make it stable at this point is 1.375. I know most people agree it's fine all the way up to 1.4 but since my goal isn't to receive a single top score running a benchmark but rather find the highest but still stable and safe 24/7 OC as mentioned above, I rather not go too crazy with the voltage.

So my question to you guys is if I missed some important setting that would likely allow me to get a higher OC?

Many thanks in advance for any tips and input!

 

[looz]

Not going to allow a higher overclock but ensure that vccsa and vccio stay reasonable, preferably 1.1V or under.

 

[tinytomlogan]

If it needed 1.3v for a 100% stable OC - and by that I mean a blnder run or heavy OCCT (non avx) then I doubt youll get 5.2 even with 1.4v

As it stands 5.1 is an amazing clock with one of those chips, dont ruin your silicone looking for another 100MHz

 

[WebMaximus]

Thanks for your advice guys!

As for vccsa and vccio, they are both set to automatic but IIRC (not at my PC at this time) they were around 1.2v where you say they should preferably be below 1.1v.

Hmm...need to check that when I get home.

For stability testing, I've been using the CPU stress test found in CPU-Z but also 3DMark. Both have been 100% stable using my current settings listed above.

I also found a tool on my disk called x264 Stability Test v2.05 I think I used in the past when OC'ing my 6700K but that one wouldn't run for more than maybe 30 secs before it threw a BSOD on me with my current settings.

Maybe there's some AVX instructions going on in there. Will have to read up on that tool I guess or just skip using it.

I used OCCT in the past and just downloaded it again. Will give it a spin and see what happens. Would you say running OCCT successfully is good enough for normal usage and gaming stability checking or should I also give Linpack a go? From what I recall, Linpack resulted in very high temps and I only have an H115i...

What other stress-test/benchmark software would you recommend in early 2019 to check for overall stability when it comes to your CPU?

In all honesty, the most important thing to me is to have a fully stable computer when running X-Plane since that is where the focus will be for this new build.

I rather have a faster system capable of running X-Plane but not all synthetic tests vs having a slower system but capable of running hours of synthetic tests.

 

[looz]

1.2v should be fine but I've had no issues lowering them. I might be wrong but I think spec places then both to 1.05v and people have liked their gear by running then at above 1.30v.