[bograt]

Hello all,

Normally I would just Google a question like this, but in this case I thought since it will be to speed up my Maxwell rendering I though someone might be able to recommend something?
I will be overclocking an i7 3770 (with water cooling),
I have never done this before so a step by step guide would be ideal. Also rendering stability is crucial so any advice on what clocks to set would be great.
Thanks guys

Jules

[numerobis]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1291703/ivy- ... therboards
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... -Included)

I normally use Intel Burn Test (IBT) or LinX with max. RAM for stress testing because it shows errors faster than Prime95 and i don't have the time to spend days for stress testing. And then i use maxwell in a longer run using almost the complete ram. Even it is not stressing the cpu as much as IBT/LinX or Prime and the temperatures are lower, it seems to stress the system in a different way and can cause crashes even if the sys was LinX stable.
If it passed all tests i normally bump up the voltage one or two steps further to be on the safe side.

[bograt]

This looks really helpful, Thanks

[numerobis]

Overclocking the Ivy bridge/Sandy Bridge K-versions is really easy.
In short you only have to set a higher CPU multiplier and increase the offset voltage if it is not stable (and set a higher possible wattage to avoid throtteling)

I would keep the vcore below 1.3-1.35v, the Load Line Calibration at Normal or mid-value and the core temperature below ~75-80°C at stress testing.
RAM overclocking is not necessary. To make it easy you can just use the XMP settings.

What water cooling do you have? All-in-One or custom?

[bograt]

I don't have the cpu or the water cooling yet but I will be buying them this week, I intend on getting the: thermaltake water 2.0 pro
(http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/coolin ... -reviews/1)
It seems like a good solution, less to go wrong maybe...
You seem like you really know your stuff, do you think this is a good option?

FYI I am planning on upgrading my workstation to: i7 3770k, basic mobo, 32gb ddr3 1600 and the thermaltake water 2 pro, then most likely repeat the configuration a couple more times in cheap lian li cases for render nodes

[numerobis]

Yes, the water 2.0 Pro is looking quite good. But i think compared to todays 140mm air coolers the 120mm compact watercoolers are not really much better but noisier and more expensive...
The real advantage of watercooling is that you can use much bigger coolers compared to the ones that fit directly on the cpu (and you can carry the heat out of your case). And use slower fans for less noise. (i use four very slow 180mm fans on the outside of the case - almost unhearable)
These 120mm all-in-one watercoolers are quite limited. You can't compare them with a good custom watercooling system. The Water 2.0 Pro seems to be better than the 120mm corsair solutions, but I would at least take the 240mm version Water 2.0 Extreme, to be able to lower the fan speed. But it have to fit in your case...
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/ ... eview/1633

If i were you, i would wait a few days for the first 140mm/280mm solutions announced by NZXT to be released late november - if you don't need it tomorrow.
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cpu_cooler/kraken_x40
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cpu_cooler/kraken_x60

I don't know how they will perform... we have to wait for the first reviews, but looking at the radiator size they look very promising. I would go for the 280mm version

...cheap lian li cases

lian-li and cheap?!? i'm not sure how these two words fit together...

[bograt]

If i were you, i would wait a few days for the first 140mm/280mm solutions announced by NZXT to be released late november - if you don't need it tomorrow.
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cpu_cooler/kraken_x40
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cpu_cooler/kraken_x60

I don't know how they will perform... we have to wait for the first reviews, but looking at the radiator size they look very promising. I would go for the 280mm version

Thanks, I have never used watercooling so you advice is invaluable, I will wait and take a look at what your suggestions. I wanted to avoid custom water-cooling because of all the possible complications.

[/quote]lian-li and cheap?!? i'm not sure how these two words fit together... [/quote]

I know what you mean, my current pc is a lian-li and it was a bit pricey but I really meant cheap for Lian-li, I don't mind spending an extra couple of squid for a lian-li.. they are sooo nice
I found this one http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =CA-540-LL
Odd air flow! but I wont have a gpu and was maybe thinking about placing the radiator outside.. do you think I would need a custom system for this?

Jules

[bograt]

The x60 looks amazing but where would I set the outlet of that?
Guess if all else fails I could go for something like this: http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ ... PC-cooling

[numerobis]

The x60 looks amazing but where would I set the outlet of that?
Guess if all else fails I could go for something like this: http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ ... PC-cooling

yeah... i think a closed loop would be better

lian-li is great! i have two PC-7 Midi towers (the older ones, not the new rounded shit).
I only thought, if it is for a render node you could take a cheaper one - but only if it is placed in a separated (server) room off course. If you have it in your room then i understand your choice
I have this one for all my nodes Cooler Master Elite 370 - quite cheap (35€) and good air flow. (no water cooling, fans on max speed, placed in the server room in the basement)

The PC-A55B looks interesting. 140mm fans! Not sure if the PSU on the front blowing inwards is really the better solution, but overall it looks nice.
I think it's not necessary to place the radiator on the outside if you have a good airflow in the case. The cooling will be better, but you have to find a solution to mount it on the case.
But if you want to place it inside the case it has to fit into the case... and there are not so many cases with 2x140mm fan holes on the topside.
Maybe this one:
http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/obsidia ... -650d.html

[bograt]

Unfortunately they will have to be by my desk for the time being, so no cheap cases there
The corsair looks good, I will consider this for a workstation but it might be a bit pricey for the nodes
Maybe for the nodes a good air cooler would be simpler after all? especially seeing as I won't have any gpus getting in the way,
Might just stick one of these krakens in my workstation.
Do you know any really nice air coolers that I could stick in a case like the PC-A55B?
Thanks for all this advice by the way!

Edit: looks like the psu fires the heat down!

pretty odd but I guess it clears up space at the top

[numerobis]

i thought it would blow under the case, but it seems to out on the side of the front panel. So this should be no problem.

i think a 140 mm air cooler will fit nicely in this case (without video card)

The cheapest good cooler would be the Thermalright HR-2 Macho i think.
The Thermalright Silver Arrow or the Noctua NH-D14 have a slightly better performance but they are more expensive.

[Primus]

Interesting thread here ...

I will build up two additional nodes over christmas ... Does someone have a recommendation for good & cheap motherboard for overclocking, based on a i3770K ? I will build the nodes based a a cheap SSD , 32 GB Ram, no graphicard ...

... and in addition , its possible to connect two motherboards to one power supply ?

Best,
Tom

[bograt]

Primus, I have not looked to far into motherboards yet but I will also be going fairly cheap

The cheapest good cooler would be the Thermalright HR-2 Macho i think.
The Thermalright Silver Arrow or the Noctua NH-D14 have a slightly better performance but they are more expensive.

Great, this looks like the way to go.
Thanks again,

Jules

[numerobis]

ASRock is cheap and good

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813157297

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1998/15/
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4852/a ... dex12.html

[numerobis]

The Thermalright Silver Arrow or the Noctua NH-D14 have a slightly better performance but they are more expensive.

...the Phanteks PH-TC14PE could be added to this category