So, I'm happy with my 4.4 GHz @ stock voltage OC. What benchmarks / stress tests should I now run to ensure stability? Aruana - Heaven - 3dMark11 - 3dMark Vantage
Also, I wanted to switch it to 4.6 GHz on Core0 & Core1, 4.4 GHz on Core2, and 4.2 GHz on Core3, to see if I could get that stable at stock/low voltage, but it won't let me adjust individual core multiplier anymore? I seem to recall having the ability to before, but now its locked, and I don't know what setting I changed that locked that? See my BIOS screen shot below. You must be in "Auto" mode, and you cannot select BCLK, and Turbo Mode must be on as well.
Also once I'm happy with my OC & tested to be stable, I should turn SpeedStep and C1E back on, right? With your board, you may not have that option, once you've chosen variable core overclocks.
Also, I left my computer on overnight (after I was convinced it was stable from 30 minutes of Prime95 Blend with no errors and no temps over 52C) with my 4.4 GHz @ stock voltage OC... When I woke up my computer was locking up and acting slow, then blue-screened... even though the CPU was pretty much at idle all night (with speedstep on, so only running at 1600 MHz), when it didn't BSOD or error at all after 30 minutes of Prime95 blend and other benchmarks at 100% load? Should I be concerned? Bump up my voltage? Yes, 2 bumps, this is not unusual, there is a reason for this, but it's rather complicated, so we'll save it for another time.
I'll probably have to bump my voltage anyway if I want a stable 4.6/4.6/4.4/4.2 OC, right? Yes. What's a "good" voltage for that OC? 1.2V? 1.25V? 1.3V? There is no such thing as a "good voltage", every chip is different. Any experienced over clocker will tell you that a "good voltage", is the lowest voltage your particular chip requires, for a stable OC, at the freq. you desire.
I want to try to get 4.6/4.6/4.4/4.2 stable under 1.3V if possible... Is that feasible? Maybe, it depends upon your particular chip. Should I bother? Would 4.4/4.4/4.2/4.0 at stock voltage be better, considering I probably won't be able to notice any difference in gaming (my primary, and nearly only, use)? Again, it's up to you. Most people I know, see how far they can push a new cpu to familiarize themselves with the chip, and it's characteristics. After they've tortured the poor thing for a week or so, most guys settle in with a mild overclock, perhaps 300 to 400MHz over stock, so they can continue to run it at, or slightly below, stock, Vcore. That's the best tradeoff between performance and longevity. Voltage set to offset seems to run at 1.136V under full load if that matters. Normal.
Or would it be best to just leave a 4.4 GHz across all 4 cores OC @ stock voltage if I can ensure it is stable there? That's fine as well, and ties in with what I suggested above.
For a 24/7 OC.