Need help overclocking Intel i7 960 from 3.2Ghz to 4.2Ghz

[Michel1]

Overclocking Intel i7 960 from 3.2Ghz to 4.2Ghz

Hello, everyone! Thank you first of all for reviewing my thread. For a long time now I've trying to overclock my Intel Core i7 960 CPU, watched Youtube video's, read guides and searched for terms individually. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to reach a stable overclock. I stress tested a lot of times with Prime95, sometimes it crashes instantly and sometimes it freezes or crashes after a while without any error in the results file. I added pictures of my bios setting and CPU-Z. I check my temperatures and in my opinion, that is not the issue because it is around 40/50c.

Specifications:

CPU: Intel Core i7 960 3.20Ghz
GPU: EVGA GTX 960 4GB
COOLER: CORSAIR H60
MOBO: ASUS RAMPAGE III BLACK EDITION
RAM: CORSAIR 24GB DDR3
SSD: SAMSUNG 850 EVO 256 GB
POWER: XFX 850w BLACK EDITION

I really hope one of you can help me resolve my issue and point out the settings that have to be changed in order to achieve a stable overclock.

Thank you!

 

[mokrunka]

Have you seen the official Overclocker's Guide to Overclocking this CPU? A very good and thorough article.

Also, is your CPU a C0 stepping or D0? I can't read the CPUz screenie.

 

[Mjolnir]

Looks like a D0 to me. Have you tried running 4ghz flat instead to test stability? 4.2ghz on that platform always required a fair bit extra juice. My 930 ran at 4.0 ghz all day but took a fairly large bump to hit 4.2ghz so I never bothered.

Those temps seem very low for a H60.. That's definitely with full load?

EDIT: I also always had better luck with odd numbers. 191x21 is what I used for my 4ghz OC. Humor me and try 199x21

 

[mokrunka]

Yeah, I had a D0 i7-920 that I hit 4 GHz on, but temps were definitely in the 60s, even under water.

 

[wingman99]

Have you tried a V core of 1.33v? The VID range for that CPU is 0.800V-1.375V.

 

[habbajabba]

Make a server with that chip. It's from '09 and it's solid.