Prophaniti
Hello
So I have a Z97 Classified, an i7-4790k and G-Skill F3-2800C12Q-16GTXDG. The mobo can handle up to 2666Mhz RAM, this is 2800. So to the best of my knowledge I need to either overclock my CPU or underclock my RAM. I have no real idea how to do either properly.
Can anyone help me? If you need any more information just ask but you'll probably need to tell me how to find it.
Thanks
If you are uncomfortable with overclocking, you can leave it at 2666, which is the highest base multiplier for the IMC (Integrated memory Controller).
So first off, I recommend making sure your BIOS is the most recent version.
Next, go here:
http://www.evga.com/support/manuals/files/BIOS/152-HR-E979_BIOS_Guide.pdfRead page 3-6 this covers the dashboard section of the BIOS and how to read all the data on the top.
Next, go to page 11, you get there by clicking on Memory at the top, or navigating there by the RIGHT Arrow key.
Some RAM will have 1 others will have 2 XMP profiles, these are basically presets for setting up your RAM. Look at them both, you want to select one that shows 2666 or 2667 (same thing, sometimes XMP will round the number as the speed is technically 2666.66666666.....). Once this is set, check the top of the dashboard where you see your multiplier, as long as it still says xxX100 (xx as different procs have a different multiplier) you are fine and no substantial overclock has been done. Also, verify that the DIMM voltage is the same as what is posted on either the DIMMs themselves or on the memory's packaging.
Save and exit, go back into the BIOS and make sure everything looks correct, at this point everything you would need to confirm is on the dashboard at the top.
There are some small risks, that speed is still overclocking and not all IMCs will do it, more often than not they will be fine though. If you come up with any issues, post here or in the overclocking section and we will assist. Sometimes there is small tuning to help, other times, it needs the clocks reduced, but we can handle that if it becomes an issue.
BTW, WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!