Maximum PC

Just a week after building my first system, I'm already OCing it...

Specs:

Intel Core i5 3570k

CM Hyper 212 evo

Gigabyte Z77 UD5h

Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600mhz

nvidia GTX 480

I've been using these guides as a reference:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/maximum_pc_essentials_ultimate_bios_tweaking_guide

http://www.overclock.net/t/1247413/ivy-bridge-overclocking-guide-with-ln2-guide-at-the-end

I built this machine for gaming purposes, so I'm mostly OCing for fun and bragging rights. I'm aiming for 4.1 Ghz. I don't want to roast my new hardware though!

I started by lowering the vcore voltage to 1.1 from 1.185. Prime 95 displayed an impressive 10C temperature drop to 55C max, according to CoreTemp, after 30min. I then disabled turbo boost and the C states, thermal monitor and EIST and gradually worked my way up using the multiplier to 4.0 GHz, where upon starting Prime 95 I got the dreaded BSOD.

BSODs are scary- did I do any lasting damage to my PC? I cleared the CMOS and the machine does boot to Windows, but I'm still a little phased. If you still think my machine is OK, what voltage level/ other settings should I set for this OC?

Thanks for the help.

http://ark.Intel.com/products/65520/Int ... o-3_80-GHz)
then go to datasheet volume 2 for voltages.

See: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2 ... u-review/8

I think my biggest question is "is instability from undervolting damaging my CPU?".

BSODs and rebooting are a way of life for the OCer or Under-OCer. I can't see how under-volting would hurt anything; it never has for me anyway, YMMV.