Howdy, folks.
I've been stalling my adhesion to the forums, often visiting in the meantime to read on several topics of my interest, often being pleased with the quality of many elaborations. Now, formalities aside, straight to what got me to actually register:
I recently acquired a P8Z68-V PRO ASUS motherboard and a i5-3570K CPU. Previously, I had a 775 socket-based system, which means this current method of over-clocking CPU's is new to me, in practice. I've however been reading on the topic for quite a while, out of curiosity and to ready myself for an eventual acquisition. As many of you can attest, there's not much to the task and after having installed the adequate drivers and deciding that my system was stable, I set out to give the old [new] over-clocking a go.
Of course, with this Turbo technology, there's a slight boost to the CPU clock, which in effect is an over-clock itself. The problem is, Turbo Boost or user defined clocks, have no effect on the actual clock. According to Core Temp, CPU-Z, Real Temp and Aida64, the higher clock the CPU reaches is ~3400 MHz.
As displayed here: http://www.freeimagehosting.net/iqa7r, CPU-Z reports a multiplier range of x16-x38, but the highest multiplier achieved (on any core, as I'm aware of how Turbo Boost functions) is 34. On the other hand, the clock is sensitive to BCLK changes: at ~103 MHz, it does give me ~3502 MHz, with the 34 multiplier.
What I've done:
- Flashed to previous BIOS (from 3203 on, as below 3570K isn't supported [currently on 3603]);
- Updated the ME firmware, as suggested per a couple of topics I've read over the days;
- Checked the chipset drivers one by one and to the best of my knowledge, updated them with the most recent versions;
- Flashed the latest and current BIOS with a modified one, despite the alterations having no association with the CPU, as far as I could tell;
- Cleared the CMOS;
- Checked the clocks on another installation of Windows 7 (same HDD, different partition);
- Attempted different RAM configurations;
- Changed the CPU Ratio on all 3 available areas to do so, for the sake of it (AI Tweaker, CPU Power Management and CPU Configuration), after resorting to guides produced no desirable effect;
- Attempted to over-clock the CPU without the discrete GPU installed;
- Enabled and disabled the Turbo technology, along with the C-states and EIST, in various configurations overall;
- Checked the clocks in safe-mode;
- Resat the CPU and heatsink;
- Used fixed and offset CPU voltages;
- Turned the TPU and EPU switches on and off (all four configurations attempted) and quite possibly, covered other options that may now escape me.
I'll make a note on the following: with versions previous to BIOS 3603, I have to resort to the iGPU, as the motherboard doesn't POST with the GPU installed and the BIOS set to recognize automatically a video source (PCIE selected doesn't work either; I have to select iGPU, on the respective BIOS panel). Consequently, the attempts at over-clocking with previous BIOS versions were made with the iGPU serving as the video source. Otherwise, on 3603 version, the GPU is utilized and both it and the motherboard work normally.
Over-clocking and older BIOS versions not allowing the GPU to be used aside, everything else appears to be working quite fine. Given that it's a z68 motherboard, I can justify the GPU incompatibility to an extent (I'm ignorant as to whether there could be any issue given that reason, but wouldn't be surprised if so) and frankly, it's not crucial if the over-clocking issue gets solved under 3603. Device Manager doesn't accuse anything and where heat is concerned (as to dismiss throttling behavior), I'm using a Swiftech H220 to cool the CPU, which does a proper job.
Regarding the other components and let me mention the motherboard was a second-hand purchase, whilst the CPU is a brand new piece, I have three DDR3 1333 MHz DIMMS, which I was using on my previous motherboard (they're a pair of Kingston units and a Corsair loner, working fine and tested on different configurations, as mentioned), a HD 5850 and since I'm on it, a SATA2 500 GB HDD.
I've been searching and inspecting several threads over the Internet (often bumping into the same ones at this point) and although I haven't yet found any with precisely the same characteristics as in my situation, the solutions normally appear to be BIOS updates/rollbacks or a return of the motherboard, myself having excluded the latter. Speaking of which, if this is deemed Motherboards sub-forum material, please relocate it.
Feel free to evaluate the case and make a suggestion - it'll be appreciated. Thanks for your time!
JD
I've been stalling my adhesion to the forums, often visiting in the meantime to read on several topics of my interest, often being pleased with the quality of many elaborations. Now, formalities aside, straight to what got me to actually register:
I recently acquired a P8Z68-V PRO ASUS motherboard and a i5-3570K CPU. Previously, I had a 775 socket-based system, which means this current method of over-clocking CPU's is new to me, in practice. I've however been reading on the topic for quite a while, out of curiosity and to ready myself for an eventual acquisition. As many of you can attest, there's not much to the task and after having installed the adequate drivers and deciding that my system was stable, I set out to give the old [new] over-clocking a go.
Of course, with this Turbo technology, there's a slight boost to the CPU clock, which in effect is an over-clock itself. The problem is, Turbo Boost or user defined clocks, have no effect on the actual clock. According to Core Temp, CPU-Z, Real Temp and Aida64, the higher clock the CPU reaches is ~3400 MHz.
As displayed here: http://www.freeimagehosting.net/iqa7r, CPU-Z reports a multiplier range of x16-x38, but the highest multiplier achieved (on any core, as I'm aware of how Turbo Boost functions) is 34. On the other hand, the clock is sensitive to BCLK changes: at ~103 MHz, it does give me ~3502 MHz, with the 34 multiplier.
What I've done:
- Flashed to previous BIOS (from 3203 on, as below 3570K isn't supported [currently on 3603]);
- Updated the ME firmware, as suggested per a couple of topics I've read over the days;
- Checked the chipset drivers one by one and to the best of my knowledge, updated them with the most recent versions;
- Flashed the latest and current BIOS with a modified one, despite the alterations having no association with the CPU, as far as I could tell;
- Cleared the CMOS;
- Checked the clocks on another installation of Windows 7 (same HDD, different partition);
- Attempted different RAM configurations;
- Changed the CPU Ratio on all 3 available areas to do so, for the sake of it (AI Tweaker, CPU Power Management and CPU Configuration), after resorting to guides produced no desirable effect;
- Attempted to over-clock the CPU without the discrete GPU installed;
- Enabled and disabled the Turbo technology, along with the C-states and EIST, in various configurations overall;
- Checked the clocks in safe-mode;
- Resat the CPU and heatsink;
- Used fixed and offset CPU voltages;
- Turned the TPU and EPU switches on and off (all four configurations attempted) and quite possibly, covered other options that may now escape me.
I'll make a note on the following: with versions previous to BIOS 3603, I have to resort to the iGPU, as the motherboard doesn't POST with the GPU installed and the BIOS set to recognize automatically a video source (PCIE selected doesn't work either; I have to select iGPU, on the respective BIOS panel). Consequently, the attempts at over-clocking with previous BIOS versions were made with the iGPU serving as the video source. Otherwise, on 3603 version, the GPU is utilized and both it and the motherboard work normally.
Over-clocking and older BIOS versions not allowing the GPU to be used aside, everything else appears to be working quite fine. Given that it's a z68 motherboard, I can justify the GPU incompatibility to an extent (I'm ignorant as to whether there could be any issue given that reason, but wouldn't be surprised if so) and frankly, it's not crucial if the over-clocking issue gets solved under 3603. Device Manager doesn't accuse anything and where heat is concerned (as to dismiss throttling behavior), I'm using a Swiftech H220 to cool the CPU, which does a proper job.
Regarding the other components and let me mention the motherboard was a second-hand purchase, whilst the CPU is a brand new piece, I have three DDR3 1333 MHz DIMMS, which I was using on my previous motherboard (they're a pair of Kingston units and a Corsair loner, working fine and tested on different configurations, as mentioned), a HD 5850 and since I'm on it, a SATA2 500 GB HDD.
I've been searching and inspecting several threads over the Internet (often bumping into the same ones at this point) and although I haven't yet found any with precisely the same characteristics as in my situation, the solutions normally appear to be BIOS updates/rollbacks or a return of the motherboard, myself having excluded the latter. Speaking of which, if this is deemed Motherboards sub-forum material, please relocate it.
Feel free to evaluate the case and make a suggestion - it'll be appreciated. Thanks for your time!
JD
Last edited:
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