Is there something I'm missing?

[Mod-R]

Hi folks! First post, be nice, might be boring, but will be easy enough to answer in the end.

About to OC my 4770K on the Hero... Just a question about something that doesn't seem to work like it should...

As always, I'm first aiming to get the system running on par with Intel stock specifications. To get to run "stock", obviously, I left everything including RAM on default settings, except for Asus Multicore Enhancement, that I disabled. On IVB, turning Asus Multicore Enhancement Off with all other settings left to default would do the trick, the CPU would run Intel specified turbo ratios depending on active cores (within variations due to CPU spread spectrum). Done this with a P8Z77-V LK, -V, and -V Pro, and it always worked. Now I'm not so sure what's going on here with my Hero... Problem is, I'm getting kinda weird clocks using Aida 64 to load and monitor.

First let's see if I got this right - with the 4770K the turbo ratio rule is still the same : running 1/2/3/4 cores I'm supposed to get 39/39/38/37 multipliers?

I started stress testing with Aida built-in stability testing as indicated in about any decent guide, to get AVX instructions thrown in the lot. Weird thing is, the CPU is stuck at 3.5 GHz when all cores hit 100% load with Aida - ALTHOUGH I CAN SEE IT USING ALL THE TURBO RANGE WHEN ON IDLE WITH SMALL LOADS, meaning it will hit anything between 3.5 and 3.9 GHz just as well as it will any other frequency within the CPU non turbo range. So I popped out an oldie, Prime95, and stress tested again. Clocks still stuck at 3.5 GHz. Popped out two other old favorites, CPU-Z (RoG's latest version) and Core Temp (RC5) to crosscheck frequencies, and indeed all agreed that my CPU is running 3.5 GHz instead of 3.7 GHz on 100% load on all cores, just as well as CPU-Z also indicates frequencies in the turbo range at idle. Core Temp is completely off the map, never sensing anything over 3.2 GHz, but it doesn't matter anyway. Once again, going back to IVB, turning Asus M. E. off and leaving everything else on Auto would yield the intended 3.7GHz on four active cores on my 3770K.

This all rolls up into one thing : I really can't start overclocking if I can't sort this out first. Is this normal Haswell behavior, or some new clocks policy on Asus end? Is there something I don't understand? Could it be that my board is somewhat defective - please God let it not be that. 😛

What is going on? Many thanks in advance.

BIOS version is 0224. CPU stepping is C0.

Edit : of no importance at all, but it was the P8Z77-V LX, not the LK... 🙂

[Raja]

A few things:

1) The Turbo ratios will only kick in when TDP is below a certain threshold.
2) On Haswell, if the CPU is fully loaded on all cores it will run at 3.5GHz


If you need more confirmation, then maybe this will help:

http://ark.intel.com/products/75123/

Note the 3.5GHz frequency. That is the full load frequency!

So what you're getting above is normal. Carry on and OC your system 🙂

[Mod-R]

Hi Raja, thanks for answering.

I wouldn't really ask for more confirmation on something you say, as I know you know the stuff...

What I would ask for though is understanding, and please bear with me, as questions I'll ask are not to prove you wrong or anything the likes.

But according to the same logic, my former 3770K should have been running 3.5GHz on all load with Asus Multicore Enhancement disabled - but it was running 3.7GHz. Just like any Intel processor with Turbo Boost I ever worked with (before Haswell) would run it's specified turbo boost when fully loaded. NOT max turbo of course. When Turbo Boost is Enabled, for all I know and have experienced before with the 2500K, the 2700K, the 3570K, the 3770K, as well as i3 3220 and the i3 2110, it should run turbo frequencies. And on 4 cores max turbo is specified to 3.7GHz for the 4770K just like it was for the 3770K. Isn't the 3.5GHz what they call "nominal" processor frequency, NOT taking into account it's turbo boost capabilities? Aka if I turn off Turbo Boost right now in BIOS I will still be running 3.5GHz on full load? If what you say really applies for Haswell, then what's the point of Turbo Boost technology as Intel intends it?

Now if we take a look at this...


So please help me understand, that's all I care for. Was I the only one guy for whom former Intel platforms would yield specified Turbo ratio on 4 active cores? If not then what's changed with Haswell, or with the way RoG implemented it on the Hero?

The only thing I seem to be getting out of this is I won't overclock very far if it happens to be my CPU that can't even run it's specified turbo boost on 4 cores fully loaded because TDP is already maxed out... 😞

[Dirk_Decibel]

Turn on Asus multicore enhancement and set cores to "sync all cores".

[Praz]

What are you using for cooling? This could well be a TDP limit depending on cooling.

[Mod-R]

Like it says in the sig, Noctua NH-D14. I also have a spare H100i to test, and I'll probably order the Swiftech one of those days. But that's just for fun, I know the Noctua should take me to about 1.25V on Haswell. Highly doubt it is the cause of my processor to "downclock" at 3.5GHz, with temps not even getting over 50C in Aida. Vcore reads 1.088V, and VID 1.0902V

I don't want to turn Asus Multicore Enhancement on, frequency is not the only thing it changes, and as I said the goal here is not to actually run 3.7, it's to start OCing on stock settings and voltages, not with some small automatic OC working behind the scene.

What I'm actually wondering, after thinking a bit, is this : could it be that it was all my former Asus Z77 boards that still provided a small automatic OC EVEN WITH Asus Multicore Enhancement disabled? I mean, Turbo is only supposed to be possible for short durations, ain't it? And perhaps on the other hand that RoG implementation is more "honnest" than Asus, meaning I would have gotten 3.5GHZ with my 3770K if I had had a RoG Z77 board with Asus Multicore Enhancement Disabled?

IDK what to think, to be honnest. I'd like to actually SEE what it does for other RoG users with both the former 3770K and the new 4770K. If it is indeed normal, then I will shut the hell up and start OCing on the spot. 🙂 I just can't wait, there's so many new things with Haswell, so many settings to try, to investigate and learn about. I've been bored to death with Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge overclocking... But I just can't start the process if I don't KNOW for sure what's going on with the basics - how could I ever be affirmative that I'm not losing headroom in the end? Or that I even know what I'm doing...

Anyone kind enough to implement the same settings on Maximus Z77/Z87 boards with the 3770K/4770K and post their results? That is, for those who just turned in and don't care to read all of the first post, turn Asus M E off and leave everything else default, and then stress test to see if it is actually running 3.7GHz, or just 3.5GHz.

Another thing that comes to mind - should I flash the BIOS? I'm version 0224, newest is 0711... Thus far I've been rock stable, no fuss during installation, so I was reluctant to flash it if it doesn't change anything in the end.