Motherboard BIOS driver.

[davidarad02]

Hi.

 

I have a MSI z97 gaming 5 motherboard paired with an i7 4790k. I'm currently running the technical preview of windows 10, because I havent had the time to get 8.1.

I want to start overclocking my CPU (which is btw under a NH-D15), but with the BIOS that came with the motherboard, It wont let me, so I went to the MSI page about the motherboard, and downloaded the latest update, as well as the recommended version for the 4790k, and both (when I open the .exe file inside the zip file) get a pop up messege that says that it is a 32 bit driver, and that I should contact the supplier of the driver to get a 64 bit version, but on the site there is not 64 bit version...

I think it (somewhat) has to do with me being on win. 10, because all of the other drivers on MSI's website are for win. 8.1 64 bit, and when I donwload and install those, they work just fine.

 

so, what should I do? is there a fix for this, or is this just a problem with windows 10?

[ag90]

probably a problem with windows 10

[lazypc]

Welcome to the world of unsupported operating systems.... Whenever your beta testing an OS this will be a very common issue, you could try to use 8.1 64 bit drivers...

 

Try using your UEFI/BIOS setting to do your overclocking, probably a safer option to the utility at the moment since your using a development OS anyways.

[davidarad02]

Welcome to the world of unsupported operating systems.... Whenever your beta testing an OS this will be a very common issue, you could try to use 8.1 64 bit drivers...

 

Try using your UEFI/BIOS setting to do your overclocking, probably a safer option to the utility at the moment since your using a development OS anyways.

you didnt get my problem...

 

im running the stock bios atm. I want to overclock, but when im inside the bios, under the OC section and trying to change the multiplier, it wont let me even touch it.

the BIOS driver is the only one without a win8.1_64 option...

[TheRower]

Try downloading the Windows 8.1 64-bit Intel Extreme Tuning Utility on MSI's site. This probably won't work cause its windows 8.1, but that's my only idea for now. I'm not sure why your bios won't let you over clock, but I have an MSI z97m board and I also haven't found a way to overclock in the bios, I just use the tuning utility.

Here's the link 

http://ca.msi.com/support/mb/Z97-GAMING-5.html#down-utility&Win8.1 64 

[lazypc]

You probably have a multiplier locked CPU, so you will not have that option available. (That's why you see "unlocked" CPUs available for sale)

 

As far as BIOS drivers... more then likely it's not a driver, but an application or utility to update/flash the BIOS with a newer version... but I would highly recommend you don't use that on a unsupported version of windows... If something bad happens during the flashing process 90%+ chance of a dead computer, unless you happend to have a dual/backup BIOS chip.

[TheRower]

You probably have a multiplier locked CPU, so you will not have that option available. (That's why you see "unlocked" CPUs available for sale)

 

As far as BIOS drivers... more then likely it's not a driver, but an application or utility to update/flash the BIOS with a newer version... but I would highly recommend you don't use that on a unsupported version of windows... If something bad happens during the flashing process 90%+ chance of a dead computer, unless you happend to have a dual/backup BIOS chip.

He said he had a 4790k though.

[lazypc]

He said he had a 4790k though.

I saw it, probably not the last time in life I'll make a ass of myself.

[TheRower]

No worries just making sure you know.

[TheMcSame]

I'm not entirely sure what you're finding so difficult though, there's no specific BIOS versions for 32 or 64 bit systems... Windows has nothing to do with the BIOS.

[TheRower]

I'm not entirely sure what you're finding so difficult though, there's no specific BIOS versions for 32 or 64 bit systems... Windows has nothing to do with the BIOS.

Yes you're right, I think the problem is overclocking utilities controlled in the operating system have not been officially made for windows 10 yet, which has nothing to do with the fact that his bios seems locked at the moment.

[davidarad02]

guys, my BIOS is still locked, after I found a way so somewhat update it.

I downloaded software form the MSI website, that is kinda like geforce experience, just for my motherboard. basically it tells me when i have updates, and it can update stuff by itself, so I downloaded the file form the software, and it installed a fresh new BIOS. 

I went back into the BIOS, and reset everything to how it was (xmp...), but overclocking was still locked.

so I launched back into the OS, and downloaded the software that TheRower recommended, and it is working fine, and im still working on getting the max OC. so far I got 4.8 with 1.33v. trying to optimize it as much as I can, but I do have one more question.

 

what is generally the MAX that I should go in terms of voltage (that is without terribly damaging my CPU)?

[TheRower]

guys, my BIOS is still locked, after I found a way so somewhat update it.

I downloaded software form the MSI website, that is kinda like geforce experience, just for my motherboard. basically it tells me when i have updates, and it can update stuff by itself, so I downloaded the file form the software, and it installed a fresh new BIOS. 

I went back into the BIOS, and reset everything to how it was (xmp...), but overclocking was still locked.

so I launched back into the OS, and downloaded the software that TheRower recommended, and it is working fine, and im still working on getting the max OC. so far I got 4.8 with 1.33v. trying to optimize it as much as I can, but I do have one more question.

 

what is generally the MAX that I should go in terms of voltage (that is without terribly damaging my CPU)?

I would say anything over 1.3v is on the unsafe side. Your CPU will degrade faster because of the extra heat generated from the high voltage. My advice is go for a safe overclock, maybe 4.4 or 4.5Ghz, and try to get the voltage down as far as possible while keeping it stable. To test stability, run a stress test using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility for a day, YES 24-hours, for the most decisive result, or 2-hours for a less accurate, but more reasonable to complete test.

 

Then in the future, when your processor becomes a limitation in your system, you can try to push it back up to that higher overclock with more voltage, although by that time your processor may have a harder time stabilizing at high frequencies.

[Godlygamer23]

Is this what you downloaded? http://download.msi.com/bos_exe/7917v1B.zip

[davidarad02]

I would say anything over 1.3v is on the unsafe side. Your CPU will degrade faster because of the extra heat generated from the high voltage. My advice is go for a safe overclock, maybe 4.4 or 4.5Ghz, and try to get the voltage down as far as possible while keeping it stable. To test stability, run a stress test using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility for a day, YES 24-hours, for the most decisive result, or 2-hours for a less accurate, but more reasonable to complete test.

 

Then in the future, when your processor becomes a limitation in your system, you can try to push it back up to that higher overclock with more voltage, although by that time your processor may have a harder time stabilizing at high frequencies.

I was getting some crashes with the 4.8, so I stopped at 4.7 with 1.3v and it seems good (with cinebench). im about to start a prime95 test, but should I do something else?

[davidarad02]

Is this what you downloaded? http://download.msi.com/bos_exe/7917v1B.zip

this, and the recommended one for the 4790k. both didnt work, but the one from the updator worked.

[TheRower]

I was getting some crashes with the 4.8, so I stopped at 4.7 with 1.3v and it seems good (with cinebench). im about to start a prime95 test, but should I do something else?

Nope, just keep dropping the voltage until prime95 crashes the system at 4.7GHz, if that's the frequency you want. When it does, that means your processor needs slightly more voltage than whatever voltage it crashed at. Keep going up from that voltage until its stable for the duration of the test, and you should be good for daily use.

 

If after you've validated your system using prime95 and during daily use it still crashes, just up the voltage a little more or lower the frequency and rerun the test.

 

Also, careful using the auto update utility. It updates your BIOS automatically, and it bricked a motherboard I had once, though I may have just got unlucky. You shouldn't regularly update your BIOS as it is risky and can potentially brick you mobo if it fails. If your having stability issues or various other problems then a BIOS update may be necessary. I recommend flashing the BIOS in the BIOS on boot rather than running the zip in the operating system as it is safer.

Edited July 1, 2015 by TheRower

[davidarad02]

Nope, just keep dropping the voltage until prime95 crashes the system at 4.7GHz, if that's the frequency you want. When it does, that means your processor needs slightly more voltage than whatever voltage it crashed at. Keep going up from that voltage until its stable for the duration of the test, and you should be good for daily use.

 

If after you've validated your system using prime95 and during daily use it still crashes, just up the voltage a little more or lower the frequency and rerun the test.

and after I finish all the tests and I find that everything's stable, should I keep the voltage inside the utility at a static voltage, or should I move to adaptive mode?

[TheRower]

and after I finish all the tests and I find that everything's stable, should I keep the voltage inside the utility at a static voltage, or should I move to adaptive mode?

Put it on adaptive and make sure speed step is on, it will turn down your processor's speed and voltage when its not in heavy use, which can conserve the integrity of the processor and make it last longer. 

 

You'll notice the adaptive voltage setting will create a min and max voltage at full processor load. For example, I have my voltage at 1.265V, but my voltage automatically changes from 1.23V to 1.3V depending on the Processor frequency, as mine is set to turbo up to 4.5GHz if 1 core is being utilized, and go down to 4.3GHz if 3 or more are being used.

 

If you do switch to adaptive, you may be able to lower the voltage a bit because it will usually increase itself automatically if it needs it.