Quick explanation of what the "K" in intel CPU's mean

[DannyDem]

I did some research and I pretty much know that it means the CPU is unlocked and easier to overclock but what exactly does that mean? 

[Levent]

unlocKed.

[comicsansms]

It has an Unlocked multiplier.

In simple, it means it is easy to OC and you'll get higher OCs with an unlocked CPU!

[comicsansms]

unlocKed.

Read the question.

Don't be a camper!

[Levent]

Read the question.

Don't be a camper!

one of us is wrong, either he is asking the meaning of K or wants to know what is overclocking.

[Glenwing]

In the BIOS there is a setting you can change called the multiplier which can let you easily change the CPU frequency (the "GHz"). A K-series CPU lets you change this number, on non-K CPUs you are not allowed to change the multiplier, it is stuck at default. You can also overclock using what's called the base clock, or BCLK, which you can change on both K-series or non-K CPUs, but this does not allow you to overclock very much because you cannot change the base clock by more than a small amount before the overclock becomes unstable. Overclocking with the multiplier lets you achieve much higher overclocks.

[blu4]

K stands for Overlock . In a nutshell the K has got an unlocked multiplier and the non-K hasn't.

[Altecice]

In the BIOS there is a setting you can change called the multiplier which can let you easily change the CPU frequency (the "GHz"). A K-series CPU lets you change this number, on non-K CPUs you are not allowed to change the multiplier, it is stuck at default. You can also overclock using what's called the base clock, or BCLK, which you can change on both K-series or non-K CPUs, but this does not allow you to overclock very much because you cannot change the base clock by more than a small amount before the overclock becomes unstable. Overclocking with the multiplier lets you achieve much higher overclocks.

 

It is worth pointing out that a lot of system components and buses get their value based on the BCLK clock. For example your PCI lane speed is directly based on the BCLK so any changes from the default 100 will impact the lane speed and can cause your graphics card drivers to crash.

 

This is why its reccomended to not BCLK overclock.

[DannyDem]

In the BIOS there is a setting you can change called the multiplier which can let you easily change the CPU frequency (the "GHz"). A K-series CPU lets you change this number, on non-K CPUs you are not allowed to change the multiplier, it is stuck at default. You can also overclock using what's called the base clock, or BCLK, which you can change on both K-series or non-K CPUs, but this does not allow you to overclock very much because you cannot change the base clock by more than a small amount before the overclock becomes unstable. Overclocking with the multiplier lets you achieve much higher overclocks.

i see, so lets say I buy a 6700k but instead of having a z170 chipset mobo I have a B150 which doesnt let me use the multiplier... how much would I be able to oc it? Im not really into oc, just asking out of curiosity

[Cheddle]

"K" have an partially unlocked cpu ratio multiplier. Something like 64x or so.

"X" have a fully unlocked multiplier.

99.9% of chips wont see the "K" multiplier limit but it's still worth knowing that there is a limit even on "unlocked" chips

** might not be 64 but its less than 80 for shuree

[gt403cyl]

i see, so lets say I buy a 6700k but instead of having a z170 chipset mobo I have a B150 which doesnt let me use the multiplier... how much would I be able to oc it? Im not really into oc, just asking out of curiosity

To overclock the 6700k you need the Z170 chipset.

CPU's: "K" = overclock

Motherboards: "Z" = overclock

 

At least for Intel's setup.

CPU/MotherBoard: "X"  is the "extreme" lineup which are also overclock ready.

 

There is no way to tell how it will overclock, it's a trial and error thing (silicon lottery)

[gt403cyl]

double post