Overclocking questions

[pmf026]

What's max (safe) cache ratio, cache voltage and system agent voltage? What would it be?

 

Oh and what's CPU VCCIO voltage?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Iron Knickers]

Cache ratio is the memory clock, I don't touch this as it makes no real difference in performance. Cache voltage on auto as well. 

 

System agent voltage I keep on auto too, I don't think system agent does much for OC'ing either.

 

CPU VCCIO voltage is memory controller voltage, and I keep this on auto too.

 

TBH I heard somewhere that none of these things should be really touched unless you really want to tweak your CPU, because they don't make a huge difference, but this likely depends on the cpu and mobo you have. 

[Imakuni]

2 hours ago, Iron Knickers said:

Cache ratio is the memory clock, I don't touch this as it makes no real difference in performance. Cache voltage on auto as well. 

Wrong. Memory clock is Memory clock, not Cache Ratio. Cache Ratio is the multiplier for (you guessed it) the cache, much like you have a multiplier for the CPU core.

 

Note: Gigabyte calls this Uncore, because let's be different than everyone else and make things confusing.

2 hours ago, Iron Knickers said:

System agent voltage I keep on auto too, I don't think system agent does much for OC'ing either.

Can help stabilize RAM OCs, along with VCCIO.

[Iron Knickers]

3 hours ago, Imakuni said:

Wrong. Memory clock is Memory clock, not Cache Ratio. Cache Ratio is the multiplier for (you guessed it) the cache, much like you have a multiplier for the CPU core.

 

Note: Gigabyte calls this Uncore, because let's be different than everyone else and make things confusing.

Can help stabilize RAM OCs, along with VCCIO.

o

[pmf026]

10 hours ago, Imakuni said:

Wrong. Memory clock is Memory clock, not Cache Ratio. Cache Ratio is the multiplier for (you guessed it) the cache, much like you have a multiplier for the CPU core.

 

Note: Gigabyte calls this Uncore, because let's be different than everyone else and make things confusing.

Can help stabilize RAM OCs, along with VCCIO.

Uncore is what Intel calls it, not Gigabyte or Asus.

 

So, if my vcore is 1.20v and ram is xmp-2666 which is also 1.2v profile, shall I drop "cpu vccio voltage" a little, say by 0.03-0.05v ? Because in bios it says "the default is 1.05v" and at 1.05v my system is unstable, even at 1.15v it is. I leave it on auto and it's 1.212-1.237v (when set manually, bios marks it red as critical.. should I worry?) is it because im using xmp profile? Just trying to understand what's what here. Perhaps I should've posted my current settings

 

[Imakuni]

35 minutes ago, pmf026 said:

Uncore is what Intel calls it, not Gigabyte or Asus.

I mean in the bios settings. As far as I know, everyone but Gigabyte calls the setting "cache".

37 minutes ago, pmf026 said:

So, if my vcore is 1.20v and ram is xmp-2666 which is also 1.2v profile, shall I drop "cpu vccio voltage" a little, say by 0.03-0.05v ? Because in bios it says "the default is 1.05v" and at 1.05v my system is unstable, even at 1.15v it is. I leave it on auto and it's 1.212-1.237v (when set manually, bios marks it red as critical.. should I worry?) is it because im using xmp profile? Just trying to understand what's what here.

Aren't you forgetting to tell us something... say, which generation of CPU is it? It makes A LOT of difference.

38 minutes ago, pmf026 said:

Perhaps I should've posted my current setting

Oh. So you didn't forget to do that, you were just wondering if that was important info or not. Well, let me tell you this: it is 

[pmf026]

the cpu is i7-6850K (Broadwell), 2011-3

[pmf026]

Ok guys, here's my current config and settings.

 

MB: Asus X99E-WS (BIOS ver.3201, EC1 ver. MBEC-X99-0426, EC2 ver. RGE2-X99-0206)

CPU: i7-6850K 3.6GHz + Noctua NH-D15

RAM: 4x4 Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 XMP 2.0 (15-15-15-36 1.2v, XMP#1 (current one, 2666) - 15-17-17-35, 1.2v, XMP#2 (2888) - 15-17-17-37, 1.35v)

GPU: EVGA GTX1080 SC ACX3.0

SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB, 4xWD RE3 1TB in two RAID-0, 1xWD RE4 1TB (had to sacrifice RAID-5 since it was too slow and too hot)

---

ok now the settings for 4GHz @ 32°C idle, 60°C load. (ambient 25°c)

 

Ai Overclock Tuner: XMP

XMP: Profile #1 2666-15-17-17-35, 1.2V

// since I'm not overclocking by BCLK, I'm using defaults here

CPU Strap: 100MHz

Source Clock Tuner: 6 Ohm dbl

PLL Selection: LC PLL

Filter PLL: Low BCLK Mode

BCLK Frequency: 100.0

Initial BCLK Frequency: 100.0

--

ASUS MultiCore Enhancement: Auto

CPU Core Ratio: Sync All Cores, Multiplier: 40

AVX Ratio Negative Offset: 4 (yes, to stock 3.6GHz)

Min and Max CPU Cache Ratio: 31

BCLK:DRAM ratio: 100:133 (1:20)

DRAM Frequency: 2666MHz

TPU: TPU-I

EPU Power Saving: Disabled

---

Overclocking

---

Fully Manual Mode: Disabled (until I know all default voltages and absolute Min/Max)

CPU Core Voltage: Adaptive Mode

Offset Mode Sign: +

CPU Core Voltage Offset: 0.025

Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage: 1.175V

Total Adaptive Mode CPU Core Voltage: 1.200V

CPU Cache Voltage: Manual Mode

CPU Cache Voltage Override: 0.995V (nominal value is 0.950V)

CPU SA Voltage Offset Mode Sign: +

CPU SA Voltage Offset: Auto (Override is possible when 'Fully Manual Mode' is Enabled)

CPU SVID Support: Disabled

CPU Input Voltage (VCCIN): 1.950V (nominal value 1.82V)

DRAM SVID Support: Disabled

DRAM Voltage (AB,CD): 1.2V

PCH Core Voltage: 1.05V

PCH I/O Voltage: 1.05V

VCCIO CPU 1.05V Voltage: 1.05V (when set to Auto, motherboard ramps this up by 0.2-0.3V)

VCCIO PCH 1.05V Voltage: 1.05V

VTTDDR Voltage (AB,CD): 0.6V (Half DRAM Voltage)

PLL Termination Voltage: Auto

PLL Reference Offset Mode Sign: +

PLL Reference Offset Value: Auto

---

"Tweaker's Paradise"

---

PLL Post Divider Adjust: Auto

Internal PLL Voltage Prefix: +

Internal PLL Voltage Step Adjustment: Auto

VCCU Voltage Offset Prefix: +

VCCU Voltage Offset: Auto

 

VCCIN Min/Max here ?

CPU Input Boot Voltage: 1.470V (VCCIN Min)

CPU Input Eventual Voltage: 1.950V*

 

*According to datasheet VCCINmax is 1.850V, but the system fails to boot. This is weird actually, when I turn off my PC when going to bed, and the next day I power it on.. Windows fails at boot (just once). I hit reset button and everything is fine from here.    1.85V is normal operating voltage, there was a bug in the bios which has been fixed .

 

---

External Digi+ Power Control

---

CPU Load-Line calibration: 9

CPU VRM Switching Frequency: Manual, 300 KHz

CPU Power Phase Control: Optimized

CPU Power Duty Control: T.Probe (setting 'Extreme' here, is more stable)

CPU Current Capability: 110%

CPU Power Thermal Control: 115

DRAM Current Capability (ABCD): 100%

DRAM Switching Frequency: Manual, 500 KHz

DRAM Power Phase Control: Optimized

---

CPU Configuration

---

HT [All]: Enabled

Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor: Enabled

Limit CPUID Max: Disabled

EDB: Enabled

Virtualization Tech (Vanderpool): Enabled

Hardware Prefetcher: Enabled

Adjacent Cache Line Prefetcher: Enabled

Boot Performance: Max Performance

Maximum CPU Core Temp (Tjmax?): 80°c

 

well, I think that's all related to overclocking.

 

Let me know if I miss/overlooked anything or if anything requires adjustments.

[pmf026]

12.16.2016 update, fresh BIOS (ver. 3402)

 

 

So, I pushed it a little further... 4.2GHz (100x42), 3.8GHz AVX, 3.2GHz Uncore

24/7 stable. 28°C idle / 60°C load (Noctua NH-D15)

 

More tweaking and fine tuning...

Ai Overclock Tuner [XMP]
XMP [XMP DDR4-2800 15-17-17-37-1.35V]
CPU Strap [100MHz]
Source Clock Tuner [6Ohm dbl]
PLL Selection [LC PLL]
Filter PLL [Low BCLK Mode]
BCLK Frequency [100.0]
Initial BCLK Frequency [100.0]
ASUS MultiCore Enhancement [Auto]
CPU Core Ratio [Auto]
AVX Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset [4] ### Pushing AVX to 3800 MHz (+8-10°C heat)
Min. CPU Cache Ratio [32] ### 31 -> 32 just to make multitasking less laggy each step requires +0.13V to cache voltage,
Max. CPU Cache Ratio [32] ### 31 -> 32 OC'ing this will produce more heat and it has no impact on gaming performance.

Internal PLL Overvoltage [Disabled]
BCLK Frequency : DRAM Frequency Ratio [100:100]
DRAM Frequency [DDR4-2800MHz]
TPU [TPU I]
EPU Power Saving Mode [Disabled]
Extreme Over-voltage [Disabled]
Fully Manual Mode [Disabled]
CPU Core Voltage [Adaptive Mode]
Offset Mode Sign [+]
CPU Core Voltage Offset [Auto]
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage [1.250]
CPU Cache Voltage [Manual Mode]
CPU Cache Voltage Override [1.152] ## 1.02V if cache x31
CPU System Agent Voltage Offset Mode Sign [+]
CPU System Agent Voltage Offset [0.300] # ~1.272V
CPU SVID Support [Disabled]
CPU Input Voltage [1.950]
DRAM SVID Support [Disabled]
DRAM Voltage(CHA, CHB) [1.350]
DRAM Voltage(CHC, CHD) [1.350]
PCH Core Voltage [1.05000]
PCH I/O Voltage [1.50000]
VCCIO CPU 1.05V Voltage [1.23125]
VCCIO PCH 1.05V Voltage [1.05000]
VTTDDR Voltage(CHA, CHB) [0.67500]
VTTDDR Voltage(CHC, CHD) [0.67500]
PLL Termination Voltage [1.348748]
PLL Reference Offset Mode Sign [+]
PLL Reference Offset Value [Auto]
CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled]

--

more settings

CPU Load-line Calibration [Level 7]
CPU VRM Switching Frequency [Manual]
Fixed CPU VRM Switching Frequency(KHz) [350]
CPU Power Phase Control [Power Phase Response]
Power Phase Response [Ultra Fast]
CPU Power Duty Control [T.Probe]
CPU Current Capability [120%]
CPU Power Thermal Control [115]
DRAM Current Capability(CHA, CHB) [120%]
DRAM Current Capability(CHC, CHD) [120%]
DRAM Switching Frequency(CHA, CHB) [Manual]
Fixed DRAM-AB Switching Frequency(KHz) [550]
DRAM Switching Frequency(CHC, CHD) [Manual]
Fixed DRAM-CD Switching Frequency(KHz) [550]
DRAM Power Phase Control(CHA, CHB) [Standard]
DRAM Power Phase Control(CHC, CHD) [Standard]
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology [Enabled]
Turbo Mode [Enabled]
Long Duration Package Power Limit [140]
Package Power Time Window [1]
Short Duration Package Power Limit [175]
CPU Integrated VR Current Limit [255.000]
CPU Integrated VR Fault Management [Disabled]
CPU Integrated VR Efficiency Management [Balanced]

 

 

I know now why ASUS recommends using PCIEx16_1 for single card setup. I'm using slot 3, and my card's radiator is right above radiator, well.. heat is being shared between card and chipset. Too bad I can't use slot_1, it won't fit (big ass cpu cooler).

 

ps: Getting to know your new system is quite amusing, I must say)