Overclocking Ivy on MSI Z77

[thenewoc]

Hi

Just got my system built using an MSI Z77A-GD65 and wondered if anyone was familiar with these OC settings in MSI Click BIOS II please? I've updated the BIOS to the latest (10.5 / A50).

Using the following with this mobo, Intel i5 3570K, Phanteks PH-TC14PE, Samsung Green DDR3 8GB, Corsair AX850, Intel 520 Series SSD 180GB. Running Windows 8 RP.

Just on Intel HD4000 gfx at the moment, just holding off on a card for as long as I can, to see what GTX660 and 685 will be like. Also no HDD at the moment as its in the old system, got files to take care of before moving it across.

I've downloaded a number of utilities, but haven't OC'd before so not familiar with any of this.

This is what I've downloaded / installed;

Prime95 v27.7
Core Temp 1.0 RC3
RealTemp 3.70
CPU-Z 1.61.3
CineBench R11.5

I'm fairly sure CPU-Z was showing;

Core Speed 3400.00 MHz
Multiplier x 34.0

but is now showing
Core Speed 1600.00 Mhz
Multiplier x 16.0

My temp max's (C) are;

38, 44, 38, 45


As of the current BIOS version this is what is available in the OC section. Items in Italic seem to be informational titles or locked / conditional on another item being changed. Bolded items are menu items that drill down to a further page. Values in brackets are other available options, the value preceding bracket values, is the current value. If there is only an option to change a value to the opposite of its current value then I've only shown the current value.


Current CPU Frequency # 100 x 34 MHz
Current DRAM Frequency # 1600 Mhz

CPU Base Frequency [10KHz] # 10000
Adjust CPU Ratio # Auto (16 through to 63)

Adjusted CPU Frequency # 3400.00 MHz

Adjusted CPU Ratio in OS # Disabled
Internal PLL Overvoltage # Auto (Disabled, Enabled)
EIST # Enabled
Intel Turbo Boost # Enabled
Enhanced Turbo # Disabled
OC Genie Function Control # By Onboard Button (By BIOS Options)
My OC Genie # Default (Customize)
DRAM Reference Clock # Auto (200 MHz, 266 MHz)
DRAM Frequency # Auto (DDR3-800, 1066, 1333, 1400, 1600, 1800, 1866, 2000, 2133, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2666, 2800, 2933 Mhz)

Adjusted DRAM Frequency # 1600 Mhz

DRAM Timing Mode # Auto (Link, Unlink)

Advanced DRAM Configuration

GT Overclocking # Enabled
GT Ratio # 23

Adjusted GT Frequency # 1150 MHz

Spread Spectrum # Disabled
Vdroop Offset Control # Auto (+12.5%, +25%, +37.5%, +50%, +62.5%, +75%, +87.5%, +100%)

Digital Compensation Level # Auto (High)
CPU Core OCP Expander # Default (Enhanced)
CPU Core Engine Speed # Auto (1.5x, 2x)

CPU Core Voltage # Auto
Current CPU Core Voltage # 1.066 V
CPU I/O Voltage # Auto
Current CPU I/O Voltage # 1.048 V
DRAM Voltage # Auto
Current DRAM Voltage # 1.338 V
GPU Voltage # Auto
Current GPU Voltage # 0.000 V
System Agent Voltage (SA) # Auto
CPU PLL Voltage # Auto
DDR_VREF_CA_A # Auto
DDR_VREF_CA_B # Auto
DDR_VREF_DA_A # Auto
DDR_VREF_DA_B # Auto
PCH 1.05 # Auto

Overclocking Profiles
CPU Specs
Memory-Z

CPU Features
Active Processor Cores # All (1,2,3)
Limit CPUID Max # Disabled
Execute Disabled Bit # Enabled
Intel Virtualization Tech # Enabled

Intel VT-D Tech # Disabled

Power Technology # Custom (Disable, Energy Efficient)
C1E Support # Disabled
OverSpeed Protection # Enabled
Intel C-State # Enabled
Package C State Limit # Auto (C0, C2, C6, No Limit)
Long Duration Power Limit (W) # 77
Long Duration Maintained (S) # 1
Short Duration Power Limit (W) # 96
Primary Plane Current Limit (A) # 1024
Secondary Plane Current Limit (A) # 50
Primary Plane Turbo Power Limit (W) # 0
Secondary Plane Turbo Power Limit (W) # 0
1-Core Ratio Limit # 38
2-Core Ratio Limit # 38
3-Core Ratio Limit # 37
4-Core Ratio Limit # 36

 

[thenewoc]

Having found someone on youtube with a 2600k and an MSI P67A-GD65, I've used that as a starting point.

The only difference with his OC settings to mine, which I've now changed to match is;

C1E Support # Enabled
1-Core Ratio Limit # 42
2-Core Ratio Limit # 42
3-Core Ratio Limit # 42
4-Core Ratio Limit # 42

I know this isn't a particular taxing OC, just seeing how temps perform.

This ramps up the CPU to 4.2 GHz but only when under load which I like, dropping back to 1.6 GHz on idle.

Going to test for 30 mins now to see what temps I get...

 

[thenewoc]

So then, after half an hour of prime95 I get the following max temps (C);

57, 67, 64, 66

Is it normal to have a large variance between core temps?

I don't have a thermometer to test room temperature but weather forecast is 26 C here today.

Just wondered what experienced OC'ers think of these temps as my first time doing this.

 

[thenewoc]

 

[MonsterMoshi]

One thing which may help is that you can take screenshots from the BIOS on the GD65 using the camera button in the top right I think so that may help

On this board when your not doing anything extreme then all you need to adjust is the core multiplier so for example
40=4.0GHz
42=4.2GHZ
45=4.5GHz
.....
You would then just leave the voltage on auto when your keeping the overclock <4.5GHz I would say.
The variation with the frequency in CPU-Z you mention in the first post is Intel speedstep. This essentially reduces the core clock when it's not doing so much work to save energy. This can be disabled but there is no point really.

Those temps are expected on a day like today
Your computer will never really get to this usage when playing games or normal usage unless you may be into folding or various other distributed projects.

Just keep temps <80°C and you'll be fine for continuous usage so you can up the clock a little more

 

[thenewoc]

Hi MonsterMoshi,

Thanks for the info.

I keep forgetting about screenshots in the bios, is so different from the 12 year old sys I'm coming from.

Do you mean adjust core multiplier using "Adjust CPU Ratio" towards the top of the OC screen settings? I've got that on Auto at the moment and upped the Core Ratio Limit settings for each core at the end of the CPU Features screen.

You didn't think my core 0 being 10 degrees cooler than other cores was a concern then?

First time fitting a cooler, used a pea size of Phanteks TIM. From what I've read it seems these coolers work better when under pressure, but thought the core temps would be more consistent across the cores?

Trying 4.4 now, if it gets too toasty I'll abort Prime.

 

[MonsterMoshi]

They both do the same job but your proably best to use the "Adjust CPU ratio" as it kinda simplifys things. Essentially the CPU ratio is multiplied by the base clock which is the option above that which gives you the frequency. You don't need to touch the base clock as that can sometimes cause problems and is not nessecery.

Core tempretures always vary and I don't think the way you fitted your cooler would have made any difference to that.

 

[thenewoc]

That sounds cool.

1st attempt at 4.4 GHz failed after 14 mins on a rounding error on worker #3, although observed temperatures weren't the leap I'd been expecting.

2nd attempt at 4.4 GHz managed just over 30 mins before I stopped Prime. I was able to get 4.2 using OC Genie so a little ahead on that now, although would have to see how longer testing faired.

 

[thenewoc]

Hi All,

Been doing some more OC'ing, this time to 4.6GHz.

The good news is this is the first time I've achieved a fairly high OC that seems as though it could run stable. Initially I do half hour of the latest P95 on small FFS, but now know this is easier to achieve than no WHEA warnings in the Windows Event Viewer. This is the first time at this OC of not having the WHEA warnings.

I'm not sure if there's a better way to achieve this though as I notice on idle the CPU still ramps up to 4.6GHz even though load is only fluctuating between 0 and 3%.

As I'm new to OC'ing I wondered if anyone can see anything I could do better?

Here's my BIOS OC screens followed by some test results from last night.

 

[jcr]

just got the same cpu and mb myself. thanks for the read.
have just used oc genie so far which has put the chip on 4.2.

 

[MADMAN]

nice temps i like msi, they seem to have done an excellent job with there boards lately.

 

[OptimaLnrg]

How's this looking? I'm new to o/cing tbh.

In particular I was wondering it the CPU VTT (called I/O here) is a little too high? stock is 1.050 iirc but wasn't stable.

Edit: sorry misread threads title, LOL. I'll leave this up anyway.

 

[thenewoc]

Hi, no worries, feel free to add your own msi z77 / ivy oc's too. Didn't seem to me reading the threads that many people had made this combo choice, but I like the black pcb and the expansion slot layout gives extra room between sli gfx cards if choosing dual slot cards.

Even googling I couldn't find much on msi's latest bios and the mobo manual doesn't really explain oc'ing.

Gone back to 4.3 at the moment as I like vcore on auto so it falls back to 1.6 on low volts on idle.

Bit miffed with cooling as it doesn't really warrant an expensive cooler but will come in handy if I later
de-lid or whatever the next cpu I upgrade to.

Definitely recommend kitting out case with pwm fans though and using SpeedFan to automate the cooling. No need to go full pelt with fans cos heat not transferring to cooler, may as well opt for greater quietness. Cooler and case fans running about 900 - 1000 rpm under load and less than half that on idle.

Coming up to 12 hours stable on prime blend but this time I've got mem running at 2133 MHz.

When I was on 4.6 the cpu seemed more twitchy, not seeming to settle back to lower speed. I might tweak the 4.6 to remove speedstep and have it as an oc profile to switch to if it gives an extra edge when testing out some gaming.

 

[OptimaLnrg]

^ I'm running sandy, that was my misread haha

I'm running the same volts as I did on my maximus iv extreme-z, except I've had to up the VTT a little as I've moved to 16gb ram

 

[thenewoc]

No worries Optima, what I've managed so far has been based on peoples SB tweaking on msi z68, still learning here too so soz I don't know the answer to your question.