i5-4690K "refuses" to overclock

[DrDennis]

I have an ASUS Z87-PRO (latest bios update) and i5-4690K -- no matter what I do, it runs at 3501 MHz. I have built half a dozen overclock systems with never a problem, but this is driving me nuts. ASUS is no help at all. I have tried every combination of settings in the bios with no joy.

I am not using ASUS's AI Suite, just trying to overclock using advanced bios settings -- which should be simple. The bios lets me make changes (for example to each core multiplier) -- but nothing has any effect. I can may the system crash by running up BCLK, so it's not completely ignoring me. I just want a 43 multiplier and slightly enhanced voltage. I can't use the AI Suite since my OS is Linux.

Has anyone encountered this before or have any idea how to proceed? This system runs great as long you like 3501 MHz, but need (and paid for!) more. My intent was a 4300 MHz daily driver. PLEASE -- any clues or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Tradesman1]

Try raising the vCore (CPU voltage to 1.2 and raise the multiplier to 42 and see what it does

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Does your Linux distro have power saving features ? Even at 4.8 Ghz OC, the system sits at 0.8 Ghz unless ya put a load on it (when power saving is enabled).

On that board I would suggest starting with the following for 43 multiplier

1-Core Ratio Limit = 43
Max. CPU Cache Ratio = Auto
Min. CPU Cache Ratio = Auto
Fully Manual Mode = Disabled
Core Voltage = Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage = 1.225
Core Cache Voltage = Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Cache Voltage = Auto
Eventual CPU Input Voltage = 1.88
DRAM Voltage = Auto

 

[DrDennis]

I tried multiplier of 42 and CPU voltage of 1.2 -- the original problem persists, the system maxes at 3501 Mhz. I know what setting I'd like to use (this suggestions is about what I have been trying) -- but the problem is to get the BIOS to recognize the settings.

I also tried the longer list (from JackNaylorPE). I was able to set all except "Fully Manual Mode = Adaptive", I didn't find anything by this name. I did set the AI overclock tuner to Manual. This setting is a little odd -- the definitions say that when set to Manual, the core ratio and BCLK will be set automatically -- ??. There is no definition of auto, but it doesn't allow setting the core ratios, where Manual does.

The result was a max speed of 3517MHz showing in the BIOS, and a max of 3501 MHz from the OS. Both of these show the problem -- the BIOS accepts the settings, but they seem to have no effect. Apparently there needs to be something set to tell the BIOS to use the other settings (if that makes any sense). I 'll bet I've tried over 100 combinations at this point, all with the same result.

Has anyone encountered this with the ASUS Z87-PRO and the i5 4690K? Any other thoughts about how to proceed?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The result was a max speed of 3517MHz showing in the BIOS, and a max of 3501 MHz from the OS

Under what load ? The reason you are seeing 3500 instead of downclocking to 800 in OS I suspect is cause you used the Fully Manual Mode. You will need to place a load on the CPU .... the system won't apply the OC to sit their idle. Use RoG RB to apply a load and HWiNFO to monitor

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?43233-Realbench-v2-Discussion-Thread-Download-Links
http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

This may help ... not your board but Asus Z87 BIOS ... the settings in the images are not what i recommended for your OC (this was 44 CPU Multi / 44 Cache Multi)

I made Favorites (Rt click on setting to add to favorites page) page to make these settings more easily accessible ... See Image 1 below

AI Overclokc Tuner = XMP

1-Core Ratio Limit = 43 Image
Max. CPU Cache Ratio = Auto
Min. CPU Cache Ratio = Auto

Fully Manual Mode = Disabled
Core Voltage = Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage = 1.225
Core Cache Voltage = Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Cache Voltage = Auto

Eventual CPU Input Voltage = 1.88
DRAM Voltage = Auto

 

[DrDennis]

I've been using a multi-threaded complex document make that pegs all 4 core for 30 minutes as my load. It's the reason I built it in the fist place. Recall, it's a linux box so i can't run windows applications. I'll carefully step through the BIOS screens you sent (which are great, thanks!) -- and make sure I set everything exactly. If I still get no result, I'll get a windows license and run it in a VM and use your load and monitoring suggestions. I just hate to sink more money into this system, so I'll try my production workload first.

Thanks for your help.

 

[DrDennis]

I went through each item in your BIOS screens and set the same item in by BIOS. There were some differences but they seemed minor except perhaps I have no Fully manual Mode and no apparent counterpart.

All settings were accepted and the system restarted fine, no BSOD or heat problems (34 degrees!). However, under load, I get the same 3501 MHz. I loaded Win7 under virtualbox and ran HWiNFO32 with these results:

HWiNFO32 Version 5.22-2820

VM-W7-32 ------------------------------------------------------------------

[Current Computer]
Computer Brand Name: innotek GmbH VirtualBox
[Operating System]

Central Processor(s) ------------------------------------------------------

[CPU Unit Count]
Number Of Processor Packages (Physical): 1
Number Of Processors Cores: 1
Number Of Logical Processors: 1

Intel Core i5-4690K -------------------------------------------------------

[General Information]
Processor Name: Intel Core i5-4690K
Original Processor Frequency: 3500.0 MHz
Original Processor Frequency [MHz]: 3500
CPU ID: 000306C3
CPU Brand Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690K
CPU @ 3.50GHz
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Stepping: C0
CPU Code Name: Haswell-DT Refresh
CPU S-Spec: SR1QG
CPU Power Limits (Max): Power = Unlimited, Time = Unlimited
CPU Type: Production Unit
CPU Platform: Socket H3 (LGA1150)
Microcode Update Revision: 19
Number of CPU Cores: 4
Number of Logical CPUs: 4
[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 3800.0 MHz = 38 x 100.0 MHz [Locked]
CPU Current: 3500.0 MHz = 16 x 218.8 MHz @ 0.9731 V
Number of Overclocking Bins: 4
[Cache and TLB]
L1 Cache: Instruction: 4 x 32 KBytes,
Data: 4 x 32 KBytes
L2 Cache: Integrated: 4 x 256 KBytes
L3 Cache: 6 MBytes
Instruction TLB: 2MB/4MB Pages, Fully
associative, 8 entries
Data TLB: 4 KB Pages, 4-way set
associative, 64 entries

I haven't been able to run RealBench becuase it down;oads the 64-bit version and I need the 32-bit version. I'm not sure why that happens, but it's pretty easy to stress a 1-core VM so I'm not soo worried about it.

I'm more worried about the HWiNFO32 listing that shows turbe 3800 [locked] -- is this saying that I have a locked processor even though it is a 4690K?

Any help is much appreciated -- this is a tough one!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I've been using a multi-threaded complex document make that pegs all 4 core for 30 minutes as my load. It's the reason I built it in the fist place. Recall, it's a linux box so i can't run windows applications. I'll carefully step through the BIOS screens you sent (which are great, thanks!) -- and make sure I set everything exactly. If I still get no result, I'll get a windows license and run it in a VM and use your load and monitoring suggestions. I just hate to sink more money into this system, so I'll try my production workload first.

Thanks for your help.

The apps in the RealBench suite are usable in linux tho you seem to have a handle on Linux BM utilities. I usae RB on Windows as it covers the full gamut of the more modern instruction sets

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?43570-Regarding-RealBench-s-bundled-programs-and-licenses&s=7c181bc7c7f688f9e66276593cc06b2e

The subprograms included are:
GIMP (licensed under GPL)
Handbrake (licensed under GPL)
Blender (licensed under GPL)
7zip (licensed under LGPL)
VLC( (licensed under GPL)
Luxmark (licensed under GPL)

Fully Manual Mode may not appear unless one of the previous settings is exact ... or it may be a setting only available on Asus higher priced boards.

But from your HWiNFO printout it would appear that "something" has the CPU multiplier locked such that it is not allowing the CPU to use Turbo mode. Linux has fully supported SpeedStep since kernel 2.6

Did you start "from scratch" after seeing the images "All Settings to default" ? If overclocking settings are set to "Manual" and or other settings are disabled, this effectively prevents downclocking via Windows Power Saving features. I have no idea how / if these settings are affected in Linux.

Other than restoring everything to default and changing only those settings, I'm a bit stuck.

Where is the Ai Overclock Tuner, SpeedStep and Turbo mode setting ?

 

[DrDennis]

OK, I took your suggestion to set to defaults, and then ran HWiNFO32. The relevant portion is:

Intel Core i5-4690K -------------------------------------------------------

[General Information]
Processor Name: Intel Core i5-4690K
Original Processor Frequency: 3500.0 MHz
Original Processor Frequency [MHz]: 3500
CPU ID: 000306C3
CPU Brand Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690K CPU @ 3.50GHz
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Stepping: C0
CPU Code Name: Haswell-DT Refresh
CPU S-Spec: SR1QG
CPU Power Limits (Max): Power = Unlimited, Time = Unlimited
CPU Type: Production Unit
CPU Platform: Socket H3 (LGA1150)
Microcode Update Revision: 19
Number of CPU Cores: 4
Number of Logical CPUs: 4
[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 3800.0 MHz = 38 x 100.0 MHz [Locked]
CPU Current: 3500.0 MHz = 16 x 218.8 MHz @ 0.9731 V
Number of Overclocking Bins: 4
[Cache and TLB]
L1 Cache: Instruction: 4 x 32 KBytes, Data: 4 x 32 KBytes
L2 Cache: Integrated: 4 x 256 KBytes
L3 Cache: 6 MBytes
Instruction TLB: 2MB/4MB Pages, Fully associative, 8 entries
Data TLB: 4 KB Pages, 4-way set associative, 64 entries

Note that even the default show the odd reference to turbo being locked. Next I added only the changes from your screenshots. I took picture as well but I don't see how to post them. I changed (in Advanced mode):

Ai Overclock tuner to XMP
CPU Core Ratio to Sync All Cores
All (1 - 4) Core Ratio Limit to 42
DRAM Frequency to DDR3-1600MHz
CPU Core voltage to Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage to 1.25
Total Adaptive Mode CPU Core Voltage to 1.25
CPU Cache Voltage to Adaptive
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Cache Voltage to 1.25
Total Adaptive Mode CPU Cache Voltage to 1.25
DRAM Voltage to 1.50000

With these settings, I restarted and ran HWiNFO32 and again got:

Intel Core i5-4690K -------------------------------------------------------

[General Information]
Processor Name: Intel Core i5-4690K
Original Processor Frequency: 3500.0 MHz
Original Processor Frequency [MHz]: 3500
CPU ID: 000306C3
CPU Brand Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690K CPU @ 3.50GHz
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Stepping: C0
CPU Code Name: Haswell-DT Refresh
CPU S-Spec: SR1QG
CPU Power Limits (Max): Power = Unlimited, Time = Unlimited
CPU Type: Production Unit
CPU Platform: Socket H3 (LGA1150)
Microcode Update Revision: 19
Number of CPU Cores: 4
Number of Logical CPUs: 4
[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 3800.0 MHz = 38 x 100.0 MHz [Locked]
CPU Current: 3494.0 MHz = 16 x 218.4 MHz @ 0.9731 V
Number of Overclocking Bins: 4
[Cache and TLB]
L1 Cache: Instruction: 4 x 32 KBytes, Data: 4 x 32 KBytes
L2 Cache: Integrated: 4 x 256 KBytes
L3 Cache: 6 MBytes
Instruction TLB: 2MB/4MB Pages, Fully associative, 8 entries
Data TLB: 4 KB Pages, 4-way set associative, 64 entries

The settings "took" in the BIOS but appear to be completely ignored. I don't think tweaking voltage and multipliers is the answer -- since they seem to be locked. I need to figure out how to unlock them. What could be causing this? It's clearly a K chip.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I see that you are in the Info section and this is what mine say:

[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 800.0 MHz = 8 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 4500.0 MHz = 45 x 100.0 MHz [Unlocked]
CPU Current: 4499.9 MHz = 45 x 100.0 MHz @ 1.3212 V
Uncore Maximum: 4200.0 MHz = 42.00 x 100.0 MHz
Uncore Current: 4199.9 MHz = 42.00 x 100.0 MHz



Look at the following ... is everything "supported":

[IA Overclocking]
Voltage Offset: Supported
Voltage Override: Supported
Ratio Overclocking: Supported
Fused Ratio Limit: 80x
Voltage Mode: Adaptive
Voltage Offset: 0 mV
Target Voltage: 1320 mV
[GT Overclocking]
Voltage Offset: Supported
Voltage Override: Supported
Ratio Overclocking: Supported
Fused Ratio Limit: 57x
Voltage Mode: Adaptive
Voltage Offset: 0 mV

When you start up HWinFO, check the "sensors only" check box... when i do this all my cores are at 798.1 MHz. When I start ROG Real bench, everything pops up to 4500

 

[DrDennis]

Well, I guess with linux I am just out of luck. Running Windows under VirtualBox seems to block important information from HWiNFO32. I don't see the information from your list at all -- no Overclocking info at all, which I think is a function of the system board, which isn't visible at all inside VirtualBox.

So my next step is to install windows natively, which will take a little while. Then I can re-try HWiNFO and get a better listing. I can also load with RB. I suppose I could also try the AI Suite -- have any luck with that?

Please bear with me while I screw up my linux install trying to get Windows loaded ...

 

[DrDennis]

Well, it's all become clear now after a bit more testing. First I had to scare up a spare SSD and do an isolated install if Windows 7 (isolated to protect my linux images). After the typical run-around to find drivers, I set BIOS to default values and ran HWiNFO32. All was good as:

[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 800.0 MHz = 8 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 3900.0 MHz = 39 x 100.0 MHz [Unlocked]
CPU Current: 3597.8 MHz = 36 x 99.9 MHz @ 1.0024 V
Uncore Maximum: 3900.0 MHz = 39.00 x 100.0 MHz
Uncore Current: 3497.9 MHz = 35.00 x 99.9 MHz

The "locked" artifact is gone, and I realize now it was caused by VirtualBox, which controlled how much CPU is allocated to the VM . A quick reset of the BIOS to 42 multipliers and 1.25v and the next run of HWiNFO32 gave:

[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 800.0 MHz = 8 x 100.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3500.0 MHz = 35 x 100.0 MHz
CPU Turbo: 4200.0 MHz = 42 x 100.0 MHz [Unlocked]
CPU Current: 3699.9 MHz = 37 x 100.0 MHz @ 1.0270 V
Uncore Maximum: 3900.0 MHz = 39.00 x 100.0 MHz
Uncore Current: 3899.9 MHz = 39.00 x 100.0 MHz

First time I've ever seen anything except 3500!! Clearly, my OS was the culprit, since everything is as expected under Windows 7. I've now researched it further and discovered that under linux CPU frequency scaling is tightly controlled and based on the CPU type. Also many so-called monitoring functions simply quote the rated speed not the actual speed (or something like that).

I installed a set of overclocking tools from Intel and additional probe/sensor and now I can clearly see 4200 MHz under load. I also found out how to modify the frequency scaling governor for on demand, performance, power saving, and others. I can also set the steps used in scaling, including changing the top step from 3500 to 4200 (or whatever).

Thanks so much for all the help -- you hit the nail on the head asking me to use different tools and asking about power saving feature of the OS. Now I can finally tweak the settings to get a boost in "daily" speed.