Overclocking i5 6400

[Judd__]

I want to know how does turbo boosting work, and how to do it.
I have an Intel i5 6400 (2.7 gigahertz), said it could be boosted to 3.3 ghz.

 

[Zerk2012]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Boost

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Turbo boost is automatic. So you don't have to turn it on or anything.

 

[Dunlop0078]

As said above the cpu will automatically boost its clock to 3.3ghz when necessary and if temperatures allow.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

It used to be fairly straightforward and linear but Skylake added all kinds of dynamics to it. Dunlop0078 is right on in that it boosts based on need and temperatures.

 

[damric]

With the right board and BIOS you can crank it much harder than 3.3GHz.

http://overclocking.guide/intel-skylake-non-k-overclocking-bios-list/

 

[Zerk2012]

That list is from Dec 2015 and some of the boards come with newer BIOS that it will not let you roll back because the pressure Intel has put on them.

 

[TJ Hooker]

@Zerk2012 do you know of any confirmed cases where someone wasn't able to roll back to an older BIOS to over clock? Don't think I've ever seen any myself.

 

[elbert]

I suggest BLCK overclocking with your CPU. That should get you over 100Mhz increase. The boost isn't something that works on Skylake processor's.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

I suggest BLCK overclocking with your CPU. That should get you over 100Mhz increase. The boost isn't something that works on Skylake processor's.

I don't know what you're trying to say here but it makes little sense.

 

[elbert]

Typo BCLK overclocking. Raising the motherboard by about 3~4 to get a 100Mhz increase on the CPU.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10021/skylake-overclocking-regular-cpu-bclk-overclocking-is-being-removed
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asrock-non-z170-bclk-overclocking-motherboards,31362.html

 

[Deleted member 217926]

And you understand only a few motherboards with certain BIOS revisions allow this? Damric posted the list. Your own link is about the feature being removed.

The boost isn't something that works on Skylake processor's.

Implies Turbo doesn't work on Skylake? Also false.

Please keep your posts to threads where you can add something constructive. No need to confuse the OP with misinformation.

 

[Zerk2012]

@Zerk2012 do you know of any confirmed cases where someone wasn't able to roll back to an older BIOS to over clock? Don't think I've ever seen any myself.

I've seen it on these forums.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

There is a microcode update in later BIOS revisions that prevent rolling back to older BIOS revisions on some of the boards Damric listed just to prevent overclocking non K processors.

I don't follow it closely but I believe there are a couple of boards left you can overclock on. You need a Z170 chipset in all of the cases though and most people buying a locked processor are doing so because they're on a tight budget so Z170 isn't a first choice for most of them.

So while overclocking non K is still technically possible it's not that easy unless you set out from an enthusiast perspective and it's just something you want to try. For 99% of the people asking about new builds on this forum it might as well not exist.

 

[damric]

The list I posted is from 2015 but it is constantly updated. All of those BIOSes still work.

Greg Salazar did one last month on a Gigabyte board.

[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfiGJCUANbA"][/video]

I've updated and rolled back on my ASRock board.

The "Intel locked this down" articles were just click-bait bunk posted by people that are too ignorant to try. These BIOSes were always beta and overclocking has never been officially supported. DO IT.

 

[Judd__]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Boost

So I should just leave it ?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

You don't need to adjust anything. As said above Turbo is automatic. Sorry your thread got derailed.

Your CPU will dynamically adjust its frequency based on need and heat among other variables. It will even downclock itself lower when idle to save power. All totally normal behavior.