RAM can not be overclocked with ASUS Z170-AR

[george2005]

I have

ASUS Z170-AR
i7 6700k
G.SKILL TridentZ Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000)


Some of the Ai Tweaker Settings are:

AI Overclock Tuner: XMP
XMP: XMP DDR4-3000 15-15-15-35-1.35v
BLCK: Frequency: 100
CPU Core Ratio: Sync All Cores
1-Core Ratio Limit: 46
BLCK Frequency: DRAM Frequency Ratio: Auto
DRAM ODD Ratio Mode: Enabled
DRAM Frequency: DDR4-3000MHZ
CPU Core/Cache Voltage: offset mode
Offset mode sign: +
CPU Core Voltage Offset: Auto
DRAM Voltage: 1.3530

However, the CPU-Z shows CPU Core Voltage and speed keeps changing. Multiplier shows x dd.0 (8 - 46). Is that normal?

The memory page shows:
DRAM Frequency: 1066.0MHZ
FSB: DRAM: 1:16
Since I set the DRAM Frequency to DDR4-3000MHZ, shouldn't I see 1500MHZ in CPU-Z?

 

[mcnumpty23]

yes voltage and speed will keep changing--unless you disable all power saving features

yes you should see 1500mhz in cpuz memory section

did you set 3000mhz by enabling xmp in the bios?

 

[Multipack]

Yes you should see 1500Mhz RAM if XMP is enabled in BIOS. If not, it'll run at default 2133MHz. Did you manually OC RAM? Because it has XMP 1.35v in those stats.

The CPU multiplier will change based on load, but it shouldn't go lower than x8. If you put your power plan on Performance in Windows Power Options it should stay at 42 at stock, or 46 OC'd as it looks like you have done that too. You shouldn't have vCore set to auto if OCing tho.

 

[george2005]

I thought I already enabled XMP by setting AI Overclock Tuner to XMP. Is there any other place I need set?

 

[Multipack]

Do all overclocking in your BIOS. Software OCing is never a good idea. Just go into BIOS and turn on XMP. It's a simple one-click setting.

 

[george2005]

Could you please explain why I should not set vCore to auto in OC, and what voltage should I set? Thanks!

 

[george2005]

I did not do software OC. Those AI tweaker settings are in BIOS.

 

[Multipack]

Setting vCore to auto can cause dangerous spikes in voltage as your CPU requests too much (VID) of the PSU to sustain whatever clockspeed you set, and it's always recommended to use a fixed voltage with LLC offsets (to account for vdroops) when overclocking the CPU as otherwise it could go to any voltage, but it's dependent on the board, chip, UEFI firmware and other things really. The best thing to do would be to search around and see what a few others have done with your exact mobo and CPU.

And apologies for presuming you'd software OC'd.