System Reporting Higher CPU Frequency, But I Didn't OC

[beaches07]

My system is running an intel i5-6600k processor with an MSI Z170A Krait Gaming motherboard and 16GB of 2400MHz Corsair Vengeance RAM. When I finally had everything put together I powered on the computer and was taken to the BIOS setup. Everything was as it should be with the CPU running at 3.5GHz and the RAM running at 2133MHz. About 3 days later I used CPUz to check the system's current state and it was reporting a CPU freq. of ~4.0GHz. That didn't make any sense to me because I hadn't fooled around with any BIOS settings. I also ran HWmonitor to get a second reading and it reported 4.0GHz as well. I then went into the BIOS setup again and saw that the CPU freq. had indeed changed from 3.5GHz to 4.0GHz. Not only that but the RAM freq. was at 2400MHz. I'm not sure what to make of this.

Also, between the time I first saw the BIOS setup and the time I checked to verify what CPUz and HWmonitor were telling me, the computer suffered 2 seemingly random blue screens.

What could the problem be?

 

[AUnlikelyPotatoe]

Hmmm, dunno :-/ but is it hindering your performance?

 

[k1114]

Something hit the auto oc. It's a good chance the bsods were from it.

 

[johnbl]

I think the turboboost would kick it up to 3.9 GHz
Max turbo frequency is the maximum single core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
http://ark.intel.com/products/88191/Intel-Core-i5-6600K-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz

maybe you have a overclocking driver currently installed.

 

[beaches07]

Something hit the auto oc. It's a good chance the bsods were from it.

OK, under the OC settings in the UEFI interface an option called "Game Boost" had been activated. I disabled it and the cpu/ram parameters (freq., ratio, voltage...) went back to normal. Thanks for the help you guys.