Very strange Overclock behavior with 5820k and Asus X99 Deluxe

[BaloErets]

Greetings and Salutations,

For reference;
5 way optimization; Overclock done in windows using ASUS AI Suite 3. Settings are applied to BIOS on reboot)
TPU; Changes are saved to a profile in windows, but not stored in bios. Profile has to be loaded each time window boots
BIOS; Classic overclock in BIOS


I've been a long time reader on this forum, and although I consider myself pretty tech-savvy, this is the 1st time I have ever felt inclined to write a post about the strangest issue I have been having.

Any manual change I make in the BIOS during overclocking causes a BSOD. No matter if it is raising or lowering stock voltages, over or underclocking 1 of the 6 cores. I've even tried switching only the manual core ratio, and dialing in the system non-turbo defaults, and still a BSOD.

However, if I use the 5 way optimization, there are no issues whatsoever, and the system boots with no issues.

I have even tried allowing the 5 way optimization do its thing, and then reboot into the bios and bring each core down by 1, and without fail, I will get a BSOD.

Perhaps I should just be happy with the 5 way Optimization overclock, but it uses a very aggressive core voltage, and I have been able to reduce it from 1.25v to 1.1v using TPU. I've tested this setup with a stress test running for 24 hours and had zero issues. It would be nice to apply this in the BIOS, but at the moment this is impossible.

BIOS has been flashed to latest version.

Anyone facing similar issues, or have any idea what might be going on? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Kenrou]

Shot in the dark here, might it not just be the BIOS settings conflicting with the ASUS app ? I mean u change settings in BIOS and then the app overlaps them when u boot or try to change them in Windows causing the BSOD ? or does it happen when u are inside BIOS and try to change anything ?

 

[BaloErets]

Shot in the dark here, might it not just be the BIOS settings conflicting with the ASUS app ? I mean u change settings in BIOS and then the app overlaps them when u boot or try to change them in Windows causing the BSOD ? or does it happen when u are inside BIOS and try to change anything ?

The BSOD is occurring only while windows 7 is loading, and judging by my boot-up times, it's just at the point where normally the desktop starts to load.

I'm going to try uninstalling the AI suite, and see what happens. I didn't think of this possibility at all, and I thank you for pointing it out.

I'll be honest that although I would like to get this issue resolved, I am hoping that this is not the problem. I hold a high confidence in ASUS, and would be very disappointed to see such a glaringly obvious conflict overlooked.

Thanks again for your advice. I'll update with the results.

 

[BaloErets]

So I can confirm that the AI Suite 3 is not conflicting. I'm getting the same behavior as I was when it was installed. Some interesting things to note as well;

1. Uninstalled everything ASUS utility-related on my system. Also ran the cleaner that removes the services that do not get removed during the uninstall.
2. Went into BIOS and loaded defaults.
3. Booted to windows. Ran AIDA64 stress test. Interesting thing happened here. CPU never went into turbo, and stayed consistantly at 3.3 the entire time (as opposed to normally boosting to 3.6 in turbo)
4. Went into BIOS, checked that turbo was both on, and confirmed that expected turbo speed was 3.6
5. Booted back into windows, tried step 3 again, with the same results.
6. Decided to give a try to a BIOS change to see if I would still get the BSOD
7. Setting all cores to 3.4 = BSOD
8. Setting all cores to 3.2 = BSOD
9. Setting 1 core to 3.2 and others to 3.3 = BSOD
10. Load defaults and boot into windows no problem.

And unrelated, but interesting sidenote; I created a restore point just before uninstalling AI Suite 3, with the intentions of doing a restore in case it wasn't the problem. When you get to the uninstall menu, you get a choice of about 15 different applications that you can uninstall. I selected them all, as I wanted to remove all ASUS utility-related software, just to be certain that there were no conflicts. Concequencially, windows made a restore point for each of the appllications being removed, and thus erased the original restore point I had made manually (and yes, I did click "show more restore points).

Guess it's time to get ASUS support on the telephone 🙁

 

[tkhsda]

Same issues I have with my x79-deluxe and 4930k I got the asus run around even after rma that it was my board's fault and it still does it to this day. I just use the software and avoid their products now. I've reinstalled windows at least 6 times (a few times bc I also had issues using bt + wifi and asus recommended it. 3 rma later still not fixed)

 

[pluke the 2]

So I can confirm that the AI Suite 3 is not conflicting. I'm getting the same behavior as I was when it was installed. Some interesting things to note as well;

1. Uninstalled everything ASUS utility-related on my system. Also ran the cleaner that removes the services that do not get removed during the uninstall.
2. Went into BIOS and loaded defaults.
3. Booted to windows. Ran AIDA64 stress test. Interesting thing happened here. CPU never went into turbo, and stayed consistantly at 3.3 the entire time (as opposed to normally boosting to 3.6 in turbo)
4. Went into BIOS, checked that turbo was both on, and confirmed that expected turbo speed was 3.6
5. Booted back into windows, tried step 3 again, with the same results.
6. Decided to give a try to a BIOS change to see if I would still get the BSOD
7. Setting all cores to 3.4 = BSOD
8. Setting all cores to 3.2 = BSOD
9. Setting 1 core to 3.2 and others to 3.3 = BSOD
10. Load defaults and boot into windows no problem.

And unrelated, but interesting sidenote; I created a restore point just before uninstalling AI Suite 3, with the intentions of doing a restore in case it wasn't the problem. When you get to the uninstall menu, you get a choice of about 15 different applications that you can uninstall. I selected them all, as I wanted to remove all ASUS utility-related software, just to be certain that there were no conflicts. Concequencially, windows made a restore point for each of the appllications being removed, and thus erased the original restore point I had made manually (and yes, I did click "show more restore points).

Guess it's time to get ASUS support on the telephone 🙁

Don't worry. I went thru 4 different motherboards, memorys, cpus, to find a solution.

And the amount of time and $$$$ i've wasted on this X99 platform.

Here is my suggestion which solved my issue exactly as you have above.

Try another BIOS version. Start with the newest and work backwards.