ROG Overclocking Guide Core For 5960X, 5930K & 5280K

ROG Overclocking Guide Core For 5960X, 5930K & 5280K
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ROG Overclocking Guide For Core i7 5960X, 5930K & 5820K

OV ERCLOCKING | RAMPAGE MO TH E RBOA RD S 07 OCT, 2014
179 , 7 4 1 V I E W S W R I T T E N B Y R O G
U SA
The big question for many enthusiasts contemplating the X99 upgrade is, how well does Haswell-E overclock compared to previous gen processors? Well
be answering this question together with how to overclock the processor in this guide.
Frequency Expectations
In our testing to date, the average overclocked frequency for 5960X processors is 4.5GHz. Very good processorswill achieve 4.6GHz fully stable with less
than 1.30Vcore. Lesser samples achieve 4.4GHz with the same voltage:
CPU | Frequency | Voltage
5960X | 4.6GHz | 1.30V = Good Result
5960X | 4.5GHz | 1.30V = Average Result
5960X | 4.4GHz | 1.30V = Fair Result
Overall for the 5960X were looking at around 100MHz lower than the (Ivy-E) 4960X, but with two extra cores in tow, which ismore than respectable.
For those of you wondering about the K parts. They are easier to OC on air and water due to having fewer cores, thus less heat to contend with and
higher voltages are possible. The end result is the possibility of overclocking the 6-core K series CPUs 100~200MHz higher than the 8-core 5960X.
Cooling Requirements
Depending on your ambient temperatures, full-load voltages over 1.25Vcore fall into water-cooling territory (dual-radiator). With triple radiatorwatercooling solutions, using up to 1.35Vcore is possible. For air cooling the value is much lower, limiting total overclock, so plan your coolinginvestment
appropriately.
PSU Requirements
For overclocking 5960X processors, we recommend PSUs that can supply a minimum of 30 amps toEPS 12V. At 4.6GHz a 5960X can draw close to
25amps from the EPS12V connector under softwareload. Minimum recommended PSUs for Haswell-E are upwards of 1,000W if using more than
onehigh performance GPU.
VRM Heatsink Cooling

If running full-load stress tests over 4GHz, active cooling of the VRM heatsink with a fan is advised due tocurrent requirements of the (8-core) 5960X
processor. K series (6-core) at ~4.2/4.3GHz and above should also have active cooling, depending on voltage.
Stress Testing
Users shouldavoid running Prime95 small FFTs on 5960X CPUs when overclocked. Over4.4GHz, the Prime software pulls 400W of power through the
CPU. It is possible this can cause internal degradation of processor components.
We use the ROG Realbench stress test, with the corresponding amount of installed memory selected in app. The stress test is equal or greater to
alternatives,usingreal, open source apps with an oscillating load across the main PC subsystems.
DDR4 Memory
At first glance, the primary timings of DDR4 seem underwhelming. If we look deeper, a shift inspecification voltage down into the 1.05V~1.20V region
helps make sense of the looser primarytimings initial DDR4 ICs support at stock. Consider running enthusiast oriented DDR3 kits at similarvoltage
levels and it would not be surprising to see similar timing ranges, and constrained datathroughput rates.
http://rog.asus.com/365052014/overclocking/rog-overclocking-guide-core-for-5960x-5930k-5820k/[30/07/2015 03:42:36 a.m.]
The good news is that most of the DDR4 ICs weve tested to date scale quite well in terms offrequency and timings as we increase voltage. At worst,
some ICs stop scaling past 1.40V. At best,weve pushed up to 1.50V (up to 1.80V with LN2) into good Hynix-based modules and seenacceptable
returns. Primary timings are still a tad looser than one would like to use, however,theres more to memory performance on modern architectures than
primary timings, so we encourage a deeperlearning
Weve used 3GHz G.Skill Ripjaws 4 in the XMP screenshots below
Third Tier Memory Timings Are Key

For a few generations now, the third tier of memory timings read to read, read to write, write towrite and write to read are larger factors in memory
performance than the primary timing set. This isdue to how efficient the memory controller is at organising data across memory ranks and banks.
Once a row is latched, the following transactions are almost exclusively back to back read and writeoperations hence the impact of a 1 clock
adjustment to an important third tier timing often hasmore performance impact in memory sensitive applications, than a 1 clock change to any of
theprimary set. In this regard, DDR4 fares better than DDR3 in our testing to date, DDR4 retains atighter set of third tier timings than was possible on
DDR3 at similar frequencies and voltages. So insome applications we will see DDR4 win out over its DDR3 counterpart, in spite of the primary
timingdisadvantage.
Due to some nifty enhancements in its new architecture, DDR4 is also more stable than DDR3 at equivalent and higheroperating frequencies. New
termination schemes with lower simultaneous switching noise, timingconcessions for different types bank access, on-die Vref generation and an
improved pin-out forbalance between power and ground pins all help improve signal integrity.
From the ROGperspective, were expecting our expertise in trace layout benefitonce againon DDR4. Feedback to date is that our motherboards
overclock memory very well improvedfrequency overhead means a more stable board for the end-user.
The best all round DDR4 IC for overclocking in our testing to date (Sept 2014) is Hynix. Samsung is a closesecond. This will change regularly as new
ICs and manufacturing processes are designed.
Most processors will run DDR4-3000 with 32GB of memory at 15-15-15-34-2T easily (withcapable memory modules good Hynix!). 1T Command
rate at these timings is alsopossible, if the memory controller is a good enough. Good memory modules will reach thesespeeds at 1.35V or less.
64GB of memory will run DDR4-2666 at 15-15-15-34 2T easily. 1T command rate is difficultto get unconditionally stable at these speeds.
For speeds over DDR4-2666 try using 1.35~1.40VDIMM as a starting point.
VCCSA helps stabilize the processors memory controller. For the most part the ROG UEFI BIOS left to Auto will scale fine for most CPU/memory
combinations. Some CPUsmay need manualadjustment. and the maximum we have needed to use is 1.15V. However, some CPUsdo not respond
wellto anything over 1.05V; such processorsusually overclock memory fine at stock settings even though they preferlower voltage. Start low
(default is 0.80V approx.) and workupwards. The relationshipbetween voltage increases to VCCSAand stability are non-linear. There are
certainranges ofvoltage which may exhibit worse stability, once you go past them (higher or lower) stabilityimproves once again. Try 1.02V for
memory speeds above DDR4-2900 as a starting point andwork up or down from there.
DRAM Voltage and POST

When overclocking DRAM, one needs to bear in mind that during a first POST after fullshutdown, or an AC powercycle, the memory controller performs
driver calibration, de-skewing of signal lines and a memorytest. The memory test uses a data pattern designed to create a large current swing on the
DRAMbus. As the memory is overclocked, these operations are progressively more difficult to pass tougher than some stress tests in fact. In
comparison, a warm reset of the system may only requirelight retraining to account for temperature drift.
The caveat to tuning DRAM voltage is that while memory is stable during a warm reset at 1.30V, asystem power down or power cycle may be another
matter. Often the training process from a fullsystem shutdown requires a higher DRAM voltage to pass. For this reason we have created anadditional
setting for DRAM voltage on our boards.
Within the ExtremeTweaker menu:
DRAM Voltage AB andDRAM Voltage CD.
These set the DRAM voltage level for the POST process.
Within the DRAM timing page there are two additional settings for DRAM voltage labelled EventualDRAM voltage relating to each pair of channels
respectively.
This allows settinga different voltage, which is applied after the POST process completes. Bydefault the Eventual DRAM voltage will automatically sync
with the DRAM Voltage setting (both arethe same). If we enter a value here, then it will be applied after the POST process completes. Theupshot of this
allows us to set a higher DRAM voltage to help pass training from power cycle, whilewe can apply our OS stable voltage in the eventual setting so that
we are not running more voltagethan required.
The Uncore Story

Overclocking the cache frequency is not essential as processor core frequency dominates overallperformance. However, if one wishes to experiment with
cache overclocking the cache frequency(AKA Uncore) can help boost some benchmark scores if run close to the processor core frequency.
Good processor samples can achieve 4.6GHz Uncore frequency in tandem with CPU core frequencyat the same value. Depending upon the processor
sample, this may require cache voltage in theregion of 1.35~1.45V.
From a methodology standpoint, it is wise to leave cache frequency at default whilst determiningthe maximum processor core frequency. Once the
maximum processor core frequency has beenfound, one can start overclocking the cache. Following this method helps to isolate possible causesof
instability for troubleshooting purposes.
We may need to apply a small boost to Vcore and VCCSA when the cache frequency is overclocked.This is because a faster cache ratio will increase the
amount of data over the bus thanks to faster L3cache access times.
5-Way Optimization
The latest version of AI Suite and DIP 5 includes a few cool enhancements for 5-Way optimization.
Within the advanced options, we have added options to select AVX stress testing, fixed Vcore (onecan set Vcore to any value from 1.1V~1.5V) and tuning
from the processors default ratio instead ofstarting from a higher ratio. The latter is useful in cases where the user only wishes to apply a
mildoverclock or has aCPUthat does not overclock very well.
It is worthwhile running the 5-Way optimization to quickly gauge how well a CPU will overclock even if youwish to overclock manually.
Manual Overclocking
1) Set the CPU multiplier ratio and strap (if needed). Aim for 4.5GHz with 1.30Vcore. If theprocessor sample is good it will make it to the desktop. If not,
reduce the CPU frequency by100MHz (with the same Vcore). Run a stress test of choice we use the ROG Realbenchstress testwith the
correspondingamount of installed memory selected in app. If 4.4GHz isnt stable with 1.30V,you will need to reduce the CPU core frequency further.
2) If the stress test passes, apply XMP for the memory kit and repeat the stress test again. Formost CPU samples there should be no need to make any
VCCSA, DRAM voltage or memorytiming adjustments- the stress test should pass. If it does not, then try tuning VCCSA; startwith a manual voltage
of1.02V and work up or down.
If you experience a code of bd on the hex code display at power up from AC cycle or onwarm restarts, then VCCA usually needs more tuning for
stability. To help alleviate this issueenable Attempt FAST BOOT and Attempt Cold Fast BOOT in the DRAM timing menu of UEFI(scroll down below the
DRAM timings to find these two options).
Enabling both of theseoptions will load DRAM training parameters from NVRAM rather than retraining memoryupon warm or cold restart. Ideally
however, one should tune VCCSA rather than relying onthese settings as a cure.
3) Assuming steps 1&2 go through, you may evaluate if there is room to push the processorfurther. Check load temperatures I generally aim to keep
load temps lower than 80 Celsius.This helps system stability under all software loads.
4) You may wish to experiment with memory overclocking at this stage.Leaving timings onAuto is advised to start with our auto rules will adjust them
to cater for most memorymodules that can be overclocked. The primary timings can be tightened manually, afterevaluating initial stability at our auto
values first.
The maximum DRAM voltage we use herein the lab for 24/7 table systems is 1.40V. Some modules may not scale with more voltageanyway. Good Hynix
can handle higher voltage, but long term effects of running such voltagelevels are unknown at this point.
Running higher DRAM frequencies can impact processor core stability and/or requireincreased Vcore to ensure core stability.
5) If the CPU and memory are stable you may wish to try Uncore overclocking. Good CPUsamples can achieve 4.6GHz Uncore with 1.35V Cache Voltage.
Obviously if the CPU corefrequency is only 4.4GHz then one should aim for a cache frequency of the same value noneed to set cache frequency higher
than core frequency.
Vcore, DRAM voltage and VCCSA may need tuning to help stabilize the processor when theCPU, DRAM and Uncore are overclocked.
6) Enjoy yourself!
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ASUS RECOMMENDS WINDOWS 8.1

ROG Overclocking Guide For Core i7 5960X, 5930K & 5820K

VRM Heatsink Cooling

http://rog.asus.com/365052014/overclocking/rog-overclocking-guide-core-for-5960x-5930k-5820k/[30/07/2015 03:42:36 a.m.]