Max Multiplier on 2600K is 42?

Yours is the second Sandy Bridge CPU that wouldn't go beyond 42x multiplier that I have heard of. Some CPUs are dogs, some are Olympic champs. What speed did the Turbo EVO process come up with?

Have you seen this thread? Has lots of useful info for your board and Sandy Bridge.

As for BCLK overclocking, most people who try get around 102-105MHz. I haven't heard of anyone getting beyond 110MHz.

Thanks for your response. Guess that bargain price at MC was for a reason.  

I'm at 105.5 on BCLK with no problems. I've had it running for hours at 107+. I'll probably BCLK it to 4.5 and call it a day. I'm still thrilled with the performance of the upgrade I did. I did see that thread. It was my guideline for the overclocking. Turbo EVo came up with the 42 multiplier and a speed of 4326. I've been able to push quite a bit beyond that number.

Thanks again for the reply.

Did you update BIOS to newest version? The 1155 boards come with some glitchy BIOS I noticed. Are you saying that it doesn't even give you the option to enter a number larger than 42? On mine I can just type the multiplier number in for manual, but it won't boot into Windows at all on 4.9 ghz (49 x 100), but does @ 4.8. I haven't even tweaked the BCLK myself. Probably gonna keep mine on 4.5 for 24/7 too since I have really good vcore and temps there

I've tried BIOS 1053 and now 1204. Still stuck at 42 as the maximum multiplier.

I'm running BCLK at 107.2 which results in an overclock of 4506. Looks like that is where I'll stay.

So, some Sandy Bridge CPUs have different multipliers? One with 42x is a "dog". Would one with a max multi of 255x be an "Olympic champ"? I know it's not like I'm ever gonna get to use it, but it'd be cool to know!

Each Sandy Bridge processor has its own unique overclocking characteristics. It will have a "multiplier wall" that you cannot go beyond, no matter how much voltage you apply or how much you cool it down.

Once you hit that wall, you can only overclock further by using the BCLK. That throws the rest of the system's clocks out of whack, so you can't get above 110MHz. Most boards will only get 105MHz or so.

The absolute maximum multiplier on current Sandy Bridge CPUs is 57x. Yes, a "dog" would be 42x, "average joe" would be 45x and an "Olympic champ" would be 52x or higher. Mine's not quite at the Olympic level, as it maxes out at a 48x multiplier.

Yeah, I thought 57x was the max, but I can set mine to 255x. I've seen some people can't even go above the stock multi on their "K" CPU. So, your's doesn't go over 48x?

Your BIOS or overclocking software might go up to 255x, but the CPU itself is limited to 57x and below.

I can boot with 51x and even 52x multipliers, but the system isn't stable. The maximum stable multiplier is 48x.

And when I say "stable" I mean it passes these tests:

1. 24 hours of Prime95 Torture Test using "In-place large FFTs" setting
2. 50 runs of IntelBurnTest v2.50 using Maximum setting

I'm not sure what it is. I've talked to a couple people with the same mobo, same CPU, and same BIOS version and they don't have such an excessively high multi available. Heck, one of 'em can't even raise the CPU ratio at all!

First, if your having problems, DO NOT raise your BCLK, keep it at either 100 or 101 Max.
Keep your cpu multiplier at the default 34x and set the turbo multipliers to 45x45x45x45x (cores 1-4) or whatever you want to use and adjust your vcore and PLL to suit the speed selected.

Your system will run at 4.5 Ghz (above example) with any load at all.

I don't think my processor is a "dog". It works fine. It just won't overclock as high as others which may not be a bad thing in the long run.

As to adjusting cpu multiplier or turbo multiplier. I am stuck with 42 as my max. In order to get a higher overclock I have no choice BUT to play with BCLK. I've chosen to do this but then again I can afford to buy another processor if I blow this one up.

My max overclock is BCLK at 107.4 and a mulitiplier of 42. This puts me a hair over 4.5 Ghz.

Thanks to all who provided help.

It's only a "dog" if your primary focus is overclocking until your system screams for mercy. Performance-wise, it's awesome and more than enough for pretty much anything you could throw at it. Hell, even the i5 2400 processor beats most i5s and i7s from previous generations.

For the record, I've experimented with both the Turbo Ratio, and the CPU Ratio. The difference was when using the Turbo Ratio, I could not boot with a 50x multi. Using the CPU Ratio, I was able to boot at 50x using less voltage. It's not 100% stable at that (no BSODs, just IBT error), but I've been somewhat hesitant too exceed 1.4v by much. I've gone as far as 1.416v trying to get the 50x stable, but via the Turbo Ratio I couldn't get a boot at 1.44v.

It just seems like the CPU Ratio is more effective in my case (P8P67-M PRO & 2500K).

FWIW - I've seen the 2nd gen Core i outperform the 980X at the same clock. This is by the power of each core, not in reflection of excess cores/threads.