i7 2600k working at strange frequencies

[a sandwhich]

Just put in a new 2600k on an asus p8z68-v pro motherboard, and i have been monitoring the frequencies. When idling, it operates at ~1.6 ghz, when put under any type of load, even when using all cores, it goes up to ~4.4 ghz. I did not purposefully overclock it, I expected it to just range between the listed 3.4 and the single core 3.8. Why is this happening, and will it be detrimental to the system over time?

 

[Mousemonkey]

Check your BIOS, I had the same thing with mine once and it was because I had inadvertently changed a couple of settings.

 

[a sandwhich]

Hmm. I haven't touched my bios any, and I have only used the asus ai suite for monitoring purposes. Could it be the tpu thing that asus put in the motherboard?

 

[AdrianPerry]

The overclock settings are tied to the motherboard not the CPU.

Was the previous CPU you were using OC'd 4.4GHz or using a x44 multiplier?

Also the reason you see 1.6GHz is due to the power save settings. If you computer doesnt need to be using 4.4GHz/higher frequency for whatever its doing, it will run at 1.6GHz and a much lower voltage. Basically like a "power save" setting - this can also be disabled within the BIOS.

ASUS AI Suite has a 1-click over-clock feature in which it will automatically over-clock your CPU as high as it deems it safe to go. Although you couldn't really do this by "accident" or without realising.

 

[a sandwhich]

No, this is both a new board and a new processor. I think I remember seeing the little tpu switch set to the on position. Is that the same as allowing for ocing in the ai suite?

 

[Mousemonkey]

No, this is both a new board and a new processor. I think I remember seeing the little tpu switch set to the on position. Is that the same as allowing for ocing in the ai suite?

Set that to the 'off' position and check that the RAM is set to X.M.P in the BIOS.

 

[a sandwhich]

I will do this as soon as possible, thanks. Is changing the ram necessary?

 

[Mousemonkey]

I will do this as soon as possible, thanks. Is changing the ram necessary?

Changing the setting to XMP will allow the RAM to run at its rated speed.

 

[a sandwhich]

Is it not already?

 

[Mousemonkey]

Is it not already?

My board does not default to XMP so I'm assuming yours doesn't either as they are both Asus motherboards.

 

[a sandwhich]

Ok, I have been running prime95 for about 10 minutes now, and the temp has peaked at 62. The core spead apparently is 4430.4 MHz and the voltage is 1.32 V. Is this ok?

 

[eax1]

Seems weird that this would be happening, do you have bios drivers that you need to update?

 

[a sandwhich]

What seems weird that it is happening? The overclock frequency? or the temps?

 

[a sandwhich]

Is 62C a stable temp? And should I leave prime95 running for longer to test it?

 

[AdrianPerry]

Is 62C a stable temp? And should I leave prime95 running for longer to test it?

62 degree's is a very good load temp. Anything up to about 70 degree's is generally considered perfectly fine.

I'd recommend leaving PRIME running for about an hour though.

 

[a sandwhich]

I ran it for thirty minutes and it fluctuated between 62 and 58 depending on which test was running.

 

[themistifier]

I have the same MoBo and CPU - have you update the MoBo BIOS to 1101?

I only bought mine not that long ago, and the BIOS was 2 versions older than the latest version available.

If you do have the latest version, in the BIOS press F5 to load defaults and then press F10 to save and exit, boot in Windows and repeat benchmarks, any changes?

 

[a sandwhich]

What are the differences in the old and new BIOS versions?