CPU speed and memory capacity. Different software reports different values

[Jarv0]

In the BIOS (1404) for my Rampage IV Extreme I have most OC-settings set to default. Except for XMP being enabled, SpeedStep turned off and C-states turned off, I havn't changed anything else. I also have a Intel i7 3960X CPU which should be 3.3 GHz default and 3.9 GHz when Turbo Boosted.

Windows are reporting 3.3 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost monitor reports "power saver" when not boosted, and 3.9 GHz when boosted. Why is my CPU in power saver mode when I have turned off SpeedStep and the C-states? Core Parking is also disabled and the Windows Power settings is set to high performance.

Asus software and the OC-key reports a constant speed of 3.9 GHz

CPU-z also reports a constant 3.9 GHz

What software is right about the speed?


When it comes to memory I have 4x4 GB Corsair Dominator GT 2133 MHz quad channel (XMP enabled and all settings correct)

SPD info and DIMM post in BIOS shows that all 4 DIMM's are installed and running at the same speed, but BIOS and Windows tells me that the total capacity is 12 GB when it should be 16 GB. CPU-z however, reports that I have 16 GB. Again, what software should i rely on?


Additional info:

It was the same on all of the previous BIOS versions I have used
It was the same on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Windows 8 release preview x64


System:

Asus Rampage IV Extreme
Intel Core i7 3960X
Corsair Dominator GT 2133 MHz quad channel
2x EVGA Geforce GTX 580 in SLI
2x Intel 520 in RAID 0 as system drive
Seasonic Platinum 1000W

[HiVizMan]

Trust in CPUz if you have the latest version.

The rest ignore.

[Jarv0]

Trust in CPUz if you have the latest version.

The rest ignore.

OK. According to CPU-z the CPU speed is constantly sitting at 3.9 GHz when it should be at 3.3 GHz non turbo and 3.9 in turbo. Why is my CPU in turbo mode constantly? I have not overclocked it.

[Myk SilentShadow]

I'm not entirely sure of the Intel RoG Mobo BIOS, but here goes. i'm guessing you want to not OC your CPU?

1. In Extreme Tweaker, set Ai Tweaker to Manual
2. Set CPU Level Up to "Cancel"

That should be all you need, to stop your CPU from ever OC'ing unless you ever want to attempt it

[Jarv0]

I'm not entirely sure of the Intel RoG Mobo BIOS, but here goes. i'm guessing you want to not OC your CPU?

1. In Extreme Tweaker, set Ai Tweaker to Manual
2. Set CPU Level Up to "Cancel"

That should be all you need, to stop your CPU from ever OC'ing unless you ever want to attempt it

If I do this, I get a BSOD after about 2-5 minutes of uptime with a message saying something about unpaged area. So I went ahead and set the correct values for my RAM and still the same problem. So I reverted back to XMP and it now works. It also works if I set it to Auto. However, none of the modes causes CPU-z to report 3.3GHz. It still tells me that my CPU is at 3.9GHz even in idle. If I disable Turbo Boost I get 3.3GHz (obviously), but as far as I understand, the purpose of turbo boost is to run the CPU at stock speeds on low loads and use a preset overclock on high load. Right now it's not working if CPU-z is the software to trust.

[Arne Saknussemm]

Hi there!

In power management have you set the processor minimum to 100% as well as maximum in the profile settings?

[Jarv0]

Hi there!

In power management have you set the processor minimum to 100% as well as maximum in the profile settings?

Yes I have. Does that force the CPU in constant Turbo Boost? I thought that setting was related to underclocking or SpeedStep which I have turned off in BIOS.

[Arne Saknussemm]

I'm not 100% sure but I think that will run you at turbo....you could try reducing minimum and see

[Jarv0]

I'm not 100% sure but I think that will run you at turbo....you could try reducing minimum and see

Yeah ok, I'll try when I have some time to actually monitor it properly. But I was also thinking about something, do the CPU C-states and/or SpeedStep need to be enabled in order for Turbo Boost to work properly, or are they independent of each other?

[Arne Saknussemm]

Actually yeah, now I think about it, doesn't disabling eist and speedstep lock you at your multiplier? You do know that you can and probably should leave all this stuff on. It is not necessary to turn them off to overclock on SB-e and x79. Your CPU will live longer if you use offset and leave speedstep etc.