Dynamic Multiplier operation even though EIST and C states Disabled

[Redsnake77]

Hi, The problem I'm having is that even though I've disabled C1E, C3/6/7, EIST, and Turbo Boost in the bios the multiplier is still being dynamically adjusted.

I have an overclock of 200MHz baseclock with a 19 multiplier, although even 100% loaded up with 8 threads on Linx it still flickers between 18 and 19, then drops back to 12 when at idle.

I only overclocked because I'd noticed in a few games (some are more noticeable than others) the framerate would slowly decrease then spring back up again, it was bugging me hugely. It was most noticeable in Dirt and Grid, two games I haven't played since my old E6850 dual core on a 680i. Ran a fraps benchmark and you could see it cyclicly droping down through the numbers 120, 118, 114, 110, down to 94fps, then jumping back upto 120+ and decreasing again. I ran Core Temp and straight away I could see the multiplier starting at 16 then dropping incrementally down to 12 then jumping back up to 16. So I kept the voltages all stock and increased the baseclock to 160MHz, Loaded up the game, the multiplier then stayed at 12, but the framerate was stable at 120-124fps with a processor speed of just under 2GHz.

Then I just wanted to see exactly what I could get out of the i7 930, (I had my E6850 at 3.7GHz for a long time on stock volts) so started pushing a bit further. I'm Linx stable at 3.8GHz (when it actually uses the 19 multiplier), 1.2675v VCore (although Hardware monitor is reading 1.24-1.25v even with LLC enabled), 1.355v QPI/VTT (wouldn't boot into windows with any less, even with 1.3275v VCore). Core temperatures at idle (12 multiplier) are between 35c and 40c depending on ambient. The core temperatures peek after 8 to 10 minutes under 100% load and never go over 71c (60c at the heatspreader according to Hardware Monitor) core temps and multiplier are being taken from Core Temp.

So really I just want to clarify if the dynamic multiplier is built into the Bloomfield architecture or the X58 chipset and can't be switched off?

System is:
i7 930
GA-EX58-UD5 F12 Bios
Patriot Viper Extreme 3x2GB 1600MHz C8

[Dark Mantis]

Have you got CIA2 enabled in the BIOS?

[Redsnake77]

Have you got CIA2 enabled in the BIOS?

No, I've always had CIA2 disabled as it's always made my system unstable.  Memory Performance Enhance is left on Standard aswell as I've never noticed any benefit from the Turbo setting and Extreme made the system crash too.

Thanks Dark Mantis for such a quick response, it's very much appreciated.

[Dark Mantis]

Just sorry I can't think of anything that you haven't already covered. I understood it was switchable.

[Redsnake77]

That's ok.  Is it possible that Windows 7 power profiles can overide the bios setting for EIST carrying out a similar function in software?  Where are the EIST algorithms located? Are they on the CPU or the X58 chipset?  If they were on the chipset would the drivers installed into the OS give control to the OS over-riding the bios setting?  Probably a slightly out there thought, but there's a setting in the advanced power options to set the upper and lower limits for cpu usage, and the Balanced preset the lower limit is 20%.  I'll double check the settings for the Power (or is it Performace?) preset and make sure the upper and lower limits are both 100% and see what happens.  Thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

Sounds interesting and you might be on to something there. I think otherwise it would ahve to be a BIOS rewrite to take advantage of the fact that it could be available. I think it is to do with the X58 chipset.

[Dark Mantis]

I have just checked on my machine and the settings are all on maximum already(well theres a surprise ) There was nothing else to configure, the min amnd max settings were set to 100%. Good thought though!

[Redsnake77]

Yeah, I just checked that and no difference, so I started to suspect Core Temp might actually be giving me the wrong reading.  So I used the performance and graphing tools built into Windows 7 and they had the processor speed locked in at 3800MHz without a wobble.  So I checked SpeedFan (4.40) and that was showing 3756MHz (bit off, but didn't budge either) so I was really suspecting Core Temp.  Checked the Core Temp website and a newer version (0.99.7, I was using 0.99.6) was available so I downloaded it and voula it's reading 3800MHz spot on.  So it turns out I was fussing about nothing but a bit of spotty (bit very usefull) software.

I should have double checked using another piece of monitoring software first, but I guess I just hooked into using that particular one and what should have been first ended being the last thing I did. Doah!

But cheers, and thanks for your responses, without your input I probably would have still been going round in circles.

[Dark Mantis]

It's ok I learnt something from it as well so everyones a winner. Good start to your Forum adventures