Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Intel Core i7 Processor Overclocking

By: Benny Lodewijk N. Lase

Before more about how to criticize overclock the processor Intel Core i7, first I want to introduce this technology processor and the difference with the previous technology.
IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) & Triple Channel DDR3
The difference between the technology with the Core i7 technology, Core 2 Quad Duo/Core2 located in the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller). On Core2 Duo / Core 2 Quad, IMC is embedded in the chipset (X38, X48, P45, and so forth). This is the ability of memory throughput is highly dependent of the ability of the chipset. Meanwhile, the Core i7, IMC moved to the processor so that theoretically the chipset can work more lightweight and throughput speed memory bandwidth more quickly because there is no need to go through the chipset (Northbridge).



Differences architecture Core 2 Quad Duo/Core2 with Core i7
Front Side Bus 1066, 1333 and 1600 MHz processor, known in the Core2 Quad Duo/Core2 switch into QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) on the Core i7. They also used a FSB speed of up to 1.6 GT / s of a 6.4 GT / s. This is because the speed of internal memory controller on the CPU is more effective than the Northbridge memory controller, not to mention the added implementation Triple Channel DDR3 on the Core i7 platform. Although, the benefit or effect the implementation of the Triple Channel DDR3 is still not very significant in real applications.

In addition, the Intel Core i7 back the technology Hyperthreading (HT) or also known as Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT). Total core processor in the Core i7 fruit amounted to 4 core (core) and each core has a SMT, so the total is 8 thread on a Core i7 processor.

QPI (Quick Path Interconnect)
QPI is the bus speed of FSB, the FSB is the data transmission path between the chipset, processor and memory, QPI simpler again. QPI is a data transmission speed of the processor to the chipset. When we know the previous Northbridge chipset as the processor, memory and the PCI-E, then the Core i7, chipset, known by the name of IOH (Input-Output Hub), which served as the input and output of the entire system.

Bclk (CPU Host Frequency) & CPU multiplier
Total clock frequency, or a total Core i7 processor is the result of multiple CPU Host Frequency (Bclk) with the CPU multiplier (CPU Ratio). For example, a processor Core i7-965 Extreme Edition has a speed of 3.2 GHz, the speed is derived from the square 24 (CPU Ratio) with 133 MHz (Bclk).

24 x 133 MHz = 3192 MHz (3200 MHz to be rounded)

To change this settingan in the BIOS (I use the motherboard GIGABYTE EX58-Extreme) to enter the sub menu MIT There are options Bclk frequency changes from 1 to 1200 and from the CPU Clock Ratio 1x up to 44x (depending on the type of processor that is used). Changes in the number Bclk automatically change the frequency of total processor.

Example:
24 x 150 MHz = 3600 MHz (3.6 GHz)





With the change Bclk (CPU Host Frequency) from the 133 to be 150, you will get a processor speed of 3600 MHz (3.6GHz). This value is 400 MHz higher than the speed of a standard processor Core i7-965 Extreme Edition.

Especially for Core i7-965 Extreme, overclocking can also be done by changing the value of the CPU or the CPU multiplier ratio.

Example:

28 x 133 MHz = 3724 MHz (3724 GHz)




By changing the value of the CPU Clock Ratio from 24 to 28, will be a frequency of 3724 MHz processor speed of the standard 3200 MHz. Once again note, overclocking the CPU Clock Ratio change applies only to the type of processor Core i7-965 Extreme. For Core i7-920 and 940 CPU Clock Ratio can not be changed to a higher number, because the manufacturing Intel has set the CPU Clock Ratio. For Core i7-920 and 940, overclocking can only be done by changing the CPU Host Frequency (Bclk).

Please note, on the condition of most overclock, the system must be stable. Instability can occur because of many things, one of which resulted in the QPI speed increase (if that was Bclk), other factors are the speed DDR3 and Uncore Frequency follow up from the default.

The picture can be seen below



QPI standard processor Intel Core i7-965 Extreme is 6.4 GT / s with Bclk of 133 MHz, 2.66 GHz Frequency Uncore and DDR3 at 1333 MHz speeds. Note the picture above, if Bclk raised of 150 MHz will be an impact on the increase in the frequency of QPI, Uncore and DDR3, the third component of this close and mutual dependence with Bclk. When one of the three components of this condition does not work in the normal speed or at higher standards and tolerance have been terlewati will cause instability in the system. Examples include system instability restart without cause, can not go to the operating system, application errors and often much more. To overcome the instability teroverlock system, provided divider ratio or each component QPI, Uncore and DDR3.

source : chip.co.id
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