Overclocking Unlocked Intel® Core™ Processors for High Performance Gaming and Content Creation Michael Moen – Sr. System Engineer, Intel Corporation Dan Ragland – Sr. System Engineer, Intel Corporation JJ Guerrero – Sr.
Agenda • • • • • • 2 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Risk Reminder WARNING: Altering clock frequency and/or voltage may: (i) reduce system stability and useful life of the system and processor; (ii) cause the processor and other system components to fail; (iii) cause reductions in system performance; (iv) cause additional heat or other damage; and (v) affect system data integrity. Intel has not tested, and does not warranty, the operation of the processor beyond its specifications.
Agenda • • • • • • 4 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Defining Overclocking • What is Overclocking (OC)? – The process of increasing clock rates beyond specification • Why Overclock? – Increase performance for compute intensive tasks, e.g.
Overclocking Theory General Principles The Rule: Maximize frequency, minimize voltage/current and maximize heat dissipation to meet personal stability requirements Benefits How Processor Cores Rendering, Music, Photo and Video editing, Transcode, Gaming Physics, AI, Compute Intensive Increase Power Limits and Max Current Raise Core voltage Increase active Core ratios Processor Integrated Graphics (pGfx) † Gaming frame rates, Media Transcode Increase Power Limits and Max Current Raise pGfx
Observed Frequency Trends in OC Q: How much OC can I expect from my CPU? A: There are many factors – Every CPU is designed to meet nominal requirements with intentional guardband – not specifically for OC – Overclocking is the act of tapping into the intentional guardband + design conservatism + Si process conservatism – This changes with each CPU process stepping, architecture change and overall design targets HEDT = High End Desktop. Today this includes Socket LGA2011.
Agenda • • • • • • 8 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors Based on Socket LGA2011 with Intel® X79 Express Chipset C Processor 1 2 3 4 5 6 Memory DMICLK – Unlocked Intel® Turbo Boost Technology limits† – Unlocked core ratios up to 63 in 100MHz increments† – Programmable voltage offset M Memory C PCIE P PEG D DMI • Core Frequency M • Memory Ratio – Unlocked memory controller – Granularity in 266MHz steps – Ratios supported up to 2400Hz • DMICLK (aka BCLK) R DMI R ×1 – Fine Grain range ± 5-7% – BCLK ratios = 1.
Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors Based on Socket LGA2011 with Intel® X79 Express Chipset Feature Overview SKU i7-4960X i7-4930K i7-4820K 6/15M 6/12M 4/10M Up to 63 Up to 63 Up to 63 PL1, PL2, Tau, ICCMax Overrides √ √ √ Real-time Core Overclocking (in OS) Yes Yes Yes Up to 2400 Up to 2400 Up to 2400 √ √ √ Cores/Cache Turbo Ratio Overrides (100MHz Steps)† DDR Frequency Overrides (266MHz Steps) DDR Timing Overrides Coarse BCLK Ratios supported with PEG, DMI ratios Enhanced Ratio E
Agenda • • • • • • 11 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Overclocking Design Tips What board designers consider for unlocked Processors COLLABORATION Work closely with Intel to understand the platform architecture and gauge hardware requirements. This helps to define customized overclocking options for different segments. POWER DESIGN Ensuring that onboard power delivery circuitry is capable of exceeding processor power requirements under extreme loading conditions.
Overclocking Design Tips How enthusiast board/system designs influence overclockability • High Quality Components − − − − − Long-life solid polymer & MLCC Capacitors High current MOSFETs Low DCR inductors Advanced digital buck controllers More copper in power plane • Efficient Cooling Through Layout Design • Careful Analysis of Signal Integrity: − Tight control of trace impedance on PCB, more layers, shorter lengths & length matching − Tuning of MRC to improve signal margins and memory compatibility •
Live Demo: Optimization of Core, Memory and BCLK to achieve visibly better performance experience on content creation with a Intel® Core™ i7-4960X Extreme Edition Processor 14
Agenda • • • • • • 15 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Next Generation Intel Haswell Microarchitecture ×C CPU 1 – Unlocked Intel® Turbo Boost Technology limits† – Unlocked core ratios up to 80 in 100MHz increments† – Programmable voltage via iVR Memory 2 ×M Memory ×C 3 4 ×G PCIe* pGfx DMICLK – Unlocked graphics ratios up to 60 in 50MHz increments – Programmable voltage via iVR ×D DMI ×M DMICLK/BCLK • Memory Ratio – Unlocked memory controller – Options for 200 and 266MHz steps † – Logical ratios up to 2933MHz† DMI ×D OC BCLK Non-OC 100MHz • Gra
OC VR Design on Legacy Platforms VCORE VGFX VPLL CPU VSA VIO External VRs External VRs • In current generation platforms, CPU VRs are on the motherboard • Often, a separate VR exists for each rail to the CPU • Voltage margining is accomplished using platform VRs 4th Generation Intel ® Core™ processor changes this dramatically with integrated voltage regulation 17
Next Generation Intel Haswell Microarchitecture Voltage Planes for Performance Tuning DDR Core VCCIN iVR Last Level Cache Ring Cores Ring pGfx pGfx IOA,IOD System Agent 1.5V Nom for DDR3 • <=1.65V for XMP • 1.35V Nom for DDR3L • VSA, VIOA, VIOD: Up to 500mV Offset V from nominal DMI • VCCIN: SVID 1.8V Nom up to 2.3V+, static V up to 3.04V • VCORE: dynamic additional V, static V up to 2.0 V • VRING: dynamic additional V, static V up to 2.
Next Generation Intel Haswell Microarchitecture Voltage Override Modes XE turbo non-turbo • Interpolation (adaptive) in the overclocking region • Override applied to the entire curve. Important for extreme OC. volts volts XE XE turbo Override V/f non-turbo Offset V/f freq 19 XE turbo freq turbo Positive / Negative offset applied to the entire curve. Important for mainstream overclocking.
Next Generation Intel Haswell Microarchitecture Clock Tree BCLK @100, 125 or 167 MHz +/1 5-7% DDR • Single BCLK input comes from PCH in <1MHz steps • Acceptable input to CPU limited by PIC Express* (PCIe) and DMI PLL interface: Cores Cache Ring Last Level 100MHz x ±5-7% PEG/DMI @ 5:5 Agent PCIe* DMI pGfx 125MHz x ±5-7% PEG/DMI @ 5:4 System 167MHz x ±5-7% PEG/DMI @ 5:3 • Frequency Relationships f(GT) = BCLK/2*GT Ratio f(Core) = BCLK*Core Ratio f(Ring) = BCLK*Ring Ratio f(DDR) = BCLK*1.
Enhanced BCLK Capabilities Key Differences Between Generations Intel® Core™ i7 processors on LGA2011 Coarse Adjustment Fine Range Peak Observed † 3rd Gen Intel Core processors on LGA1155 Next Gen Intel Haswell Microarchitecture BCLK multipliers {1.0,1.25,1.
Next Generation Intel Haswell Microarchitecture Available Performance Tuning Ratios Core Turbo Ratios† DDR Core ratios up to 80 • Unlocked Turbo Limits • Current Limit Override • Graphics ratios up to 60 pGfx Ratios† 22 PCIe* = PCI Express* Cores System Last Level Cache PCIe* Agent Ring • PEG, DMI Ratios DDR Ratios DMI • 266MHz Steps up to 2933MHz • 200MHz steps up to 2800MHz • Timing Overrides • Manual or can be automated through XMP 1.
Desktop: 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5 Processors Based on Socket LGA 1150 Intel® Z87 Express Chipset Unlocked “K” Intel H87 Express Chipset †Others Unlocked Processors: Turbo Ratio Overrides √ DDR Frequency Overrides √ √ Fine BCLK Overrides √1 √1 Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 4770K Coarse BCLK Ratios √2 iVR Overvoltage √ √ Intel Core i5 Processors 4670K PL1, PL2, Tau, ICCMax Overrides √ √ † This includes Intel Core i3, Intel® Pentium™, and Intel® Celeron™ 1 23 DDR Timing Overrides
Mobile: 4th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Overclocking† Summary: • Core overclocking on select Intel® Core™ i7 SKUs • Graphics and memory overclocking on all Intel Core i7 and Core i5 based -H, -M, and -U series processors Turbo iVR OverBCLK Ratio voltage Coarse(1) Overrides -H and i7-4930MX -M Series i7-4900MQ i7-4950HQ i7-4800MQ i7-4850HQ i7-4702MQ i7-4700MQ i7-4750HQ i5 i3 DDR Ratio & Processor Timing Gfx Ratio Overrides Overrides Unlimited 6 bins 6 bins 4 bins 4 bins 2 bins 2 bins 2 bins None None
Live Demo: Mobile Overclocking using the Intel® Core™ i7-4950HQ processor in the Clevo W740SU Notebook 25
Agenda • • • • • • 26 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (Intel® XMP) • Expansion of the standard DDR3 memory specification. Enables speeds, latencies outside of JEDEC Specification. – Easy, robust, overclocking solution designed to take advantage of the unlocked capability of Intel® Core™ Processors – Predefined and tested Intel XMP profiles can be loaded via BIOS or a specific operating system-level tuning application Intel® XMP compliant DIMMs available – Supports all Intel Core i7, i5 Processors † – Corsair*, G.
Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU) • Simple-to-use Windows* application • Exposes CPU and PCH knobs for performance tuning by user • Real-time adjustment of key settings without rebooting1 • Version 4.2 now available for download from Intel or other motherboard suppliers † http://www.intel.com/go/xtu †Motherboard BIOS must be configured correctly to work with XTU. Contact your motherboard supplier for more information. 1 Available select 3rd and 4th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor SKUs.
Intel® XTU and HWBot.
Live Demo: Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility v4.
Live Demo: SSD Overclocking Technology 31
Agenda • • • • • • 32 Overclocking Theory and Trends High-end Desktop Overclocking Architecture Overclocking Design Tips Desktop and Mobile Overclocking Architecture Harnessing Overclocking Summary
Summary • Intel® Core™ i7 Processors based on Socket LGA2011 offer Core, DDR and BCLK overclocking experience on processors with the highest core count and memory capacity • Desktop and Mobile 4th Generation Intel Core processors offer select SKUs with unlocked core, memory and graphics ratios • Real-time overclocking offers an improved user experience for content creation and gaming users • The AppTune beta feature, in Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility v4.
Legal Disclaimer INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH INTEL PRODUCTS. NO LICENSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY ESTOPPEL OR OTHERWISE, TO ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT.
Legal Disclaimer • • • • • 35 Overclocking Disclaimer WARNING: Altering clock frequency and/or voltage may: (i) reduce system stability and useful life of the system and processor; (ii) cause the processor and other system components to fail; (iii) cause reductions in system performance; (iv) cause additional heat or other damage; and (v) affect system data integrity. Intel has not tested, and does not warranty, the operation of the processor beyond its specifications.
Risk Factors The above statements and any others in this document that refer to plans and expectations for the third quarter, the year and the future are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should” and their variations identify forward-looking statements.
