Overclocking Results
MSI OC Genie II
Normally, I am not a fan of the automated overclocking BIOSes and Windows-based overclocking utilities, but MSI may have changed my mind with their OC Genie II implementation. Overclocking the board with OC Genie II was as simple as clicking the OC Genie II button on the motherboard and rebooting the system. After that, the overclocking BIOS took over and booted the system into Windows stable at a 4.2GHz CPU speed and a 2133MHz memory speed as you can see in the screen shots below. The configuration was stability tested running a combination of LinX and FurMark over a 10 hour period with LinX running for 500 loops with Memory set to All and FurMark running at 1280×1024 resolution and 2x MSAA in stress test mode.
The one shortcoming of the OC Genie II BIOS is that it does not attempt to change the board's base clock setting. This oversight was rectified in the manual overclocking results shown below.
Manual Overclocking
Using manual settings in the MSI UEFI BIOS via the OC page, I was able to get the system stable at an impressive 105 MHz base clock with a 4.4 GHz CPU speed and memory running at a cool 1960MHz. This base clock speed is the highest I've been able to achieve with an Intel Z77-based board to this point, proving the MSI did their homework in designing the Z77 MPOWER. System stability was tested over a 17 hour period with LinX running for 500 loops with Memory set to All and FurMark running at 1280×1024 resolution and 2x MSAA in stress test mode.
Overclocking page settings
- CPU Base Frequency [10kHz] – 10500
- Adjust CPU Ratio – 42
- Internal PLL Overvoltage – Enabled
- EIST – Enabled
- Intel Turbo Boost – Disabled
- Enhanced Turbo – Disabled
- CPU Core Voltage – 1.2750
- CPU I/O Voltage – 1.150
- DRAM Voltage – 1.6255
- System Agent Voltage(SA) – 1.0850
- CPU PLL Voltage – 1.7500
- PCH 1.05 – 1.0995
Memory Configuration settings
- DRAM Reference Clock – 266
- DRAM Frequency – DDR3-1866MHz
- tCL – 11
- tRCD – 11
- tRP – 11
- tRAS – 30
- Command Rate – 1
Very very
Very very nice!
:EDIT:
Nevermind, Im a dufus. Shouldnt read hard reviews on the john with the Kindle.
Anyway, is 8x4x4x Sli really worth it? Say 3 GTX 670s?
8x vs 16x shows differences
8x vs 16x shows differences of around ~5%. x4 shows about ~30% of difference, so certainly NOT worth it.
That’s
That’s BS:
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/Intel/Ivy_Bridge_PCI-Express_Scaling/images/perfrel.gif,
PCI-E 3.0 x4 equals to PCI-E 2.0 x8, which is easily sufficient for a triple GPU setup.
Why do you consistantly keep on going around making up bullcrap Rafal? Stuart? Is your name even Rafal or Stuart? Oh nvm, you’re a total moron…
The CMOS battery location
The CMOS battery location isn’t as big of an issue thanks to the rear-panel CMOS-clear button. I am a big fan of the current MSI Z77 stuff and this board is probably the best mix of high end features and overclockability you’re going to find in the sub-$200 range.
Overclocking Results page is
Overclocking Results page is using the same CPU-Z screenshot for both frequencies. The 4.2Ghz one is missing.
Otherwise great review!
Thank you for poiting that
Thank you for poiting that out cyberwire. The images on that page have been corrected…
Has anyone get the phase LEDs
Has anyone get the phase LEDs to change in Windows 8? during system boot up they blink but in windows 8 they all stay on.
Thanks,
Have not played with the
Have not played with the board in Windows 8, but teh BIOS does have Windows 8 specific settings. You may want to try messing with those setting to see if you have any better luck…
AMD does not have FXAA, so
AMD does not have FXAA, so how can this be in the Batman test settings w/ an AMD 5870?
I really want to know, because I cannot duplicate your Batman test w/ this setup.
With the 5870, I have the
With the 5870, I have the option in the graphics options screen (not in game, only accessible from startup) to force FXAA type rendering, as shown below