A new PC might be operating with reduced efficiency.
A new PC might be operating with reduced efficiency.
Hello everyone, after consulting this forum for quite some time to address my PC problems, I've finally decided to join and connect with the community.
Recently, I built my gaming PC and, wanting to overclock it, I've read numerous threads and watched many videos to understand the process. Finally, I began working on it.
Here’s what I currently have:
- Intel i5 6600k @ 3.5GHz
- GTX 1070 8GB MSI
- G. Skill 16GB DDR4 memory (base frequency 2132MHz)
- ASRock Fatal1ty K4 motherboard
- WD 1TB Blue HDD
- Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD
- Corsair CX650M PSU
I started by downloading software to analyze my current performance. I chose CPU-Z and reviewed the data, which made me suspect that my PC might be running slower than expected (though I'm not an expert).
Below are some screenshots from CPU-Z:
This is for the CPU. As you can see, the core speed changes between 800 and up to 2800 MHz.
My concern is why these fluctuations are so extreme—are they normal?
For RAM, I found reviews stating it comes out at around 2133MHz. I tried enabling the XMP profile to push it to 3000MHz, as advertised. Now I’m wondering: why isn’t it reaching 3000MHz? Or is there something missing?
I know the frequency shown in CPU-Z refers to "1-channel," but since my RAM is dual-channel, I had to double it. However, even after doing so, the readings are around 800MHz, which is lower than the rated speeds.
In summary, my question is: am I misinterpreting these numbers? If not, how can I proceed with fixing this?
Thank you in advance for any advice!
The gaming app may boost both CPU and GPU performance, but avoid using it with non-MSI boards. Keep it silent, remove it, then apply Afterburner to overclock only the GPU. This adjustment seems to influence CPU clock speeds since the app is already overclocked. You don’t have to adjust RAM frequency manually—just enable XMP in BIOS via a one-click setting. Ideally, reset all OC parameters to defaults in BIOS, remove the app, and check your current settings.
The multiplier and baseclock are adjustable and will operate at full specifications only when needed, which is completely normal. Also, in CpuZ it mentions 1066MHz RAM, which equals 2133MHz (Double Data Rate). This has no relation to single or dual channel configurations. Regarding XMP, have you turned it on in BIOS? The Performance setting seems problematic, and it might be due to third-party software affecting it. Do you have the MSI Gaming App installed, for instance?
The multiplier and baseclock are adjustable and will operate at full capability only when needed, which is completely normal. Also, in CpuZ it lists 1066MHz RAM, which equals 2133MHz (Double Data Rate). This information doesn’t relate to single or dual channel configurations. Regarding XMP, have you activated it in BIOS? The Performance setting seems problematic, and it might be due to third-party software affecting it. For instance, do you have the MSI Gaming App installed?
Thanks for your time, Multipack.
Concerning the XMP profile, I attempted to configure it at 3000MHz with a voltage of 1.35V (auto config). As I’m not an expert, this overclocking adjustment is still unfamiliar territory for me.
I also have the MSI Gaming App installed, which I use to run my GPU in OC mode.
The gaming app may boost both CPU and GPU performance, but avoid using it with non-MSI boards. Keep it silent, remove it, then use Afterburner to overclock only the GPU. This adjustment seems to be altering the CPU clock speed since it's already overclocked by the app. You shouldn't manually adjust RAM frequency; the BIOS offers a one-click XMP profile setup. Ideally, reset all OC parameters to defaults in BIOS, remove the app, and check your current settings.