Bios update didn't raise performance to 5GHz.
Bios update didn't raise performance to 5GHz.
Hello everyone, I just updated my Asus Z690 Tuf Gaming Plus Wifi D4 motherboard BIOS from 1304 to 1504. Everything looks fine now, and I've seen a slight improvement in DPC latency, which is helpful for audio work. I've noticed that none of the cores in my 12700K reach 5GHz anymore. Back then, under heavy load there would always be a couple of cores boosting to 5GHz, but that doesn't seem to happen now. I haven't changed any settings in the BIOS beyond the default XMP 1 and Turbo 3 remains enabled. I know Turbo 3 is supposed to allow limited boosts, and Cinebench R23 shows CPU speeds around 4.7-4.9 depending on core count—typical if Turbo 3 is off. It seems like it might be something else causing the issue. Any suggestions? Thanks!
The performance remains consistent across your 12700k unit without extra tuning. At standard configurations, it caps around 4.7GHz per core. I stick with the default for better thermal stability. Only boost manually if you need higher speeds.
You can also use CPU contact frames from brands such as ThermalRight or Thermal Grizzly. This may reduce CPU temps just enough to enable core speeds of 100-200 MHz higher.
Thanks for your response johnt. You're correct—if I want more speed I can consider a tweak. But my goal isn't necessarily to make things faster; it's more of an experiment. I haven't done any overclocking before, and a couple of cores would typically reach 5Ghz, which doesn't usually happen. Isn't Turbo Boost 3 designed for this? I don't need it to be faster, but I'm not thrilled about the slower performance with the same settings and temperatures as before. Appreciate the insight from 191x7—would like to understand why this is happening.
I'm still figuring this out. ASUS might have made changes that affect speed selection, possibly updating something not listed in the specs. It could be they're using a broader range of CPUs now. They might have adjusted how they test coolers for Z690 models. In my Cinebench tests, I see a brief jump to around 4.9 GHz followed by a drop to 4.7 GHz, with a possible 5.0 GHz peak but it's minimal. I also found more details in Intel ARK that adds to the confusion. Their speed ratings depend on temperature and timing, so it's all about context.
Confused. It seems the 12700K, even when available at full price, has only a few cores for boosting to 5GHz. My setup used to work that way now. Strange.
I've tried using ThrottleStop to investigate possible issues. When I click the Limits button, it displays a red 'EDP OTHER' in the Ring column—anyone know what that means? ThrottleStop also indicates SpeedStep is active while Speed Shift remains off. I assumed Speed Shift was the newer, more efficient option. What does everything signify? Any additional insights on why my machine might be throttling would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
@jamieboo When ThrottleStop encounters throttling issues, share some screenshots of ThrottleStop so I can review your configuration. EDP OTHER (Electrical Design Point) typically relates to one of the current limits. Your BIOS might have this threshold set too low—check if there’s anything red under the Limit Reasons CORE column. Take a screenshot when your CPU is loading and when it starts throttling. Include the main window, the Limit Reasons window, as well as FIVR and TPL windows. Also capture a screenshot of ThrottleStop during a TS Bench - 1 Thread test; this should display the maximum multiplier. If numerous background tasks are active, the 50 multiplier won’t apply. At standard settings, C states should be enabled for turbo boost to function as Intel specifies. Look at the ThrottleStop C States window to verify which C states remain active when your PC is idle. Speed Shift must be turned on in the BIOS if you wish to use this feature. If ThrottleStop or HWiNFO indicates SST in green, it means Speed Shift is enabled inside the CPU.
@jamieboo Consider boosting IccMax to its highest value, 255.75, for each CPU core, CPU P Cache, and CPU E Cache. If this resolves the EDP OTHER throttling concern, examine the BIOS settings and adjust IccMax accordingly. Your turbo ratios are configured to apply a 50 multiplier when only one core is active. The issue lies in Windows frequently activating extra cores in the background, preventing the 50 multiplier from being utilized during stress tests. If you wish for more frequent use of the 50 multiplier, adjust the turbo ratios from top to bottom as 50, 50, 50, 49, 49, 48, 47, 47 or similar. This should encourage the CPU to leverage the 50 multiplier more often during the TS Bench - 1 Thread test. You can modify turbo settings in ThrottleStop or make adjustments while the benchmark runs. The main ThrottleStop display shows SST in green, indicating Speed Shift Technology is enabled. The FIVR monitoring table reveals an EPP value of 128, which governs how the CPU responds to light loads. I favor the Windows High Performance power plan, setting EPP to 0 for optimal speed regardless of workload. An EPP of 128 may hinder peak performance. If you're using the Windows Balanced plan, switch to High Performance via ThrottleStop; this might also aid the multiplier. Sometimes Windows masks the High Performance option. If this persists, after selecting High Performance in ThrottleStop, verify that the Windows Power Options now display it. Once in High Performance, review the FIVR table to confirm the EPP setting being applied. Remember to remove the ThrottleStop.INI file after making BIOS changes, or else ThrottleStop will overlook the updates and revert to prior configurations.