Xeon X3470 features only 4C Turbo, never 2C or 1C Turbo regardless of settings.
Xeon X3470 features only 4C Turbo, never 2C or 1C Turbo regardless of settings.
Mainboard: AsRock P55 Pro USB3 (verified BIOS 1.00 - 1.50)
CPU: Intel Xeon X3470 (Server version i7-870)
Operating System: Windows 7 & 10
This processor features a 4C/3C Turbo Multi of 24 @ 3.20 GHz, a 2C @ 26 @ 3.46 GHz and a 1C @ 27 @ 3,60 GHz. Regardless of BIOS version, the settings in BIOS (EIST, C1A, TurboMode, C-States...) always show only the 4C/3C Turbo at 24 active. I rarely encounter the 2C/1C Turbo. Tools like CPU-Z, HWInfo, Task Manager or Intel's own "Turbo Boost Technology Monitor" consistently display a maximum of 3.20 GHz. The CPU-Z benchmark and Prime95 tests with only 1C/1T reveal a much higher performance. On my workstation using i5-6600 with Windows 10, I often see 3.80 GHz 2C Turbo and 3.90 GHz 1C Turbo. To achieve this, I must manually enable just two cores in BIOS. That way I get the 3.46 GHz 2C Turbo Multi at 26, and with only one core active I reach the 3.60 GHz 1C Turbo Multi at 27.
[Source links provided]
Just a bit of a jump with the BIOS for better speed, but these parts need to be updated or they’ll be super sluggish because they’re from the first generation. You won’t really hit the top end of the all-core multiplier (24) on a real 200-224MHz overclock—only around 20 or 21 since they cap near 4.2-4.4GHz before needing way more voltage. The ideal voltage is between 1.3 and 1.35V for best results, but don’t go higher than about 1.6V; above that it’ll crash instantly (~2.1V). I see the same pattern on the 1156 chip too, so this is expected behavior.
Only with two RAM sticks can I reach a BCLK above 200. With four sticks the maximum drops to 187. Going higher isn’t working—no boot. Still, 8GB won’t cut it for Age II DE. A 187 x 22 combo gives about 4.1 GHz at around 1.45v, but it won’t run stably. For older Windows 7, I’m using a 163 x 24 setup at 3.9 GHz and 1.325v. For power efficiency, I keep it at stock in Windows 10, hoping the 1C works just fine.
To conserve energy, consider trading in that combo and invest the funds into a budget-friendly H61/71 + Ivy Bridge i5. This setup will lower power consumption while maintaining solid gaming performance. Even if you don’t hit at least 200 MHz clock speed, the performance remains acceptable. Make sure your VTT/QPI voltage is set between 3800-4000 for an uncore of around 1.45V – this is safe and reliable. It also affects RAM and BCLK stability. Don’t accept claims that 1.35V is the absolute limit; you can safely run at 1.55V without problems. Raising PCIe frequency to about 115 MHz helps performance, especially with higher BCLK speeds, but avoid pushing it too high since top-end chips need extra voltage.
OC, OC, OC... That can't be the solution for everything. I just want to know, why this CPU / Board Combo doesn't do Turbo like it should. Other peoples X3470 obviously can do it. My CPU is ~ 10% better than average. That alone is something. If that would transfer into 1T performance as well...
Check ThrottleStop and the C States window during idle. Ensure core C states are enabled for proper turbo boost. The ThrottleStop window will display this. Some older BIOS features may be faulty. Activate C states in BIOS; if turbo boost remains unresponsive, reset to defaults via your Windows power plan. Share a screenshot of ThrottleStop while CPU loads and run the built-in TS Bench - 1 Thread test. Also capture the turbo ratios. The BIOS might restrict higher turbo multipliers.
The unusual 140.980 BCLK result stems from the BIOS OC configuration labeled "Optimized." Switching to "Auto" or "Manual" brings the BCLK down to 133.333, but it doesn't improve turbo performance. The multiplier setting of "23 T" appears when Multi is enabled in BIOS; turning it to "Auto" activates a "TurboMode" option, which is enabled by default. Disabling Turbo via "Disable Turbo" changes the outcome. FID remains fixed at 24. Removing "C1E" and adjusting "SpeedStep" (press Save) then sets it to 24, followed by toggling "Disable Turbo" – this triggers a change.
This picture serves as proof that only two cores were engaged. Now this small trick really shows me the Multi 26 setup. Of course not the single-core Multi for 27, but at least it helps explain why CPU usage varies so much.
Where can I find an image of the C States window on a desktop computer when it's idle? Activating the core C States setting controls whether your CPU can access the maximum turbo boosters. The default value is 22. If you're using ThrottleStop on these older processors, enable turbo multipliers by checking the Set Multiplier option and choosing a number one higher than the base, which is 23 T.
FID idle on desktop with a 1T workload and the multiplier option enabled splits the load across two cores. When the multiplier isn't selected, it shows one task at 100.0, matching the screenshots. Pressing "Turn Off" next to "TS Bench" also results in just one task at 100.0, even if the multiplier is checked or not.