ASRock Unveils SKY OC Technology

[btarunr]

Intel Skylake K series CPUs are on every hardcore overclocker's wish list, due to the fact that they are the only ones with an unlocked multiplier that allows users to overclock the CPU frequency effortlessly. However, there seems to be a shortage of these ultra high performing processors lately. Thankfully ASRock has prepared a nice Christmas present for the overclocking community named SKY OC, an alternative for users to overclock any Intel Skylake i7/i5/i3 or even Pentium non K CPUs on their ASRock Z170 motherboard.

Engineers at ASRock picked up from where they left off last time, and decided that besides DDR4 memory modules, there might be a way to overclock Intel non-K CPUs without tinkering the multiplier. So here you have the game changing SKY OC which is obtainable simply by a BIOS upgrade from ASRock's official website. It's not the same as overclocking an Intel K series CPU, because it's mainly changing the BCLK, but it will be an interesting alternative while people are still waiting for their K series CPUs to come down the chimney. Lab tests show that the once not overclockable Intel Core i5-6400 CPU can now be overclocked up to a 60% frequency boost with SKY OC on ASRock's Z170 Pro4!



One might wonder, "this is too good to be true, what's the catch?" Well, if you had to ask, there are two almost unnoticeable limitations. The first one is the onboard Intel graphics will be disabled while SKY OC is applied, meaning that users are required to install a graphics card. The second limitation is that CPU Turbo Ratio and C-State will also be disabled.

While ASRock SKY OC breathes life into Intel non K series CPUs, currently it is still exclusive to motherboards with Intel's Z170 chipset. But have faith in ASRock's skillful engineers, sooner or later more Christmas gifts from ASRock are going to be delivered.

List of BIOS versions that support SKY OC.


View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[cdawall]

Yea I just saw this on their webpage when I was downloading the BIOS for my AM1 setup that they did the same thing with. Good on Asrock.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Intel Skylake K series CPUs are on every hardcore overclocker's wish list, due to the fact that they are the only ones with an unlocked multiplier that allows users to overclock the CPU frequency effortlessly. However, there seems to be a shortage of these ultra high performing processors lately. Thankfully ASRock has prepared a nice Christmas present for the overclocking community named SKY OC, an alternative for users to overclock any Intel Skylake i7/i5/i3 or even Pentium non K CPUs on their ASRock Z170 motherboard.

Engineers at ASRock picked up from where they left off last time, and decided that besides DDR4 memory modules, there might be a way to overclock Intel non-K CPUs without tinkering the multiplier. So here you have the game changing SKY OC which is obtainable simply by a BIOS upgrade from ASRock's official website. It's not the same as overclocking an Intel K series CPU, because it's mainly changing the BCLK, but it will be an interesting alternative while people are still waiting for their K series CPUs to come down the chimney. Lab tests show that the once not overclockable Intel Core i5-6400 CPU can now be overclocked up to a 60% frequency boost with SKY OC on ASRock's Z170 Pro4!



One might wonder, "this is too good to be true, what's the catch?" Well, if you had to ask, there are two almost unnoticeable limitations. The first one is the onboard Intel graphics will be disabled while SKY OC is applied, meaning that users are required to install a graphics card. The second limitation is that CPU Turbo Ratio and C-State will also be disabled.

While ASRock SKY OC breathes life into Intel non K series CPUs, currently it is still exclusive to motherboards with Intel's Z170 chipset. But have faith in ASRock's skillful engineers, sooner or later more Christmas gifts from ASRock are going to be delivered.

List of BIOS versions that support SKY OC.

This is huge! Especially for a build im doing for my sister and her boyfriend. Was going to be the Pro4 in, and then clock the i3 they are going to get to like 4.0/4.2 to give them some more performance. Without having to bust out another $100 for an i5.

 

[wagana]

Will there be BIOS updates for H170/B150 mbs or intel won't let do that to that level?
It'd be nice to see another budget OC build with an OCed Pentium G4500 running its mighty HD530

EDIT: I don't see any real reason of the GPU being disabled unless is to prevent people forgetting to tweak iGPU multi... still, I don't think locking the iGPU is a great thing

 

[xvi]

Huh. I assume by "CPU Turbo Ratio disabled" they mean "runs at turbo multi constantly"? I assume the integrated GPU is a common weakness and just requiring it to be disabled improves overclock results a good bit? (..or is it more of a thermal/VRM thing?)

 

[RejZoR]

AsRock is kinda known for doing this...

 

[dreamer2908]

Will there be BIOS updates for H170/B150 mbs or intel won't let do that to that level?
It'd be nice to see another budget OC build with an OCed Pentium G4500 running its mighty HD530

EDIT: I don't see any real reason of the GPU being disabled unless is to prevent people forgetting to tweak iGPU multi... still, I don't think locking the iGPU is a great thing

My wild guess is that the iGPU can't handle OCed speed well, so it can negatively affect the system stability if not disabled. iGPU clock is still linked to BCLK as far as I know.

 

[rooivalk]

AsRock is kinda known for doing this...

Yeah, Asrock in my eyes is successor of Abit.

 

[MGF Derp]

Will there be BIOS updates for H170/B150 mbs or intel won't let do that to that level?
It'd be nice to see another budget OC build with an OCed Pentium G4500 running its mighty HD530

EDIT: I don't see any real reason of the GPU being disabled unless is to prevent people forgetting to tweak iGPU multi... still, I don't think locking the iGPU is a great thing

You probably wont see H170/B170 boards with an unlocked bios as AsRock, Asus, and MSI (Asus and MSI have experimental bios for there Z170 boards) are able to unlock this feature only on boards that have an external clock gen. Any board that does not have one Z170 or otherwise will not be able to overclock a non K chip.

 

[newconroer]

Isn't using a non standard BCLK still frowned upon except in the most extreme of over clocking scenarios or attempts?

 

[xvi]

Isn't using a non standard BCLK still frowned upon except in the most extreme of over clocking scenarios or attempts?

I don't see why it would be. It's certainly a bit more difficult than raising just the CPU multi, but I wouldn't call it extreme. Just have to think about more things.

 

[H82LUZ73]

IS Dave going to do a review on this ?

 

[cadaveca]

IS Dave going to do a review on this ?

What are you looking for in a review? Confirmation it works, or a performance increase comparison?

I do have a non-K 6600 and I do have the Fatal1ty Z170 GAMING K6+. I do have benchmarks from said chip running @ 140 BCLK and a bit over 4.6 GHz (with nearly 3200 MHz DDR4). I posted a screenshot in the other thread about this subject (pre-release).

But I am not currently TPU's CPU reviewer, and I do have other stuff to review. So I could write up a review, for sure, but I need a clear idea of what you want before undertaking such (I'll have to talk to W1zz about it first, of course).

 

[H82LUZ73]

What are you looking for in a review? Confirmation it works, or a performance increase comparison?

I do have a non-K 6600 and I do have the Fatal1ty Z170 GAMING K6+. I do have benchmarks from said chip running @ 140 BCLK and a bit over 4.6 GHz (with nearly 3200 MHz DDR4). I posted a screenshot in the other thread about this subject (pre-release).

But I am not currently TPU's CPU reviewer, and I do have other stuff to review. So I could write up a review, for sure, but I need a clear idea of what you want before undertaking such (I'll have to talk to W1zz about it first, of course).

Yeah ,was wondering also if the FSB from this increases the temps of an non k chip.Will it also effect performance over time too,I see it as a good thing for non k intel users ,but will they get burned from it over time.

 

[xvi]

Yeah ,was wondering also if the FSB from this increases the temps of an non k chip.

As I understand it, the transistors will be in an on state more often, so yes, temps will increase. Since more things are being overclocked in the CPU, I'd imagine the temps would be slightly higher than overclocking via multiplier, but that difference is likely negligible (those extra parts shouldn't be a major contributor to heat).

Will it also effect performance over time too,I see it as a good thing for non k intel users ,but will they get burned from it over time.

Only if they increase voltage beyond a reasonable amount, same as any processor. I think the thing that burns out processors like that is electromigration. Not 100% on that though.

 

[Steven B]

You probably wont see H170/B170 boards with an unlocked bios as AsRock, Asus, and MSI (Asus and MSI have experimental bios for there Z170 boards) are able to unlock this feature only on boards that have an external clock gen. Any board that does not have one Z170 or otherwise will not be able to overclock a non K chip.

That isn't entirely true.

That list has the board: Z170 Gaming -ITX/ac, and that board doesn't have a discrete clock generator (i looked hard for one when i was taking pictures for review).

Also the PCH supplies dedicated BLCk and separate dedicated DMI/PCIe bus clocks by default, adding in the extra clock generator allows for BLCK margins of over 200MHz to be easier to accomplish than if using the integrated BLCK in the PCH (I would assume its easier to go higher even before 200mhz tho). This BIOS hack seems to trick the CPU into always thinking the BLCK is 100MHz, at least that is what I think it would be.

EDIT: I toned the post down b/c it's the holidays!