Market availability of the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X may be far away, given its September 2019 launch, but engineering samples (ESes) of the chip seem to be already in circulation. "uzzi38" on Twitter posted this spy-shot of a 3950X ES making short work of Cinebench R15. CPU-Z recognizes the chip by its codename "Matisse," and puts out the correct CPU core and thread count, but doesn't give a name-string. It also recognizes the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE motherboard this test is run on.

The purported Ryzen 9 3950X ES, overclocked to 5.42 GHz, scores a gargantuan 5,501 points in the multi-threaded benchmark. To put this number into perspective, at stock frequencies, a Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (same core-count, double the memory bus width), scores 3,645 points. The 3950X benefits from not just its massive overclock that's over 1 GHz higher than the stock TR-2950X, but also higher IPC, and a more consolidated memory interface. This feat goes to show that AMD's upcoming Ryzen chips love to overclock, and deliver a significantly higher single-thread performance over the previous generation.

Intel late-May made its first major disclosure of the per-core CPU performance gains achieved with its "Ice Lake" processor that packs "Sunny Cove" CPU cores. Averaged across a spectrum of benchmarks, Intel claims a best-case scenario IPC (instructions per clock) uplift of a massive 40 percent over "Skylake," and a mean uplift of 18 percent. The worst-case scenario sees its performance negligibly below that of "Skylake." Intel's IPC figures are derived entirely across synthetic benchmarks, which include SPEC 2016, SPEC 2017, SYSMark 2014 SE, WebXprt, and CineBench R15. The comparison to "Skylake" is relevant because Intel has been using essentially the same CPU core in the succeeding three generations that include "Kaby Lake" and "Coffee Lake."

A Chinese tech-forum member with access to an "Ice Lake" 6-core/12-thread sample put the chip through the CPU-Z internal benchmark (test module version 17.01). At a clock-speed of 3.60 GHz, the "Ice Lake" chip allegedly achieved a single-core score of 635 points. To put this number into perspective, a Ryzen 7 3800X "Matisse" supposedly needs to run at 4.70 GHz to match this score, and a Core i7-7700K "Kaby Lake" needs to run at 5.20 GHz. Desktop "Ice Lake" processors are unlikely to launch in 2019. The first "Ice Lake" processors are 4-core/8-thread chips designed for ultraportable notebook platforms, which come out in Q4-2019, and desktop "Ice Lake" parts are expected only in 2020.

Intel's upcoming 8-core/8-thread Core i7-9700K is in the news yet again, this time with a noteworthy overclocking feat of 5.30 GHz with all cores enabled, under air cooling. An enthusiast with access to an i7-9700K chip and an unknown motherboard posted blurrycam pictures of their setup and a CPU-Z screenshot showing 8-core/8-thread config, and 12 MB L3 cache, confirming this is an i7-9700K. The multiplier of this chip is dialed up to 53.0x, which multiplying the untouched base-clock works out to ~5.30 GHz. The core voltage made it to the screenshot - 1.215V.

The most impressive part about this feat is the cooling. A mainstream-looking tower-type cooler is used. Crossing 5.20 GHz with all cores enabled takes current-generation i7-8700K at least AIO liquid coolers. This is probably a testament to the soldered IHS the i7-9700K is equipped with, which improves heat transfer between the die and the IHS. Then again, it could also be the effect of a lack of HyperThreading. At higher overclocked speeds, disabling HTT on current-generation Core i7 processors contributes to stability.

German professional overclocker Dancop got the Intel Core i7-8700K processor to work on an ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex (Z270) motherboard, something that's not supposed to work. CPU-Z screenshots seem to confirm this unholy union between the 6-core "Coffee Lake" processor and a 200-series chipset motherboard, using a custom "0084" BIOS dated 11th June, 2018. Dancop then proceeded to overclock the chip to 7344 MHz using extreme cooling, and 2x 8 GB (dual-channel) DDR4-4000 memory. This bench-stable build was then used to bag a SuperPi 32M world-record.

There's a rather big catch, though. Half the cores on the i7-8700K were disabled, and so was HyperThreading (not that it's relevant to SuperPi). The 3-core/3-thread chip was still bench-stable at 7344 MHz, crunching SuperPi 32M in a world-record 7.609 seconds. The clock speed was achieved by dialing up the multiplier to 73.0x, with the base-clock probably untouched, at 100.61 MHz (with the +0.61 MHz probably being variance). Supporting this clock was a blistering core voltage of 1.984 V. A liquid-nitrogen evaporator was used to tame the CPU and motherboard VRM. Find the validation in the source link below.

First benchmarks and CPU-Z screenshots of AMD's upcoming Ryzen Threadripper 32-core monster have surfaced, courtesy of HKEPC. The on-time-for-launch (as AMD puts it) 12 nm "Pinnacle Ridge" processor has apparently been christened "Threadripper 2990X", which does make sense - should AMD be thinking of keeping the 2920X moniker for 12 cores and 1950X for 16-cores, then it follows a 20-core 2960X, a 24-core 2970X, a 28-core 2980X, and the aforementioned 32-core 2990X. whether AMD would want to offer such a tiered lineup of HEDT processors, however, is another matter entirely, and certainly open for discussion - too much of a good thing can actually happen, at least where ASP of the Threadripper portfolio is concerned.

On the CPU-Z screenshot, the 2990X is running at 3.4 GHz base with up to 4.0 GHz XFR, and carries a 250 W TDP - a believable and very impressive achievement, testament to the 12 nm process and the low leakage it apparently produces. The chip was then overclocked up to 4.2 GHz on all cores, which caused for some thermal throttling, since performance was lower than when the chip was clocked at just 4 GHz on all cores. Gains on this particular piece of silicon were reserved up to 4.12 GHz - the jump to 4.2 GHz must have required another bump in voltage that led to the aforementioned throttling. At 4.12 GHz, the chip scored 6,399 points in Cinebench - a remarkable achievement.

After a CPU-Z screenshot leaked of Intel's upcoming Coffee Lake hexa-core CPUs, which look to bring the fight to AMD's Ryzen, this time there are leaks of three different Intel 6-core processors. The previous CPU-Z screenshot apparently pointed towards Intel's upcoming 8700K six-core processor, with a base clock of 3.5 GHz and a boost clock of 4.3 GHz. The BCLK of the CPU was set at 100 MHz with a TDP of 80W.

In the new leak, the i7-8700K seems to have received a speed bump and accompanying TDP increase. It now sits at a reported 3.7 GHz base clock, 4 GHz boost for four and six cores, 4.2 GHz for dual-core workloads, and 4.3 GHz for single-core workloads under a 95 W TDP. The second leaked six-core processor still sits at that 95 W TDP, but has much lower core clocks than the purported 8700K: a 3.2 GHz base clock with 3.4 GHz boost for four and six cores, and a 3.6 GHz boost for one or two-core workloads. Both of these appear to be unlocked, overclockable chips (IA Overclock capable.) The last CPU in this leaked info is a 65 W chip whose clocks seem a little out of the other's league. It has a lower base clock of 3.1 GHz, granted, but a four and six core turbo up to 3.9 GHz. Dual core boost stands at 4.1 GHz, while single-core workloads see Turbo taking the ship up to 4.2 GHz. The lower base clocks and increased Turbo speeds mean that this is likely an i7 T series chip. Naturally, you should take this information with a bucket of salt.

Another day, another leak: the folks at XFastest have indeed been the fastest to leak images of an actual Ryzen 7 1700X processor, with pictures of the processor's IHS and pin area running rampant throughout the Internet (the Ryzen chip is located to the right in both pictures, with a sample of AMD's previous-generation FX CPUs on the left side for comparison sake).

While revealing shots may have their appeal, it's the benchmarking portion that most of us are expectant about. Until actual reviews are out, we're left nothing more than these leaks (which should be taken with appropriate amounts of salt). In this case, benchmarks of AMD's upcoming Ryzen 7 1700X have been released, showing just how the upcoming CPU delivers in 3D Mark Fire Strike, CPU Mark and Cinebench R15.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, announces the world's first DDR4 memory overclocking record to break past the mind-blowing 5GHz barrier, achieved with G.SKILL Trident Z Series DDR4 memory engineered with Samsung ICs and the MSI Z170I GAMING PRO AC motherboard. With this achievement in the official record books, the world's top 7 memory frequency records are now dominated by G.SKILL memory.

Surpassing the 5GHz frequency speed barrier had been the ultimate aspiration of the memory overclocking community since the last year's launch of the Intel Skylake platform. This historic milestone is finally succeeded today by the renowned Taiwanese overclocking legend, Toppc, under liquid nitrogen cooling. "We are extremely excited to achieve this great milestone together with Samsung components and MSI motherboard," says Tequila Huang, Corporate Vice President and Director of R&D, G.SKILL International. "We will continually push hardware performance to the limits and provide enthusiasts with even more advanced products."

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid state storage, is proud to announce that its Ripjaws 4 DDR4 memory has achieved the fastest air-cooling frequency record at DDR4 4062MHz on the ASRock X99M Killer/3.1 motherboard.

G.SKILL has been dedicated to unleash the maximum performance of DDR4 memory since its launch in August 2014. Working closely with ASRock, G.SKILL DDR4 memory is capable of reaching a new height of DDR4 memory frequency at a whopping 4062MHz! It is the fastest DDR4 frequency ever seen with both CPU and memory under standard air-cooling.

G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid state storage, is thrilled to announce a new record for fastest DDR4 memory frequency, set at 4355 MHz.

The record was set with G.SKILL's extreme performance Ripjaws 4 series DDR4 memory on the ASUS Rampage V Extreme motherboard and Intel i7-5960X processor under extreme cooling with liquid nitrogen. Check out the CPU-Z record validation here.

HyperX, a division of Kingston Technology, the independent world leader in memory products, today announced its HyperX Predator DDR4 memory was overclocked at 4351 MHz, the highest frequency among all DDR4 memory in the world. The mark was set by overclocker "Toppc" of MSI using one 4GB HyperX Predator 3333MHz DDR4 module on the new MSI X99S XPOWER AC motherboard. The valid CPU-Z screenshot can be found here. The video of the overclocking record can be found here.

In addition to having the highest frequency, 10 out of the top 20 memory clock records were achieved using HyperX Predator DDR4 memory. Eight of those records were set at the recent HyperX OC Takeover (HOT) World Finals event during 2015 International CES, where the world's top overclocker's gathered to compete for $15,000 (USD) in prize money. HyperX DDR4 memory currently also has the top scores in two other benchmarks recognized by HWBOT, MaxxMEM and MaxxMEM Read Bandwidth, respectively.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, is honored to announce that its XPG Z1 DDR4 3333 Gold Edition computer memory is able to clock up to 4255MHz CL17 when used with an ASUS ROG Rampage V Extreme motherboard cooled with liquid nitrogen. This creates a new overclocking world record for production line DDR4 memory.

In cooperation with motherboard manufacturers, ADATA strives to achieve the best performance in DDR4 memory compliant with the Intel X99 architecture. The XPG Z1 DDR4 3333 Gold Edition breaks the record with extremely high clock frequency of 4255MHz CL17, impressing both gamers and standard CPU clock users alike with outstanding sustained performance, cooling and stability! XPG Z1 DDR4 3333 overclocking memory keeps stable supply to fulfill the market demand, enabling every overclocker, gamer or enthusiast to pursue the ultimate in performance.

G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid-state storage, is extremely excited to announce a new memory record for fastest DDR4 memory frequency, set at 4255MHz CL18-18-18! This amazing achievement was attained on the Asus Rampage V Extreme motherboard (X99 chipset) and with the Intel i7-5960X processor, all under sub-zero liquid nitrogen cooling. Below is a screenshot of the record validation by CPU-Z (validation).

ADATA's claim of being the first memory maker with DDR4 overclocking modules wouldn't fly with anyone, if they weren't using a live Haswell-E HEDT platform to show it off. The system appears to be using a prototype Intel X99 chipset micro-ATX motherboard by ASRock, and a Haswell-E engineering sample. The module comes with JEDEC SPD profile of 2133 MHz, but claims to offer tons of overclocking headroom. The system was wired to a display, and evidently, CPU-Z can't read the memory config. It can, however, read out DRAM clock and timings. The system was doing 1373 MHz (2746 MHz DDR), with timings of 14-14-14-36-CR2T.

The world's leading motherboard brand ASRock announced the winner list of FM2 A10 OC COMPETITION with HWBOT, sponsored by AMD, PowerColor, ADATA, and Thermaltake today. CherV, the overclocker from Hong Kong, broke the world record of CPU-Z once again and achieved the highest 3DMark11 Performance with ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ and AMD A10-6800K CPU.

The final champion of CPU-Z and 3DMark11 Performance, CherV, achieved an all-time high CPU-Z score of 8520.22 MHz and highest 3DMark11 Performance score of P 3177 with ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+. With the amazing result, the final champion won the prizes worth over $5,000 USD, bonus prize of $2,000 USD, and extra $2,000 USD for breaking world records in 2 overclocking benchmarks.

ASUS has disclosed the details of the ASUS Open Overclocking Cup 2013 final which will be organized with support from Corsair. The AOOC 2013 final will be held in Moscow on October 5, 2013, as part of the Igromir 2013 expo to be hosted by the Crocus Expo Center from October 3 to 6, 2013. The ASUS booth will be located in Pavilion 1, Hall 1 of the Crocus Expo Center.

The ASUS Open Overclocking Cup 2013 final will be attended by the 13 overclocking teams from Europe and the CIS selected in the qualification round and by the winners of AOOC 2012. These are the best of the European overclocking scene, repeatedly placing in the top of HWBot.org with record-breaking results, so we can be sure that they can deliver their best in ASUS Open Overclocking Cup 2013 using components from ASUS Republic of Gamers and Corsair.

The world's leading motherboard brand ASRock today announced the winner list of the 8 Series OC Competition with HWBOT, sponsored by Intel, Kingston, Antec, Nvidia and Gainward. Two contestants broke the record for the highest Haswell CPU frequency and both crossed the threshold of 7.1GHz, which is also the only two in the world to exceeded 7.1GHz for the time being. The final champion of CPU-Z, Dfordog (China) reached an all-time high CPU-Z score of 7.13609 GHz with ASRock Z87 OC Formula and Intel Core i7 4770K Haswell CPU and won the bonus prize of USD1,000.

Besides the incredible result in the CPU-Z category, the final champion of memory clock CherV (Hong Kong) created a stunning score of 2155.7 MHz which ranks second on the worldwide memory frequency chart. The contest successfully generated awesome OC results with ASRock 8 series motherboards: Five scores entering the top 10 Haswell CPU frequency scores, two scores entering the HWBOT Super Pi 32M Hall of Fame and three scores entering the HWBOT Memory Clock Hall of Fame. The final and bi-weekly champions either utilized ASRock Z87 OC Formula or Z87M OC Formula, which strongly corroborates the power of Z87 OC Formula Series, regardless the form factor.

Last week, overclocking achievement and leaderboards site HWBot banned benchmark submissions from PCs running Windows 8, because the operating system doesn't correctly handle real-time clock (RTC), making it easy to spoof it. A little later, it surfaced that Intel processor-based machines are worse affected by the bug, than AMD-based ones, resulting in HWBot making an exception for AMD processor-based systems. Further analysis by overclocker Christian Ney from Ocaholic unearthed the root cause of the bug, and a fix.

Christian Ney collaborated with CPU-Z author Franck Delattre, who provided a utility that reads out four system timers in real-time (ACPI, HPET, RTC, and QPC), and what DMI frequency is calculated based on each timer. At default bus frequency for an Intel processor-based system (100 MHz), all four timers yield a consistent readout, however, on changing the bus frequency using a Windows-based program, for example from 100 MHz to 95 MHz, RTC and QPC readouts go off the rails. This, however, doesn't happen when the frequency is set using the system BIOS setup program, and the system is made to boot from the changed frequency. From this testing, it can be inferred that Windows 8 doesn't use ACPI or HPET, but an internal timer. Although the bug doesn't "appear" to affect AMD platforms, under some circumstances, it can. Based on the findings, a bug-fix was found to the issue, which has to be applied using a command-line setting. Perhaps HWBot could review its Windows 8 submission policy.

The new Z87 XPOWER, the top of the line overclocking motherboard recently broke all previous overclocking records for the Intel Core i7-4770K by validating a smashing 7068.52 MHz clock speed. All previous records were set on Engineering samples unavailable to normal users and the Z87 XPOWER record was set on a Retail CPU available in stores right now. This latest score puts MSI firmly at the top of Z87 Overclocking leaderboards.

It's not just an unlocked base-clock multiplier that separates the Core i7-4770 from the i7-4770K, but also a lower clock speed. The i7-4770 is clocked at 3.40 GHz, with 3.90 GHz maximum Turbo Boost speeds, while the i7-4770K enjoys a higher 3.50 GHz nominal clock speeds. Intel's new Core i7-4771 brings clock speed parity with the i7-4770K, while still lacking the unlocked multiplier. It's expected to eventually replace the i7-4770 from the product stack. VR-Zone scored a sample, and put it through a short battery of tests, that include 7-Zip, AIDA64 ZLib, and wPrime, screenshots of which are posted below, along with a CPU-Z snap. As expected, these numbers look consistent with those of a Core i7-4770K running at its stock speeds.

Launch of Intel's Core i7-4770K "Haswell" processor may be a month away, but the chip has been in circulation for some time now. An overclocker going by the handle "rtiueuiurei" managed to get an engineering sample of the chip past the 7 GHz mark, 7012.65 MHz to be precise. A base clock of 91.07 MHz, multiplier of 77.0x, and a staggering 2.56V core voltage, unless CPU-Z read it wrong. A single 2 GB memory module was used; no other details were revealed. Core i7-4770K and a fleet of compatible socket LGA1150 motherboards launch around the first week of June.

Global leading motherboard brand ASRock announced today to organize ASRock FM2 OC Competition with HWBOT, the top organization hosting the world's only 24/7 overclocking competition to bring together 35,000 participants and feature competitions in thousands of categories. The participants will be competing for the highest CPU-Z or 3DMark Vantage score which is submitted to HWBOT.org.

The contest, sponsored by several prestigious brands including AMD, Kingston and Cooler Master, starts from January 7 and runs until February 4. It is opened to all overclockers with ASRock brand motherboards and AMD Socket FM2 CPUs. The total prize is worth up to 6,740 dollars and the final champions of the CPU-Z and 3DMark Vantage event will be awarded with a top prize worth of 2,170 dollars respectively. The grand prize makes it one of the most eye-catching online OC competitions on FM2 platforms, which is estimated to attract enthusiastic overclockers worldwide.

Last week's 7.443 GHz overclocking feat of the AMD FX-8350 certainly wasn't the last of it, for the chip. Korean overclocker NAMEGT achieved a clock speed of 8176.47 MHz, with all eight cores enabled, and both DRAM channels populated. 8176.47 MHz was achieved with a base clock of 281.94 MHz, multiplier of 29X, and 1.932V to fuel the chip. ASUS ROG Crosshair V Formula-Z motherboard and Samsung-made DDR3 memory was used. The best performing chip was binned from two 12-chip trays. Cooling it all was trusty liquid nitrogen. Find the CPU-Z validation here, and HWBot certification here.

Beating their own OC record of 7.384 GHz set earlier this week, overclocker alvinkenzo took the $122 AMD A10-5800K APU all the way up to 7446.41 MHz, achieved with a base clock frequency of 120.1 MHz and 62.0x multiplier. The core voltage was set at 1.992V, and one of the two modules were disabled, a discrete graphics card was used. Memory speed wasn't tinkered with, at DDR3-1600 MHz, a pair of G.Skill-made modules were used in dual-channel configuration. Seating it all was MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 motherboard. The CPU-Z validation for the feat can be found here.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the GIGABYTE Classic Challenge II, the latest GIGABYTE overclocking competition hosted on HWBOT.org.

Open from September 1st through September 30th 2012, the GIGABYTE Classic Challenge II combines two exciting stages based on classic 3DMark01 and SuperPi 31M benchmarks. The overclocker with the highest points tally from both rounds will win a recently announced GIGBAYTE Z77X-UP7, with a 2nd place finish earning a GIGABYTE Z77X-UP5 TH. Another Z77X-UP7 will be awarded to the entrant with the most GIGABYTE Classic Challenge II submissions on HWBOT.