You can hear world records shattered with every CPU and GPU release. It's a bit of a thing amongst motherboard manufacturers. Last week Gigabyte issued a press release indicating a win of an 8 GHz Alder Lake overclock. But that doesn't turn out he be a complete truth.
The creator of the CPU-Z Validator, Doc TB, has refuted Gigabyte's 8 GHz world record on an Intel Core i9-12900K processor. According to the developer, Intel's new flagship Alder Lake didn't hit 8 GHz. Early Alder Lake samples had false overclocks ranging from 8 GHz to 12 GHz, according to the developer. An errata exists with a ratio over 63. In some circumstances, the internal CPU PLL fails to stick and reports the old ratio while reporting the new. Although the flaw was found before launch, it was too late to repair the silicon. It also doesn't affect 99.99 percent of Intel users.
Even though the issue didn't affect most people, Intel developed a patch. The answer is to add the HW register "FLL OC MODE" to the new microcode (0x12). Once enabled, the internal CPU locks the PLL with ratios exceeding 63. "FLL OC MODE" was added in CPU-Z 1.98. Doc TB also used CPU-Z Validator to check for microcode version, core throttling, and the "FLL OC MODE" register to invalidate contributions that exploited the flaw. He has since provided some Alder Lake overclocking data. 7 GHz on all cores is reportedly doable, however, single-core overclocks are limited to 7.5–7.6 GHz. In fact, many CPUs struggled to 7.5 GHz, and overclockers were only a few MHz apart. 100+ samples are involved. Gigabyte's promotion of its 8 GHz overclock on social media and in a press release aroused some eyebrows. "FLL OC MODE" was verified by Gigabyte's in-house overclocker, HiCookie, on November 3 using CPU-Z 1.98, which already contains the feature. The fact that the overclocker didn't submit the result to HWBot raises some questions. However, if you have access to the BIOS source code, as many overclockers who work with motherboard suppliers do, Doc TB can think of a way around Intel's workaround. Altering the CPU ratio and then updating the microcode to enable "FLL OC MODE" on boot is one possible remedy. When the check is enabled, the processor runs slower than the stated figure. This doesn't happen out of the blue. It's deliberate meddling. If the PLL isn't locked down, the processor hard locks. So a reboot is required. Windows crashes are reported to Microsoft's telemetry, and Windows Defender can blacklist CPU-Z for that reason.
The CPU-Z team is helpless, and only Intel can fix the issue with new hardware stepping or a microcode patch. Admittedly, Intel is unlikely to spend more resources on a bug fix to help overclockers. If Gigabyte's overclocking is a publicity ploy, it will hurt both the company's and HiCookie's (one of the more renowned figures in the extreme overclocking scene) reputation.
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Featuring up to 20+1+2 phases digital power VRM design with each phase holding up to 105 amps and an improved Fins-Array III heatsink design, GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS lineup is geared with the best power design and thermal management to unleash the extreme performance and optimized overclocking ability on the new generation multi-core K series Intel® Core™ processors. The PCIe® 5.0 PCBs, slots, and components are also implemented in GIGABYTE’s Z690 AORUS motherboards for enhanced performance and stability. The exclusive SMD memory slots with metal shielding mask for anti- interference and the BIOS setting of DDR5 memory overclocking offer more stable signals to memory, which enable users to boost XMP and overclocking performance with stability. Select GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS motherboards offer feature-rich I/O with an integrated I/O shield as well as the newest Thermal Guard III design, Smart Fan 6 and much more. Performance, power management, thermals, audio, GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS motherboards check all the boxes for users seeking to take their computing firepower to the next level. For more Z690 AORUS information and overclocking performance, please refer to GIGABYTE’s official website.
Gigabyte Claims an 8 GHz Alder Lake Record, CPU_Z doesn't think that is the case
