Intel DZ77GA-70K, Performance Tuning Manual, Page: 23 / 35

Intel DZ77GA-70K / DZ77RE-75K Desktop Board Performance Tuning Guide
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The Intel Extreme Tuning Utility includes processor and memory stress testing
capabilities in addition to allowing the processor temperature to be monitored as
shown in Figure 3.5. Being able to stress test
sub-systems like the processor and
memory with relative independence is helpful. This enables you to determine which
sub-system has become unstable so you know which group of performance
parameters to revise. Revising processor parameters will not restore stability if
memory settings are actually causing the instability.
If processor temperature is steadily increasing or processor throttling is occurring
during stress testing then additional tuning or improved cooling is needed.
Once system stability has been established with stress testing software, recheck
system stability using your normal software applications to ensure stability.
Figure 3.5. Intel Extreme Tuning Utility System Monitoring Screen
3.6.4 Increase System Clock Frequency
With both the 2
nd
and 3
rd
generation Intel Core processor families, the system clock
frequency is limited to modest increases compared to earlier Intel processors. Limited
processor frequency increases can be done by raising the system clock speed and
leaving the turbo ratio multipliers unchanged. Performance tuning using the system
clock should be done to augment processor performance improvements already
obtained using turbo ratios. Note that system clock changes also affect frequency of
other systems, such as memory and PCI-Express in addition to the processor.