i7-8086K not running at 5.0Ghz despite 100% Core0 usage

[Ray Proudfoot]

I recently bought a new computer for running P3D v4 exclusively. It has an Intel i7-8086K processor with a base speed of 4.0Ghz but with Turbo Boost it can run Core0 up to 5Ghz. It can only run that core at that speed with others running at a slower speed.

What I cannot understand is even at my most demanding location - London Heathrow - with Core0 running at 100% the system reports Core0 is only running at 4.4Ghz. Why can't it run at the full 5Ghz?

With v4.4 more processing has been passed to the other cores and that's a great thing. But I still feel short-changed that my i7-8086K cannot run at its maximum rated speed.

Is there anyone from L-M who could explain if this is intentionally done by the program? The system is not overclocked as such. HyperThreading is also enabled and Chillblast (the builders) advise it should remain on. What's the official line from L-M on that? System dependent or always on or off?

[AnkH]

That is how the turbo of Intel processors work. Single-Core turbo of 5GHz means that Core0 can boost up to 5.0GHz if it is the ONLY core being used. As soon as any other core is used by the same software, you will not get the max. Single Core Turbo anymore, but the 2, 3, 4 or all core Turbo and in the case of the i7-8086K, this is 4.3GHz.

https://techreport.com/review/33786/int ... u-reviewed

Means: if you want that changed, you need to go into your BIOS and change the settings accordingly, commonly known as overclocking ;-)

[Ray Proudfoot]

Thanks for your reply Chris and the link. Interesting to note it performs identical to the 8700K once 2 or more cores are used. I bought the computer because I’m not comfortable overclocking it myself.

Ultimately I doubt overclocking to 5 on all cores would give me much more performance and the heat levels will rise significantly. I’m satisfied there’s nothing wrong with the setup. I just got taken in by the headline 5Ghz marketing ploy by Intel.

[lkalam]

Ray,

overclocking has become "simpler" nowadays and with a good liquid cooling system in place (Corsair Liquid Cooling 110i is what I am using, if I recall the title correctly), you can easily gain a good 10% of performance with moderate overclocking settings, without a huge risk of frying anything.

Lefteris

[Ray Proudfoot]

Lefteris, you get everywhere! 😎

I’ve been told it’s much easier these days with programs doing much of it automatically. But as the PC came with a two year warranty I’m reluctant to change anything at this point. I’ll ask Chillblast (the builders) where I stand regarding overclocking it myself.

Performance is wonderful so my question is more out of curiosity than need.

[kevinfirth]

Hmm, Ray you'll recall I did say on another forum that you'd been sold something that wasn't performing as advertised really.. :(
I'd go further than Lefteris, as long as you have a decent AIO water cooler you can bump up the multiplier to 48 easily I would have thought. My 8700K runs at 5GHz on all cores, using 1.4v, runs between 60-80 deg C under max load. Its so easy to do, and free performance. I'm sure there are plenty of videos on youtube about how to do it using your mobo….

Cheers K

[Ray Proudfoot]

Kevin, thank you for your post but the reason I posted here was to find out information from L-M about how they assign the processing in P3D. I don’t want to continue the conversation about overclocking. I made it clear in the other place I risk invalidating my warranty if I start going down the overclocking route without the agreement of Chillblast.

I would appreciate a response from L-M that would help me best understand how I can maximise performance from my i7-8086K. I chose it on the understanding it could run one core at 5Ghz but I’m seeing no more than 4.4Ghz. I feel I’ve been missold.

[lkalam]

I'm with Kevin on this one, regarding overclocking - it's not trivial, but really not all that difficult either. The chips do tend to vary in quality, though, some can overclock a lot (5.1 / 5.2) and some not that much (4.8 / 4.9). But they will certainly withstand a good amount of overclocking anyway.

I would say ask Chillblast - I think they tend to allow overclocking, but don't take my word for it...

[Ray Proudfoot]

I’ll write to Chillblast and include this discussion. The crazy thing is nearly all the cores run at 5.0Ghz when there’s nothing running. It’s so frustrating.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I've written to Chillblast and linked this discussion. I said I felt I wasn't getting the performance the CPU is capable of as Turbo Boost only kicks in when one core is being used. P3D uses several as we know so it's stuck at 4.4 instead of up to 5.

Given the i7-8086K is a refined version of the i7-8700K it should be more than capable of achieving anything that procesor can deliver.

My motherboard - Asus Prime Z370-AII - gets god reviews and is capable of handling CPUs of this quality. Hopefully as satisfactory solution can be achieved.

[AnkH]

I've written to Chillblast and linked this discussion. I said I felt I wasn't getting the performance the CPU is capable of as Turbo Boost only kicks in when one core is being used. P3D uses several as we know so it's stuck at 4.4 instead of up to 5.

Ray, did you really understand the link I provided above? It is not "instead" or "not achieve what it can deliver", your 8086K is delivering EXACTLY what it should according to the specs by Intel. If you want 5.0GHz on core0 even if more than a single core is used, you need to adjust this manually in your BIOS. Same goes (of course) if you want 5.0GHz on all six cores.

As you have "8086K o/c to 5GHz" in your signature, I think that Chillblast is advertising the computer not correctly or simply fooling customers by this "o/c to 5GHz" designation. Or they simply forgot the overclocking in your case (you would not be the first buying an overclocked complete system not really being overclocked).

[Ray Proudfoot]

Chris, yes I did understand the link as Chillblast provided the same diagram. Anyway, I've heard back from them and although they caution against overclocking they have provided instructions on how to increase the clock speed.

This is what they have provided:-

Once you’re happy it’s working restart into BIOS (repeatedly press Del key during start-up)
F7 -> Advance Mode
A.I Tweaker
A.I Overclock Tuner -> XMP
AVX Negative Offset -> 2
CPU Core Ratio -> Sync All Cores
1 Core Ratio -> 45
Tool Tab -> O.C. Profiles -> Label = 4.5Ghz; Save to Profile 2

Looking at my receipt it does include an overclock service of up to 20%. Seems they may have overlooked that. I'll amend my sig in the next few days.

[AnkH]

Honestly, this can't be really called overclocking anymore what Chillblast now wrote to you. The Standard all core Turbo of the 8086K is 4.3GHz, means you have now "overclocked" your CPU by a solid 4.5%... (where did you get this 20% from?). Then, those options Chillblast wrote you will result in 4.5GHz, yes, but no adjustments in voltage, no testings, nothing. Furthermore, with the CPU set up as this, you will not profit from more than 4.5GHz anymore if you use software that uses only one, two or three cores... Anyway, if you have a working system now and P3D runs nice, take it as it is and enjoy the flying :-)

For the future, I would seriously reconsider buying so called overclocked pre-assembled systems by Chillblast...