CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

[kornfan71]

Hi,
This is my first build, and I'm loving it so far, but I have an odd issue as stated in the thread title.
Hardware Involved:
Gigabyte EP43-UD3L mobo
Intel C2D e7400 @ 2.8 GHz (maybe...)
G.Skill 2x2 GB DDR2-1066 RAM

When I just threw everything together and turned it on, settings were as follows in the M.I.T Menu of BIOS:

-CPU Clock Ratio: 8x
-Fine CPU Clock Ratio: +0.5
-CPU Frequency: 2.26 GHz (266 x 8.5) *Mind you, a 2.8 GHz stock processor*

x CPU Host Frequency: 333 MHz *Control was disabled. Automatic value was incorrect (obviously 266 MHz)*

The memory frequency came to 1066 MHz, as it should have (which at these settings means that the RAM multiplier was at 4).

I knew this was wrong, since the frequency was marked as 2.26 GHz, but installed all of my operating systems anyway. (Win XP, Vista, Win 7, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Sabayon) All of my operating systems reported that my CPU was clocked at 2.8 GHz, though. (After turning off EIST. Beforehand, they also read 2.26 GHz)

I recently went back in and "fixed" all of the values, which gave me:

-CPU Clock Ratio: 8x
-Fine CPU Clock Ratio: +0.5
-CPU Frequency: 2.83 GHz (333 x 8.5)
-CPU Host Frequency: 333 MHz
The RAM multiplier was 3.20B, so RAM was still 1066 MHz.

I rebooted and checked Vista. It now reported that my processor was running at 3.5 GHz. I am not currently prepared for overclocking (I need to run more tests yet), but I obviously can't do anything until I find out the problem or at least a way to calculate my real CPU frequency, since something somewhere is obviously messed up. I rebooted and reset to the old values and I'm now using the 2.26 or 2.8 GHz settings.

All I can tell is that whatever the board tells me the frequency is, the OS says that it is 1.25 times higher (roughly).

I could only attach one screenshot, so hopefully it will help.

The other thing I noticed in CPU-Z was a FSB:DRAM ratio of 1:2. Could this have any bearing?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for long post.

If you need more info I'll be more than happy to supply it.

[kornfan71]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

I personally like this screenshot. Everest contradicts itself.

[Conners]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

I am sure if you go to your advanced bios settings you'll see that EIST is enabled. What is EIST?

Enables or disables Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST). Depending on CPU loading, Intel EIST technology can dynamically and effectively lower the CPU voltage and core frequency to decrease average power consumption and heat production. (Default: Enabled)

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Your processor has a x10.5 multiplier and should run at 266x10.5.
Try to load optimized defaults first, save and reboot. If that doesn help try to clear the CMOS as explaind at the second part of this post and load optimized defaults afterwards.

[kornfan71]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

@ Conners: Actually, no. I am 100% sure it was disabled. In fact, I just went back and enabled it to see values again. Vista shows the frequency at 2.27 GHz with it enabled (2.8 GHz without). CPU-Z and Everest have the same values as shown in the above screenshots, regardless of whether EIST is on or not.

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

BTW what is your BIOS version? (disable logo at advanced settings, BIOS ver. shows up left side at boot screen)

[kornfan71]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Chike, worked like a charm, thanks! I don't quite understand why the values were different still, but whatever.

Version F3 if you are still wondering. (I didn't see much reason to flash right after I bought it [just got everything and built it a week ago]. I don't think the version added anything of use to me either. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Chike, worked like a charm, thanks! I don't quite understand why the values were different still, but whatever.

Version F3 if you are still wondering. (I didn't see much reason to flash right after I bought it [just got everything and built it a week ago]. I don't think the version added anything of use to me either. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Was just wondering if you have a beta BIOS, all seems O.K. no need to update unless there is a reason.
I'm glad your problem is sorted , and we're glad you chose to post @ TweakTown's GIGABYTE forum :-)

[Psycho101]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Glad your initial issues are sorted.

As well as Speedstep, C1E will also reduce the CPU multiplier to 6. This is a good thing, and I'd encourage you to use it to save power and make the processor both cooler at idle and cool down quicker when CPU load goes back to zero after being used.

It would be useful to flash to the latest version. As long as you follow the instructions to the letter and use QFlash not @BIOS from a FAT32 USB stick, you'll be fine. Sometimes there are alot more changes to a BIOS than the change logs reveal. Gigabyte in particular seem very brief about what has changed/been fixed, only highlighting things they think are major. People have had what they deem major problems fixed by a BIOS which doesn't detail their problem, but does fix it. You may also avoid incompatibility issues down the line with a more recent BIOS eg if you add more hardware, RAM etc.

If you wish to get a little more bang for your buck, then your CPU is a rather good over clocker in general, although each unit differs. For example, I see no reason why simply setting FSB to 333, Pll to 1.57, MCH ref to 0.740 after setting CPU Termination to 1.2V and then an increase in CPU termination to 1.26 with a Vcore of 1.35V wouldn't result in a very stable and quick 3.5GHz.

You can see from my sig that I'm using a rather high Vcore. This is because I have en exceptional heatsink and fan setup, and also I can afford to replace the CPU (I have a spare) if things go wrong. Sticking to 1.3625V as Intel recommends would be a wise decision, Also making sure you have good cooling is essential.

If you don't want such a big speed increase then drop the CPU multi to 10 at the same 333 FSB to give 3.33GHz, which is still nice and fast. If you game then the difference of 533MHz from stock will be noticable. My GFX card was held back by the CPU until 3.4GHz on both this proccy and a Q8200 I have. Another 500MHz to 3.9GHz didn't give the same (huge) increase to minimum frame rates, but will help loads when I go Crossfire.

Remember if you over clock to make sure the RAM is still running at a speed the same as or under it's rated. At a 333 FSB you can get it there using "Frequency Latch [Auto]" and going through the "System Memory Multiplier" values until you get to the "3.20B" one.

If you don't want to overclock but want to make sure you have the maximum performance with 100% stability, feel free to post your BIOS settings in the template below. People here including myself would be happy to help you optimize your system.

******************************
MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) 
******************************
Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Fast]
CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [9X]
x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.0
CPU Frequency ........................: 4.04GHz( 449x9)
********** Clock Chip Control ********
>>>>>  Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control................: [Enabled]
x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [449]
PCI Express Frequency(Mhz)............: [100]
C.I.A.2...............................: [Disabled]
>>>>> Advanced Clock Control..........: [Press Enter] 
CPU Clock Drive.......................: [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive...............: [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
MCH Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
******** DRAM Performance Control ********
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile(X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch................: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)........: [2.00D]
Memory Frequency(Mhz).....800.........: 900
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]
>>>>> Standard Timing Control
x CAS Latency Time................5...: [ 5]
x tRCD ...........................5...: [ 4]
x tRP.............................5...: [ 4]
x tRAS...........................18...: [12]
>>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter] 
x tRRD............................3...: [ 3]
x tWTR............................3...: [ 4]
x tWR.............................6...: [ 6]
x tRFC...........................52...: [54]
x tRTP............................3...: [ 3]
x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: [ 2]
>>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [ 9]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto
x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
>>>>> Channel A Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]
x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
>>>>> Channel B Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [ 9]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto
x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
>>>>> Channel B Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]
x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
****** Motherboard Voltage Control ******
Voltage Types..........Normal...........Current
-----------------------------------------------
>>> CPU
Load-Line Calibration.................: [Enabled]
CPU Vcore..............1.27500V.......: [1.39375V]
CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [1.300V]
CPU PLL................1.500V.........: [1.570V]
CPU Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.240V]
MCH Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O................1.500V.........: [1.570V]
ICH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.200V]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [2.080V]
DRAM Termination.......0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]
******** Advanced BIOS Features ********
Hard Disk Boot Priority...............: [Press Enter]
First Boot Device.....................: [USB-HDD]
Second Boot Device....................: [Hard Disk]
Third Boot Device.....................: [CDROM]
Password Check........................: [Setup]
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability.............: [Enabled]
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect.............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)...............: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support..................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support................: Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.....................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology.............: [Disabled]

Please replace both sets of values on the left and the right where appropriate. Also, this template is from an EP45-UD3 series board. You may not have all these options. If this is the case delete the values and make a note next to the setting. Definitely don't try these values as they're from a board running an E8400. It's unlikely you'll get 4GHz on your CPU, and if you do it will likely need alot of voltage and cooling to work.

Glad you are enjoying building your own rig. It's a very satisfying thing to do.

[kornfan71]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Great post, Psycho. I'm getting ready to flash and will post a template soon.

In the meantime, Vista is at it again. But, I think I found the problem.
I've been attempting to do a very minor OC (3 GHz..woo!) to see how a few of my benchmarks would be affected (not much, I'm sure). So, I changed my FSB to 333 MHz, CPU multiplier to 10 (+0.0 fine multiplier), DRAM multiplier at 3.20B (1066 MHz). BIOS reports 3.00 GHz, as it should be. The highest clock I've seen on CPU-Z is about 2997.16 MHz (C1E is still enabled, so it fluctuates...a lot). Vista shows 3.50 GHz again. I think that Vista calculates it with the FSB x 10.5 all of the time for my particular processor, regardless of actual values. So, now I feel better about that.

[kornfan71]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Here's that BIOS template.

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///F:%5CUsers%5CKORNFA%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal</w:View>   <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>   <w:PunctuationKerning/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:Compatibility>    <w:BreakWrappedTables/>    <w:SnapToGridInCell/>    <w:WrapTextWithPunct/>    <w:UseAsianBreakRules/>    <w:DontGrowAutofit/>   </w:Compatibility>   <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>  </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">  </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object  classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal     {mso-style-parent:"";     margin:0in;     margin-bottom:.0001pt;     mso-pagination:widow-orphan;     font-size:12.0pt;     font-family:"Times New Roman";     mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1     {size:8.5in 11.0in;     margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;     mso-header-margin:.5in;     mso-footer-margin:.5in;     mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1     {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>  /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable     {mso-style-name:"Table Normal";     mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;     mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;     mso-style-noshow:yes;     mso-style-parent:"";     mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;     mso-para-margin:0in;     mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;     mso-pagination:widow-orphan;     font-size:10.0pt;     font-family:"Times New Roman";     mso-ansi-language:#0400;     mso-fareast-language:#0400;     mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->  ******************************
  MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) 
  ******************************
  Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Auto]
  CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [10X]
  x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.5
  CPU Frequency ........................: 2.80GHz( 266x10.5)
  ********** Clock Chip Control ********
  >>>>>  Standard Clock Control
  CPU Host Clock Control................: [Disabled]
  x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [266]
  PCI Express Frequency(Mhz)............: [Auto]
  C.I.A.2...............................: [Disabled]
  >>>>> Advanced Clock Control..........: [Press Enter] 
  <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">CPU Clock Drive</st1:address></st1:street>.......................: [700mV]
  <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">PCI Express   Clock Drive</st1:address></st1:street>...............: [700mV]
  CPU Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
  MCH Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
  ******** DRAM Performance Control ********
  Performance Enhance...................: [Turbo]
  Extreme Memory Profile(X.M.P.)........: [Auto]
  (G)MCH Frequency Latch................: [Auto]
  System Memory Multiplier (SPD)........: [Auto]
  Memory Frequency(Mhz).....1066.........: 1066
  DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Auto]
  >>>>> Standard Timing Control
  x CAS Latency Time................5...: [Auto]
  x tRCD ...........................5...: [Auto]
  x tRP.............................5...: [Auto]
  x tRAS...........................15...: [Auto]
  >>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter] 
  x tRRD............................4...: [Auto]
  x tWTR............................4...: [Auto]
  x tWR............................13...: [Auto]
  x tRFC...........................68...: [Auto]
  x tRTP............................4...: [Auto]
  x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: [Auto]
  >>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
  x Static tRead Value..............4...: [Auto]
  x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
  x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
  x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........1...: Auto
  x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........1...: Auto
  x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........8...: Auto
  x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........8...: Auto
  x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........7...: Auto
  x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........9...: Auto
  x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
  x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
  x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
  >>>>> Channel A Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
  x Driving Strength Profile............: [Auto]
  x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
  x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
  x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
  x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
  x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
  x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
  x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
  x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
  >>>>> Channel B Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
  x Static tRead Value..............4...: [Auto]
  x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
  x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
  x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........1...: Auto
  x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........1...: Auto
  x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........8...: Auto
  x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........8...: Auto
  x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........7...: Auto
  x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........9...: Auto
  x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
  x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
  x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
  >>>>> Channel B Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
  x Driving Strength Profile............: [Auto]
  x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
  x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
  x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
  x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
  x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
  x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
  x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
  x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
  ****** Motherboard Voltage Control ******
  Voltage Types..........<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Normal</st1:place></st1:city>...........Current
  -----------------------------------------------
  >>> CPU
  CPU Vcore..............1.28750V.......: [Auto]
  CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [Auto]
  CPU Reference..........0.805V.........: [Auto]
  >>> MCH/ICH
  MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [Auto]
  ICH I/O................1.550V.........: [Auto]
  >>> DRAM
  DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [Auto]
  ******** Advanced BIOS Features ********
  Hard Disk Boot Priority...............: [Press Enter]
  First Boot Device.....................: [CDROM]
  Second Boot Device....................: [USB-HDD]
  Third Boot Device.....................: [Hard Disk]
  Password Check........................: [Setup]
  HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability.............: [Enabled]
  Limit CPUID Max. to 3.................: [Disabled]
  No-Execute Memory Protect.............: [Enabled]
  CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)...............: [Enabled]
  C2/C2E State Support..................: [Disabled]
  x C4/C4E State Support................: Disabled
  CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
  CPU EIST Function.....................: [Disabled]
  Delay for HDD (secs)..................: [0]
  Full Screen LOGO Show.................: [Enabled]
  Init Display First....................: [PCI]

Right now I'm not too interested in getting a huge overclock on this thing (that'll be later). I'm mostly looking to go to about 3 GHz. I felt the automatic CPU vcore was a bit high (1.36 V) when I bumped to 333 FSB and a 10 X multiplier. Any idea where to start for voltages for 3 GHz?

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Here's that BIOS template.

  CPU Clock Drive.......................: [700mV]
  PCI Express   Clock Drive...............: [700mV]

As I learn from Psycho101 this may indicate you have loaded safe defaults instead optimized, which of the two was it?
Another screen capture of CPU-Z, EasyTune advanced voltage, and MemSet main and SPD windows could help.
And your system specs with link to the memory page in your signature may help too.

I was hoping you have a low VID based on the first CPU capture, seems to be just a huge vdrop

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Here's that BIOS template.

  CPU Clock Drive.......................: [700mV]
  PCI Express   Clock Drive...............: [700mV]

As I learn from Psycho101 this may indicate you have loaded safe defaults instead optimized, which of the two was it?

Hmmm... I have just realised we have the same mobo (see why the sig is needed?) and I never seen mine at 700mV they are always 800mV safe or optimized defaults, may as well be the BIOS version.

[Psycho101]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

I agree with Chike. It would be a good idea to load optimized defaults and then re-post your settings. It shouldn't take as long this time, as likely all that will change is the clock drive settings.

Remember to write your current settings down and re-enter them manually. If you load them back from a saved profile it will restore the clock drive to fail safe settings and also there are hidden (non user adjustable) settings that may be restored to failsafe too.

Because you're at 2.8GHz stock and the bottleneck thresshold for me was 3.4GHz, you'd still see a tidy increase when going to 3.0GHz, much more benefit than you would have thought possible for 200MHz. Things like SuperPI 1m and Everest RAM benchmark may not change much, but game frame rates will be disproportionally higher compared to the increase in speed.

@Chike: The reason you see a very low Vcore on Kornfan71's CPU-Z shot is because he has set an Auto Vcore, and C1E + SpeedStep is reducing the voltage. This is normal. For instance I've seen my Q8200 go as low as 0.98V when down-clocked to 1998MHz (333*6). A voltage decrease (so I'm told from my research into setting lower 2D GF|X clocks) has much more impact on power saving than a MHz drop, and when both are combined, you get the optimal power saving ofc.

When you are able to update your settings after loading optimized defaults Kornfan71, myself, Chike and others should be able to give you a couple of profiles for eg 3.00GHz, 3.4GHz and maybe 3.6GHz+ depending on how lucky you got with the quality of your CPU. Every one varies a bit, and Chike (as you can see from the low voltage he runs) has an exceptional processor IMO. I need 1.325V to do the same speed as him (3.4GHz).

[Chike]

Re: CPU Frequencies in BIOS and OS don't match

Things like SuperPI 1m and Everest RAM benchmark may not change much, but game frame rates will be disproportionally higher compared to the increase in speed.

SuprPI will show a great change I believe, memory benchmarks are not that important. According to a progress table I keep I gained 20% with IBT/LinX going from 2.66GHz to 3.1GHz.
More GFlops means higher frame rates. Video games do extensive use of floating point arithmetic and smart drivers/applications (which means most of them) prefech data while busy doing calculations and therefore are not eeffected by memory bandwidth/latency that much.
As for his needs we need to see what video card he has.

Every one varies a bit, and Chike (as you can see from the low voltage he runs) has an exceptional processor IMO.

Oh it does 3.9GHz at ~1.296v idle :-) not stable but it still have plenty of room even to 1.3625v, but this I leave for the winter.