Version 0.

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BIOS 5803

EXTREME OVERCLOCKING GUIDE

ASUS CROSSHAIR VI
HERO
1. Platform basics
1.1. General overclocking
- Ratio is adjustable in 0.25x steps.
- DRAM Ratios available 1333-3200, higher DRAM
frequency is achieved by increasing reference clock.
Usable memory ratio depends on your DRAM
configuration (see DRAM overclocking section).
- Reference clock can be adjusted from 85 MHz to
145+ MHz, depending on the specific CPU/MB. It’s
limited by Promontory/PCIE devices (54/55 POST
code).
- If ratio is set above default (on 1800X = 36.25x), the CPU will enter “OC Mode” and disable
CPU/XFR and any power saving or limitations.
- Max CPU temperature before throttling is 95 °C. This means the Tctl temperature which
reports the highest recorded value from sensors on the die.
- When benchmarking use the Performance Bias option or OS tool for best results.
- CPU temperature will read ~60 °C in BIOS due to no power savings enabled.
- CPU Core Voltage reading from the SIO (BIOS/CPU-Z) fluctuates, use DMM for accurate
readings.
- USB BIOS Flash Back port is the bottom black port (USB2.0) at the back I/O. Filename
should be C6H.CAP.
- Timer is skewed when changing REFCLK in Windows 8+. Additionally the default systimer
has issues with OS ratio changes unless HPET is enabled. To summarize, always enable
HPET on this platform.

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1.2. PCI Express
I/O configuration

Connector Bandwidth Source Note

PCIEX1_1 1X Gen2 Promontory
PCIEX16_1 16X/8X Gen3 CPU 8X mode if PCIEX16_2 is populated or
using APU
PCIEX1_2 1X Gen2 Promontory
PCIEX8_2 8X Gen3 CPU Put VGA in this slot if pushing
REFCLK
PCIEX1_3 1X Gen2 Promontory
PCIEX4_3 4X/1X Gen2 Promontory 1X mode if any PCIEX1 is populated
M.2 4X Gen3 CPU

1.3. USB
I/O configuration

Connectors Color Speed Source Note

Back top 4x Type-A Blue USB3.0 CPU Use when pushing
REFCLK
Back middle 4x Type-A Black USB2.0 Promontory Bottom port is for
USB BIOS Flash
Back
Back bottom 4x Type-A Blue USB3.0 Promontory
Back bottom 1xType-A + 1x Type- Red USB3.1 ASM1143
C Gen2
Front USB3.0 header Gray USB3.0 Promontory
Front USB3.1 header Metallic USB3.1 Promontory
Gen2

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Installing OS from USB

- Windows 8+ installs natively

- Windows 7 needs USB drivers slipstreamed
- Windows XP is currently not supported. Theoretically possible to use with Standard PC or
MPS Multiprocessor + add-in SATA & USB card.

1.4. SATA
All 6x SATA-ports are from the Promontory chipset.

2. DRAM overclocking
Usable DRAM Ratios

DIMMS per channel DIMM Rank DRAM Ratios

1 DPC Single Up to 3200 MHz
1 DPC Dual Up to 2666 MHz
2 DPC Single Up to 2666 MHz
2 DPC Dual Up to 2666 MHz

DRAM frequency on ambient cooling, fully stable

DIMMS per channel DIMM Rank Expected frequency Best case

1 DPC Single 3300-3466 MHz 3600 MHz
1 DPC Dual 2800 MHz 2933 MHz
2 DPC Single 3000 MHz 3200 MHz
2 DPC Dual 3000 MHz 3200 MHz

- Only DRAM timings available are TCL, TRCRDD, TRCWRD, TRPT and TRAS. The
only way to affect sub-timings is by lowering your DRAM ratio (essentially behaving like
strapping) and increase reference clock. For example at 2400 ratio TWCL=11, at 2133 ratio
TWCL=10 and at 1866 ratio TWCL=9.

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- Most CPUs have a memory “hole” where it’s unable to train memory from 3350-3450
MHz up to 3500-3600. This means you might be unable to run 3400 MHz DRAM frequency
but 3600 is OK.
- DRAM controller is always running Command Rate = 1T
- Best performance with Samsung B-die is achieved at 145 MHz REFCLK with 2400 DRAM
ratio (3480 MHz) at 11-10-10-10-22 timings. Alternatively 135 MHz REFCLK with 2666
DRAM ratio and 11-11-11-11-22 timings. This depends on the CPU/MB/DRAM capability.
- DRAM Ratio and timings are applied very early during POST before BIOS has control
which might give problems when changing both REFCLK and DRAM Ratio, if you get
problems because DRAM Ratio applies first use Retry button.
- AMD has their own DRAM recovery mechanism that automatically lowers the DRAM
Ratio and resets timings if DRAM training fails (F9 → 0d) during early POST). If you reset
at this point you might get stuck at CF or 90 POST codes, manually reset again and the
system should POST with the lower ratio and default timings. AMD CBS settings are also
reset when this happens.
- Use MemTweakIt to read out sub-timings.

3. LN2 overclocking
- Enable LN2 mode and load the LN2 profile for a starting base
- Platform is Cold Bug/Cold Boot Bug free, except for PCIE/DRAM issues.
- Use top 4x blue USB3.0 ports from the CPU
- Put VGA in 2nd PCIE slot if not running 3D benchmarks
- Typically you want to start with 141
REFCLK at 2133 ratio (3000 MHz DRAM
frequency) at 11-11-11-11-22 timings, CPU
Core Ratio = 28, CPU SOC Voltage =
1.20V, DRAM Voltage = 1.80V using
Samsung B-die memory.
- The CPU IMC has problems with low
temperatures (below 20*C) which means

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 memory frequency will be lower on LN2. A good CPU is able to do up to 3500 MHz DRAM
on LN2. An average CPU will do 3200 MHz. Really bad ones might be limited even to 2600
MHz on LN2. Additionally the behavior varies with temperature, see typical behavior in the
graph to the right. Increasing the 1.8V PLL voltage can help improve this situation.
- The CPU PCIE controller also has problems on LN2, typically below -120*C and especially
after cold reset (power down). The behavior is like when pushing high REFCLK (getting
stuck at 54/55/E4 POST codes). For best margin use 105-140+ MHz REFCLK and 1.05V SB
Voltage = 1.30V, default 100MHz has problems at very low temperatures. You can also try
PLL Reference Voltage under Tweaker’s paradise for improved margins, its behavior is
quantized meaning several different values needs to be tested. Typically 55 is a good starting
point.
- Safe Boot is tuned to be able to POST at lowest possible temperature, recovery options under
LN2 mode:
o Safe Boot = 105 REFCLK + CBB settings + safe settings
o 4-second Power Button = 100 REFCLK + CBB settings
o CMOS clear = 100 REFCLK + CBB settings + safe settings
- You might get POST issues if DRAM voltage is too high (above 1.8V, stall at 54/55 POST
code)

4. Safe voltage ranges

Note that the listed values are not guaranteed and only for reference.

Ambient LN2
Ambient max LN2 max
recommended recommended
CPU Core
1.40V Up to 1.45V 1.80V Up to 1.95V
Voltage
SOC Voltage 1.15V Up to 1.30V 1.20V Up to 1.40V
DRAM Voltage1 1.40V Up to 1.90V 1.80V Up to 1.90V
1.8V PLL Voltage 1.80V Up to 2.10V 3.00V Up to 3.20V
1.05V SB Voltage 1.05V Up to 1.40V 1.30V Up to 1.40V
1.8V Standby
1.80V Up to 2.10V 2.10V Up to 2.30V
Voltage
2.5V SB Voltage 2.50V Up to 2.80V 2.70V Up to 2.80V

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1. Depends on the DRAM sticks, the limit is considered from CPU IMC side.

5. Common POST codes

Q-Code Description
8 Equivalent to 00 on other platforms, CPU not operational
4b/FA No DRAM detected/installed
DRAM Training failed. Note that 0d is also displayed during final
F9(→0d)
POST before boot.
90/CF DRAM recovery, reset to proceed
06 DRAM unstable
3b DRAM unstable, could be because of unsupported DRAM Ratio
0C Displays at runtime when CPU enters “OC Mode”

6. Known issues
1. After BIOS flash reset your bios date/time, crazy values can cause weird issues with
certain software
2. You might get up to 3 POST attempts in some scenarios including CMOS clear, changing
CPU and sometimes when using Safe Boot.
3. If you disable SMT it will not re-enable until CMOS clear even if changing the option.
Additionally S3 resume (sleep mode) is not working if SMT is disabled.
4. If DRAM Ratio is 2666 or higher TCL will be rounded to nearest even higher number
(i.e. TCL=15 → 16)
5. Safe boot is not working 100% with DRAM Ratio/timings, might have to clear CMOS in
some cases to restore defaults.