Overclocked Alienware Aurora r3, something is wrong

SaiZo · Apr 13, 2012

Ok, a friends son got this Alienware Aurora r3 (dual ATI cards, not nVidia).
Yesterday after following tips via Youtube I managed to successfully OC it.
But..

You see, my system an AMD based can be clock itself down when not using all cores, or full "speed" of the CPU. This is happening to his aswell, I discovered this when using CPU-Z:
1. Started CPU-z and it was idle at 1.5GHz.
2. Launched Crysis 2 and started to play.
3. Alt tabbed back to the CPU-Z and then it was 4.38~GHz.

Problem is, that I'm not familiar for a second with that BIOS.

I know I could ask at their forums, but eh.. I find that people around here are smarter.

Anyone experienced with their BIOS know's what I need to disable? I can always take pics of the BIOS if it would help.

xBruce88x · Apr 13, 2012

This should be normal, unless its still doing it even though you turned off cool and quiet.

also, change your power profile to always on (something like that)

Law-II · Apr 13, 2012

Hi

4.38~GHz Nice OC with this comes heat (be sure it is stable)

Download Coretemp32 or RealTemp either will do; and use Prime95 to test the CPU make sure the temps are between 65 -70 (general guide) if it goes way above this stop and close Prime95; reduce your overclock or fit better cooling for CPU

hope this helps

atb (all the best)

Law-II

BarbaricSoul · Apr 13, 2012

Aurora r3 is a Intel i5 socket 1155 system, not an AMD system. The OP's computer is AMD, not the computer he's asking about.

Speedstep is what you have to disable to keep your CPU from throttling back. But if I may, let me ask why you want to do that? Speedstep will back your CPU's speed down when not needed, causing it to use less electricity and generate less heat. And when you need to full power of the CPU, it will throttle up your CPU's speed. I always leave speedstep enabled once I get my OC where I want it.

SaiZo · Apr 13, 2012

BarbaricSoul said:
Aurora r3 is a Intel i5 socket 1155 system, not an AMD system. The OP's computer is AMD, not the computer he's asking about.

Speedstep is what you have to disable to keep your CPU from throttling back. But if I may, let me ask why you want to do that? Speedstep will back your CPU's speed down when not needed, causing it to use less electricity and generate less heat. And when you need to full power of the CPU, it will throttle up your CPU's speed. I always leave speedstep enabled once I get my OC where I want it.

No.. It's an i7 2600K system he has (please read again, I stated first what mine does, and his does similar). If it was a bad explanation from my side, then I apologize.
I could not find this "speedstep" in his BIOS, I know what that is.

@Law-II Yes, I noticed that it is liquid cooled - closed system. However, the fan "sucks", and I suggested installing an extra fan to blow through the radiator, have seen a lot of people having that configuration.

The OC works well, he wanted it because he is playing WoW and streaming at the same time.

@xBruce88x This is not my system, it's an Alienware (Dell) Aurora r3, just like BarbaricSoul mentioned - it has speedstep. Strangely enough.. I can't find it in it's BIOS :confused:

However it works.. Still worried about temps, the closed loop is unknown to me (what brand?), and the radiator is rather small. But since it's an Intel, I guess they have some great countermeasures if the heat goes beyond it's limits.

NinkobEi · Apr 13, 2012

Disable C1E, EIST, Speedstep, CoolnQuiet..etc in the bios that should stop all throttling. It will cause higher temperatures however.

BarbaricSoul · Apr 13, 2012

I'm running a 2600k myself, why do you want it not to throttle? It doesn't hurt anything if it throttles back when you just surfing the web.

SaiZo · Apr 22, 2012

He decided to keep the things on for throttle, I just told him "They are experts (all of you), they know what is good and what is not".

However, the fan mounted on the radiator, a single one is sucking, I would like to see an extra fan blowing (push / pull?) through the radiator. During sessions where he plays and streams for more than 8 hrs it really get's hot back there, and it's a closed system - not one of the more advanced liquid coolers others have.

The radiator is a single one, hard to tell if it's an 120 or 80 fan, my guess is it's a 120 fan pulling from behind the radiator.

Any advice?

System Name	Salvaged
Processor	AMD Phenom II X6, 1055T
Motherboard	MSI (cant remember model..)
Cooling	Antec Kühler + extra fans (Antec, Zalman, Coolermaster, Generic brand)
Memory	8Gb (2 x 4Gb)
Video Card(s)	ATI Radeon HD6870
Storage	Samsung 1TB, 320 Seagate, 250 Samsung
Display(s)	LG Electronics
Case	ANTEC Sonata III 500 (found/salvaged + modified)
Audio Device(s)	8Ch + Harman Kardon 2.1 (modified, electronics in JVC wood speakers)
Power Supply	It's made in Denmark, never seen a PSU made there..
Software	Win7 X64 Ultimate

System Name	Old Gateway / Steam Deck OLED LE
Processor	i5 4440 3.1ghz / Jupiter 4c 8t
Motherboard	Gateway / Valve
Cooling	Eh it doesn't thermal throttle
Memory	2x 8GB JEDEC 1600mhz DDR3 / 16gb DDR5 6400
Video Card(s)	RX 560D 4GB / Navi II 8CU
Storage	240gb 2.5 SSD / 1TB nvme
Display(s)	Dell @ 1280*1024 75hz / 800p OLED
Case	Gateway / Valve LE
Audio Device(s)	Gateway Diamond Audio EMC2.0-USB 5375U ($15 a long ass time ago), Valve
Power Supply	380w oem / 65w valve USB-C
Mouse	Purple Walmart special, 1600dpi. Black desk mat
Keyboard	SteelSeries Apex 100 / virtual
VR HMD	Lmao
Software	Windows 10 / Steam OS
Benchmark Scores	It can run Crysis (Original), Doom 2016, and Halo MCC. SD LE 45fps

System Name	H2o Box
Processor	Intel(R) Xeon e5-2690 v2 Stock 3.300 GHz stock
Motherboard	MSI X79A-G43 Plus (MS-7760) v3
Cooling	CPU EK & Phobya G-Changer 360 V2.0 RAD H2o VGA "AlphaCool M18" Hybrid [pump replaced 18/8/21]
Memory	G.Skill TridentX 16Gb 11-12-12-32 2T @ 1866Mhz [locked]
Video Card(s)	Zotac GTX 1080ti AMP EXTREME
Storage	HyperX Fury 120GB & Savage 480GB SSD, Seagate 250GB,250GB 7200rpm Kingston 64GB SSD
Display(s)	Asus TUF Gaming VG32VQR 2560*1440 165Hz VA Panel
Case	Corsair O-800D
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro
Power Supply	Be Quiet! [Dark Power Pro 11] 1200W CM replaced [7-4-2017]
Mouse	Zelotes T-90
Keyboard	K66 Mechanical US Layout
Software	Win 10 Pro 64Bit v 20H2 / OS [build 19043.1237] WFEP 120.2212.3530.0

System Name	Barb's Domain
Processor	i9 10850k 5.1GHz all cores
Motherboard	MSI MPG Z490 GAMING EDGE WIFI
Cooling	Deep Cool Assassin III
Memory	2*16gig Corsair LPX DDR4 3200
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080 FE
Storage	500gb Samsung 980 Pro M2 SSD, 500GB WD Blue SATA SSD, 2TB Seagate Hybrid SSHD
Display(s)	Dell - S3222DGM 32" 2k Curved/ASUS VP28UQG 28" 4K (ran at 2k), Sanyo 75" 4k TV
Case	SilverStone Fortress FT04
Audio Device(s)	Bose Companion II speakers, Corsair - HS70 PRO headphones
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x (2021)
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	Logitech Orion Spectrum G910
VR HMD	Oculus Quest 2
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
Benchmark Scores	https://www.3dmark.com/spy/34962882

System Name	Salvaged
Processor	AMD Phenom II X6, 1055T
Motherboard	MSI (cant remember model..)
Cooling	Antec Kühler + extra fans (Antec, Zalman, Coolermaster, Generic brand)
Memory	8Gb (2 x 4Gb)
Video Card(s)	ATI Radeon HD6870
Storage	Samsung 1TB, 320 Seagate, 250 Samsung
Display(s)	LG Electronics
Case	ANTEC Sonata III 500 (found/salvaged + modified)
Audio Device(s)	8Ch + Harman Kardon 2.1 (modified, electronics in JVC wood speakers)
Power Supply	It's made in Denmark, never seen a PSU made there..
Software	Win7 X64 Ultimate

System Name	Norfree
Processor	i5 3570k @4.4
Motherboard	Gigabyte UD5H
Cooling	212 Evo
Memory	4x4GB Kingston 1600 @ 1833 9cl
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Nitro Fury
Storage	Corsair SSD, WD Black
Display(s)	1080p TV
Case	Corsair 300-R
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech Prelude > Fidelio X2s and AD-700s
Power Supply	PCP&C Silent 950w
Software	Win 10 Pro 64