MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) Quick Guide - Manual (Page 3)

Z68A-GD80 (B3) Overclocking Guide Z68A-GD80 (B3) Overclocking Guide
Recognize the Sandy
Bridge Platform
Despite design and architectural similarities between the Intel Series 60
chipsets for the brand new LGA1155 processors and the previous Series 50
chipsets for LGA1156 processors, none of them are compatible. In addition to
the integrated GPU, the Sandy Bridge is equipped with more demanding OC
restrictions. That is to say, it is less flexible than any LGA1156 processors.
OC : You need K SKU CPU
First, Intel has restricted base clock OC of
Sandy Bridge processors, and the average
BCLK OC range is about 10%. Given that the
default BCLK of the Sandy Bridge is 100MHz,
the OC range will fall within 110MHz. When
compared with the processors of previous
versions, the range is far less. In other words,
we can only adjust the CPU ratio (multiplier)
to run OC on the Sandy Bridge processors,
and the K series processors without ratio
block will surely be the primary choice for OC
power users.
Sandy Bridge CPU OC Ability Comparison
K SKU i7 i5 i3
Base Clock
CPU Ratio
GPU Clock
Chipsets OC Limited
Apart from the range limit of processors, the design
of the Series 60 chipsets also differs. Although the
OC features of the P55 and H55 chipsets are similar
(depending on the mainboard design), it is necessary
for consumers to carefully select the Series 60 chip-
sets in order to run OC on their systems. Despite the
fact that the GPU is integrated with all Sandy Bridge
processors, users are advised to choose the K-series
processors and P67 & Z68 mainbaords in order to ex-
ert the power of CPU OC. However, when one wants
to run OC on the GPU integrated with the processors,
the H67 and Z68 platforms will be the choice. Simply
speaking, it is impossible to run GPU OC on the P67
platforms or CPU OC on the H67 platforms. But both
OC available on the Z68 platforms.
=Adjustable at a limited range.
Sandy Bridge Platform OC Ability Comparison
P67 H67 Z68
Base Clock
CPU Ratio
GPU Clock
=Adjustable at a limited range.
=limited adjustment by HW design.