Xeons with an open multiplier

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BlackArchon

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Jun 23, 2016
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Multiplier-unlocked Xeons according to overclocking results from HWBOT:
Bloomfield:
W3570 (source)
W3580 (uncertain)
Gulftown:
W3680
W3690
Gainestown:
W5580 (most probably not unlocked, despite of one CPU-Z validation; please see also https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...h-an-open-multiplier.15983/page-5#post-209642)
W5590 (most probably not unlocked)
Sandy Bridge-EP:
E5-1620 (source - max CPU multiplier is 43, just like the i7-3820)
E5-1650
E5-1660
Ivy Bridge-EP:
E5-1620 v2 (source)
E5-1650 v2
E5-1660 v2
E5-1680 v2
Haswell-EP:
E5-1650 v3
E5-1660 v3
E5-1680 v3
Broadwell-EP:
None
Skylake-W:
W-3175X

Additional confirmed observations:
- all Xeon E5 v3 with C2 stepping can be clocked all cores to max turbo multiplier (called Xeon turbo core exploit)

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Since there don't seem to be a definite source about which Xeons are overclockable by changing their frequency multiplier, I want to create one.
While "common knowledge" of most people seems to be that Xeons don't have an open multiplier, a few guys know it better. For example, my Xeon E5-1680 v2 can be overclocked solely by changing the CPU multiplier.

When googling terms like "xeon overclockable", you will occasionally find statements like "the E5-16xx series Xeons have an open multiplier when there is an equivalent i7" or "all E5-16xx series Xeons are overclockable from the model number of 1650 and upwards" or "this only applies to v1, v2 and v3 Xeons". While all of these statements seems to be correct to a certain point, I got the feeling that noone really knows exactly.
The fact that there are hardly any reviews of these Xeons out there emphasizes the uncertainty.

So please share your knowledge, and if you got sources or screenshots of an multiplier-overclocked Xeon, please post them in this thread. I will edit this first entry and collect the facts in the hope to shed light into Xeon overclocking once and for all. :)

I will start with my semi-knowledge:
- There are only overclockable Xeons from the E5-1600 series range of processors, the E5-2600 are all locked (quite sure)
- Beginning with the v4 Xeons, they are all locked (someone at the HardOCP forums stated this)

Probably not unlocked:
W3565 (source) No, a user reported that it isn't unlocked (source)
 

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Patrick

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There are systems that will let you overclock RAM for example on E5-2600 V1-V4 systems. Intel does not like the term overclock so it is more of frequency optimized or some similar label.
 
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zir_blazer

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Dec 5, 2016
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I think I recall that on HardOCP there was a Thread talking about Unlocked Multipliers in Xeons E5. They applied at least for the 1600v2 and 1600v3 series, and the feature was removed for the 1600v4 series.
Since the E5 1600 and the HEDT Ci7 shares almost everything in common, chances are that someone forgot until Broadwell-E that they shouldn't have Unlocked Multiplier to begin with.
 

BlackArchon

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Jun 23, 2016
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Yes, the thread on HardOCP (found it: Intel Xeon E5-1680 v2 3.0GHz 25MB Cache 8-Core Processor - this got me interested in the E5-1680 v2 in the beginning) was a very interesting starting point for me when I begun to dive deeper into the matter of unlocked Xeons. But this thread has the same issues: some people assume this, some people assume that. Distinguishing facts from assumptions is the hard part.

Since I assume that STH has the highest amount of Xeon users (at least the highest Xeon user ratio per forum member), the people here should know the most about unlocked Xeons. :)
 

nfsden

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Apr 6, 2016
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e5 2660-2670 is still best choice for $80-90 price tag, especially for dual socket systems.
 

Patriot

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Apr 18, 2011
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Yes, the thread on HardOCP (found it: Intel Xeon E5-1680 v2 3.0GHz 25MB Cache 8-Core Processor - this got me interested in the E5-1680 v2 in the beginning) was a very interesting starting point for me when I begun to dive deeper into the matter of unlocked Xeons. But this thread has the same issues: some people assume this, some people assume that. Distinguishing facts from assumptions is the hard part.

Since I assume that STH has the highest amount of Xeon users (at least the highest Xeon user ratio per forum member), the people here should know the most about unlocked Xeons. :)
My 1680v3 is not unlocked or has not found a board that sees it as such. :(
 

nfsden

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also all Xeon e5 v3 with c2 stepping can be clocked all cores to max multiplier (called xeon turbo core exploit)
 

BlackArchon

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Jun 23, 2016
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Actually multiplier unlocked Xeons have been discussed in the ES Xeon thread. I know because I've discussed them and even mentioned it as well. Yes the E5-16 V1/V2/V3 lineup is multiplier unlocked but there are certain versions that are not multiplier unlocked as an exception. For example the lower end E5-16 variants such as the 4c/4t are multiplier locked.
This approximate knowledge is exactly what I try to make more precise. What versions exactly have an unlocked multiplier, which haven't?

Also about the E5-16 V4 versions there are stories and rumors floating around that the ES versions are multiplier unlocked (probably because they are 6900K ES's etc...)
If we start about ES's, we won't come to an end any time soon - so let's focus on retail Xeons for the time being. :)
 

n-type

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Jan 21, 2017
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There are systems that will let you overclock RAM for example on E5-2600 V1-V4 systems. Intel does not like the term overclock so it is more of frequency optimized or some similar label.
Any links to an example of V3 with RAM at 2400MT/s or higher?

also all Xeon e5 v3 with c2 stepping can be clocked all cores to max multiplier (called xeon turbo core exploit)
First time I've heard it called that, usual name is MCE (Multi Core Enhancement) Would think it should work on earlier stepping too but perhaps people are not doing the BIOS work.

Ok, I will list the E5-1680 v3 as a locked CPU.
You can sometimes check published XTU bench settings, i.e. Google "XTU 1680 v3" without the quotes.

Looking at a 1680 v3 we see


Which tells us it's turbo overclockable and unlimited. Well unlimited in this case means up an 80x multiplier.


Sometimes CPU-Z results can help but be aware of faulty / doctored results.



Top 15 Highest frequencies for Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1680 v3 @ 3.20GHz - CPU-Z VALIDATOR
 

BlackArchon

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Jun 23, 2016
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@n-type: Looking to hwbot is actually a really good idea. Since there are so many people with overclocked E5-1680 v3 CPUs, it must be unlocked. Patriot's difficulties must have another reason.

@Patriot: Is your CPU a retail version (no ES/QS)?
 

Patriot

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Apr 18, 2011
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@n-type: Looking to hwbot is actually a really good idea. Since there are so many people with overclocked E5-1680 v3 CPUs, it must be unlocked. Patriot's difficulties must have another reason.

@Patriot: Is your CPU a retail version (no ES/QS)?
QFSS , but that is the retail r2 stepping.
 

nfsden

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Apr 6, 2016
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I've found cpu-z validated results with e5 2660v1 clocked to 3.0 by setting multiplier to 30x on all cores from stock 27x
Is there exists a way how to set multiplier higher than stock? Something like all cores turbo exploit for xeon e5 v3 cpus

2660x30.png

e5 2660 all cores at 3Ghz (multiplier 30x) on Dell T5600 0Y56T3 motherboard
2 CPU - 16 Core - 32 Threads
Intel Xeon E5 2660 @ 2991.78 MHz - CPU-Z VALIDATOR

Supermicro X9DR3-F 2 CPU - 16 Core - 32 Threads
Intel Xeon E5 2660 @ 2999.3 MHz - CPU-Z VALIDATOR