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Manual CPU Overclocking:
To test the ASUS Maximus X Formula motherboard’s CPU overclocking potential, we set the CPU vCore no higher than 1.3V and push for the highest stable clock speed. We maintain the DRAM frequency at 3200MHz to take memory stability out of the overclocking equation. Once the highest clock speed for 1.3V is achieved we see if there is potential to roll back on the voltage while maintaining system stability.
The ASUS Maximus X Formula had no issues achieving the 5GHz overclock with a moderate voltage of 1.28 volts, at 1.27 and below we experienced stability issues.
However, we had considerable problems trying to get the UEFI-defined manual core voltage to hold constant when under load in the operating system. We tested a range of voltage and LLC combinations to prove our point:
- Manual 1.3 volts + Auto LLC = 1.34 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.3 volts + Level 6 LLC = 1.312 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.3 volts + Level 5 LLC = 1.264 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.275 volts + Level 7 LLC = 1.312 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.275 volts + Level 6 LLC = 1.296 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.275 volts + Level 5 LLC = 1.232 volts under Cinebench Load and System Crash
- Manual 1.275 volts + Auto LLC = 1.312 volts under Cinebench Load
- Manual 1.31 volts + Level 5 LLC = 1.28 volts under Cinebench Load
As our results show there was no possible LLC value that would permit 1.275 volts of UEFI-defined manual core voltage to translate into 1.275 volts of vCore within the operating system, the same for 1.3 volts. In the end the closest we could get to 1.275 volts was by setting 1.31 volts with a Level 5 LLC, as level 5 LLC drops the voltage down. Some voltages over supplied vCore considerably when using Level 6, 7 and Auto LLC settings.
KitGuru informed ASUS of its findings prior to publication and were informed that “in engineering terms our voltages are still within 1% of the target value”, which in some cases is not true as 1.296 volts is 1.6 per cent out from 1.275 volts. ASUS also told KitGuru that “there may be an inaccuracy recorded in CPU-Z due to things like the CPU Contact pins, the CPU socket and trace impedance” and that “the voltage you are recording isn't an overshoot and will not damage the CPU”. No UEFI update was pledged from the company based on our findings and we were using the latest UEFI version available, number 1003, dated 21st December 2017.
Ultimately a motherboard of this stature should be able to provide perfect vCore consistency between the UEFI and operating system with minimal effort required from the user. However, it is still possible to achieve the desired vCore with some “creative accounting” of using a higher UEFI voltage than required with a Level 5 LLC to drop it down.
Overclocked Performance
Overclocked performance reflected the 5GHz frequency.
Power
We leave the system to idle on the Windows 10 desktop for 5 minutes before taking a reading. For CPU load results we run AIDA64 CPU, FPU, Cache and Memory stress tests and take a reading after 5 minutes. The power consumption of our entire test system (at the wall) is shown in the chart.
The stock power consumption for the ASUS Maximus X Formula was fairly high at load due to higher than required vCore values for Intel stock settings – under sustained stable load it was 1.22 but it rose as high as 1.26-1.3 under some load scenarios. At overclocked settings the gap between the ASUS and Gigabyte motherboards narrowed to almost nothing since manual voltages were being used to set both boards to around 1.28v on the vCore.
KitGuru observed peak VRM temperatures, after 10 minutes of sustained AIDA64 CPU and memory load, of 53 degrees Celsius at stock and 59 degrees Celsius at overclocked from the “ASUS EC” VRM sensor (read using HWiNFO64).
