ASRock Sidesteps Intel with Base Frequency Boost Technology, Bringing Overclocking to Non-K Series CPUs

[Tsing]

Image: ASRock



There could be a storm brewing between Intel and ASRock. While the former’s K-series Core processors are specially binned and designed for overclocking, ASRock believes that privilege should be extended to other SKUs and has developed a technology allowing users to do just that. A new “Base Frequency Boost” (BFB) feature will enable overclocking on non-K-series chips and the company’s non-Z-series Intel 400 series motherboards.

Image: ASRock



“The technology will allegedly increase the TDP of the processor to the maximum PL1 value, which would therefore as a result, increase the frequency of the processor,” VideoCardz reported...

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[Grimlakin]

HA I'm going to love watching this. Here's hoping that the safety features in these chips are fully enabled, or we might see some cooked chips here soon.

Intel: "What brand motherboard was this CPU installed in you need an RMA on?"

Customer: "Oh it's an ASUS nnn Motherboard."

Intel: "I'm sorry we can't RMA intel CPU's used on ASUS motherboards of this generation due to a feature called Base Frequency boost. It specifically bypasses restrictions on these chips we put in place to make sure they had a good long service life. You can find our policy announcement about this on the addendum pamphlet that shipped with your CPU. I can also send you a link to the same if you desire."

Customer: "Wait the chip died because of the ASUS feature?"

Intel: "We do believe so."
________________________________________________________________________________

ASUS: "Thank you for calling ASUS how can I help you?"

Customer: "Hi intel refused to RMA my CPU because your motherboard killed it."

ASUS: "Can you prove our motherboard was directly responsible for the failure?"

Customer: "Well... how would I do that?"

ASUS: "I'm not sure sir, but if you would like to send in your motherboard for an RMA..."

Customer: "Can I get a refund?"

ASUS: "I'm afraid not sir. Without proving in some fashion that our motherboard killed your CPU we can not refund a failed CPU from Intel, nor can we refund your purchase price. But we will gladly RMA your board and examine it. If we can find a failure in the motherboard we will ship you a correctly functioning one for just the cost of shipping and handling."

Customer: ...


Fun times ahead.

 

[Brian_B]

Seems like the last time a Mobo vendor did something like this, Intel pulled support for them until they un-did it. Think it was ASRock, similar deal, either it was overclocking non-K or overclocking on non-Z chipsets, I can't recall exactly.

 

[Dan_D]

Nice job ASRock. Although, I wouldn't put it past Intel to strong arm ASRock into disabling this feature in some way or crippling it in future microcode updates.

 

[Grimlakin]

Nice job ASRock. Although, I wouldn't put it past Intel to strong arm ASRock into disabling this feature in some way or crippling it in future microcode updates.

Oh yea I see this happening. BUT... to be honest if this makes the Intel CPU's perform better and customers are willing to take the risk and it generates good chatter for intel... I bet they let it pass.

 

[Dogsofjune]

Wow, I kinda like Asrock a bit more now

 

[LeRoy_Blanchard]

HA I'm going to love watching this. Here's hoping that the safety features in these chips are fully enabled, or we might see some cooked chips here soon.

Intel: "What brand motherboard was this CPU installed in you need an RMA on?"

Customer: "Oh it's an ASUS nnn Motherboard."

Intel: "I'm sorry we can't RMA intel CPU's used on ASUS motherboards of this generation due to a feature called Base Frequency boost. It specifically bypasses restrictions on these chips we put in place to make sure they had a good long service life. You can find our policy announcement about this on the addendum pamphlet that shipped with your CPU. I can also send you a link to the same if you desire."

Customer: "Wait the chip died because of the ASUS feature?"

Intel: "We do believe so."
________________________________________________________________________________

ASUS: "Thank you for calling ASUS how can I help you?"

Customer: "Hi intel refused to RMA my CPU because your motherboard killed it."

ASUS: "Can you prove our motherboard was directly responsible for the failure?"

Customer: "Well... how would I do that?"

ASUS: "I'm not sure sir, but if you would like to send in your motherboard for an RMA..."

Customer: "Can I get a refund?"

ASUS: "I'm afraid not sir. Without proving in some fashion that our motherboard killed your CPU we can not refund a failed CPU from Intel, nor can we refund your purchase price. But we will gladly RMA your board and examine it. If we can find a failure in the motherboard we will ship you a correctly functioning one for just the cost of shipping and handling."

Customer: ...


Fun times ahead.

Pretty sure ASUS isn't the parent company to ASRock anymore.

 

[Eduardo_Domingot]

They love doing this and I love them for it. They allowed non k CPUs to OC back in the day. I utilized that feature to great effect on my friends old rig.

 

[Grimlakin]

Pretty sure ASUS isn't the parent company to ASRock anymore.

Wow ok according to a google you are absolutely correct. Asrock is owned by Pegatron.

And that is a **** big company for me having never heard of it. They used to own ASustek as well but spun it off in 2008.

 

[Brian_B]

I think Pegatron is mostly an OEM manufacturer. Like - all those generic consumer electronic devices that all look the same, just have a different sticker on the front (DVRs, DVD players, off-brand entertainment devices, apparently drones, etc) - so there isn't really anything "Pegatron" branded, but you probably have more manufactured there in your house than you would think.

That was what ASRock started out as as well - OEM PC parts, but started to do more gaming oriented stuff once it was spun off.