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Z170 Extreme 6 SkyOC

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3338
Printed Date: 20 Jul 2025 at 11:01am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Z170 Extreme 6 SkyOC
Posted By: b0rys
Subject: Z170 Extreme 6 SkyOC
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 4:33pm
I updated the UEFI to latest 2.6 on Extreme 6, after downgrading to 1.8 SkyOC is still not there and won't come back because of Intel's ME. Would getting the UEFI chips out of MB and flashing with an external programmer downgrade the ME so I could use SkyOC again?

My cpu is i7 6700 engineering sample, they're not BCLK locked so lack of SkyOC is not a big problem, but I can't get past ~160 BCLK without SkyOC (multiplier is max x24 so I need over 160 BCLK to even get close to 4GHz)



Replies:
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 5:52pm
You can try ordering a new BIOS chip preflashed with the BIOS and ME version you need from http://www.asrock.com/support/index.asp?cat=RMA" rel="nofollow - ASRock directly .

That said I don't think you need to go quite that far yet (the method you suggested or getting a new chip)

What version is your BIOS B using? 
If it is still the factory BIOS and supports SkyOC then just switch to BIOS B using the BIOS selection switch. 

Check to see if you can use SkyOC with BIOS B selected, if so then restore BIOS A using BIOS B following the instructions in your user manual. 

If that fails then physically swap the BIOS chips over and select A again.


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Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 6:02pm
Originally posted by b0rys b0rys wrote:

I updated the UEFI to latest 2.6 on Extreme 6, after downgrading to 1.8 SkyOC is still not there and won't come back because of Intel's ME. Would getting the UEFI chips out of MB and flashing with an external programmer downgrade the ME so I could use SkyOC again?

My cpu is i7 6700 engineering sample, they're not BCLK locked so lack of SkyOC is not a big problem, but I can't get past ~160 BCLK without SkyOC (multiplier is max x24 so I need over 160 BCLK to even get close to 4GHz)


Was it the IME firmware or a CPU microcode update (or both) in a UEFI update that killed Sky OC?

Add to that the apparent Windows update that did either or both. Are you aware of that?

So the IME firmware version remained the same after the change to 1.80? What about the CPU microcode?

Regardless, your basic theory should be correct. Actually, what UEFI version is in your board's backup B UEFI chip? The B Backup UEFI chip should be untouched from any UEFI updates AFAIK. That of course depends upon the UEFI version that came with your board. I have an early Z170 Extreme7+ with the 1.00 or 1.10 UEFI, so I still have Sky OC on the backup chip. Or, unless an owner moved the UEFI chips around themselves.

I've read at a UEFI/BIOS modding website that the IME firmware in ASRock UEFIs is "locked", and cannot be updated with the UEFI modding tool they use. If an external programmer can overcome that, I don't know, and their is still the question of CPU microcode vs IME firmware.

http://www.win-raid.com/t154f16-Tool-Guide-News-quot-UEFI-BIOS-Updater-quot-UBU.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.win-raid.com/t154f16-Tool-Guide-News-quot-UEFI-BIOS-Updater-quot-UBU.html

Are you sure it's the lack of Sky OC that is preventing you to set the BCLK beyond 160MHz? I recall an option in the UEFI that I think will do that. That's the FCLK Frequency option in OC Tweaker, which I see in your board's manual. I could be wrong about that... Confused


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http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: b0rys
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 6:27pm
Lowering the FCLK worked, pushed it to 168 (previously always froze @ ~163) and still rising. Problem solved.
I thought it was SkyOC because lot of ppl reported achieving slightly higher clocks with non-K UEFIs on this specific CPU.
Thanks.


Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 9:06pm
Awesome to hear. Thanks for the info Parsec.

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