5-Way Optimization for ASUS X99-Deluxe, X99-Pro and X99-A Motherboards

5-WAY Optimization is a collection of software utilities that automate the process of overclocking a
system and tuning it for silence and performance. The 5-Way process leverages dedicated hardware
to perform various tasks that would otherwise consume considerable end-user time and require a
reasonable level of competency to perform. A few mouse clicks are all that is needed to overclock
the processor and memory, tune system fans and adjust power settings. For new-users this feature
is an invaluable way of getting the most from a PC with minimal fuss. Enhancements within the
options also make 5-Way an invaluable tool for veterans to assess processor potential easily.

Onboard microprocessors are utilized by the 5-Way Optimization software routines to evaluate
system stability and thermal performance. This provides a significant advantage over applying a
preset overclocking profile which does not take the overclocking or cooling potential of used parts
into account.

The current iteration of these routines contain the most comprehensive set of controls and
automation ever seen in an overclocking utility. In fact, 5-Way largely negates the need for any
manual adjustments after the automated routines have been run.

This guide covers the features available within the 5-Way tuning process, helping you to customize
settings according to requirements.
 Prerequisites

1) Ensure the motherboard is running the latest UEFI and that the latest AI Suite III version is
installed. Both can be found on the ASUS product page for the motherboard being used.

2) Bear in mind that overclocking of the system is not guaranteed. Each CPU sample is different.
Some overclock well, while others do not. The automated routines cannot fix overclocking issues
that lie within the processor or do anything special with poor quality parts. The final result depends
upon how well the processor scales in relation to voltages applied, cooling and the quality of
memory modules used.

3) Using the best cooling you can afford is advised for a reasonable chance of success with
overclocking. If cooling is inadequate, the processor will become too hot when fully loaded which in
turn limits how far the processor can be overclocked.

4) Using a single memory kit that is listed on the ASUS or memory vendor QVL is advised. Do not
combine multiple memory kits (even if they are the same make and model).

5) Use a good PSU. Haswell-E CPUs (5960X) consume a considerable amount of current when
overclocked. At 4.6GHz a 5960X can draw over 25 amps from the EPS 12V rail. Hence PSUs rated
comfortably above the total power consumption of the system are advised.

We over-provision the power rating of our PSUs by at least 30% for PC builds. Doing so ensures a
better chance of PSU longevity.

6) Cool the VRM heatsink with a fan if you intend to run an overclocked Haswell-E processor at
speeds over 4GHz in a PC case. While the heatsinks on ASUS boards can handle the thermal load, like
all heatsinks, they need airflow to dissipate heat.
 5-Way Optimization Features

The Dual Intelligent Processors 5 GUI

The 5-WAY Optimization process is made up of four modules: TPU, Fan Xpert 3, EPU and DIGI+.
As seen in the GUI above, each of these modules can be accessed independently. Doing so allows
manual tweaking of parameters that are associated with the module. The focus for this guide is to
cover the 5-Way Optimization process which automatically sets the parameters within these
modules for us. We will cover the overview of what each module does in the 5-Way process,
however.

5-Way Optimization: Clicking the 5-Way Optimization button (in the top left of the GUI) takes us to
the 5-WAY process start page.

TPU: This module provides adjustment of clock frequencies and voltages for overclocking or system
tuning. The 5-Way optimization routine uses the onboard TPU microprocessor to change these
values in real-time during the auto-tuning process. Manual adjustment of start and target
frequencies, voltage and maximum temperature is available in the advanced options of auto-tuning.

Fan Xpert 3: Allows tuning and control of fan parameters. When used within 5-Way Optimization a
fan calibration routine is run that determines optimal fan speeds against CPU temperatures.
DIGI+: This module allows control of onboard power supply parameters. Load-line calibration (how
the power supply reacts to load) is the setting that is adjusted when this module is used within the
5-Way process.

EPU: The EPU module contains parameters that relate to energy efficiency of onboard controllers or
defining power targets for the processor. When used with 5-Way, system power settings are
optimized to save power when the system is idling or under light loads.

Turbo App: Turbo App is not part of the automated 5-Way Optimization routine, although it is part
of the 5-Way feature set. Turbo App is a tool that allows us to set specific overclocks, audio, Fan and
LAN profiles for any application we are running on the system. Once set, the parameters are
adjusted in real-time according to the application being run and the whole process is seamless to the
end-user.

We can use this module independently of the 5-Way Optimization process, however, we
recommend that 5-Way is run first to determine how far the system can be overclocked with
processor intensive applications before setting things manually.
Clicking the 5-Way Optimization button in the top left corner of the 5-Way main page brings us to
this menu:

Clicking the start button will begin the auto-tuning process using ASUS recommended settings. There
are a plethora of adjustments one can make to auto tuning before running it however and we cover
those options below:

Fast Tuning: Will apply a basic overclock to the processor which is based on a preset. The frequency
will be no higher than 3.9GHz. This profile is for users with mid-range cooling solutions. When this
option is selected, the system will reboot and apply presets automatically for the end-user.
Extreme Tuning: Applies an overclock to the system by evaluating stability with a stress test. The
auto tuning process starts by rebooting the system and applying a base overclock profile. Once the
operating system reloads, the overclocking routine continues to overclock the system in real-time
while evaluating system stability. The processor core ratio is increased in steps of one, and a stability
test is run at each change to determine whether or not the processor is stable. Voltage to the
processor is also increased in steps (up to a maximum of ~1.30V or the end-user defined value is
applied).

When the system fails the stress test, the routine automatically applies a stable overclock for the
end-user. The routine also applies XMP for memory modules (frequency may be capped on some
kits to avid instability), negating the need for the user to set things manually within UEFI.

Extreme Tuning is recommended for use by default.

Ratio Only: Overclock the CPU by it ratio. This is the preferred method and should be selected by
default. We recommend all users use this method.

BCLK First: Overclocks the processor by changing BCLK. This method is not as effective as using Ratio
only as BCLK changes can give rise to instability issues. We recommend using the Ratio only method
first, and using this option as a means of evaluation only.

All Cores: Specifies if all processors should be clocked in unison if the ratio of the processors should
be clocked independently. For most scenarios this method is perfectly adequate.

Per Core: Overclocks the processor cores in pairs. This allows two cores to be placed at a higher
frequency, provided they are stable at the operating frequency. Performance gains in such
configurations are negligible so there is nothing drastic to be gained over selecting the All Core
setting. The Per Core setting is enabled by default.

Start From ASUS Optimal Ratio: Sets the ASUS optimal ratio to start auto-tuning from. Typically this
value is from 3.9~4.3GHz. This option is default and suitable for most processors when used with
good cooling.

Start from CPU default ratio: Selecting this option starts the auto tuning process from the
processors default ratio. Select this option if you prefer a mild overclock of the processor or have
low to mid-range air cooling. This option should be used in conjunction with Target CPU
Temperature Tuning and or Fixed CPU Voltage Tuning to help impose overclock limits as required.

Start From Assigned Ratio: Allows the selection of the CPU core multiplier ratio to start auto-tuning
from. Maximum recommended value is 43X due to the overclocking margin of most Haswell-E CPUs.

Target CPU Voltage Tuning: Allows selection of the voltage to be used for tuning the system
overclock. Any value from 1.10V to 1.50V is selectable. Default is 1.30V. For air cooling a maximum
of 1.30V is advised. For water cooling 1.35V is advised as maximum. Above 1.40V is only advised for
users with phase change cooling using 6 core processors (do not use over 1.35V with 8 core
processors).

If used in conjunction with a temperature limit, the overclocking process will stop and frequency will
be capped at the point where temperature breaches the selected temperature value.
Target CPU Frequency Tuning: Specifies a frequency target for the automated overclocking routine
to attempt. This setting is useful if the end user requires a lower overclock than the processor is
capable of. For example, a given processor may be able to overclock all the way to 4.7GHz at 1.275V.
If for some reason we do not wish to overclock the processor that far, we can set a lower ceiling
frequency for the automated routine to stop at.
Target CPU Temperature Tuning: Sets a ceiling temperature to limit the auto-tuning process. Usage
scenarios include those in which the end-user wants to ensure the processor temperature does not
breach a certain temperature threshold under load conditions, such as building a quiet PC where
keeping fan noise to a minimum is a goal while running an overclock. By default the temperature
used to dictate the target is referred to as IHS temp.

Using the “IHS” temp as reference is the preferred method as DTS temperatures are subject to rapid
fluctuations as software loads modulate. We used a large number of processor samples in the ASUS
labs to determine the IHS temp value. In most cases the DTS temperature will only breach the target
temperature selected by the end user by a few degrees and its stability is closer to the average
temperature across all processor cores.

Memory Test: Selecting this option adds a multi-threaded memory test routine to the auto-tuning
process. By default, only a Prime95 based FFT is run (with AVX is optional). Enabling the memory test
makes the stability test more stringent thus providing greater assurance of system stability at the
overclock frequency auto-tuning manages to apply to the processor.

AVX Test: Activates Advanced Vector Extension based stress testing to increase the effectiveness of
stress testing for floating point intensive software such as encoding applications. Activating this
feature is recommended if you intend to run encoding or number crunching tasks with the
processor. Some newer game titles also utilize AVX although they do not load the processor as
heavily as video encoding software. As the Haswell-E architecture is designed to excel in this area,
we recommend users enable the AVX option.
Total Stress Test Duration: Sets the length of time the stress test is run between each increment of
the processor core ratio by the auto-tuning process. The default is 15 seconds. The slider allows each
step to be set up to one hour between ratio increments. Using a longer stress test duration helps
ensure greater stability of the system at the final overclock result found by the auto-tuning process.

Display DTS Value of CPU During Tuning Progress: Displays the distance in Celsius to the max
junction temperature the processor will tolerate before it will throttle frequency. The smaller the
value, the closer the CPU is to throttling frequency. For best performance and stability, it is wise to
keep at least 10 Celsius of overhead away from the maximum junction temperature. This ensures
that the CPU will remain within comfortable operating temperatures during all loading conditions.

EPU: Selecting this option optimizes system power profiles to help save power consumption when
the system is idle.

Optimized: Sets low power mode for various onboard devices and the processor to save power
when the system is left to idle.

Configured Max CPU Power: With this setting enabled, once the auto-tuning process completes, a
user-configurable processor power scale becomes available within the EPU menu. This can be used
to set the total power the processor is allowed to consume. In order to meet the power target, the
processor frequency and voltage is lowered. Setting a power limit is useful in situations where
maximum energy efficiency is favored over outright performance.

FAN: Selecting this option enables the sub-options within the fan section to be set.

Optimized: Runs a calibration routine on the fans connected to the motherboard after the
overclocking portion of auto-tuning is complete. Fan calibration is recommended to ensure the
system is cooled adequately and not unnecessarily loud when idling or under light loads.

Benchmark: Runs a series of tests on the calibrated fan profile found by the “Optimized” option to
report how efficient the cooling profile is. A final report of the auto-tuning process is provided to the
end-user when complete and the benchmark result will show how effective the cooling within the
system is.

Detect Each Fan’s Stop Point: Monitors the RPM of each fan and determines at which voltage or
duty cycle level it stops spinning. The value is then shown within the FAN Xpert 3 graphical
adjustment charts so that setting the fan to stop within certain temperature zones is possible. This
option is handy for users that wish to configure a PC to remain as quiet as possible.

DIGI+ Power Control: Selecting this option increases the LLC (load line calibration_ level after the
overclock portion of the auto-tuning process has completed. It is recommended to leave this option
enabled.
Graphics Cards: Supported on certain ASUS graphics cards only. This option is currently under
evaluation. When selected with a compatible ASUS graphics card, fan speed of the GPU’s fans is
evaluated and reported to the end user to help aid fan control. Running this routine provides the
end-user with a look up table to reference fan speeds at various power/duty cycle levels to help
make setting the fans on the graphics cards easy.

The final option section is for fans:

Each fan can be renamed and its location specified to software. To identify where the fan is placed in
the system, one can click on the small fan icon and the fan will start spinning at full speed so that we
can locate where it within the PC case.

Clicking on the blue dots to the right of the fan icon cycles through all the fans connected to the
motherboard so that they can be identified and named if need be. Do this before proceeding any
further.
Start Auto Tuning!

With all parameters set to preference, go ahead and click on the start button in the lower right hand
corner of the GUI. This will start the auto-tuning process. The system will reboot a few times during
the auto tuning process. Let the process complete and you should be greeted with a report that
looks something like this (result will depend on the capabilities of your system):

A 4.7 GHz overclock on all cores – default Auto Tuning options used

Enjoy!