Area 51 alx overclocking questions

Article Summary:

This article contains information on how to restore the factory default overclock settings on the Alienware Area 51 and Aurora computers.

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Resetting System Setup (BIOS) Defaults Clears Overclocking Settings on the Alienware Aurora and Area 51


When resetting the System Setup (BIOS) to its default settings on the Alienware Aurora and Area 51, whether using the jumper or in BIOS keyboard commands, the factory shipped overclocked settings are reverted to a non-overclocked state. After defaults are loaded, the factory overclocked settings must be manually input.
Once the system has been overclocked, this does not mean that it will always run at the overclocked speed. The system will automatically throttle the speed when required, such as during performance taxing video games or applications. The only reliable place to determine the maximum speed once the system has been overclocked is in the system BIOS as many software applications may not reliably determine the maximum speed.

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Overclock the Alienware Aurora or Area 51 to the Factory Overclocked Settings

Solution 1:

Overclocking the Area-51 and Aurora Automatically

1. 
   Reboot the computer.
2. 
   When prompted during POST, press the key to enter the setup screen.
3. 
   On the System Setup screen, use the and keys until Frequency/Voltage Control is highlighted, then press the key.
4. 
   On the Frequency/Voltage Control screen, press the key to highlight Load Level X OC setting (where X is the overclock level as received from the factory) and press the key ( Figure 1).
   

   	Note:
   	On the Alienware Aurora, only Load Level 1 OC setting is available. On the Alienware Area-51, Levels 1 through 3 are available.

   
   
   
   Figure 1: Loading Automatic Overclock Settings on an Alienware Area-51 and Aurora
5. 
   On the Load Level X OC setting? screen, press the key on [Ok].
6. 
   Press the key to return to the System Setup main screen.
7. 
   On the System Setup screen, use the key until Save Changes and Exit is highlighted, then press the key.
8. 
   On the Save configuration changes and exit setup? screen, press the key on Ok to restart the system.

Solution 2:

Overclocking the Area-51 and Aurora Manually

Alternatively, the below tables (Table 1, 2, 3 and 4) and instructions detail how to manually configure the factory overclocked settings on the Alienware Aurora or Area 51.

	Note:
	Alienware Aurora or Area 51 computers shipped with a processor other than the Intel Core i7 920 D0 and i7-975 XE are not factory overclocked.

1. 
   Reboot the computer.
2. 
   When prompted during POST, press the key to enter the setup screen.
3. 
   On the System Setupscreen, press the key to load setup defaults.
4. 
   On the Load Optimal Defaults? screen, press the key on Ok.
5. 
   On the System Setup screen, use the and keys until Frequency/ Voltage Control is highlighted, then press the key.
6. 
   On the Frequency/ Voltage Control screen, press the key to highlight Overclock Configuration and press the key.
7. 
   On the Overclock Configuration screen (Figure 2), press the key to highlight Intel (R) TurboMode Tech and press the key.
   
   Figure 2: The Overclock Configuration Screen with Factory Defaults for Overclock Level 1 Displayed
8. 
   On the Options menu, press the key to highlight Enabled and press the key.
9. 
   Press the key to highlight 1 Core CPU Turbo Ratio Limit and press the or keys to adjust Core Ratio to the value defined in Table 1, Table 2 or Table 3. Repeat this step for 2, 3, and 4 Core CPU Turbo Ratio Limit values.
   

   	Note:
   	For the Alienware Aurora, reference only Table 1. For the Alienware Area-51, whether Table 1, 2 or 3 are used, ensure the same table is used for all of the manual overclocking steps.

10. 
    Press the key to highlight Turbo Mode TDC Limit Override and use the number pad to adjust TDC to the value defined in Table 1, 2 or 3 and press the key once complete.
11. 
    Press the key to highlight Turbo Mode TDP Limit Override and use the number pad to adjust TDC to the value defined in Table 1, 2 or 3 and press the key once complete.
12. 
    Press the key to return to the Frequency/ Voltage Controlscreen.
13. 
    On the Frequency/ Voltage Control screen, press the key to highlight Overvoltage Configurationand press the key.
14. 
    Press the key on Dynamic CPU Vcore Offset ( Figure 3).
    
    Figure 3: The Overvoltage Configuration Screen with Factory Defaults for Overclock Level 1 Displayed
15. 
    On the Options screen, press the key to highlight the Dynamic CPU Vcore Offset value as defined in Table 1, 2 or 3and press the key to select the value.
16. 
    Press the key twice to return to the System Setup main screen.
17. 
    On the System Setup screen, use the key until Save Changes and Exit is highlighted, then press the key.
18. 
    On the Save configuration changes and exit setup? screen, press the key on Ok to restart the system.

BIOS Field	Value
Core 1, 2, 3, and 4 Turbo Ratio Limit	27
TDP	180
TDC	160
VCore Offset	80mv

Table 1: The Aurora and Area 51 Factory Overclocked Settings at Level 1

BIOS Field	Value
Core 1, 2, 3, and 4 Turbo Ratio Limit	28
TDP	200
TDC	180
VCore Offset	120mv

Table 2: The Area 51 Factory Overclocked Settings at Level 2

BIOS Field	Value
Core 1, 2, 3, and 4 Turbo Ratio Limit	Core 1: 30
	Core 2, 3, and 4: 29
TDP	200
TDC	180
VCore Offset	160mv

Table 3: The Area 51 Factory Overclocked Settings at Level 3 1

BIOS Field	Value
Intel (R) Turbo Mode Tech	Disabled
Adjust CPU BLCK	160 MHz
Memory Ratio	1333 MHz Memory: 8 1600 MHz Memory: 10
Dynamic CPU VCore Offset	+20mv

Table 4: The Factory Overclocked Settings for Systems with the Intel Core i7 930 Processor and 1333 or 1600 MHz Memory Ratio