[Problem] AsRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K6+ with "Sky OC" BIOS option

[coquinho]

I have this build working for most a year, on the latest BIOS, I changed it with CoffeeTime 0.99, and works normally.

So what’s the problem?

I want to use the “Sky OC” function, that is a clock generator chip that some AsRock boards have, and it works fine to OC a i5 6400 or something, but with the Coffee Lake CPUs not so much.

You see, the E-2286M its a 8/16 CPU, boost up to 5GHz under 45W maximum. To overclock it using BCLK, I need a older BIOS, specifically any BIOS under 2.0 version, but there is a problem, and that is what I’m trying to figure out here.

The “SKY OC” function was removed by AsRock on later BIOSes, probably because “the obvious” problem that Intel had with it. I tried to mod first 1.60 BIOS, and it gets stuck on debug code 62 - I removed all devices, even NVME, and nothing, tried 2.0, same, tried all bios up to 2.70, same problem. The first BIOS that work is the 7.00 - I don’t know why they jumped so many versions but OK, I found the “earliest” BIOS that work but it don’t have Sky OC, not even 2.70 would be Sky OC too, so something changed. I tried compare BIOSes using MMTool but I think it’s beyond my level of skills.

The microcode that I’m using is 906ED, since the 2286M its a Coffee Lake R0 CPU. Modding with CoffeTime 0.99 works fine 7.00 and above. Some info says that 62 stuck debug code should be something related to PCI-E or PCH, but well I really don’t know more at this point. I don’t know if is allowed to share CoffeeTime here, but if not I think there must be somewhere on Google. The page for the original BIOSes is this:

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty%20Z170%20Gaming%20K6+/index.br.asp#BIOS

If someone knows what is going on with this, please share with me. Thank you people ^^


Edit by Fernando: Thread title shortened and customized

[IntelModder]

Hi @coquinho

The problem with this is that the modified bios should start with Kaby Lake support - and in your case this officially starts with bios version 7.20 (although if you’re lucky may be present earlier…).

For reference, take a look at Choosing a BIOS version in Post 2 here.

[coquinho]

That explains a lot, works with 7.00 too, but no even close to the revision that they removed “SKY OC”

So, its maybe there is anyway to mod this BIOS to unlock the OC feature? I have a feeling that they just removed it from the setup. Or maybe mod a early BIOS to be compatible with Kaby? Any tools to recommend?

[coquinho]

I made it work with B150 AsRock Fatal1ty K4, with bios 1.60, don’t know why works normally there. SKY OC and everything.

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty%20B150%20Gaming%20K4/index.pt.asp#BIOS

This BIOS does not support KBL, so it should not work, but work. I “just” need to do the same to the Z170.

[Sweet_Kitten]

How do you normally use the Sky OC function? Does it have a switch?

[coquinho]

No, you just increase the BCLK like in the old days, that it.

More detailed speaking, the chipset “thinks” that it’s running at stock, but the motherboard has a chip that does the BCLK without needing the clock gen from the chipset.

The temperature says it 100C and base frequency. ex. 2.9GHz, but its running at 130, 140, 150 MHz of BCLK, without interrupt with the multiplier. You need to adjust voltages also, like you would normally do and set manually the RAM clock because BCLK overclock everything together, basically just like we did back in the day on first gen and before.

And to be even more detailed, I’m uploading here some photos and my BIOS.

[coquinho]

Here its the chip on boardview from the B150 ASRock

[coquinho]

Below real photo from the chip on the B150:

[coquinho]

On the Z170, the chip is on the bottom of the board, so I would need to remove the board from its place to take a photo, but here its on the boardview for the Z170 Fatal1ty Gaming K6+

It also on this boardview says its name: CLOCK GEN. 6V41542NLG8 IDT/VFQFPN-32/SKYLAKE

[coquinho]

And here is the motherboard that I’m trying to make this work:

BIOS: I can’t upload because I’m a new user apparently, so I uploaded it to my drive:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_V-P5BRhQATmo5y5bbn4cOy9fUiD3taC/view?usp=sharing

[Sweet_Kitten]

When comparing BIOS version 2.00 to 2.10, changes were found in 17 modules. Major changes were found only in SbRun, SbRunSmm and HardwareSignatureEntry modules. The rest are CPU microcode update and build date updates in various drivers. And also some changes in setup.

[coquinho]

Not expert in BIOS mod haha But it’s possible to “port” this older modules to a newer BIOS? Or maybe “fix” the old BIOS by comparing it to the 7.0 or later? It’s MMtool that you use?

[Sweet_Kitten]

@coquinho

It’s MMtool that you use?

MMTool or UEFITool. Doesn’t matter.

I think we need to make sure that one of these 17 modules is actually responsible for the Sky OC feature. I’d suggest to try replacing those in 2.10, thereby bringing Sky OC back. But it will require a different processor. The same can be done for version 7.00 but I’m not sure if the mobo will start at all.
What’s your choose?

[coquinho]

I removed the CLF Xeon and installed a Celeron, flashed the 2.00 version, working fine the OC. Look at the photos. ( ̶s̶o̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶p̶h̶o̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶t̶,̶ ̶i̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶u̶p̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶t̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶.̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶v̶i̶o̶l̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶r̶u̶l̶e̶ ̶x̶.̶x̶)

Seems like I reached the number max of post per day for a new user, so there is just the Celeron runnuing overclock by BCLK at stock BIOS 2.00:

@Sweet_Kitten ̶I̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶P̶M̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶h̶o̶t̶o̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶I̶O̶S̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶ I can’t PM you

[coquinho]

@Sweet_Kitten
Just tested. Didn’t worked. 00 > 04 > 0d
Don’t beep without memory also, strange

Update:

I have this BIOS that the chinese vendor gave to me, it says 7.20, but is very strang. It posts, can OC the Celeron Skylake by BCLK and boots the 2286M, a Coffee Lake CPU, but if you look the microcodes, does not even have Coffee Lake, a least on the Coffee Time 0.99. It boots to Windows, makes a few boot cycles before POST, but if I change BCLK gets stuck on 32 code.

Z170 Gaming_K6.bin

[Sweet_Kitten]

Z17GM6P2.00_17.bin
I moved modules from BIOS 2.10 to 2.00. Please let me know if after flashing it the Sky OC is not working.

[Sweet_Kitten]

@coquinho

I have this BIOS that the chinese vendor gave to me

Good finding. I will examine the changes they did when I have time.

[coquinho]

It also do not detect integrated GPU from the Coffee Lake, but does from the Skylake (to me is not that bad, I really use this PC to test graphics cards only)

[Sweet_Kitten]

@coquinho

Z170 Gaming_K6.bin

They are very different, like it’s a complete new update release. There are too many changes between BIOS 7.20 and this one.
Try Z17GM6P2.00_3.bin. Only 3 modules were replaced this time.

[chinobino]

@coquinho @Sweet_Kitten Hi, just wanted to let you know that BIOS L1.93 was the (now removed) BIOS with the Sky OC function.

I have uploaded it on this thread [OFFER] Skylake Non-k OC BIOS Archive with this mega link to the uploads if it helps.