Intel Turbo Mode Tech

Common Options : Enabled, Disabled

Quick Review

This is an Intel Core i7-specific BIOS feature. When this feature is enabled, the Intel Core i7 processor can dynamically overclock one or two of its four processing cores to improve performance with applications that are not multi-threaded or optimized for quad-core processors (e.g.single-threaded applications).

When there are only two active threads, the Intel Core i7 will automatically ramp up two of its processing cores by one speed grade or bin (133 MHz). When only one thread is active, the Core i7 will ramp up the sole active processing core, not by one bin, but by two bins (266 MHz). However, if there are three or more active threads though, the Core i7 processor will not overclock any of its processing cores.

This BIOS feature is used to enable or disable the Intel Core i7 processor's Turbo Mode feature. It is usually enabled by default.

When enabled, the processor will automatically ramp up the clock speed of 1-2 of its processing cores (when there are only 1-2 active threads) to improve its performance without affecting its thermal output or power consumption.

When disabled, the processor will not overclock any of its cores when there are only 1-2 active threads. All its processing cores will run at the same clock speed.

If you are not already overclocking the Intel Core i7 processor, it is highly recommended that you enable this BIOS option to improve its performance with applications that have not been optimized for multi-threaded or multi-core processing.

However, you should disable this BIOS option if you are already overclocking the processor. Enabling it will possibly cause the processor to run 1-2 of its cores at an excessively high clock speed and lock up the processor whenever single-threaded applications are running.