As such, Intel has incorporated options to increase voltages and specify peak current thresholds too. At its stock configuration the Core i7-3960X is a rated for 130W, but power consumption and heat output can shoot up considerably when the chip is pushed well beyond spec. With a chip as large and complex as the Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition, power and cooling considerations are very important when overclocking. In addition, like K series SKUs, the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is fully unlocked so CPU, Turbo, and Memory frequencies can be easily altered through multiplier manipulation as well. With Sandy Bridge, only a 100MHz BCLK is available, but with Sandy Bridge-E 100MHz, 125MHz, and 166MHz BCLK frequencies are also possible. However, with Sandy Bridge-E, two new BCLK multiples or straps are also available, that were not offered on earlier Sandy Bridge processors. If you want to tweak CPU and memory frequencies via the BCLK, it can only be increased by a few MHz (think 3-5MHz) maximum.

Like the first batch of Sandy Bridge-based second generation Intel Core processors, new Sandy Bridge-E based processors offer limited flexibility when overclocking via BCLK manipulation. We also spent some time overclocking our Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition sample using Intel’s own DX79SI motherboard and the Asus P9X79 Deluxe, with similar results.

Intel extreme tuning utility i7 3960x