(Event eligible countries/regions: Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen)

MSI B560 Memory Try It! Overclocking Competition is in full swing. As long as you overclock your DDR4 memory on the designated MSI B560 Chipset motherboard and submit the entry, you get a chance to win the prize including Optix MAG274QRF-QD, MAG CH130 X Gaming Chair, MPG CORELIQUID K360 cooler, and more!

One of the new features introduced to the B560 chipset is the support of RAM overclocking. On B460 systems, RAM frequency is limited to DDR4-2933 or DDD4-2666 depending on which processor is used. Now on B560 systems, you can overclock RAM and improve your gaming performance.

If you are working or studying at home due to the pandemic, this overclocking competition is going to add much fun. With easy hands-on and simple testing at home, you can get the opportunity to earn grand prize.

There is no specific requirement to compare the performance of memory or high-end CPU during this competition. It is purely a comparison of the memory frequency on the motherboard. Basically, most of the memory can get decent results as long as the potential of the chips are not too bad. Taking the DDR4-3200 frequency as a standard, with sufficient support from the motherboard, usually it shouldn't be a problem to reach DDR4-4000 frequency. Of course, if you have premium memory, the potential could be even better, and we strongly recommend that you give it a try and submit the result, getting a chance to win the prize!

According to the competition rules, contestants need to capture 5 windows in one screenshot, are these windows are CPU-Z >CPU (processor), Mainboard (motherboard), Memory, SPD, and HWiNFO > Sensor Status, respectively.

To make sure all users know how to enter, we prepared a step-by-step guide, hoping each player can easily get good results and win the prize. In the case of the pandemic, it’s fun to play with the computer at home.

Let’s jump in step by step.

The first app to use is CPU-Z. Most DIYers should be familiar with it. CPU-Z is a freeware to detect your PC configuration or to do stability test. Download link is here. The program is in English, and provided in the form of installation file and compressed file for you to choose. You can download any of the version and complete the installation.

In addition to the generic version, the official CPU-Z website also provides custom versions. You can also choose the MSI version with no difference essentially, but do not use custom versions of other brands otherwise there’s a chance of getting disqualified.

CPU-Z download link is located at the lower left corner of the official website. Contestants need to select one of the versions.

After clicking the version, it automatically jumps to the corresponding download page. Click the purple button of "Download Now" to start downloading immediately.

Once finished downloading & installation, you can start tweaking your RAM settings in BIOS and check frequency in CPU-Z.

"DRAM Frequency" is the scoring standard of the competition. The operating speed of the memory shows as "DRAM Frequency" of the "Memory" tab. The current DDR4 memory is a double-data-rate design, and CPU-Z calculates the rate of a single channel, so the number displayed only reflects half of the actual memory speed. Every contestant in the competition will face the same, so don’t worry. (Example: DDR4-3200, most of the time it shows around 1600.)

Contestants can open multiple CPU-Z windows at the same time to present 4 information tabs, and screen-capture together with HWiNFO app (will mention later). Just a reminder, do not use any software (such as Photoshop) to modify the figures in the picture, otherwise the entry is disqualified if manipulation is found.

CPU (Processor) tab example

Mainboard (Motherboard) tab example

Memory tab example

SPD tab example

You can check the current working frequency of the memory on the "Memory" tab.

Furthermore, you should note that the "SPD" tab detects all memory slots on the motherboard. Thus if the memory is not inserted into the slot selected, the tab shows no data. You must switch the "Slot #" at the upper left corner to the corresponding memory slot number, otherwise the entry is deemed disqualified.

The SPD page must display the relevant information of the memory, otherwise the entry is disqualified. Contestants can select from the "Slot" field (yellow rectangle).

To avoid cheating by modifying/manipulating in any way, all the results must be uploaded to the CPU-Z official website for validation. Just click "Validate" at the bottom of the program to send out the results for verification.

There is a Validate button under CPU-Z. After clicking it, the results will be uploaded to the database.

Then, don’t forget to copy the URL after submitting for validation, and fill in the application form on competition page together with the previous image file. You’ll get qualified once all these done.

After clicking "Submit" in the bottom right corner of CPU-Z, the results will be uploaded and the corresponding webpage will automatically open. Contestants need to copy the URL to the overclocking competition webpage.

The second software your will need is HWiNFO. It has “Sensor Status” which monitors your CPU temperature.
Download from here. We recommend that you install a 64-bit non-Beta version to ensure stable functionality.
Once downloaded and installed, simply open it and click “Sensor” function, and then you should be able to see “Core Temperatures” under your CPU name.

Once the program is ready, open it and click “Sensors”, another window will pop up.

Scroll down a bit and you should find “Core Temperature” under your CPU name.

* Please note that the CPU Core Temperature should not be lower than 25 degree Celsius when overclocking the memory, otherwise the entry is deemed invalid.

Once you’re done tweaking your memory overclocking in BIOS and manage to access the operating system, all you have to do is open 4 CPU-Z windows (and switch to CPU tab, Mainboard tab, Memory tab, SPD tab, respectively) and HWiNFO > Sensor Status window (must be showing your current CPU Core Temperatures).

If all the 5 windows are displayed properly at the same time, then press Windows key + PrtScn to save a screenshot image of your entire screen. Find the image in C:\Users\xxxxxxx\Pictures\Screenshots folder.
On the competition website, fill in all the required columns with this screenshot image selected from your folder, and submit the application form. All done now!

You should display all the 5 windows in one screenshot image and the all the numbers should be clear enough to recognize. (The Event organizer has the right to judge the eligibility.)

Simple, isn’t it? Many OCers and DIYers are already familiar with these actions. And even if you don’t have any experience, you should be able to learn how to do it easily. Finally, allow us to remind you that the key to winning is the "DRAM Frequency", not any benchmark or performance test. And, please note that the CPU core temperature should not be lower than 25 degree Celsius when overclocking the memory, otherwise the entry is deemed invalid. To enter the competition, validate the frequency via CPU-Z, upload one screenshot covering "CPU", "Mainboard", "Memory", and "SPD" tabs of CPU-Z window + “Sensor Status” window of HWiNFO, and fill out all the information required on this MSI Overclocking Competition webpage by the end of August 31st 2021 (UTC+8).

For those who don’t own an MSI B560 motherboard yet, here below are the eligible models for this competition,

* if a 4-DIMM motherboard is used to submit the entry, an additional 100 points will be added to the DRAM Frequency number.

All these motherboards are on the shelves of major online and offline stores. On top of that, if a 4-DIMM motherboard is used to submit the entry, an additional 100 points will be added to the DRAM Frequency. We wish everyone enjoy overclocking and get awarded. There are more tutorial articles coming on the competition website later, stay safe & stay tuned!

This reference article was originally published on http://www.pcdiy.com.tw/detail/20085