January 30Jan 30 Crew Moderation ongoing, judges will check the IC picturesDISCORD CHANNEL: https://discord.com/channels/662303512948113439/1466854333495906622GENERAL RULESIntel LGA1700/1851 Platforms & G.SKILL DDR5 memory (no 12th Gen allowed)RETAIL components (No ES hardware)HWBOT & G.SKILL reserve the right to reject any entryHWBOT & G.SKILL have the right to ask for video proof or BenchMate datafile if neededEmployees of PC Hardware manufacturers are not allowed to competeNo hardware/score sharing is allowedIt is not allowed to remove submissions once it has been submitted, or make crucial changes after submission.After the end of the competition, no more submissions or rectifications will be allowedAll submissions must include a picture of their rig (MB, VGA, MEM, CPU cooler) during useAll submissions must include a picture of G.SKILL memory with heatsink and serial number; If the heatsink is removed, the picture must clearly show the PCB and ICWe expect fair play. HWBOT & G.SKILL reserve the right to remove results and/or participants who compete unfairly; The decision is final and will not be discussed afterwards; Examples: Influence others & pull submissions to profit your ranking, Deliberately make a mistake in the submissions process and ask later for changeAll submissions must include the Official OC World Cup 2026 Qualifier desktop wallpaper HARDWARELimited to Intel 13/14 and Core Ultra CPUs for LGA1700/1851 platformsG.SKILL DDR5 memory (No engineering samples)6 Processor Performance cores, no Hyper Threading (disabling cores allowed). Unless specifiedMaximum processor/cache frequency limitation of 6005 MHzG.Skill crew and judges team allow usage of motherboards released during the competition (retail available) SOFTWAREWindows 10/11 only (no server OS)CPU-Z 2.18 or 2.19 onlyBenchMate 14.1.0 onlyVerification screenshots include CPUZ tabs for CPU, MB, Memory and SPD tab per memory module Stages: Stage 1 - 7-Zip with BM - 6 P-cores - 6005MHzStage 2 - PYPrime - 32b with BM - 6 P cores - 6005MHzStage 3 - y-cruncher - Pi-2.5b by BM - 6 P Cores - 6005MHzStage 4 - Memory Frequency DDR5Stage 5 - SuperPi - 32M with BenchMate - 6cores - 6005Mhz Cooling LimitationNo limitation Points per Stage:65-60-56-53-50-47-45-43-41-39-37-35-33-31-30-28-26-24-22-20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0Mem Frequency Stage points:65-61-58-57-55-53-51-49-47-45-43-41-39-37-35-33-31-29-27-25-23-21-19-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 FINAL NOTESIn case of same score, the earliest submission wins.In case of a tie the deciding benchmark will be Mem Freq stageThe top-9 of online qualifier will receive an entry ticket to compete for the $xx,000 USD cash prize pool in the live contest at Computex 2026.The Live Qualifier and Final at Computex 2026 will be on LGA1851 Only!!!Participants arrange and cover their own transportation and accommodation.In the case that any of the top-9 qualified overclockers cannot attend the Live Qualifier at Computex 2026, their spot will be made available to subsequent runner-ups of the Online Qualifier (e.g. 10th, 11th, 12th, etc. places).HARDWARE PRIZESEach of the top-9 of the online qualifier will receive a G.Skill DDR5- 8000 32GB memory kit2 x Lucky draw winners using DDR5 will receive a G.Skill DDR5- 7200 32GB memory kit (must participate in all stages)Money PRIZES (for live event attendees only):The top-9 of online qualifier will receive an entry ticket to compete for the $40,000 USD cash prize pool in the live contest at Computex 2026. OC Champion: $10,000 USD• 2nd place: $6,500 USD• 3rd place: $5,000 USD• 4th place: $4,200 USD• 5th place: $3,400 USD• 6th place: $3,000 USD• 7th place: $2,800 USD• 8th place: $2,600 USD• 9th place: $2,500 USD
February 2Feb 2 How many people here are going to take out a second mortgage to bin, now that prices for high-end kits have quadrupled?To have a shot at qualifying, you'd need an i9 for both RPL and ARL, a board for each platform, and one kit each of H16A and H24M. That's like a $3500 buy-in before LN2 costs. Edited February 2Feb 2 by SparkysAdventure
February 2Feb 2 Author Crew Not sure how that post contributes anything, it's plus minus the same format as last year. With Arrow Lake only, not enough participants for sure. Secondly most benchers still have their Raptor Lake rigs as it is still smoking hot and a requirement for serious 3D benching...The ones that sold their good memory kits, will for sure already have regrets...
February 4Feb 4 I don't see a problem with only allowing W10 or W11.just the regular home / pro or is ltsc allowed?Server / workstation hardware is generally not allowed during competitions, so why allow the OS? And regarding the setup, I don't think anyone is forced to use both 1700 and 1851.You're free to choose, aren't you?And since the Live Qualifier and Final will be on LGA1851 only, it seems logical to go for 1851 only,If I decide to buy one of those platforms to join. And have some fun , i aim for te last top 5 😅Just my two cents.
February 4Feb 4 I have both platforms and RAM, but unfortunaltey lacking the CPUs, LN2 and time this year. Plus PTSD from my CPU IMC cold issues on 14th gen last year, I can't do it to myself again. If it was one platform plus one CPU (245k/265k), I would almost pull myself out of the corner for another try.
February 16Feb 16 All Bios-Files and Tools are still stored in the same location.So no one can say it wasn`t shared 😉Giga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CKTPfrW-FiK81G8XP4HSqrTB459cJV4?usp=drive_linkGiga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WCBsn4ReRp_dzA4TxZoWr30fBNHklnaH?usp=drive_linkGiga Z890 Aorus Tachyon ICEhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L0FOng_0Zynhe21j9qq6SylSCkuIgWCV?usp=drive_link
February 16Feb 16 4 minutes ago, sergmann said:All Bios-Files and Tools are still stored in the same location.So no one can say it wasn`t shared 😉Giga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CKTPfrW-FiK81G8XP4HSqrTB459cJV4?usp=drive_linkGiga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WCBsn4ReRp_dzA4TxZoWr30fBNHklnaH?usp=drive_linkGiga Z890 Aorus Tachyon ICEhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L0FOng_0Zynhe21j9qq6SylSCkuIgWCV?usp=drive_linkthanks for sharing 👍
February 23Feb 23 tool and biosROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX TEST BIOS000500090002001799019901 latest bios 1) it has the same ME as with ME update tool, has pg mode still working on ambient, adds dram signal tuner 0~13 under DDRCRcompctl , what was once dram signal tweak 1 2 3 is now dram signal tuner 5 6 7ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX ENCORE / ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX BIOSAPEX 9905APEX 9909APEX 9922APEX 9933APEX 9988APEX 9990APEX 9995APEX ENCORE 9905APEX ENCORE 9909APEX ENCORE 9922APEX ENCORE 9933APEX ENCORE 9988APEX ENCORE 9990APEX ENCORE 9995 Edited February 26Feb 26 by safedisk
February 24Feb 24 On 2/16/2026 at 9:36 AM, sergmann said:All Bios-Files and Tools are still stored in the same location.So no one can say it wasn`t shared 😉Giga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CKTPfrW-FiK81G8XP4HSqrTB459cJV4?usp=drive_linkGiga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WCBsn4ReRp_dzA4TxZoWr30fBNHklnaH?usp=drive_linkGiga Z890 Aorus Tachyon ICEhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L0FOng_0Zynhe21j9qq6SylSCkuIgWCV?usp=drive_linkWhat is new about X7v for 790 Tachyon/Tachyon X? X7u had release notes.
February 24Feb 24 16 minutes ago, SparkysAdventure said:What is new about X7v for 790 Tachyon/Tachyon X? X7u had release notes.They added a v
February 24Feb 24 8 hours ago, SparkysAdventure said:What is new about X7v for 790 Tachyon/Tachyon X? X7u had release notes.X7V = X7P but more tuning settings are enabledX7U 19/03/2025 1. Fixed MCU swapX7T 18/03/2025 1. Add 0x10e 0x11f and remove 0x11a 0x11d for Change MCU sectionX7S 18/03/2025 1. update MCU 123 to 12C 2. Add Change MCU 0x105 remove 0x10eX7R 12/03/2024 1. Added Microcode 0x123 for 0x671 ( RaptorLake CPU )
February 26Feb 26 added Latest BIOS 9995 for z790 apex and apex encoreadded Latest BIOS 9901 for z890 apex Edited February 26Feb 26 by safedisk
February 27Feb 27 On 2/26/2026 at 2:16 AM, safedisk said:added Latest BIOS 9995 for z790 apex and apex encoreadded Latest BIOS 9901 for z890 apexWhat's new in 9995?
February 27Feb 27 On 2/24/2026 at 3:08 AM, sergmann said:X7V = X7P but more tuning settings are enabledX7U 19/03/20251. Fixed MCU swapInteresting, does X7V have the same MCU swap features as X7U?
February 28Feb 28 13 hours ago, SparkysAdventure said:Interesting, does X7V have the same MCU swap features as X7U?yes, same selections like X7P
March 5Mar 5 Short Question: Can i use z790 apex 9905 with CKD sticks. older some Bios can’t bypass CKD sticks
March 15Mar 15 is there any available documentation for 890 tachyon xoc bios? for features like training tracing/time measure?
March 16Mar 16 Author Crew Due to the validation woes HWBOT and G.Skill will only allow CPU-Z versions 2.18 and 2.19. No Newer versions allowedThanks to Saltycroissant for the work
March 21Mar 21 On 2/28/2026 at 5:15 AM, sergmann said:yes, same selections like X7PInteresting, is there a Z690 version for X7V? X7P was the last bios I remember for Z690. Edited March 21Mar 21 by SparkysAdventure
March 29Mar 29 On 2/16/2026 at 11:36 PM, sergmann said:All Bios-Files and Tools are still stored in the same location.So no one can say it wasn`t shared 😉Giga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CKTPfrW-FiK81G8XP4HSqrTB459cJV4?usp=drive_linkGiga Z790 Aorus Tachyonhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WCBsn4ReRp_dzA4TxZoWr30fBNHklnaH?usp=drive_linkGiga Z890 Aorus Tachyon ICEhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L0FOng_0Zynhe21j9qq6SylSCkuIgWCV?usp=drive_linkHello sir, do you have the XOC BIOS for the Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X and Z890M Aorus Force Duo X?
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