Core i5 and i7 processors have a Turbo Mode feature which allows the processor to dynamically access higher multipliers in the Dynamic operating mode (i.e., when Turbo Mode is Enabled). Maximum Intel® Turbo Boost Technology frequency per core - 4 core: 2.93 GHz (22x multiplier), 3 core: 2.93 GHz (22x multiplier), 2 core: 3.33 GHz (25x multiplier); 1 core: 3.46 GHz (26x multiplier). The higher multipliers are activated automatically depending on the processor workload when Turbo Mode is enabled in the BIOS.
Certain manufacturers such as Asus, MSI, EVGA also allow you to access 1 or 2 upper multipliers from your maximum stock multiplier of 21x in the Static operating mode (i.e., when Turbo Mode is Disabled). You are free to utilize this BIOS feature to manually select the 22x multiplier at nominal 133 Base Clock for the Core i7 860 processor on your motherboard. Similarly, 21x and 23x multipliers are available on Core i5 750 and Core i7 870, respectively.
Since with Turbo Mode enabled you already gain access to 22x multiplier when 3 or 4 cores are fully utilized, along with the higher multipliers when you are only using 2 or 1 cores, there is no benefit in running your system with 22x multiplier without Turbo Mode, unless you overclock your base clock frequency beyond 133. However, since Core i7 processors tend to overclock better with odd multipliers, if you intend to overclock to 200 Base Clock, maintaining a 21x multiplier is probably better (your mileage may vary).
i5 2500k | Asus P8P67 Rev.3 | Sapphire Dual-X HD7970 1150/1800 1.174V CFX | G.Skill Sniper 8GB DDR3-1600 1.5V
SeaSonic Platinum 1000W | OCZ Vertex 3 120GB + HITACHI 7K1000.B 1TB | Windows 7
Westinghouse 37" 1080P | X-Fi Platinum | Logitech Z5300E 5.1
Last edited by RussianSensation; 11-07-2009 at 04:36 PM.