Overclocking RT-AC87U Question

[RejZoR]

How are you overclocking it? I used to do it with DD-WRT, but their builds are terrible and I once almost lost my AC87U because of it.

 

[joegreat]

How are you overclocking it? I used to do it with DD-WRT, but their builds are terrible and I once almost lost my AC87U because of it.

On my two A87Us it works still like explained here: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/overclock-ac68u-on-380-65_2.38229/

 

[RejZoR]

On my two A87Us it works still like explained here: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/overclock-ac68u-on-380-65_2.38229/

Thanks. I like it how it doesn't stick between reboots, so if it hangs, you don't have it stuck in that loop, but you just reset it and it's fixed. Till you figure out the actual stable clock.

 

[elbubi]

I also use the method provided by Joe (you can also find a little guide here). The "init-start" part is 100% unnecesary, just follow the "services-stop" one.

This method does stick between reboots, but you can fix a boot loop by reseting the unit.

I would start with 1200/800 to test stability (almost every 87u can achieve that clocks). Once you are rock solid, you can try 1400/800 (not every 87u can reach that).

Remember that aftermarket cooling kind of is a must for this unit to reach stable oc.

Cheers!

 

[joegreat]

Remember that aftermarket cooling kind of is a must for this unit to reach stable oc.

With OC of 1200,800 my two devices run stable without any additional cooling - the AP is not very busy, but the Main Router is mostly on 100% CPU but runs without any problems at ~83° Celsius.

 

[elbubi]

You're right Joe, I was a bit dramatic saying it is kind of a must.

I must have said it may help to achieve stable/higher oc, but also to keep temps on a "confortable" side depending on your ordinary room temps (mine without cooling reached +92º with outside 30º. I know its still on the safe side, but I don't feel confortable with my unit running that hot)

Cheers!

 

[quaz]

For those that overclock; did you also manage to get this working under 384/NG? So far I understood that overclocking is no longer possible?

 

[adampk17]

I’m genuinely curious. What does this overclocking improve for you?

 

[quaz]

@adampk17 : I'm running a VPN on my AC68U, the download speed is higher when overclocked.

 

[Luboknok]

What sort of VPN speed are you seeing with the 87u at 1.4ghz? My 68p at 1.2ghz would get 60mbps VPN while running cool. My 87u runs hot at stock so I am reluctant.

 

[elbubi]

I don't use VPN so I can't help with that.

Mines, without a notebook stand cooler, runs very hot too despite being overclocked or not.

 

[New2This]

https://imgur.com/a/O8DoTFf

vpn here OC to 1.2

 

[busch09]

Is it still possible to overclock the RT-AC87U / RT-AC3100 ?
I'm on FW Merlin 384.9

Tried the script

https://github.com/kvic-z/goodies-asuswrt/wiki/Overclock-Asuswrt-Merlin-on-v378.56-and-beyond

nvram set clkfreq=1600,800
nvram set asuscfeclkfreq=1600,800 && nvram set asuscfecommit=1
nvram commit && reboot

but
openssl speed aes-256-cbc

produces the same results as stock / clkfreq=1400,800

The 'numbers' are in 1000s of bytes per second processed.
type aes-256 cbc
16 bytes 34091.25k
64 bytes 37068.59k
256 bytes 38012.67k
1024 bytes 38251.86k
8192 bytes 38436.20k

 

[elbubi]

Hi @busch09 .

I'm still on 380 branch so can't tell for 384. But, ¿does "cat /proc/cpuinfo" reflects the OC impact on BogoMIPS value before executing aes bench?

I recall one time where that value remained always the same despite the changes being made in services-stop script, hence my question.

Cheers!

 

[busch09]

Hi @busch09 .
I'm still on 380 branch so can't tell for 384. But, ¿does "cat /proc/cpuinfo" reflects the OC impact on BogoMIPS value before executing aes bench?

It does change, BogoMIPS are roughly double of the clkfreq, but according to openssl speed aes-256-cbc, there is no change in compute speed.

 

[elbubi]

Then it does excede my limited knowledge. I'm pretty sure someone more experimented will be able to tell the reason why does oc has no impact on that specific aes test.

Regards!

 

[joegreat]

Is it still possible to overclock the RT-AC87U / RT-AC3100 ?
I'm on FW Merlin 384.9

Yes, for the AC87Us as outlined here - see footer for the firmware version...

But keep in mind that not every router allows the max. clock rate - I run mine with 1200,800 without problems - tried 1400,800 but experienced stability issues.

 

[busch09]

So I ran sysbench on my rt-ac3100 at stock 1400,800 and 1800,1000 and get identical results.
RT-AC3100 (2-core 1.4 Ghz) with Merlin 384.9

./sysbench --num-threads=2 --test=cpu --cpu-max-prime=10000 --validate run
./sysbench --num-threads=2 --test=memory --cpu-max-prime=10000 --validate run

executable here: http://104.233.80.15/misc/nbench_and_sysbench_for_asus/

added init-start, services-start, service-stop, services-stop to /jffs/scripts
chmod 755 ./

#!/bin/sh
sleep 4
nvram set clkfreq=1800,1000
nvram commit
nvram set asuscfeclkfreq=1800,1000
nvram set asuscfecommit=1

So after some testing this seems to alter the cpu clock (I havent singled out which of the 4 files and entries do it), but so far I havent found a combination that works. All my attemts resulted in 199 BogoMIPS.
I tried 1600, 1800, 2000, 2100, 2200 for cpu and 800, 1000 for ram.

 

[RAH-66]

added init-start, services-start, service-stop, services-stop to /jffs/scripts

after boot, result command cat /proc/cpuinfo is correct value?

 

[busch09]

after boot, result command cat /proc/cpuinfo is correct value?

nrvam changes are sticky through reboots, but for all values I have tested, CPU goes to 199 BogoMIPS