Brand Name Software

Actually, we have already discussed brand name utilities that go with ASRock mainboards in our article devoted to ASRcok X58 SuperComputer board. However, we came across a couple of tools that we haven’t seen before that is why we decided to get back to this topic today. These utilities are “OC DNA” and “TurboBoost”. The latter hasn’t been mentioned anywhere in the manual or on the company web-site for some reason. The reasons for this secrecy surfaced during installation procedure: the utility is made by Intel and not ASRock. However, we still feel that we need to say a few words about it anyway. This is a small entertainingly-useless tool for Windows Vista or Windows 7 side bar. It shows the CPU almost in its natural size, although you could also expand the window if you wanted to.

Its only purpose is to demonstrate the way Intel Turbo Boost technology works in real time, the way it changes the multiplier depending on the current operational load.

I really liked ASRock OC DNA program, although I couldn’t figure out where this name comes from. Maybe your settings will be able to spread over the entire planet like a genetic code? This utility allows saving BIOS settings profiles on external storage media. It allows exchanging profiles, because it also can save the image file back into the BIOS. And that’s it. But it doesn’t really need to do anything else. It is simple and handy.

I have to admit that I was very frustrated with the IES (Intelligent Energy Saver) tool. It is just as useless as TurboBoost. Doesn’t do much, just displays the amount of saved energy. It included itself into Start Up programs list and launched after every OS reboot that I why I eventually had to remove it.

Moreover, it has also replaced the power-saving Windows 7 profile with its own one, though maybe it was Instant Boot that in fact did it. This utility speeds up the OS boot-up time due to effective use of Sleep and Hibernation modes. It is pretty handy.

Bulky and inconvenient “OC Tuner” tool is not totally useless, but it is not too appealing to work with.