3950x Thermal Problems
3950x Thermal Problems
I'm facing challenges keeping my new build running cool under heavy use. I recently noticed the problem when setting up folding@home. Currently, I'm running all-core overclock at 4.2ghz with stock voltage at 1.3v. I've heavily undervolted other components to try managing heat, but that didn't work. I removed my cooling pad and swapped the original thermal paste for a high-performance one. Then I replaced all case fans with Noctua models and added two more on top of the default three. I also changed my rear fans to Noctua NF12s and adjusted the fan placement to draw fresh air in from the front. Despite these efforts, temperatures remain high, especially after a 5-minute stress test. The room temperature is around 24°C. I've done my research and believe I should be able to maintain better temps than others with similar setups, but I'm concerned about overheating. If anyone has experience with this build or cooler configuration, please share any insights or screenshots of your BIOS settings.
1.3V isn't seen as undervolting for the third generation Ryzen. It's actually a higher voltage than I suggest. This article discusses voltage concerns with the latest Ryzen processors: (And why I favor low voltage) https://www.reddit.com/r/overclocking/co...for_zen_2/. I advise tweaking your voltages as follows: CPU Core Voltage – Manual Mode – 1.2500V (use offset for more precision) CPU SOC Voltage – Manual Mode – VDDSOC 1.1000V - 1.8V PLL Voltage – 1.8000V - 1.05V SB Voltage – 1.0500V For safe stock builds, these settings are ideal. Third gen Ryzen thrives in cooler conditions, so setting the voltage to 1.2500V helps maintain stability and boost performance over time. By reducing temperatures with this approach, I've seen better system reliability and longer sustained boost speeds on my R7 3800x.
Thank you for your advice. Based on your guidance, here are the adjustments: Reduced core overclock from 4.2ghz to 3.8ghz since stability concerns arose at lower voltages. Adjusted CPU voltage range from 1.300V to 1.250V and SOC voltage from 1.125V to 1.100V. For SB voltage settings, I’m uncertain about the exact BIOS terminology MSI uses, so I left it unchanged. I saved my changes but couldn’t post due to BIOS access issues. Attempted to reach BIOS but encountered problems. CPU debug lights are active, indicating detection failure or a crash. Resetting CMOS didn’t seem effective beyond resetting fan curves.
I managed to restore my PC. The CMOS reset didn't work consistently at first, so I adjusted the fan curves and then tried shorting the CMOS for 20 seconds instead of 10. Returning to the original stock motherboard settings helped, including a stable CPU voltage of 1.481v. I'm planning to experiment with voltage changes carefully to avoid further issues.
The CPU block is positioned in a specific way on the processor, affecting performance. For your AIO model, aligning the tubes at the bottom of the block seems optimal, similar to what you're doing with your 3900X. Make sure you apply sufficient mounting pressure. In folding configurations, I've managed to run one CCD at 4400 and another at 4250 with a voltage of 1.2625V using the highest LLC setting, achieving low to mid 80s performance across all 12 cores.
Screen display captured while performing CPU folding tasks, ending successfully. Surrounding environment maintained at approximately 75–80°F.