Confusion about overclocking voltage
Confusion about overclocking voltage
if your temperature reading is 90 under stress, let me know immediately.
the CPU limits are set to 70, though they don’t always match reality.
when you see Windows crashing, it’s not due to the multiplier—it’s because the voltage isn’t sufficient and the system shuts down.
while overclocking, adjust voltages only by ±2x, and aim for the highest stable temperature with the best clock speed.
turn off any additional CPU BIOS features such as power saving and manual fan control.
features that save power like auto volt and manual volt should remain enabled unless you have performance boost active.
manual voltage won’t cause issues until performance boost is turned on.
voltage changes with frequency, but if you need a steady 4ghz, the voltage shouldn’t fluctuate much.
The volts remain consistent whether boost is applied or not. A psu cannot generate a perfectly stable DC voltage; all it can produce has some ripple, with the peak voltage dropping in sync with the AC sine wave. Higher quality psus reduce this ripple, though it still occurs. VID represents the voltage the CPU expects from the motherboard's VRM, while vcore is the actual voltage consumed by the CPU. The offset voltage is the gap between these two values. Voltage levels shift based on load and how much of that gap is used, which is where LLC technology steps in. It acts as a continuous balancing mechanism—excessive LLC can be detrimental, particularly with low-end psus that have high ripple. In such cases, voltage peaks or spikes are truncated, disrupting the power flow and causing the CPU to shut down. There is no true static voltage in a PC, even though top-tier psus can approximate it closely. The issue mainly lies in reporting tools, which only measure voltage a limited number of times per second, while actual fluctuations occur up to 50-60 times per second.
Personally I think VR VOUT should replace vCore given that it's a much more accurate sensor reading.
VR Loop is important too, as there's so many using AIO coolers and don't realize their VRM's are cooking, and can cause big problems in finding stable overclocks.
AsRock recommend additional cooling of the VRM/MOSFET when an AIO is used, but who reads manuals these days?
Not sure what my next board will be.
Asus boards are decent, but overpriced because of their brand name and all the ROG marketing stuff.
I want to like AsRock, since they actually build nice boards with premium components found in much higher priced enthusiast level boards at twice the price.
But their BIOS needs work, and their lack of customer service is just inexcusable.
I understand they matter, but it would help if VR VOUT was clearly marked as vcore or core voltage, and VR Loop as VRM Temp. This would simplify things for users who want to quickly check values like 'is 90°C ok for VRM Temp?' instead of trying to figure out what those terms mean in an ASR bios labeled VR Loop.
i'm not an expert, but i can say i'm medium experienced and i haven't worked with so-called vid voltage control. can you explain what you mean by v core volt increase and low? would you like me to go over the advantages and disadvantages of adjusting it?
Cpu temperatures and increased clock speeds correlate with higher voltages. The greater the voltage, the more stable and efficient the cpu operates, up to a point. Mostly.
Intel initially sets its default voltages quite high, as each cpu model has unique needs; starting from a higher base ensures compatibility across all configurations. This allows achieving low-mild overclocking with minimal adjustments.
The cpu requires a specific voltage level in its core, which it pulls from the motherboard via VID. Based on workload demands, it typically draws vcore instead. For minimal heat generation—especially in the VRM area—ideal idle vcore should stay within 0.05v of VID. Essentially, it only consumes what’s necessary, using that amount. This small margin is the offset voltage, which can be slightly positive or negative depending on whether VID exceeds or falls below vcore. The LLC circuit manages how strictly this offset is enforced.
For example, with a VID of 1.32v and idle vcore at 1.16v, the offset is 0.16v. Reducing it to 0.08v raises VID to 1.24v, causing the VRM to run cooler and reducing overall heat output. On the flip side, if you increase speeds, you might need a higher vcore to maintain stability—raising it from 1.16v to 1.30v could still yield good performance. Temperatures have risen significantly.
The challenge lies in finding the optimal balance: minimizing total heat production means the system can sustain higher overclocks within the same cooler capacity. On budget builds such as a Hyper212, some users might achieve 4.3GHz at 1.32v, while others see 4.5GHz at 1.24v, yet maintain similar temperatures.
Thank you for the details.
I own an FX6300 with a CM Hyper H410R.
It operates at 4.2°C under stress, reaching 65°C normally, and 32°C in general.
Initially it was at 1.37, then after 10 minutes of stress it hit 80°C before dropping to 1.35, still capping at 75°C.
After adjustments, it stabilized at 65°C during stress.
I have a solid PSU—Corsair vs550W or similar, though I’m not sure what the exact model is.
0.04v drop got you 15°C max difference. As long as you are still good and stable, that's a really good drop, but as you can see, because of the amount of temp drop, that cooler is pretty close to maxed out ability, just a little more power putting it right at the edge.
But that's a really good result none the less, those FX cpus aren't Intels and don't have the heat range. To really test what's left, and see just how close you really were to throttling, run AMD Overdrive. That program temps work kinda backwards to normal readings, it knows the max temp (read from the cpu info) and will tell you exactly how many °C you are from max. Normally, a 10ish °C reading is cutting it close, less than 10 means you need either lower voltages or OC, the 20's is plenty of room etc. Overdrive is the
only
recommended temp solution for those FX.
my fan on hyper i adjusted the bios setting of fan auto to manual at constant high speed. both cabinate fans are running on separate 12v adapters, not via pc power. when i stress for 10 minutes and stop the temperature drop quickly—like in 1 minute it goes from 65 to 35 degrees—it works well. would lowering the voltage below 1.33v be a good idea? can i make further adjustments?
Lowering the position is always a solid approach, which also contributes to overclocking. Achieving optimal performance often requires maintaining low temperatures. You'll typically continue decreasing until instability sets in, then gradually increase the settings and check for stability. Asus RealBench works well for this process. If you believe you've reached the minimum, run RealBench for about 8 hours. Success is usually indicated if it passes.