Could not configure the power limit for the Z490 Aorus Elite AC.
Could not configure the power limit for the Z490 Aorus Elite AC.
Mobo is the focus here, currently holding 10600k. Planning a pre-test before switching to Rocket Lake. I aimed to establish a power cap. Checked the BIOS, adjusted PL1 and PL2 to 65W, restarted. Ran Prime95 at 89W. Mobo supports Package Power Limit and Platform Power Limit settings. Tried applying Platform limit in addition to Package, results unchanged. Still at 89W. When left on default settings, it consumed 114W. The limiter helped but not as much as hoped. I’m new to Gigabyte mobos, though similar configurations have succeeded on Asrock before. Any suggestions?
Gigabyte’s default settings appear to have no power restrictions. On my Z590, when adjusting Advanced CPU Settings, the Turbo Power Limits option shows only three choices: Turbo Power Limit – Auto/POR (not sure what POR means), Enabled, and Disabled. I think Auto means unlimited, POR is unclear, and Enabled lets you define limits. It seems another setting might be set to auto, which could cause confusion. EDIT: A forum post helped clarify this: https://pcpartpicker.com/forums/topic/37...0-vision-d. Another user Billy-Bob_Kenobi explained that Enhanced Multicore Performance Auto is for normal multipliers with unlimited power, Enabled gives maximum multiplier across all cores plus unlimited power, and Disabled follows Intel’s specs for both multipliers and limits.
@porina For most motherboards, the BIOS does not give you access to the Clamp option. You need to use Clamp for full control of the power limits. Here is an example of 10 threads of Prime95 with both turbo power limits clamped to 65W. The CPU never exceeds 65W. Power consumption is clamped to this value the moment this test starts. The CPU slows down as much as necessary to keep power consumption in check. If the power limits are unlocked and Clamp is not checked, power consumption during the same test will easily go over 150W.
You're unsure, but your Asus board seems to have the standard configurations set.
I'm working with a Gigabyte Z590 Ultra equipped with a 10700K. I've been trying to manage its power usage, especially since it tends to run hot. Initially, I turned off Enhanced Multi Core Performance, which slightly reduced power draw but didn't meet the Intel guidelines. The board seemed to disregard the Turbo Boost Power Limit Tau, effectively ignoring the PL2 activation time before PL1 kicks in, with no TDP cap at normal speeds—no quick fix here. At full speed (Prime95 tests), it hit around 196W steady-state, with temps staying within acceptable limits thanks to the EMCP setting. I then switched the CPU's AC/DC load line to Power Saving mode, which cut power use to about 160W and brought temperatures down into a normal range. This was a bit vague, though. I experimented with different Turbo Boost Power Limits while keeping AC/DC in Auto, trying POR (Intel Standard) and adjusting PL1, PL2, and Tau settings until temps stayed under 80°C. At that point, the processor dropped to 125W at 4.1GHz, and overall temps were solid. I’m not satisfied with 4.1GHz, so I continued tweaking. Eventually, enabling Turbo Boost and fine-tuning PL1, PL2, and Tau settings helped keep temperatures below 80°C, with the lowest sustained clock at 4.5GHz for PL1. I plan to stick with this configuration until I decide to push it further. From my observations, the board’s power limits might be self-imposed—consider testing a higher 100W if needed, as the 10600K PL1, PL2, and Tau are 125, 182, and 56 watts respectively. It’s unclear if the board is enforcing its own lower bound; you might try 100W to see how it performs.
Fortunately, I planned to disregard power limits or turbo time anyway—I understand the annoyance. I’m actually achieving better thermals and timing with a manual overclock compared to the stock 10900k. ASUS seems to be the only one that adheres to these recommendations. It’s a shame for those seeking a straightforward setup.
Intel previously suggested matching PL1 to the TDP (125W) and setting PL2 25% above that. Multiplying gives 156W, which aligns with the spec but isn't the official recommendation. The datasheet confirms this figure. For the 8-core 10700K, Intel advises PL1 = 125W, PL2 = 229W, with a Tau of 56 seconds. Many users stick to default settings, which limits performance—especially on CPUs with higher TDP ratings like 65W. I advise investing in a premium cooler or AIO to keep these high-power processors running at peak speed when needed.
Thanks for the info. I found a similar table but didn't know about the 1.25x legacy calculation. Makes sense now. At least we know what POR does. For today, I settled at PL1=168, PL2=198, Tau=104. Works great for now. I thought my cooler choice would get me better thermals (Dark Rock Pro 4 with both fans maxed). Looking at AIO solutions now. Also considering a re-TIM of the DRP4 just to make sure it's correct. Not my first rodeo with building a PC, but it is my first time using this cooler and the included be quiet! branded TIM.
I checked thoroughly online and still couldn’t find a clear answer. The manual didn’t help much. With my 10900k, even using Deepcool Assassin III, the heat performance dropped significantly at just 1.26v. The cooler struggled under heavy load, causing fans to speed up constantly. I tried reseating it multiple times, but the issue persisted—overclocking or not, these high-performance chips overheated quickly. The larger radiator and 360 helped a bit, giving extra time before temperatures spiked. In real use, the difference between a big air cooler and a 360 was noticeable, especially for longer sessions. By the end of intense tasks, the 360 was still warming up while the air cooler lagged behind.