Ensure Ryzen 3600X PBO is turned off to enable undervolting.
Ensure Ryzen 3600X PBO is turned off to enable undervolting.
Hi,
Your question about the differences between Precision Boost and Precision Boost Overdrive is clear. The main distinction lies in how each adjusts the CPU clock speed. PB sets the CPU clock to its maximum according to temperature, whereas PBO increases the clock further by "overdriving" it, but now it depends on the current voltage level. For instance, if the CPU hits 4.2GHz with PB and still has room for more boost, it notifies PBO, which then checks the voltage. If it's safe, it applies a higher voltage, effectively pushing the clock beyond the original setting.
Regarding undervolting and PBO, you're looking to lower the voltage without overclocking. You need to decide whether to disable PBO or if it can still function with a locked voltage. Undervolting in BIOS or using Ryzen Master might be options, but it's important to check compatibility with your system version—especially if using Ryzen Master in Windows 10.
System specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (stock cooler)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite (rev 1.0)
RAM: 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz
GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 2060
SSD: Samsung EVO 970 Plus 250GB
HDD: Western Digital Blue 2TB
I recommend starting with this option:
https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/cl...oad,1.html
It handles the task efficiently without any effort.
Choosing a constant voltage won't turn off dynamic frequency scaling. Instead, you need to set a fixed multiplier to stop dynamic frequency scaling, as the CPU will still attempt to increase performance beyond its limits, leading to crashes. Make this adjustment in the BIOS since changes are applied at startup. You can begin testing with Ryzen Master to identify instability points, but final settings must be saved in BIOS.
It adjusts one central processing unit's speed from its minimum base frequency up to a higher limit, depending on available thermal capacity within the processor's boundaries. All cores are increased to a lower frequency determined by both thermal allowance and power availability, measured in PPT, core currents (TDC and EDC). This adjustment ensures stability at high boost rates by rapidly increasing and then decreasing current as needed. Sudden shifts in current can cause voltage fluctuations, which may lead to instability if not managed properly. To maintain stability, it temporarily raises the voltage briefly, especially when temperatures are low enough for safety. It also controls the maximum voltage increase based on core temperature, ensuring safe operation.
This process is handled by Precision Boost, which communicates with the processor to either respect or override its power constraints. When limits are exceeded, it continues boosting all cores to higher frequencies longer before reducing them again as thermal conditions change. Effective cooling remains crucial for PBO to function optimally.
For Zen2 processors, PBO offers limited improvement over previous versions, even though some users report occasional performance gains beyond specifications. It primarily helps maintain mid-range clock speeds under stress, allowing multi-threaded performance to rise significantly with adequate cooling. However, its overall impact is often questioned due to high heat generation and reduced efficiency, especially when not paired with proper thermal management.
I strongly disagree with that approach—it restricts all-core boosting even when not heavily loaded. There are more suitable alternatives. First, Zen2 already includes a powerful power manager called Precision Boost, which runs quickly and efficiently. Just configure it properly and it performs well. The main issue isn't the boost itself but focusing too much on temperature spikes that don’t affect performance much. Instead, monitor the average temperatures in HWInfo and RyzenMaster. Understanding what’s happening will show you that running stock is better than making unnecessary adjustments.
Second, to control thermal throttling, use the Platform Thermal Limit setting. Set it to a value that restricts boosting only when the average temperature exceeds it. Below that threshold, boosting can proceed freely while keeping performance stable. I personally set it to 85°C and it works excellently.