Hello, your CPU is drawing a lot of power even when you're not using much (complex issue).
Hello, your CPU is drawing a lot of power even when you're not using much (complex issue).
So my Ryzen 9 5900X is currently using more than 100w even at 9% load. Yesterday morning I turned on PBO in the BIOS to boost performance for a simulator. After that, temperatures stayed stable, and I went about my day. Later I returned and saw the CPU temps spiking even when idle and with low usage. When I switched back to auto in PBO it had no impact. I tried resetting options in Ryzen Master (it didn’t work), performed a CMOS reset (also failed), and reset the PC hoping to clear any software that was hogging resources, but that didn’t help either. Eventually I went back to an older stable BIOS since I was on a beta version, updated to the latest which was still beta, and then finally upgraded to the current beta release—still no success. I reached out to Dicord tech support, but they also couldn’t help, and I’ve checked online, AI, and forums with no results. It seems the PBO setting is permanent and resetting doesn’t resolve the issue, with power consumption just continuing. If anyone can assist, I’d really appreciate it. As a university student, I don’t have much budget for repairs. Thanks!
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
MOBO: ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
Which BIOS version are you using? Have you experimented with different BIOS versions before starting this discussion?
Have you attempted to reapply high-quality thermal paste? You mentioned clearing your CMOS; it's recommended that users unplug the device from the power source and display, remove the CMOS battery, then hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge any remaining charge, and finally reinstall the battery after a half-hour.
Hello, thank you for your reply. Concerning the BIOS version, I began with version 3631 when I turned on and off PBO, then switched back to the stable BIOS 3621, which didn't help. I tried version 3634 now, which is what I'm using. Regarding the thermal paste, temperatures were normal yesterday and I haven't handled it since then, so unless there was an issue with the paste or mounting, I'm not sure it's the problem (though I won't rule it out). With the CMOS, I simply shorted the CLR_CMOS with a button, which reset the BIOS or at least the settings. I didn't remove the battery. Please let me know if you need more information—I'll provide it.
I would question that 9%.
How is this being calculated and shown?
Are there other ways to confirm the readings?
Could you look deeper into what the CPU is doing and/or has been performing?
You can use built-in tools like Task Manager, Resource Monitor, Performance Monitor.
Also try Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysint...s-explorer
Keep all tools open but use just one at a time while you work, play, test, etc.
The goal is to understand more about the power consumption and what the system is doing or trying to achieve when wattage changes.
I hope we find a clear clue.
Updated, after cleaning the PC, reworking the CPU and cooler, the changes improved my GPU performance but had little effect on my CPU. It continues to show high temperatures even when usage is low.