Hi, I have a few quick questions about voltages 9900k.
Hi, I have a few quick questions about voltages 9900k.
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this post. I've already shared it in the CPU section, but I thought maybe overclocking was the way to go. Could any moderator who sees this delete the thread in the CPU section?
I recently assembled a system with these specifications:
- 9900kf processor
- Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro motherboard
- Corsair Vengeance LXP (LXP at 3000mhz)
- Noctua NH-D15 cooler
- Corsair RMX 850W gold 80+ PSU
- BIOS set to F8
The only adjustments I made were setting XMP profiles for RAM to 3000mhz and disabling multi-core enhancements. I have limited knowledge about overclocking and was aiming for stock performance initially. My main concerns are:
From the first boot-up during Windows updates, my CPU would briefly reach 5GHz across all cores. However, while playing games like Overwatch and others, my clock speeds were around 4.7-4.8 GHz and voltages fluctuated a lot. I monitored using HWmonitor and Cpu-z. The highest reading was 1.356 for a short time, then it would drop to 0.720 at idle and spike to about 1.26 during gaming. I later followed recommendations from Buildzoid suggesting I focus on VR VOUT readings.
HWinfo64 indicates my VR VOUT is the key metric, consistent with forum discussions. My VCORE in HWinfo64 showed a peak of 1.344 a few minutes ago, not doing much, but something unusual caused it to spike briefly. My VR VOUT peaks at 1.264, while my idle voltage readings were consistently around 0.720, fluctuating between 1.126 and 1.244. My temperatures stayed very low, rarely exceeding 50°C during gaming or multitasking, with occasional spikes to 65°C for a few seconds.
Are these readings normal? Is Buildzoid correct in emphasizing VR VOUT? Should I adjust anything? A few friends advised me not to worry and just run things as is, but many others warn against leaving auto settings unchanged, especially with voltages above 1.3, which could affect longevity. I'm quite cautious and want to ensure my build lasts.
Could you advise what I should do? Thank you.
If you aim to truly grasp the material and reduce your typing effort, kindly review the link I shared for the Intel Temperature Guide. Spiking is detailed in Sections 4 and 13. Once you’ve gone through it, you’ll be better prepared to ask informed questions.
you don't need to be concerned about anything, the voltages are normal and it doesn't bother you. the cpu and motherboard handle them automatically. only when you manually overclock—like changing the multiplier—do you have to set the voltages yourself to prevent issues.
the 9900k will reach 5ghz whenever possible, and maybe MCE is also enabled, which can automatically overclock your cpu when it's ready.
it can maintain a steady 4.7ghz across all cores, 4.8ghz on four cores, and 5ghz on two cores.
if you decide to manually overclock your cpu, there are plenty of tutorials on youtube that can help you understand the process and what to expect.
if you keep it at stock you really don’t have to worry about anything, because it stays within the specifications that Intel originally planned. they wouldn’t allow their own CPU to rise into dangerous voltage levels. still, if you go over by adjusting the multiplier and switch to auto mode, you’ll run into serious issues.
I get what you mean. Please stay calm.
I noticed many discussions about CPU spikes reaching 1.4 or more even when running at stock and with auto enabled. Many people advise against leaving anything on auto, fearing it could damage the CPU faster. That’s a concern for me.
There are also varied views on safe voltage levels. A friend I trust said if I see spikes up to 1.37 or higher at stock, I should be worried and consider returning the chip—something I’d rather avoid since my current one works well for me. I also read that you could overclock if you wanted. Right now, I’m sticking to stock settings.
I assume since I only changed RAM speed to 3000mhz and disabled multi-core enhancement, I’m still at stock configurations.
Again, I’m sorry if this caused any confusion; I’m just trying to cover all bases thoroughly.
i'm not frustrated, i'm sorry if it sounds that way, but it's completely fine. don't worry about it. it won't harm your chip, and it should function well as long as it stays properly cooled. the main thing is to keep the temperatures stable rather than focusing on small spikes you might see.
Sure, I can help with that. Let me know if you need anything else.