I aim to fully turn off overclocking.
I aim to fully turn off overclocking.
I recently completed a build and the motherboard is quite perplexing for me.
Hardware: MSI B450 Tomahawk
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600x
Graphics: AMD RX 580
Memory: Corsair Vengence 16gb (2x8gb) at 3000MHz DDR4 (defaulted to 2133Mhz by the board)
The only BIOS adjustments I made were turning off Performance Boost overdrive (previously setting CPU to 6Ghz on a standard cooler) and enabling Cool'n'Quiet. In Windows, I configured my power plan to the default Windows Balanced setting, though the Ryzen balanced option wasn't visible even after installing chipset drivers.
My main concern is disabling OC completely. I'm using stock cooling and wish my CPU stays within its rated limits of 3.6Ghz (with a 4.2Ghz turbo) under normal conditions. Even when Overdrive is off, the hardware reports around 4.258ghz and 1.475v (VDD), while VID #5 reached 1.494v as a maximum.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I'm new to this setup and unsure what constitutes normal behavior for my processor.
Update: Core 0, 1, and 5 have reached 4.629ghz, and my turbo frequency is only supposed to be 4.2ghz.
If you reset the BIOS to its original factory configurations by removing the CMOS battery, it will restore those settings, including the default boost behavior. There’s no requirement to disable overclocking features, as they remain active unless explicitly disabled. You won’t need to manually adjust overclock settings because they stay enabled until changed. I recommend following these steps:
Turn off the device, disconnect the power supply and remove the PSU cable from the wall or power source.
Take out the motherboard’s CMOS battery for five minutes. While doing so, press the power button on the case for 30 seconds. Once the time is up, reinsert the battery carefully, ensuring it faces the correct direction.
Reconnect the power supply cable, power on the unit, and wait for the system to boot. It will show the POST screen and prompt you to enter CMOS/BIOS configuration.
Enter the BIOS setup program and modify the boot options as needed—such as selecting the Windows boot manager or the legacy drive if your operating system is installed there.
Save your changes and exit. If the system successfully boots, you can proceed further, adjusting settings like memory profiles, fan configurations, or other custom parameters that may have been lost during the reset.
What I intended by "automatically" overclocking was that the Tomahawk board comes with all CPU configurations set to Auto, including Precision Boost Overdrive, which essentially lets the processor go beyond its rated limits. HWMonitor initially claimed speeds above 6GHz. After turning off overdrive, the processor still performs well, though not as strongly. The Ryzen 5 2600x is listed as 3.6GHz (with a 4.2GHz turbo), but HardwareID shows some cores hitting 4.629GHz at 1.494v. As someone new to this, I don’t know if these numbers are typical. I’m also unsure whether MSI’s board or the processor uses the clock speeds for all cores or just an average of the six.
The idea that HWmonitor is incorrect is unfounded. There is no CPU that ever automatically reaches such speeds without manual intervention. Achieving even close to 6Ghz would require extreme configuration, the finest motherboard, and liquid nitrogen—conditions rarely met. This utility falls into the lowest quality category among the tools listed, only surpassed by Speccy.
This assessment is based on my own experience with standard monitoring solutions.
Monitoring software
HWmonitor, Open hardware monitor, Realtemp, Speccy, Speedfan, Windows utilities, CPU-Z, NZXT CAM and most bundled motherboard tools are frequently unreliable. Many lack precision, particularly with certain chipset configurations or specific sensors that often perform poorly. I personally consider HWinfo and CoreTemp the most dependable options, covering a wide array of chipsets and sensors. They also receive regular updates.
CoreTemp excels at tracking CPU temperatures, including core temperatures or TJmax on older AMD systems.
HWinfo provides comprehensive coverage—CPU thermal data, core loads, core and package temperatures, GPU sensors, HDD/SSD readings, motherboard chipset details, and VRM information. After installation, enable the "sensors only" option and deselect the summary section for a clearer view.
Using HWinfo allows you to inspect system voltages and other sensor data directly. Observing temperatures, core speeds, voltages, clock ratios, and other readings can quickly reveal issues. HWinfo delivers consistent accuracy compared to other tools like CPU-Z, GPU-Z, or Core Temp, which offer valuable insights but in less organized formats. While utilities such as HWmonitor, Openhardware monitor, and Speccy often provide inaccurate or missing data, HWinfo maintains reliable sensor reporting.
After setup, launch the utility and select "sensors only" when prompted. The remaining options are useful but typically direct you to the sensors panel. For troubleshooting, capturing multiple screenshots of HWinfo during idle or after a reboot can be effective. It usually takes around four to five minutes for the system to stabilize and all relevant data to appear.
If you need precise temperature tracking, CoreTemp remains the top choice, offering both accuracy and a clear visual reference for core speeds, loads, and voltage.
Yep, P95 maintains a steady 100% load using the same instruction sets games rely on. It represents the worst possible scenario and serves as an ideal reference point. Your temperatures will stay below that unless you employ specific production tools. Most intense gaming stays under 70% usage, though this doesn't mean you're not being heavily utilized. You might be at 55% load while still experiencing a 70% CPU demand, because usage reflects the game's code requirements, not its intensity.
If you examine the data, the CPU drops below 100% loads to 3.83GHz across all cores. This only happens during startup; once running, it smoothly transitions to 4.25GHz on 0-2 cores and 4.18GHz on 3-5 cores. This is completely normal and expected behavior.
The maximum temperature remains higher than the desired 80°C. Whether it poses a serious risk or will likely reach that level under typical conditions is uncertain. It’s not highly probable, but not impossible. The testing process and guideline assumptions are valid; we don’t treat these rules as arbitrary quarantine decisions. Exceeding the recommended temperature suggests the cooling setup may need adjustment. As for the clock speeds, everything appears normal. There are no signs of attempts to reach 6Ghz or surpassing the expected 4250mhz boost limits. The only notable deviation is a slightly higher than ideal maximum temperature, which could be a short-term issue but still exceeds the threshold I’d expect to see. If it can handle brief spikes, it should manage longer durations with proper cooling. The CPU’s protective adjustments are unclear, but noticing this value might indicate a potential improvement in cooling or load conditions.
Before beginning the stress test:
- 5 minutes into it
- 10 minutes in
- 15 minutes before finishing
Important observations:
- Reached 80 degrees around 3 minutes
- Again at 5 minutes after taking the screenshot
- A third time at 8 minutes
- Maintained 80 degrees for 45-60 seconds before dropping back into high 70s
- Briefly hit 83 degrees for a second at 11 minutes
All images showed CoreTemp and HWInfo. The core temperature breakdown was only shown in HWMonitor, which was removed before these tests because it was too inaccurate.
Hey, it brings back memories of my old B350 Tomahawk with the 1700 1.44v on stock configurations and cooling.
Don't buy Msi stuff, folks.