Issue detected with CPU throttling on Intel i5-14600K.
Issue detected with CPU throttling on Intel i5-14600K.
Last week, I performed a processor upgrade, installed a motherboard and RAM to the i5-14600KF, an MSI Pro Z790-A Max Wifi, and a Corsair Vengeance DDR5 6400 CL36. I also had a decent cooler and planned to push my CPU to around 5.6GHz with a moderate overclock. It wasn’t that simple.
My first attempt at overclocking used an under-voltage setting of 1.25V, which some tutorials suggested. It functioned adequately, but HWiNFO showed my clock speeds dropping to about 4.8GHz under load. I increased the voltage to 1.35V, which actually worsened the throttling. Noticing that at this higher voltage I was reaching my 181W power limit, I raised the power cap to 200W. I hoped the earlier problem stemmed from insufficient power, while the new one was due to excessive power usage.
When I restarted and rechecked, I found that HWiNFO indicated throttling even at idle (4.4GHz). I adjusted the ICCMax in BIOS to Enhanced and set my CPU Current Limit to 200A, but throttling persisted. Eventually, I returned to the default BIOS configuration to evaluate performance.
At default settings, my performance was poor. Despite all adjustments, I encountered warnings in HWiNFO—such as "IA: Electrical Design Point/Other" and "RING: Max VR Voltage, ICCmax, PL4"—and I still experienced throttling. Eventually, I lowered the voltage back to 1.25V and aimed for 5.6GHz, achieving stable results with power consumption under 180W, a VCC of around 150A, and temperatures staying at or below 80°C.
Even with throttling, this CPU outperformed my previous 7700K in load conditions. However, it still raised my worries about potential hardware issues—whether the CPU, motherboard, or something else was malfunctioning.
Additionally, I faced difficulties getting my RAM to reach 6400MHz. XMP didn’t work, so I resorted to using the memory try tool, which increased latency and voltage significantly. A reasonable person would have given up and set the RAM to 6000MHz, but I’m still concerned about possible problems with the board, chip, or my own system.
Thanks for your help!
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Last week I upgraded my processor, motherboard, and RAM.
Have you reinstalled your OS (if you moved the OS drive from your older system)?
I have a decent cooler.
How are you keeping your processor cool?
I updated my BIOS right after turning on the computer.
Did you reset the CMOS after confirming the BIOS flash was successful?
Some Corsair Vengeance DDR5 6400 CL36
Do you have a link to this RAM kit?
Hey, thanks for the update and sorry for the slow response. I actually found a solution. MSI's BIOS includes an intuitive setting known as MSI Performance Cooler, which isn't about cooling but about managing power limits. The Intel default is likely the standard cooler included with the chip, set to 181W. The MFI Performance option is around 250W. These settings seem to override any personal PLs and current limits you might have configured. Companies should reassess these overly complex BIOS options and offer clearer guidance instead of confusing features. It shouldn't require hours of trial and error to achieve a straightforward overclock.
Intel faced a significant issue recently where CPUs required excessive voltage, prompting motherboards to supply more. This led to severe problems, causing CPUs to fail. Over several months, manufacturers released successive BIOS updates to address CPU microcode and BIOS-related issues. Now, your BIOS displays an Intel default setting to restrict the CPU's power capabilities.
Yeah, but there are BIOS settings that were introduced as quick fixes for those problems. I don't think this particular setting is one of them. They've just shifted what used to be a choice between Default Cooling, Aftermarket Air Cooling, and Water Cooling into something more unclear. There are at least three different options in MSI's BIOS for handling power and current limits, each with a different name. I just feel the repetition and confusion make overclocking harder than it should be.