Issues arising with my 3700X All-Core Boost Clock...
Issues arising with my 3700X All-Core Boost Clock...
My Concern:
I've been adjusting and pushing my new system for roughly three weeks now, and everything was functioning perfectly. However, suddenly yesterday I realized that my 3700X was no longer reaching its usual 'all-core' frequency during heavy use. Since setting up the new machine, my 3700X has consistently reached between 4.1 and 4.25ghz when under full load from Cinebench R15 and R20. Now it's only climbing up to around 3.9ghz during load, and I'm puzzled by this sudden change.
What I've tried:
Initially, I considered the possibility related to my Asus ROG Strix X570-E BIOS setting named 'Performance Enhancer', which is meant to extend the time your CPU can boost its all-core frequency before down-clocking. Essentially, it enables the CPU to sustain higher boosts during full load. I've experimented with its settings: 'Level 1', 'Level 2', and 'Level 3 (OC)'. I've never used the 'Level 3 (OC)' option and found that 'Level 1' gave optimal results for my chip. However, regardless of the setting I change, the chip only reaches a maximum of 3.9ghz under load.
It could also be connected to the fact that I installed Ryzen Master (against my better judgment) just to test its effects and see if it improved since the previous generation (SPOILER ALERT: It didn't). Apart from that, I'm uncertain about what's happening.
I suspected a potential issue with my BIOS, so I downloaded the latest BIOS for my X570-E and flashed it. But this didn't alter my CPU's boosting behavior. Then I performed a fresh Windows 10 installation just to be safe. Unfortunately, it didn't resolve the problem. I also tried different power plans, including the new '1usmus Ryzen Universal Plan', but nothing helped with the boost clock.
If anyone has insights or advice regarding Asus X570 boards or any recommendations, I would really appreciate it. I'm quite stuck and unsure of what to do next.
Thank you for reading this post. :/
AGESA 1.0.0.4 received a patch but did not trigger the boost clock. I then reverted to version 1.0.0.3 ABBA.
I recommend removing all CPU overclock adjustments in BIOS for now, keeping everything in full auto mode. Even PBO configurations and any automatic overclocking options your motherboard provides might be limited.
Given the latest BIOS version, I assume you're running 1004b AGESA. Also, ensure Windows10 updates are installed to build version 1909. Check the BIOS settings and enable the following:
AMD Cool-n-Quiet - ENABLED
Advanced C-States - ENABLED
CPPC - ENABLED
CPPC Preferred Cores - ENABLED
Avoid leaving these in AUTO, as manufacturers often don’t support optimal settings. Reinstall the chipset drivers from the official AMD site (even if you previously installed them). Use the Ryzen Balanced power plan or the 1Usmus plan, and keep the processor at a minimum 99% state, which is its default setting.
This should serve as your baseline; remember this configuration and consider saving it as an OC profile. Test boosting performance—expect maximum clock speeds under light, bursty loads. For comparison, check clock boosting in HWinfo64 during Defender scans.
Personally, I rarely see significant boosts to 4.4 unless I fine-tune my motherboard. I added a small voltage offset (+0.0125V) to maintain high VCore and used a light LLC. Also, I enabled PBO with maximum settings and set the PBO Scalar to 7X.
Now I consistently achieve regular and extended boosting up to 4.4GHz on my 3700x during Defender scans with different core combinations. In CB20, I notice steady boosts around 4.1–4.2, occasionally reaching up to 4.35GHz. However, I don’t focus solely on clock speed; benchmark results are more telling.
I’m uncertain about your motherboard’s behavior, but testing any auto-overclocking features usually leads to reduced performance or crashes, just like yours.
The global C-state Control was enabled, along with Power Supply Idle Control set to Low Current Idle. CPPC was activated and its preferred cores were turned on. AMD Cool'n'Quiet was also enabled. PPC Adjustment was set to PState 0. These adjustments led to unusual behavior in my 3800x, causing single-thread performance issues and preventing proper boost recovery in Cinebench R20. In hwmonitor, all cores reached 4.5GHz. The positive outcome was improved core performance. If you need strong boosts with good cooling, enable PBO, configure limits to the motherboard, and set scalar to x5-10. Scalar affects how long the boost lasts, influencing vcore at higher clock speeds. Higher boost speeds result in higher vcore, and scalar maintains that boost longer, requiring better cooling.
This scenario resembles what Ryzen would implement as thermal management increases the number of cores, even when running single threads. The new scheduler takes into account preferred cores—similar to CPPC configurations—and redirects threads accordingly. This adjustment ensures that the selected cores warm up slightly during continuous operation, which makes logical sense. I have three cores receiving enhanced boosts, with one receiving the greatest increase, so it’s not distributing heavy workloads evenly across all 8 cores in CB20 ST. It would be useful to see if a 3800X offers more cores that are suitable for boosting.
It’s fascinating to observe CPU utilization trends in HWinfo, focusing solely on the six threads operating on the three cores during a CB20 ST run. I can track the worker threads as the scheduler moves them between cores seamlessly. It’s quite intriguing.
In my setup, the ST performance remains stable. A 240mm AIO cooler is already assisting.
By the way, I’ve come to understand this explanation for Steve (at GN) when he said Ryzen behaves more like a GPU. My GPU naturally slows its clock speeds over time as the boost phase continues. It’s not immediately obvious, but examining the trend clearly shows it. If you’re unfamiliar, this might seem unusual. I also believe that mounting the board in water could significantly improve sustained performance.
EDIT: A note—this might relate to why some users report a slight negative VCore voltage offset helping. It could be motherboard-dependent, possibly affecting 3800X differently from 3700X, but a lower VCore would help keep cores cooler during boost phases and maintain clock stability longer.
Single thread boost dies for me and the cpu drops to base clock. Temperatures are 50c. So I get 508 instead of 526-528. All cores increases from 2175-2214. This is with PBO on and full copper water block, D5 pump and 360 rad (60mm thickness) with 6 push/pull fans @ 1800rpm. Maybe pbo likes the settings. Or something else different. Maybe I have a setting or two wrong.
It might depend more on your motherboard's BIOS settings than anything else. I'd try adjusting things gradually, changing the offset slightly at a time, modifying LLC values, and tweaking PBO scalar levels. I'm not too worried about VCore reaching 1.5V during light threading.
In the end, the difference between 508 and 520 (CB 20 score) won't really matter much. It's just a small distinction.