It seems there isn't a way to adjust the voltage for the Ryzen 5 3500X in the BIOS settings.
It seems there isn't a way to adjust the voltage for the Ryzen 5 3500X in the BIOS settings.
Hi there. I hope adjusting questions is allowed in this area.
I’m upgrading my computer and plan to use it as a home server for a NAS. The CPU is a Ryzen 5 3500X and the motherboard is an MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max with the newest BIOS installed. Since the NAS only needs basic performance and must run continuously, I’m wondering if I can lower its voltage to cut power usage and save on electricity costs. Right now it’s drawing about 80W when idle, and I understand that a slight performance reduction is fine.
I found some tutorials, but in my BIOS the Precision Boost Overdrive option isn’t there—only clock speeds are adjustable. If anyone can guide me on the right steps, I’d really appreciate it.
Here are the images you shared:
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20250630_130221.jpg
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Not challenging the idea of turning off PBO, etc.
But I’ll focus on power usage.
Absolutely in line with aiming to lower power use, though I’d really like to measure the actual savings in watts.
How significant would the performance drop be?
Which NAS server software is currently in place?
Just trying to understand any compromises that might come into play.
The main concern is determining the actual power savings.
Are the adjustments (PBO and others, if any) justified?
What amount of power is consumed when the NAS operates at full capacity (not just idle)?
How long will the NAS remain active during a 24-cycle period?
Energy costs are typically charged per kilowatt-hour.
My current electricity bill reflects a rate of $0.12 per kWh.
However, including delivery fees and taxes raises the total to $0.205 per kWh.
Will certain power-saving tweaks genuinely reduce expenses?
= = = =
Once again, everything leans toward energy conservation and its benefits.
I prefer an alternative method.
I recommend initially running the NAS in its standard settings without any power optimization changes.
Assess its overall performance and real energy consumption over time.
At the same time, look for other ways to save energy—such as replacing some lighting with LED bulbs.
My idea is that the primary goal should be to verify the new NAS functions properly and consistently.
After that, experiment with adjusting power settings. You might find actual savings, or you may not. I’d keep tracking power use versus performance for a while.
If issues arise, you can revert the changes.
It’s likely that any modifications will involve some compromises.
Keep in mind that BIOS updates or OS changes could introduce complications sooner rather than later.
In short: Make sure the NAS is working correctly first. Then focus on energy efficiency if it still makes sense.
This setup aligns with your expectations. I'll configure it and monitor it for several weeks before any adjustments. It's worth checking if the design includes features for voltage reduction, as understanding the available options would help avoid unnecessary changes. If such options aren't present, evaluating a used low-power PC might be a better alternative.
In reality, the greatest savings come from managing heat output. Automatic PBO settings enable more or full power only when necessary, and they do nothing when CPU usage is low. This also helps maintain top performance and boost levels. For voltage control, using CO (Curve Optimizer) in the PBO section of BIOS is recommended; typical values range from -10 to -30, but you should experiment carefully—higher numbers might cause instability at low loads. Additionally, you might consider setting a reasonable CPU frequency that suits you, which will also restrict voltage and power, thereby reducing heat output. For example, if a base frequency of 3.6GHz is sufficient, limiting it to that or lower can be effective.
So interesting news. Second time around I changed the CPU ratio to 25 and Voltage offset to 0.2. The compute stopped posting. I had to reset CMOS to get it back. Its all good now but I'm scared to make changes.
What did I do wrong? I was hoping I'd limit the CPU to 2.5 Ghz.
Excessive voltage offset beyond 0.1v is uncommon, and restricting frequency isn't the main issue. Usually, the missing manual is due to sparse MSI documentation; BIOS settings are often found in PBO>OC ranges.