LLC and Adaptive Mode
LLC and Adaptive Mode
Hello!
I'm new to overclocking and have some questions about LLC and Adaptive Mode.
My setup is:
case - NZXT S340
cpu - i5 6600k
mobo - Asus Z170 Pro-Gaming
cooler - NZXT Kraken x61
ram - G.SKill Ripjaws 2x8gb 2666mhz
gpu - Sapphire HD7950 OC (waiting on the 1070's)
psu - Seasonic s12g 550w 80+ gold
I've managed to reach a stable 4.6ghz with manual voltage at 1.250.
I'm wondering about LLC and Adaptive Mode.
LLC: It's set to auto in the BIOS. Should I switch it? From the screenshot, the Vcore seems higher than the 1.250 set, is that LLC active? Should I increase the voltage if I turn it off?
Adaptive Mode: Is this useful? My CPU temps are in the low/mid 50s (Celsius) even after 10 minutes of P95 26.6 on FFT's. If I'm okay with 4.6ghz, should I keep it in manual mode all the time?
Thanks in advance!
Lower llc could indicate your system isn't getting enough power, causing it to freeze. Excessive llc usage leads to wasted energy as oil in the motor industry; maintain a medium llc and set vCore to its lowest safe level for smooth loading. Adjusting vCore gradually in small steps—around 150 millivolts increments—helps pinpoint the optimal setting. This ensures windows load properly while minimizing energy waste.
Explore this topic further and see what Intel suggests. On my setup I maintain a medium to high setting with 120% current capacity, which should prevent voltage droop without causing 'vboost' issues. The processor can extract additional power if needed.
You aim to determine the lowest vCore your system can run at. At a clock speed of 5.1ghz (near the chip's maximum), Windows will freeze if the vCore is 1.49, but increasing it to 1.5 will stabilize enough for smooth operation of Windows and games—though it won’t survive a p95 stress test. It will freeze instantly afterward, requiring another reboot.
The vCore needed by the CPU is linked to the workload and cooling performance; higher vCores generate more heat. Balancing these factors is essential to achieve a stable overclock that lets you accomplish your goals without system crashes.
Understanding the issue also involves recognizing that mouse freezes and system shutdowns often signal CPU damage, making it crucial to have experience and knowledge to interpret these signs correctly. The same symptoms appear under different conditions, which can be confusing.
Thank you for the details! I'll return to BIOS and adjust the LLC to a medium setting to observe the results.
Adjust the clock to 4.5ghz, manual mode 1.215v, LLC at 4 (1 to 7), and set CPU capacity to auto.
Completed Realbench 15-minute stress test, then performed 10-minute small FFTs on P95.
Consider lowering the LLC?
Also, any advice on adaptive mode would be helpful!
Adaptive mode seems special for your BIOS; review the manual.
If you wish to reduce the LLC, what is your goal? Everything appears fine, but to qualify for the OC club on this forum you must achieve a p95 for two hours.
Lowering your LLC is an option if you aim to set the smallest possible vCore your system can run at with this overclock. This can help determine if you can increase the MHz without exceeding thermal limits.
You should identify the maximum vCore your machine can safely handle before the heat becomes excessive.
This allows you to adjust the system with minimal power, reaching your desired performance efficiently.
Should you reduce the LLC? What are your goals? Everything seems fine, but to qualify for the OC club on this forum you need to achieve a p95 for 2 hours. In short, I aim for a 4.5/4.6 OCR while keeping voltage and temperatures as low as possible. From what I know, higher LLC values increase the risk of voltage spikes, right? I’m wondering if lower LLC settings might lead to instability or have little effect. Regarding p95 testing, should I use the smaller FFTs? Thanks for understanding—I’m new to OC'ing and want to double-check everything carefully to avoid damaging my setup.
Lower llc could indicate your setup isn't generating enough power; this may cause the system to freeze. Excessive llc usage leads to wasted energy, similar to what happens in the motor industry—keep it balanced and adjust vCore to its lowest safe setting for smooth loading. This means reducing vCore instead of increasing llc, then fine-tuning it in small steps, around 150 millivolts increments, to locate the optimal point. That way, windows will load without unnecessary strain.
Hello once more!
After several trials with various configurations:
4.5ghz
1.215 vcore manual mode
LLC 5 (1-7)
CPU current capability - 120%
CPU power phase control - optimized
CPU power duty control - extreme
SpeedStep - enabled (windows power saving - balanced)
Results appear stable with temperatures staying close to 50°C using Realbench for 4 hours (default settings)
Vcore values from CPU-Z and HWmonitor are mostly consistent, showing 2.16v at full load (steady) and 2.00v during idle (also steady).
Are there any additional stress tests you recommend performing before concluding?