Low clock speeds at 5950x resolution
Low clock speeds at 5950x resolution
The performance is decent. A Linpack Extreme test lowers my clocks to around 4500. The OCCT style load hits 4750, and 3DMark stays near 4950 throughout. Right now I'm testing the standard stock range.
I reach up to 4.6GHz across all cores, but single core is stuck at 4.95GHz after a 30-step undervolt. With tighter PPT, TDC, and EDC settings I hit nearly 5.1GHz on single core, though multicore performance dropped noticeably. That multicore aspect really impacts my work, so it wasn’t worth it. Also, temperatures climbed to about 92°C, showing the U12S was pushing its limits.
I'm using -30 with PBO turned off and it's working perfectly. For 5150 I try 200-130-130 and it seems fine. It performs better than letting the board handle it. Honestly, I'm not sure about my air cooler—it might be decent, possibly above average—but I'm thinking about switching to an AIO now that they're superior to the original H100 I had. Still, it won't add extra speed or silence. I'm not sure yet which one to choose.
Your processor is reaching its maximum temperature at TDC 95A and EDC 140A. To maintain those limits, it needs to reduce its voltage or speed. Turn on PBO and see if temperatures improve. For the standard 5950x model, you should look for a "cpu controlled" setting—auto might not be accurate. I think the original AMD restrictions are set too low, allowing them to market "high efficiency" without mentioning heavy cooling needs. They can claim 142 watts, but with one click you can see the actual performance. Using a negative PBO curve optimizer helps; try -5 for all cores, test stability, then increase by 5. This usually brings temps down to around -10 to -20 across all cores. It lets you run at the same voltage while clocking higher frequencies without extra power draw. The simplest fix is just enable PBO and monitor temps. If you want more control, use a per-core curve optimizer (it takes time with 16 cores).
TDC readings of 150A/200A give about 217 watts all at 4.55GHz/5050MHz boost, reaching 85°C max in my ITX case. Multicore performance is best with limits—without them it can draw 167A at 247W and hit 92°C. My setup uses 160A at 225W, 150A at 217W, and 150°C max. I’m content at 85°C and quieter, so I stick with TDC 150. After reaching 85°C, a gentle throttle starts around 25-50MHz; the hard limit kicks in at 95°C.
If you’re looking at the first image, the 74/87°C values likely reflect your cooler’s readings for CCD1 and CCD2. If one is at 74°C and the other at 87°C, it suggests the cooler isn’t quite keeping up. Your 5950x usually stays at 70°C single-core, 85°C multi-core. If you stay under 75°C, there’s plenty of room to push performance further.