Minimal cinebench rating for R20 model at 3900x resolution and reduced clock speed [RESOLVED]
Minimal cinebench rating for R20 model at 3900x resolution and reduced clock speed [RESOLVED]
Hello, welcome! I understand the thread might be a bit off. I’m working on a fresh build and running into some issues. My Ryzen 3900X isn’t behaving as expected. During Cinebench R20, the clock drops from 3.5-4.2 GHz to about 3.1 GHz across all cores, using only 80% of the CPU power, and I’m getting a score between 5300 and 5500 on a very cold start. Single core is fine, it runs at 4.4 GHz and scores around 500. I’ve adjusted BIOS settings because the temperatures were high (around 75°C during downloads). Now I’m using the stock Wraith Prism cooler, but I’m hoping for an upgrade soon. I followed some tips from JayzTwoCents—like lowering the max voltage to 1.35—but it hurt performance. Recently, in Cinebench R20, I hit 75°C and if I run two tests back-to-back, it throttles down to 2.9 GHz. Before changing BIOS, I scored about 6700, but temps were bad and the cooler was noisy. I’m hoping to regain some speed so I can run simulations, which is why I needed this CPU in the first place. I’m also curious about what the Ryzen Master settings mean—especially 100% PPT and why it’s at 100%. I’ll reset BIOS to defaults after upgrading the cooler and see how it goes. Thanks in advance for any advice!
I’d say your problem is your cooler isn’t up to the job. With a nearly $700 CPU, a budget cooler won’t deliver the performance you need. You’re missing out on boosting 12 cores, and restricting voltages in the BIOS only makes things worse. AMD suggests water cooling for their 3900x model specifically—without it, you won’t get much improvement. Upgrading your cooling system would really make a difference.
The issue I’m puzzled about is how it handled temperature changes before the updates—previously it stayed within a comfortable range, like 5 to 10 degrees higher, and worked well. Now it’s running cooler but worse, and I’m concerned about the temperatures. I’m considering swapping the cooler just because of the noise, but I don’t like the colder performance either. I was expecting 80°C during intense use, which is normal for that model. I wonder why they recommend a larger cooler for this version, since it seems unnecessary in this case. I just hope I avoid the risky situations people describe about thermal paste removal.
I believe this could be the right approach, though I’m still trying to figure it out. Many people do similar things, but I haven’t found anyone with the same problem. It’s unclear why overclocking works here—especially since there isn’t enough voltage for normal operation. This is really new to me, and I’m feeling quite confused. Thanks for your help!
Sorry I'm a bit puzzled about your question. To begin with, each person's CPU is unique, similar to fingerprints. What works for one might not work for another. Some individuals get lucky and receive high-performance chips that run efficiently at low voltages, while others struggle and need much higher voltages to achieve comparable results—or sometimes worse outcomes. Ryzen can be quite sensitive to overclocking and voltage settings. If you're unsure about your setup or the safe voltage for your specific chip (which varies by model), you risk damaging it. Generally, it's best to keep your Ryzen running at 100% stock if you have proper cooling, enabling PBO plus AutoOC with the highest offset. This maintains stability while allowing maximum performance. OCing has changed significantly over the past few years, and Ryzen is largely fixed by default, making manual overclocking less worthwhile unless you have a solid understanding of what you're doing.
I understand the situation. I initially thought the voltage was too high, so I adjusted it to avoid potential damage. Everyone online seemed to agree that 1.47 V is excessive for a stock CPU and 1.35 V is acceptable. Probably they're correct, and I made another mistake. It looks like the voltage actually dropped under load—sometimes it went as low as 1V during Cinebench. I’ll install the new cooler, reset the BIOS to defaults, and check the results. Thanks!
Sure thing. Yes, running a manual overclock at 1.47V could damage your system, which is why they warn about it. But Ryzen can handle higher voltages for short periods during light tasks to help boost performance. It's normal when it operates that way, and it serves its purpose. You're right—it was likely at 1.47V before you started a heavy workload. When Cinebench kicked in and used all cores, the voltage dropped noticeably. That’s exactly how it was meant to work. I’ve also tried overclocking my Ryzen 7 3800X before, but it was a steep learning curve with lots of research needed. Good luck!
I’m hoping those high-speed 3.0 GHz clocks disappear, since my calculations would finish in just a few hours if they were faster