Overclocking Ryzen 9 5950X: PBO Core Voltage Guidance
Overclocking Ryzen 9 5950X: PBO Core Voltage Guidance
Great, we share the same VRM. Your board is essentially the B550 model of mine. Given that, I’d revert to the earliest BIOS that supports Windows 11. Then you can adjust your power limits—currently using 240/160/190—and with your 16 cores you might achieve higher performance. You should be able to reach around 5250, and I’m confident I can hit 5150 easily.
Your configuration appears secure, but there are aspects you'd like to discuss. If you begin interacting with voltages, the CPU may not shut down. From my experience with the 5950x, power restrictions significantly influence sustained performance on multiple cores. Running benchmarks such as Cinebench R23 shows lower clock speeds due to temperature or power constraints. Raising power limits can boost effective clocks but also raises temperatures.
Concerns exist regarding SOC voltage for memory controllers. I’m unsure about the exact value—Core voltage auto might be what you’re seeing, but 1.08V is typical. I’ve had issues with memory settings; they caused problems. I wouldn’t recommend altering this unless you’re certain about RAM configuration.
Avoid touching unless you understand RAM clock requirements. Stick to auto SOC, 1800 MHz, and 3600MHz operation. If you need higher voltages for RAM, adjust timings accordingly.
For the same board, most BIOS versions on the X570 dark hero have issues; EDC limits are capped at 140A or voltage drops occur. (I think around 3800V is when problems began). The update to 4501 fixed some bugs.
Also, if you adjust power limits for all cores, ensure in the digi vrm settings you boost current capability to 140%. This is where VRM voltage caps after a certain current threshold. If it’s too low, performance will suffer.
If scores drop due to EDC, remember it’s often limited by voltage rather than CPU specs. Consider if this board fits your needs with proper thermal and power management.
TDC had an issue, but going back to version 1203C will fix it. EDC never caused any problems.
I initially believed you were correct, but later verified it was an EDC issue, not a TDC one.
Interesting. Using the latest AGESA setup, I can push EDC up to 190 with PBO, but if I adjust TDC to 160 it drops to 140, which isn’t ideal for me.
Which motherboard are you using? Power caps are all determined by the board itself. You have a 5800X3D, so you might not require the maximum power settings because it offers eight cores instead of sixteen. Eighty is more than enough for eight cores, and I’d prioritize EDC and PPT since you’re unlikely to hit thermal limits and would never reach TDC anyway.
I don't understand WCG. The 5900X seems to perform well overall, especially with the second CCD handling all curve-30 demands. The first CCD should reliably reach its top speed, though its fastest cores might not match the second one's performance.