Ryzen 5 3600, LCC, voltage, and overclocking
Ryzen 5 3600, LCC, voltage, and overclocking
Hello. It seems you might already have a release batch sample, so don't worry too much about your OC being perfect—new samples look much more stable. I used 4.1 Ghz all-core at 1.325V for a year, but I've started looking deeper now. I was wondering if it's beneficial to keep idle voltage lower than the load voltage. I managed this by using an LLC circuit with VCore set to 1.3V in idle mode (MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX), which is around 1.304V, and between medium and high loads I'm at 1.312V–1.320V. I'm curious if this setup works well for light or single-core tasks. For mid-range loads I've noticed good stability, confirmed by OCCT tests. Is it better to run at 1.304V idle and 1.320V under load compared to 1.325V all the time? I've seen others trying to fight Vdroop, but that's actually the opposite of what you're doing here ;D (for instance, 1.320V idle vs 1.304V when running).
You're dealing with a leaker setup. Lvl 2 LLC might not be sufficient. For settings between 1 to 5 LLC, try Lvl 4—it should lock the v-core at your chosen level. Fewer settings mean you'll notice the effects sooner and higher settings will push the v-core further than intended.
At around 1.3v with a 4.1ghz clock, it could be slightly too aggressive. Start with 1.28v and check stability at lower v-core values. This approach helps maintain cooler component temperatures.
High CPU temperatures often trigger cooling fans to run at full speed (100%). If you want better control, adjust EDC and PPT limits. Raising these can help push higher overclocks, but be cautious—temperatures above 80°C usually mean instability. It's mostly trial and error to find the right balance for your rig.
I'm using Scythe Ninja 5 to lower CPU temps, but noticed it causes issues in games since it doesn't supply enough voltage for basic loads. The 1.3V setting might seem high, though it was common for early Ryzen models and newer ones are much more efficient. Back then, 1.35V was suggested. I can't drop below 1.315-1.320V to keep stable performance at 4.1Ghz for over an hour with low data usage. Temperatures can rise up to 90°C during tests, but that's not typical. Usually my temps stay between 45-65°C under gaming or rendering loads.