Standard safe core voltage for 3950x is typically around 12V DC.
Standard safe core voltage for 3950x is typically around 12V DC.
Hi there, your setup looks solid for long sessions. The voltage you're using (1.325 Vcore) and the temperature readings suggest good thermal management. Running Cinebench R20 at max load with stable temps around 70°C indicates your hardware handles stress well. Since you're monitoring CPU temps below 60°C and have multiple runs, it seems safe for daily use. Just keep an eye on trends over time to catch any gradual changes. No immediate need to cut voltage unless you notice signs of wear.
From the bios of your MSI MEG Z390 ACE, it seems the lower the number, the smaller the voltage drop will be. However, this could vary based on the motherboard manufacturer.
I tested it at 4.35 GHz with a voltage of 1.275V and used an LLC level 5 setup (higher numbers mean better stability). The few cinebench tests ran smoothly, so I’m okay with it being stable.
I recently tested 4.4 GHz and observed the VCore holding steady at 1.248V during the AIDA64 CPU Stress Test. Peak temperatures reached 64 °C using a Noctua NH-D15 SE-AM4, otherwise in idle conditions it was around 35 °C (room temperature 25°C). The board is an ASUS Strix X570-E Gaming with BIOS v2204. The RAM was overclocked from 3200MHz to 3600MHz (Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x16GB). I tracked the data via CPUID HWMonitor, AIDA64 and HWiNFO64.
Hi @B4Quattro, I’m excited about the 3950x trend. I’m using NHD15 (black) and Strix X570 E as recommended. I’m also concerned about potential CPU wear mentioned in some videos. There are mixed opinions online—some say static OC hurts performance, others warn PBO is equally problematic. With so many conflicting tips, it’s hard to decide. My goal is to maximize longevity, so I’m leaning toward running at stock settings. But I’ve heard some claims that default voltages might push the CPU too high, which could affect its lifespan. Based on what I’ve seen, would you think sticking to the factory settings would be the safest choice?