The safe load voltage for Zen 3 is typically around 12 volts.
The safe load voltage for Zen 3 is typically around 12 volts.
Adjusted PBO settings helped boost the R23 multi score past 15000, but I'm checking to ensure it won't shorten the chip's lifespan. In Hwinfo I see about 1.19v across all cores during stress tests, which feels a bit too high given the lower stock levels. What is the highest safe voltage for all cores on these chips?
I tested a 1700 at 1.35v for three years without issues, even though I tried higher voltages initially. My brother still has a 1600 at 1.35v. Zen 3 behaves differently—FIT should limit voltage spikes even with PBO, but I don’t see clear guidelines online for safe limits. I’m being extra careful since my 5800x shows signs of wear after a year with safe PBO settings. It seems leaving PBO scalar on auto might have caused the damage, so I’m now using 1x.
Hardware deterioration isn't a factor; software can affect hardware performance over time.
I was working at -18°C with lowered PBO thresholds and auto scaling for roughly a year before my machine began failing suddenly. A few months later it wasn't stable even with stock configurations. I changed all components in my setup, assuming the issue wasn't the CPU, but after swapping in a new one it worked perfectly. I sent the defective chip back for replacement, and the new one has performed flawlessly so far.
That's the only real decline I've ever observed in stationary silicon, with the OC profile becoming inconsistent after years of use. Still, in a year it's reassuring to know the warranty is upheld—it feels like a solid safety net before the device finally fails.
I hope it was just a faulty chip, but the theory still makes sense. It got quite hot when used in my SFFPC, spending a lot of time above 80°C, though I doubt it would have failed in just one year. A 5800x is a powerful chip, which is why I opted for a 5700x.