Top AM5 motherboard options for overclocking and underclocking
Top AM5 motherboard options for overclocking and underclocking
It's an unusual inquiry, but I understand your points. First, I don't rely on high single-core performance much. Second, I'm accustomed to my MacBook Air using very little power and heat. Third, I aim for a quiet, silent setup. My main interest is starting to explore building a system for my upcoming MBA studies. I plan to use an R7 7700 with 128GB RAM and run a Linux distribution. In short, do you know any models that support solid underclocking and undervolting? Currently I own an R5 5600X and recall from past experiences that these motherboards can handle low settings without strict enforcement—usually they just stop enforcing them once the voltage drops below about .990mV. I won't be doing heavy recording, but I did notice on my old R7 1700 that applying such low voltages might not work anymore after it was set below that threshold. I'm not going that low, but I'd appreciate any advice you have. Additionally, I've seen reports that newer AMD chips from the R7 series tend to push performance as high as possible until they hit a 95°C limit, and whether that's intentional or part of their boosting mechanism isn't clear.
Everyone will follow the same path inside the AMD overclocking settings. The main concern is getting a B- or X-series board, since A-series models may encounter some odd problems. Just to mention, 128GB of RAM with Ryzen isn’t ideal; the memory controller struggles with quad rank and only performs well at DDR5 4000 unless you invest significant time in tuning it. You can adjust various parameters, including setting a maximum temperature cap at 60°C and customizing power limits.
I’m okay with a B or X series motherboard, meaning I’ll keep 64GB RAM and no more than two sticks. The AMD overclocking menu works only in Windows, so I should be able to adjust BIOS settings directly. Once configured, it should apply to Linux as well—no extra steps needed?
Problem is those sticks don't exist yet, at least not in unbuffered sticks like you need for AM5. You can get 2x48GB though, and realistically there aren't many scenarios where 128GB will be enough and 96GB won't be. There is a BIOS version of these settings, it's not just in Ryzen Master. In most BIOSes it's under the advanced tab and gives you all the boost algorithm tweaks you can really use (power limits, current limits, temp limits, V/F curves). You need to set them in the BIOS if you want it to work in Linux, though theoretically setting them in Ryzen Master then moving to Linux would set them as well (it's not recommended though, just stick to using the BIOS).
I believe Ryzen Master mainly adjusts the UEFI configuration, making a hack involve switching to Windows, applying changes, then booting into Linux. Personally, I've only done a minor undervolt adjustment in UEFI, which isn't as extreme as some suggest you can do, but it slightly increases the boost clocks.
It's common for the Ryzen 7 7700 to hit 95°C during boost mode. This chip includes a technology called Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) that raises clock speeds for better performance, but it can also lead to higher temperatures. You can turn PBO off in the BIOS to keep temps down, though this will lower overall speed.
You're wondering if Linux supports overclocking and which distribution you should use. You can find open-source tools for AMD chips online.
Sorry if my explanation wasn't clear about the 64GB setup with two 32GB modules. Now that 96GB is available, I'd really like that. The aim here is to build something that can sustain me for 5 to 8 years. Glad I'll have ample memory now; all I need to focus on the rest. Thanks for the details!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’m okay with slightly lower performance and have gotten used to undervolting and clocking. My RTX 3080 is heavily undervolted at about 1770MHz, which gives me solid performance while using less power—roughly half the draw. I’ve tested many Linux distributions and even maintained Linux Mint for more than a year. I’m leaning toward Linux Mint but am open to Arch-based options since this will be a long-term setup. Any distro recommendations would be great. The main thing is I need virtual desktops or macOS spaces, and I assume most distros support that. If you have any thoughts on a good choice for AMD CPU control in Linux, please share!