Undervolt offers benefits only up to 70mV adaptive offset and includes a 13700k package for MSI motherboards.
Undervolt offers benefits only up to 70mV adaptive offset and includes a 13700k package for MSI motherboards.
Hello, please accept my apologies if I've misplaced this in the wrong section. I'm facing some challenges adjusting the voltage on my recently bought 13700k using adaptive + offset control with my MSI Z790-A Wifi (DDR5). As the name implies, setting the offset below -70mv (0.07) doesn't make a difference to the core voltage. I'm monitoring this with HWiNFO64. At normal settings, the CPU operates around 1.26-1.28v under heavy multithreaded use, dropping to about 1.2v when the offset is applied. Currently, I've kept it at 100mv undervolt, which should keep it at roughly 1.17v, but it keeps running at 1.2v regardless of how low I try to go—even extreme reductions that wouldn't allow stable operation. Ideally, I want the voltage near 1.16-1.17 under full load, but achieving this requires balancing the offset with "lite load" settings, switching from Auto (mode 9) to mode 7 to free up extra voltage. Changing those settings doesn't let me adjust the undervolt further; it just adds or subtracts voltage on top of the base setting, capping it at 70mv. Using lite load only works if I stick with the same limits. I could rely solely on lite load, but it mainly influences idle voltage and doesn't change idle performance. This causes occasional small spikes during load, pushing power use up to about 230w when it was near 215w with offset + lite load. The average draw is around 180-190w. I also tried undervolting only via Intel XTU, and the result was the same—offset has no impact beyond a certain point, so I stick to BIOS. I enabled/disabled XPM, Memory Integrity, but nothing changed. My approach in BIOS is to set CPU Voltage to Adaptive + Offset, negative offset mode, 0.100 value. I also tweaked CPU power limits (PL1 & PL2 at 253w), adjusted fan curves, and turned off enhanced turbo. It's worth noting that the undervolt is essential. My cooler (Corsair h115i Platinum) can't handle more than 200w and throttles significantly even at stock settings. Even with offset + lite load 7, I still see temps in the high 80s and low 90s depending on room temperature (20-35°C) and workload duration. Until a better cooler arrives, I'll need to maintain this undervolt. Additional details: 13700k MSI Z790-A Wifi DDR5 Variant Corsair h115i Platinum (with LGA1700 retrofit kit) Corsair Dominator DDR5 5200 2x16gb Windows 11 22h2
I've asked a comparable issue about adjusting voltage on the 13700k. I'm trying to set up stable -125mv via Intel XTU and plan to tweak it through BIOS, but I'm not sure the steps. My system is a X690 Edge Wifi with DDR5, running a 360mm Arctic Liquid Freezer II and Thermalright contact frame. Despite undervolting, temperatures keep climbing in Cinebench.
Reset XTU to default configuration, view BIOS in advanced settings, adjust overclocking options, ensure you're in OC Explore mode - Expert. Scroll down to CPU Voltage, select adaptive + offset, change offset mode to '-' instead of '+' or auto, and set offset to 0.125. This is for an MSI motherboard. Settings may vary by vendor and board.
I'll let XTU operate it for a few more days to verify stability before testing in BIOS. I aimed for at least -150mV, but Cinebench failed when I started it. Also, I realized the board is from MSI.
Set MSI power down on auto and apply CPU Light Mode to adjust voltage for reduced performance. Current configuration is mode 5 with 1.15V underload.
It doesn't, it also affects the idle voltage; you should use a more aggressive LLC to avoid sharp peaks.
Tested lite load mode 1 without offset. Compared to my earlier configuration (lite load 7 with -0.100 offset), idle voltage remains consistent at 0.770v. I also restored all BIOS settings to defaults, and the idle voltage stayed stable. Undervolt protection was turned off. It seems this feature might be part of the motherboard design, possibly preventing the CPU from dropping below a certain threshold during heavy workloads. My understanding is that LLC works best with overclocking to avoid voltage sag, adding extra voltage when the system starts under load—mode 1 being the most aggressive setting. On my previous board, this option wasn’t available or visible in BIOS. I’m confused because others seem able to adjust offset freely without issues, and searching doesn’t yield clear guidance. My current setup uses Cinebench and Blender for CPU loading, but it’s unclear if that affects behavior.
The bios is still showing as 1.2v with auto lite load, but you now have access to adaptive + advanced voltage offset settings. Let me know if you'd like suggestions on how to enable or adjust those options.
I own identical hardware—same board, CPU, and latest BIOS. The same issues persist with Load Lite or adaptive voltage settings even at -0.160v; I see peaks reaching 230W from the package power and a max VID of 1.295V during Cinebench. It feels like a problem tied to the BIOS or the board itself. My first setup was a Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX, which had a peak CPU power of 185W with adaptive offset at -0.150v and was more stable. The main concern with the Gigabyte unit was the loudest VRM noise—whine, whistle, and buzzing I've never heard before. Moving to an MSI board... I’m unsure what to do next, maybe return it?