2019 Hardware Thread

So this morning I've started on seeing where my lowest stable Vcore is.

I use the following to test stability under load:

• Realbench,
• all 3 Cinebench(R15, Extreme, R20),
• CPU Mark in Performance test,
• Time Spy(for the CPU portion especially),

all back to back, as soon as one is done, it's closed and the next is fired up.

My latest is 1.232v

Ai Overclock Tuner [XMP]
XMP [XMP DDR4-3868 18-19-19-39-1.35V]
BCLK Frequency [100.0000]
ASUS MultiCore Enhancement [Disabled]
SVID Behavior [Best-Case Scenario]
AVX Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset [0]
CPU Core Ratio [Sync All Cores]
1-Core Ratio Limit [50]
2-Core Ratio Limit [50]
3-Core Ratio Limit [50]
4-Core Ratio Limit [50]
5-Core Ratio Limit [50]
6-Core Ratio Limit [50]
7-Core Ratio Limit [50]
8-Core Ratio Limit [50]
BCLK Frequency : DRAM Frequency Ratio [Auto]
DRAM Odd Ratio Mode [Enabled]
DRAM Frequency [DDR4-3866MHz]
Xtreme Tweaking [Enabled]
TPU [Keep Current Settings]
CPU SVID Support [Disabled]
CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max. [255.75]
Ring Down Bin [Auto]
Min. CPU Cache Ratio [Auto]
Max CPU Cache Ratio [47]
BCLK Aware Adaptive Voltage [Disabled]
CPU Core/Cache Voltage [Offset Mode]
- Offset Mode Sign [+]
- CPU Core Voltage Offset [0.195]

Temperatures look good, my room temperature at testing is 20.5°C:

screenshot taken after all benchmarks were completed


I will now stay here for a couple days to see if it remains stable, specially at low idle when I was testing how low I could go before that's when the system BSOD'd.
If it BSODs I can try adjusting the LLC from 6, to 7 or 5.
If it doesn't crash, I can try going down 0.010 volts(increments are 0.005V), then go up or down from there, depending on stability.

This isn't the quick & dirty testing like last time, this is finding a the lowest really stable CPU voltage, so my system runs cooler & quieter in the summer.

After that, I can then try lowering the DRAM voltage, so the CPU's memory controller also generates less heat.
iGPU is turned off, so no heat there.

One other thing will also be cooler when I find the lowest stabile setting, my VRMs.(actually they are fine even at 5.4 GHz @ 1.42v)

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
I haven't seen any reason or bump from going above llc-5 matter of fact I usually just stay on llc-4.

On my X Hero LLC 7 is the best(for higher voltages(1.39 and above), but I've dropped the voltage like a Trap Bass beat down to 1.232(been stable all day, even when doing Bitmap(compression less) graphics work) and the CPU stayed only about 15°C warmer than my room. Oh and no crashing when idle either.

@Cliff I think you'll find it hard going above 5Ghz and staying that low on Vcore. It may be my chip lottery but my 8700K doesn't like 5Ghz at anything less than 1.280v.

Kol12 said:

@Cliff I think you'll find it hard going above 5Ghz and staying that low on Vcore. It may be my chip lottery but my 8700K doesn't like 5Ghz at anything less than 1.280v.

Ummmmm????
That's probably why I have different profiles saved?

Cliff S said:

Ummmmm????
That's probably why I have different profiles saved?

I thought you were trying to find your max OC with lowest stable voltage?

Kol12 said:

I thought you were trying to find your max OC with lowest stable voltage?

Nope, just lowest but most stable voltage for the daily 24/7 5GHz.(I have no need for higher daily, actually I have no need for 5GHz with 8 cores, but I want it)

It's like an experiment.
I can get lower stable voltage when using offset.
If I use manual, I need higher voltage, and that cost $$$ on the electric bill

@Cliff 5Ghz on 8 cores at 1.232v is freakin amazing, are you sure that's stable? LOL. My 8700K needs the juice, 1.310v for 5Ghz.

Kol12 said:

@Cliff 5Ghz on 8 cores at 1.232v is freakin amazing, are you sure that's stable? LOL. My 8700K needs the juice, 1.310v for 5Ghz.

Pretty sure.Like I said above

used the following to test stability under load:
Realbench,
all 3 Cinebench(R15, Extreme, R20),
CPU Mark in Performance test,
Time Spy(for the CPU portion especially),

all back to back, as soon as one is done, it's closed and the next is fired up.