BIOS or software issue?

george1976 · 1 Dec 2018 at 12:20

Hey guys
I decided to hold back on upgrading my mobo+cpu+ram until next Ryzen and stayed with the reliable I5 2500K+Z68XP-UD3 combo for a while, and I bought a vega 64 nitro+ and an ssd for my system.
Now, to help my system a little in games I decide to go for a 4.3Ghz overclock on processor for starters.
I modified the boost frequency to 43 and set the vcore manually to 1.26v and LLC to 5 while keeping all the C states enabled coz I want the processor to throttle down when that is the case.
Now I do have an issue that I would like some help with please.
In idle cpu-z is showing a vcore of 1.28, firing up Prime95 has cpu-z showing the intended 1.26v that I set.
Closing prime 95 has the idling voltage going back to 1.28 and it stays at 1.28 in gaming, TimeSpy etc.
What makes the voltage stay in idle higher than what I have it set up when it's not really needed please?
Thanks

8 Pack · 1 Dec 2018 at 12:41

How do you even know cpuz is correct did you check with volt meter??

Set llc higher and voltage lower. This should solve the issue.

It all depends on the llc curve on the board and how the hardware on it responds to load.

george1976 · 1 Dec 2018 at 13:53

Thx for the suggestion 8 Pack, I am aware of past issues with cpuz not reporting the correct voltage, I kind of expected those to be sorted because they were really old

Much easier to keep an eye on another screen than to watch the multimeter, at least for me, even though the meter would be the no guessing answer.. I will try other tools for monitoring see what they say also.

freddie64 · 1 Dec 2018 at 16:34

Think you have to use Dynamic vcore (DVID) and use Balanced Power profile in Windows for the CPU to downclock at idle.

Can't remember how to set DVID, but am sure someone will be along soon to advise you.

george1976 · 1 Dec 2018 at 20:39

Hey freddie, the cpu is downclocking to 1.6, no problem there, I just want the board to keep the voltage I set not add the 0.02 it does now

Jamin280672 · 1 Dec 2018 at 21:05

george1976 said:
Hey freddie, the cpu is downclocking to 1.6, no problem there, I just want the board to keep the voltage I set not add the 0.02 it does now

You have the LLC set too high, try one notch lower, so if your tightest LLC is level 1, set it too level 2 and try again, if your tightest is level 5 set it to level 4 and try again.

My MSI motherboard, the tightest is level 1, but level 3 still allows the voltage to go up, so I have 1.375v set for CPU voltage, if I set level 3 it idles at 1.385v and raises to 1.4v under heavy stress testing, so I have to set it to level 4 to keep it at a solid 1.375v.....this as an example.

When LLC is set too tight it raises the voltage, vdroop upwards, when LLC is set too low the voltage drops, vdroop down.

As 8Pack said though, maybe the software is reading it wrong, you can try others like the free trial of AIDA64 extreme or HWMonitor etc, 0.02v is nothing though and defo nothing to worry about.