Is my 5950x a dud?

Heofz · 20 Dec 2020 at 15:40

Hey guys,

So I took delivery of my 5950X yesterday. Out of the box I'm led to believe that the individual cores in this CPU are each (i.e. not all simultaneously) meant to be able to boost to 4.9GHz minimum if I'm not mistaken? If so, I think mine is pretty sucky in this department (see the "Maximum" recorded values):

As you can see, only 5 out of my 16 cores seem able to break past 4.9GHz. This is all after an hour of observation and running various combinations of Cinebench (single core and multi core tests) and doing various tasks, which surely will have triggered a max boost across each core by this time.

I've spent several hours fiddling with various PBO settings, Curve Optimization, upping/downing voltage offsets, LLC, even manual overclocking in Ryzen Master, and cannot for the life of me get those other 11 cores to take a load @ 4.9GHz without a black screen crash. I saw better boost speeds from my 5800X under the same conditions.

Overall I'm still super impressed by the CPU of course but I'm seeing other peeps here with all of their cores able to boost past 4.9-5ghz at the same voltages seemingly without breaking a sweat.

Performance wise, the CPU isn't terrible I don't think, managed a nice score on R20 with a manual OC @ 4.675GHz with 1.43v and tickling 88-89°C with my Lian Li Galahad AIO 360 running at full pelt...

See signature for specs, running the MSI 7C84v151(Beta) BIOS which I believe includes the AGESA 1.1.0.0 Patch C from the previous version.

So yeah, just a bit disappointed with those individual core speeds. Tempted to return the CPU and roll the dice on a new one, but was wondering what you guys thought?

Wondering if this batch just a bad pick of binned cores... or others have just been super lucky.

Adrianr · 20 Dec 2020 at 15:47

4.9ghz boost is just for single core (which will be more like 5ghz from what I've seen). You should be able to hold between 4.3-4.5ghz multi-core depending on the program.

Heofz · 20 Dec 2020 at 16:14

Adrianr said:
4.9ghz boost is just for single core (which will be more like 5ghz from what I've seen). You should be able to hold between 4.3-4.5ghz multi-core depending on the program.

Yes, but each of my cores (I think?) should all individually be capable of hitting 4.9, but as you can see in my first pic of HwInfo, only 5 of them are able to hit that speed (if you look at the "Maximum" column).

rare · 20 Dec 2020 at 16:33

I don’t think there’s anything wrong there. It’s inevitable that some cores may not be as strong as others, and in most workloads it will obviously share around the burden. Of a couple of cores are out by a 100MHz or so, I really would not be worrying in the slightest.

Although within its thermal window, 89/90 is quite warm, which might be having an impact.

Heofz · 20 Dec 2020 at 16:50

rare said:
I don’t think there’s anything wrong there. It’s inevitable that some cores may not be as strong as others, and in most workloads it will obviously share around the burden. Of a couple of cores are out by a 100MHz or so, I really would not be worrying in the slightest.

hmm a couple cores sure, but 11 cores?

Adrianr · 20 Dec 2020 at 16:55

Heofz said:
Yes, but each of my cores (I think?) should all individually be capable of hitting 4.9, but as you can see in my first pic of HwInfo, only 5 of them are able to hit that speed (if you look at the "Maximum" column).

Ahhh apologies! Gotcha. Well, the chips have the concept of 'preferred' cores, and from all the playing around I've seen regarding Curve Optimisation, everyone has at least a couple of cores that are stronger than all the others, which are used for the single threaded burst loads. I would be very surprised if any chips can hit max ST boost on every core. Happy to be corrected on that from someone more knowledgeable though.

Heofz · 20 Dec 2020 at 17:03

Adrianr said:
Ahhh apologies! Gotcha. Well, the chips have the concept of 'preferred' cores, and from all the playing around I've seen regarding Curve Optimisation, everyone has at least a couple of cores that are stronger than all the others, which are used for the single threaded burst loads. I would be very surprised if any chips can hit max ST boost on every core. Happy to be corrected on that from someone more knowledgeable though.

hmm yeah see, here's a screenshot from @bongo78 on his thread:

His core #5 was over 5ghz on another screenshot of his too, so literally all of his cores are able to boost past 4.9 Ghz no problem it seems :/

rare · 20 Dec 2020 at 17:56

Heofz said:
hmm a couple cores sure, but 11 cores?

Yeah but we are talking such small margins, like a 100Mhz. Looks Ok to me, I mean it isn't exactly a dud

My 5600x isnt boosting to anywhere near what the review samples were, but looking around online there seems to be a huge discrepancy. Different BIOS/Motherboards etc.

BUDFORCE · 20 Dec 2020 at 18:05

My 5800x is hitting 5ghz on all 8 cores.

kevman · 20 Dec 2020 at 18:11

My 5900x seems to have one good ccx with cores getting around 5ghz and one average ccx hitting 4.8 ghz. But all cores boost over the rated 4.8 ghz in single thread tests.

Grim5 · 20 Dec 2020 at 19:53

Everything OP posted reads like a humble brag flex to me. Your CPU is awesome, you're lucky - mine won't do above 4.3ghz all core using fixed voltage without hitting 100c on 360m AIO and yours does nearly 4.7ghz. 4.9ghz is the advertised clock for a SINGLE CORE, getting that speed on multiple is great and above the advertised speed

Heofz · 20 Dec 2020 at 23:35

Grim5 said:
Everything OP posted reads like a humble brag flex to me. Your CPU is awesome, you're lucky - mine won't do above 4.3ghz all core using fixed voltage without hitting 100c on 360m AIO and yours does nearly 4.7ghz. 4.9ghz is the advertised clock for a SINGLE CORE, getting that speed on multiple is great and above the advertised speed

Definitely not a humble brag

Just wondering what AMD’s policy is on core binning for these chips. Also your all core temp doesn’t sound right to me but depends on what that fixed voltage is that you’re hitting.

The key question is: are all the individual cores supposed to be able to boost to 4.9 (not at the same time obviously) or does only one or two of them need to be able to hit it before the chip is deemed acceptable for sale.

pc-guy · 21 Dec 2020 at 00:03

Heofz said:
Yes, but each of my cores (I think?) should all individually be capable of hitting 4.9, but as you can see in my first pic of HwInfo, only 5 of them are able to hit that speed (if you look at the "Maximum" column).

No. Only the best cores will be able to boost to 4.9 and over. Not every single core is capable of that. Technically only 1 core reach that speed is meeting the specification.

if every single core can reach 5GHz then they can all be over locked to 5GHz simultaneously which is not the case clearly.

your CPU looks pretty decent. However if you think it is a dud, I am happy to offer £100 to take it off your hand.

Guest2 · 21 Dec 2020 at 08:23

pc-guy said:
if every single core can reach 5GHz then they can all be over locked to 5GHz simultaneously which is not the case clearly.

It doesnt work like that

Just because my 5800X can hit 5050Mhz on each core individually, it doesnt mean it will hit 5050Mhz all at the same time (lock to 5ghz simultaniously as you put it)

To hit the 5050mhz on a single core requires close to 1.5V. It only uses this for a few ms before switching to another core whilst all others use much less voltage.

1.5V on all cores would be an instant crash due to temperature exceeding 90c (or more)
All core overclock on my 5800X is stable at 4700Mhz with 1.265V.

5950X has double the cores so imagine overclocking all cores to 4500+ will kick out a lot of heat. That said, if you have good cooling im sure an all core OC is possible to 4700Mhz at around 1.265V.

Just monitor temp directly on the motherboard CPU readout if it has one, or HWINFO64

...But yes, i think he has a dud. Stick it on a famous auction website as spares & repairs

Cyber-Mav · 21 Dec 2020 at 08:33

Running 1.43v for an all core clock that cpu will degrade soon

Guest2 · 21 Dec 2020 at 08:44

Cyber-Mav said:
Running 1.43v for an all core clock that cpu will degrade soon

1.43v all core, I expect it will maybe last 3 years still. My guess is proper water cooling would be required (not fake AIO water)

mikeym · 21 Dec 2020 at 08:54

This is maybe a bit of humble bragging! I'm not usually lucky when it comes to silicon lottery but (touch wood) I seem to have done well this time.

To OP, I would give it a bit more time and observation. Maybe check cooling - I originally had higher temps like you towards high 80's / low 90's. Gave my PC a good clean out and temps dropped significantly and then saw much better boosting.

Cyber-Mav · 21 Dec 2020 at 08:58

Guest2 said:
1.43v all core, I expect it will maybe last 3 years still. My guess is proper water cooling would be required (not fake AIO water)

From what iv read pumping that many volts into 7nm degraded the 3000 series in few weeks. Most people saying not to go over 1.25v all core clock. Apparently the standard boost algorithm is smart and doesnt cause degradation even when it spikes voltage

Distracted · 21 Dec 2020 at 09:03

Cyber-Mav said:
Running 1.43v for an all core clock that cpu will degrade soon

Source?

Guest2 · 21 Dec 2020 at 09:04

Cyber-Mav said:
From what iv read pumping that many volts into 7nm degraded the 3000 series in few weeks. Most people saying not to go over 1.25v all core clock. Apparently the standard boost algorithm is smart and doesnt cause degradation even when it spikes voltage

Hard to say without someone testing!
If 1.265V is stable at 4.7 all core, 1.43 should take it quite a bit higher if you can get rid if the heat.
Someone with good cooling and deep pockets should test for us in the name of science. Sure someone will eventually and youtube it