topic Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance in Mobile and Desktop Processors

Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:51:17 GMT

Hi everyone,

I've been working on resolving stability problems with Intel CPUs(mine is a 14700kf) and wanted to share my findings. Initially, I discovered that raising the IA AC loadline helped, but it resulted in significantly higher temperatures. To address this, I explored alternative settings and found a more effective solution.

### My Findings:

1. **Temperature Reduction**: By adjusting the settings, I managed to lower the CPU temperatures by 10-15°C compared to my initial approach.

2. **Improved Performance**: Applications and games are running smoother, with noticeable performance improvements.

### Key Changes I Made:

1. **Set CPU Vcore Loadline to Turbo**: This adjustment was crucial, because it has less vdroop. It mirrors the configuration I used successfully on the old Z390 platform with my i9-9900K, which was the default case for those old chips. Vcore loadlines were not this droopy on default.

2. **Adjust IA AC and IA DC Loadline to 1**: Setting both IA AC and IA DC loadlines to 1 allows starting from the baseline voltage values defined in the VID table. Note that "1" is the value for Gigabyte boards. On other motherboards, like Asus, the equivalent setting would be "0.01".

- **Default Vcore Loadline**: The default Vcore loadline is quite droopy. This droop causes instability, especially in specific scenarios such as launching certain applications. For me, the initial launch of PUBG was particularly problematic.

- **Voltage Reduction on Low Loads**: With the new approach, the voltage during low loads like gaming has been reduced significantly. Previously, the voltage would sit at around 1.5 volts with the default loadline during gaming sessions. Now, it stays at a much lower 1.33 volts.

### Conclusion:

By setting the IA AC and IA DC loadlines to 1 and adjusting the Vcore loadline to Turbo, I achieved lower temperatures and improved performance. These changes stabilized the CPU and eliminated the instability issues I faced with certain apps. Additionally, I tested my findings extensively, running the CPU at maximum usage, with power limits fully unlocked, and at 100°C non-stop for hundreds of hours. There were no signs of CPU degradation, confirming that the issue was not related to the CPUs degrading.

**Intel needs to reconsider their default Vcore loadline configuration to reduce the droopiness. Make it similar to the old platforms, like Z390. Doing so would mitigate issues with stability and temperatures across their CPUs!!**

I hope these findings help others facing similar stability issues.

Re:Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

ACarmona_Intel — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:06:50 GMT

Hello Zzetta,

Thank you for posting in our communities and for sharing your findings regarding the issue with 13th and 14th generation processors.

We sincerely appreciate it, and we hope that other users will find your post helpful.

We will now close this enquiry since your post does not require assistance but provides knowledgeable information that might be helpful for other users experiencing 13th and 14th generation issues. Therefore, for additional information, please submit a new question, as this thread will no longer be monitored.

By the way, your suggestions were highly noted.

Bye for now, and have a great day ahead!

Best regards,

Carmona A.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

AlanRiplay — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 23:53:06 GMT

First of all, thanks for your awesome work and extensive testing, zzetta! This is really remarkable.

May I ask one question that I hope you can help me with: How can I research the equivalent of the IA AC/IA DC loadline 1 for my MSI MAG Tomahawk Max WiFi Z790?

Thank you so much in advance for your help and have a nice weekend!

Alan

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 05:46:51 GMT

Hello.
I tried searching on the internet the equivalent and it seems that it is 1 on the msi too.

I have found this image on a forum for a Z690 msi board, and the ac/dc loadline settings are located in this menu:
As for the Vcore loadline, it seems that Mode 3 should be the equivalent for ''Turbo' on the gigabyte. You voltage with the Loadline should only have a little bit of DROOP. It souldn't overshoot.

This image explains it:

You want to Pick MODE 3 for that little Vdroop coupled with AC/DC set at 1. Please report back.

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

NYC_Fanboy — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 16:06:53 GMT

Where do we find Vcore loadline on Asus boards?

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 16:17:56 GMT

If I remember correctly, on my old Z390 it was located under the Extreme tweaker -> DIGI+ VRM menu, and it was something like CPU loadline Calibration. BTW I have no idea what option you should select for the new Asus boards to match the Turbo Vcore loadline. I guess it should be the third one from the top. If there are 8 options you should select the fifth, but you should see what is the actual equivalent. And for the IA AC/DC loadline if you can't find them you can just set the SVID Behavior to "Best Case Scenario".

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

AlanRiplay — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 20:11:24 GMT

Thanks mate, you‘re awesome. I will check, which values are set in my BIOS asap and report back. Have a great Sunday evening!

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

NYC_Fanboy — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 05:15:09 GMT

Indeed on Asus it’s the Load Line Calibration.
As for the AC and DC, Asus uses a different system: 1 on Gigabyte are 0.01 on Asus.
So it’s 0.01 and 0.01 to match 1 and 1 on Gigabyte boards.

CPU LLC on Asus: Level 1=greater VDroop until Level 8=minimum VDroop

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 10:36:28 GMT

Yes, you are right. By '1' I meant the lowest value that you can set that is different from '0'.

Also, does it work? How is the system?

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

JamesPang — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 12:26:14 GMT

Hi Zzetta,

I tried applying the same settings as yours on my Gigabyte Z790 motherboard with an i9-13900KF, but I am still experiencing crashes in games like Helldivers 2 and other Unreal Engine 5 games.

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 12:41:28 GMT

If you set CPU LLC to 'Turbo' and IA AC and DC to 1 and there are still crashes. then it means that these chips are indeed busted and my sample is maybe not that busted. I'm sorry to hear that.

But I want to be absolutely sure that you set the VCORE loadline to turbo no the INTERNAL CPU LOADLINE.
I am talking about this one for the cpu llc:

AND these ones for AC DC 1 value:

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

JamesPang — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 12:53:14 GMT

Yes. I made sure I selected the CPU Vcore loadline calibration in the BIOS as per your guide

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 12:57:48 GMT

I'm sorry to hear that. This means that these chips have indeed some serious issues and it just happens that my sample works with this bandaid. Let's hope Intel will fix these issues.

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

JamesPang — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 13:06:03 GMT

Yes. I really do hope they fixed it soon as it has been going on for months now.

For now i am using these settings below which help stabilize my system

PL1= 253W

PL2= 253W

ICCMAX= 307A

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

Mint-Martini — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 07:13:07 GMT

I just wanted to say that these settings seem to make my PC really stable ! I did your guide along with capping 253 PL limits and 307 amps This solved my stuttering problems in games too! If you don't mind me asking what does setting the load line to turbo do? And it seems like you did the testing but how confident are you that these settings are safe? What things should I be watching out for in HW info thanks again!

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 07:21:45 GMT

I'm very happy that it worked for you.
Turbo loadline doesn't have that much vdroop compared to the auto setting, meaning that it will drop less voltage, but it still does have a bit for safety. As for the AC DC loadline set to 1, this means that the voltage used for your cpu will start from the VID table. If, for example, in your vid table the voltage for 5.5ghz is 1.3, then it will give the cpu 1.3 at low loads, or a bit less at high loads at the same frequency.

It is perfectly safe. In hwinfo monitor VR VOUT for the voltage and temps. But compared to the auto bios settings this should give you better temps, better voltage and more consistent performance.

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

AlanRiplay — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:05:31 GMT

Sorry for my late reply. Meanwhile I had the chance to check my BIOS and could unfortunately not find any of the settings you mentioned, so neither the IA AC/DC control nor the VCORE Loadline (even used the search tool of BIOS). Regarding the VCORE loading I think, that the CPU loading calibration control might be the correct one, though, as mentioned in your post from 14th of July?

Ah, nevermind, I just found the CPU AC/DC Loadline settings (which I think are the correct ones?) by switch the CPU Lite Load Control from Intel Default to Advanced. Currently both the CPU AC/DC load lines are set to 110 and if I understood you correctly, they should both be reduced to 1?

By the way, I remember meanwhile, what was the source of the changes I did recently (setting both the CPU Lite Load Control and the CPU Cooler tuning to “Intel Default”). This refers to the official statement from MSI: https://www.szyunze.com/fix-unstable-gaming-on-13th-14th-gen-core-cpus-by-msi/#:~:text=It%20is%20recommended%20that%20users,and%20then%20make%20manual%20adjustments.

Again thanks for helping me and so many others out!

Alan

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 19:12:22 GMT

Yes, 1 is the value that should be set for ac and dc.
Intel default is the value the maxes the VID table values. If 1 means that if the table has for 5.5ghz 1.3 volts, it will give the cpu 1.3 volts, depending on the VCORE loadline. On intel defaults it will push that voltage to extremely high voltages, thats why it has to be coupled with a very droopy VCORE loadline.

My aproach changes this. I'm using a not so droopy VCORE loadline with the baseline voltage set by intel, so it starts from a way lower voltage but it drops under load not so much. It still drops a bit to be safe.

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

AlanRiplay — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:15:28 GMT

Thank you so much for your reply once more! I just want to make really sure, that I change the settings correctly. So, according to my understanding, I should correct the following:

- Change CPU loading calibration to Mode 3.

- Change the CPU AC/DC values each to 1.

I would highly appreciate your feedback.

Have a great day.

Alan

Re: Solution for Intel CPU Stability Issues: Lower Temps & Better Performance

zzetta — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:38:22 GMT

Sounds good, sure.
After you set it and start testing the system stability, if the bandaid i proposed here works for you, you can try lowering the Vcore loadline to a more droopy one. If it's not stable revert the the previous Vcore llc.