i5-14600kf high voltage and degragation

[Tunc]

Hi there,

I recently purchased a 14600kf and immediately installed the most recent bios (version 1820- for ASUS Z790) update. Still my cpu sometimes jumps to around 1.59volts in idle (around %7 usage) . I fear that this spikes in voltage will be degrading my cpu if it is not degraded already. When I watched some videos people seemed to be having different values for thermal velocity boost after their bios upgrade and yet mine still seems to have the same values.

So my question is are these voltages safe? If not what can I do?

[pressed_for_time]

1.59V in idle does seem a bit high. The voltage that matters here is Vcore which is the actual voltage supplied to the CPU. Applications such as HWINFO64 also show the Core VIDs which are requested voltages by each core, not the voltage actually supplied.

The recommended configuration in the BIOS is the Intel Default Settings. The settings for Current CPU Core/Cache Current Limit for your CPU should be 200 A.  Long Duration Package Power limit (PL1) should be 125 Watt (ASUS tend to use 135 Watt) and Short Duration Package Power limit (PL2) should be 181 Watt.

You could try using the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (IDT) to check  your processor, it can be downloaded from here . Note that this will stress your CPU from the outset and will give a PASS/FAIL result. Using a utility such as HWINFO64 to measure voltages while the IDT is running might be helpful.

[Tunc]

I have Intel Default Settings enabled and never once changed it. I was wondering about the VCORE voltage as well and it is 1.501 max in idle. I never did anything like stress testing the cpu because I am afraid if I put the cpu through more than it can handle before I can fix this issue I’ll cook my cpu.

The Current CPU Core/Cache Current Limit is 200 A. Long duration package power limit is 181Watts and the short duration package power limit is also 181 Watts. Please note that Intel warns about changing the default settings which I have not done. These are the default settings that came with the latest BIOS (1820) and microcode (0x12F) updates.

[pressed_for_time]

Your screenshots show Intel Default Settings is selected in the ASUS Z790 BIOS  and PL1 and PL2 are both set to Auto. The setting PL1 = PL2 = 181 Watt that results is not the default for your CPU, it should be PL2 = 181 Watt and PL1 = 125 Watt. You can overwrite the BIOS to run the correct settings if you wish to do so.

CPUID HWMonitor is showing 1.51v as the maximum VCORE. The most I would expect to see here is 1.55v so your CPU is within limits in my opinion.

[Tunc]

I have just found out about the official intel guidance for 13th/14th gen power delivery profiles. Turns out just updating the bios for ASUS Z790M motherboards does not automatically apply these settings. I have applied the official intel guidance which also suggests to set the PL1 to 125 watts. I even disabled XMP.

With the new settings my cpu definitely seems more stable. My voltages jumped all over the place even in idle from 0.5 to 1.5. Now it is more stable around 1.2-1.4 volts.

That being said within minutes of turning on HWMonitor I still got 1.501volts in idle which I am still not fully comfortable with seeing as people running cinebench with 14900’s getting less than 1.4-1.5volts max.

[Tunc · Accepted solution]

After I applied these settings even what seemed like a simple task such as slicing a small 3d file made my cpu instantly and I mean instantly go to 87 degrees Celsius which is the max limit I set out for it in the bios. I still was not comfortable with it so today I set voltage limit of 1.349volts. I have not done any stress tests or anything but the cpu does not go above 1.32 volts atm and I do not get the random voltage and temperature spikes that I used to have. I mean I still do but it only jumps to like 46 degrees (room temperature is 25 degrees) right now. Right after the 1820 bios updates and even after all the abovementioned things I did it used to jump to 85 degrees for seemingly no reason.

The setting is called ia vr in ASUS motherboards and after the 1820 bios update it is set at auto. I changed the value to 1349 and it seems to be working fine for me.

Maybe someone else sees this and benefits from it therefore I am accepting this as a solution.

[rolfdegen]

Hello..

Last week I upgraded my old i5-8600k from 2019 to a new i5-14600K.

My PC components: i5-14600K, Asus Tuf Gaming B760 Plus Wifi (current BIOS version 1820 with microcode 0x12F), 2x16GB G Skill DDR5 6000 CL36 RAM, 1TB Samsung 9100 M.2, Asus RTX 2060 Duo 6GB graphics card, be quiet Pur Power 12 M 850W, be quiet Dark Rock Pro 5 CPU fan

My BIOS settings for the i5-14600K into TUF Gaming B760 Plus WiFi

Intel default settings : Performance and XMP1

Asus Performance Enhancement 3.0 : enabled (limit CPU Temp at 90° C)

Current limit max : 200A

PL1 : 125W

PL2 : 181W

Packege Power Time Window : 56 sec

All measurement with HWiFO64

Vcore  measured  : max 1.337V

Temp measurement with CineBench 23 (10min)

First 56sec PL1 181 Watt : core temp 83°C. 

After 56 seconds throttling to PL2 125 watts :  core temp max 62°C

Greetings from germany. Rolf