I recently built a new PC and am running into some voltage issues. The components I have are as follows:
- CPU: Intel i5-13600k
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF B760M PLUS WIFI DDR5
- CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
- Contact Frame: Thermalright
I am also up to date on the current ME and BIOS as of the date of this post.
Going down the rabbit hole of "why is my CPU so hot" after reinstalling and reapply my cooling solutions, I came to the conclusion that it was a voltage issue. At stock, I was instantly getting high 90C to 100C on Cinebench 2024 and in some CPU intensive games.
At stock BIOS settings, my CPU voltage is ~1.5V. Looking from what others have posted online, this is rather high. I have tried to disable ASUS Performance Enhancement and set PL1 and PL2 to Intel's spec for this CPU but this didn't seem to help too much; on Cinebench 2024, it was still in the high 90C range and sometimes peaking at 100C. I played with undervolting multiple ways, here are some that I have done and the results I found:
1) Undervolt via "Actual VRM Core Voltage" setting in BIOS.
I did a negative offset of 0.15 and got a Vcore of around 1.38V-1.40V running Cinebench2024. System was stable through out. Going over a negative offset of 0.19 would cause instability. There was also some type of power limit preventing my cores from boosting their max 5.1GHz rating; I was getting scores of 1050 to 1230 through out my different offsets. Temps overall were peaking at low to mid 90C.
2) IA AC/DC Load Lines
I found a forum about a guy tuning his ASUS motherboard and 13900k via the IA AC/DC load lines. I followed along and found that this did actually lower voltages and improve my thermals on Cinebench. However, the power limits still persisted and I was getting around an 800 pt drop in performance. HWiNFO was showing my cores as running at max GHz however.
3) Changing the microcode to 0x104 to allow for offset mode of the Global Core and Cache SVID Voltages
This is what I am currently on right now and have found it decent. I am at a negative offset of 0.18 on the Global Core and Cache SVID Voltages. Voltage is lower (Vcore around 1.35V) and temps have improved slightly; highest is low 90C on Cinebench. Cinebench 2024 scores are around 1280 to 1290. If I go over 0.18 offset, I have stability issues. While gaming, temps are peaking in the 70C to 80C range.
I might be over thinking it but the fact that my temps are still high on Cinebench even with an undervolt plus contact frame is concerning to me and would like to explore possible solutions to this.
I am wondering if others are experiencing the same thing with their ASUS motherboards and what remedies they have found. I am also looking for input on the following:
- Did I just lose the silicon lottery with my CPU? Stock voltage is 1.5V
- Is the motherboard I have inadequate? I wouldn't say defective since it works but would other motherboards (either of same or different makes and/or models) yield lower stock CPU voltages?
- What cooling solution is expected by ASUS/Intel for this and similar motherboard CPU combinations? I'm doubtful an AIO would be able to cool a 13600k reasonably that is pulling 1.5V stock.
Please let me know if you think. I am currently playing with the idea of getting a different motherboard (make and model).
