Intel Core i7-13700K Overheating on ASUS PRIME Z790-A WIFI with Intel Default Settings

[aikmeister]

Hello everyone. I have an ASUS PRIME Z790-A WIFI motherboard paired with an Intel Core i7-13700K processor (with 360mm AIO - NZXT Kraken X73). For a long time, I was using BIOS version 1402 (with one tweak - "Asus MultiCore Enhancement" set to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits") and didn't experience any issues. However, after reading about stability problems with Intel 13th/14th generation processors, I decided to update the BIOS to the latest version, which is BIOS 1661 at the moment. I believe all Z790 ASUS boards received this update but with different version numbers. This firmware includes a microcode update - "Updated with microcode 0x125 to ensure eTVB operates within Intel specifications."

The latest firmware introduced a new option called "Performance Preferences" with the choices "Intel Default Settings" and "ASUS Advanced OC Profile."

Before updating (BIOS 1402), I ran several tests in Cinebench R23 and scored 29k-30.5k in multicore mode, with temperatures around 90-92 degrees Celsius for the cores, which I found acceptable. With the new firmware in "Intel Default Settings" mode, the temperatures suddenly and almost instantly reach 100 degrees Celsius from the first seconds. The scores are slightly lower, around 29k, but that's not the main issue. The main issue is that a temperature of 100 degrees is unacceptable.

In "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" mode, with "Asus MultiCore Enhancement" set to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits," I observe similar behavior as with the old firmware: 90-92 degrees and the same 29k-30.5k scores.

Has anyone else experienced this behavior? Is there a way to stabilize the temperature in "Intel Default Settings" mode?

Is the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" similar to the default settings in the older firmware? Is it safe to use this profile if the processor is stable, or is there a risk of silicon degradation? Should I revert to the old firmware if "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" isn't equivalent to the old settings? I believe that immediate throttling and extreme temperatures under high (but not the highest) load, like in Cinebench R23, would result in even worse outcomes.

For those interested, here are the changes in settings when switching "Performance Preferences" from "Intel Default Settings" to "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" to see the differences between them:

- Performance Preferences [Intel Default Settings] -> [ASUS Advanced OC Profile]
- Asus MultiCore Enhancement [Disabled - Enforce All Limits] -> [Auto - Let BIOS Optimize]
- SVID Behavior - [Intel's Fail Safe] -> [Auto]
- IA CEP [Enabled] -> [Auto]
- SA CEP [Enabled] -> [Auto]
- IA TDC Current Limit [Motherboard's Capability] -> [Auto]
- Enhanced TVB [Enabled] -> [Auto]
- Overclocking TVB [Enabled] -> [Auto]
- Realtime Memory Timing [Disabled] -> [Enabled]
- UnderVolt Protection [Enabled] -> [Disabled]
- BCLK Aware Adaptive Voltage [Disabled] -> [Auto]

I'm not sure if PL1 and PL2 are strictly limited in this mode. As far as I understand, they are either on Auto or fixed at "253 Watt." "CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max" (ICCMAX?) is either Auto or "307 A." I couldn't find where to check "ICCMAX_App."

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[inge70]

The new UEFI with microcode 0x125 hasn't arrived for me yet.

BUT: The temperatures you mentioned are actually normal within Cinebench. I also had the same problem with Asus Ai OC: my 13700K went to 100 degrees within a minute, despite the AiO. But only in Cinebench R23 and R24.

Only with the current UEFI 2301 (still without microcode 0x125) for my mainboard and turning off the OC function did the CPU stay significantly cooler.

my current settings are the following:

Default settings after update to 2301:

-Performance Preferences: "Intel Default Settings"

-Asus Multicore Enhancement: "Disabled - force all limits" (this sets PL1 and PL2 to 253W for me)

-PL1 + PL2 - 253W

-CPU Load Line Calibration: "Recommendation for OC" (Current CPU Load Line Calibration - Level 4)

-Synchronize ACDC Loadline with VRM Loadline: "enabled"

-Unlimited ICCMAX: "Auto"

-CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max.: "Auto" (Current CPU Core/Cache Current Limit - 307A)

-IA CEP: "Auto" (IA Current Excursion Protection (CEP): enabled)

-SA CEP: "Auto" (IA Current Excursion Protection (CEP): enabled)

-IA TDC Current Limit: "Motherboard Capability"

additionally enabled by me:

-Ai Overclock Tuner (for RAM): "XMP" active (5600MHz)

Stress test with CPUZ (approx. 5 min.): CPU warmed up to 96 degrees (monitored with HwInfo)

I later changed:

-CPU load line calibration: "Auto" (CPU load line calibration current - level 3)

-IA TDC current limit: "Intel's default"

Another stress test with CPUZ (approx. 5 min.): CPU warmed up to 71 degrees (monitored with HwInfo)

Cinebench R23: max. 77 degrees (after 10 min.)

BUT the points go down with all Intel defaults and were only around 19,000 for me.
With AI OC I was also at 30,100 but again at the absolute temperature limit and throttling.

The high temperature you are experiencing is therefore also influenced by "CPU Load Line Calibration" and "IA TDC current limit".

I left everything on Intel defaults because that is enough for me. Only XMP is active, however.

I am curious to see how the UEFI update with the new microcode 0x125 works here. Let's see when it is released for my motherboard.

[aikmeister]

The issue is that the "Intel Default Settings" throttle instantly during the test, while the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" is stable in terms of temperatures (with "Asus MultiCore Enhancement" set to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits").

The load level of Cinebench R23 is not that uncommon, for example when compiling shaders in games, and often lasts longer than a single Cinebench test.

Previously, long time ago, I tested Cinebench R23 with 10-minute tests without throttling (old BIOS), with temperatures around 92-95°C. In the AIDA64 stress test, temperatures were even higher but did not reach 100°C. Now, I wouldn't risk running them, as throttling appears even on the first run (with "Intel Default Settings").

The temperature is stable with the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile", but I'm not sure how safe it is to use it. Or maybe I should additionally adjust this profile to be closer to Intel's settings?

P.S. What is your SVID Behavior setting? And, of course, a performance drop of almost 40% in your example is catastrophic.

[inge70]

SVID Behavior is set to "Auto" for me.

Also consider the current temperatures. If it is warm in the room, this is also reflected in the CPU temperatures.

Regarding the points in Cinebench, I don't have any problems or noticeable performance losses. The CPU clocks as Intel intended.

During Cinebench R23 and R24, I monitored the clock speed with HwInfo and it didn't drop anywhere.

But I couldn't understand why the points went down so far.

I set "Performance Preferences" to "Intel Default Settings" and not to "Asus Advanced OC Profile".

The temperature during Cinebench was max. 77 degrees (room temperature 21-23 degrees).

If the temperatures of your CPU are at 100 degrees after a short time despite "Intel Defaults" and the temperature throttling occurs, then a setting is not correct.

As already described, the Intel default setting improved the temperatures a lot for me.

In the 3DMark Firestrike and Timespy test, the CPU only gets hotter than 65-69 degrees. Before with Ai-OC it was easily 80 degrees.

Here the loss of points was minimal.

PS:

But it should be noted that I do not yet have the current UEFI with microcode 0x125, but only the previous UEFI, where Asus introduced the performance preferences.
It is quite possible that the corrected settings for eTVB that were introduced with microcode 0x125 will also apply to you.

I cannot currently check this myself, as I do not install and test BETA UEFIs. I always wait for the final version,

[aikmeister]

That's the point, the settings can't be incorrect. I haven't done anything manually. There are two preset profiles: [Intel Default Settings] and [ASUS Advanced OC Profile]. These profiles are configured by ASUS, and I switch between them, with the profiles changing the corresponding settings. Unless ASUS's [Intel Default Settings] preset are incorrect, but I doubt that's the case.

I hope ASUS responds on whether the default settings in 1402 are essentially the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" settings for 1661. For now, I've reverted to 1402, where everything was fine without any settings (except "Asus MultiCore Enhancement" set to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits").

P.S. When rolling back the firmware, does the microcode remain updated?

[Silent_Scone]

Following Intel's instructions results in higher core voltages, especially under load, compared to previous settings. This is due to motherboard vendors previously setting LLC lower than Intel's recommendations to provide lower temperatures while maintaining high performance.

[aikmeister]

Thank you for your response. Are there any settings I can manually change after selecting the [Intel Default Settings] profile? To reduce core voltages (or something else) and lower the temperature? Even if it deviates slightly from Intel's recommended settings.

And if possible, please answer this question: Are the default settings of version 1402 (essentially any old BIOS without the "Performance Preferences" option) essentially the same as the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" settings for version 1661 (for the new BIOS with the Performance Preferences option)?

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @aikmeister 

The temperature is stable with the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile", but I'm not sure how safe it is to use it. Or maybe I should additionally adjust this profile to be closer to Intel's settings?

We recommend consulting the instructions in "[Motherboard] Intel 13th and 14th Gen K-Series processor stability Improvement with Latest ASUS BIOS..."
If you intend to follow Intel's recommendations, please set the Performance Preferences to "Intel Default Settings."

Are the default settings of version 1402 (essentially any old BIOS without the "Performance Preferences" option) essentially the same as the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" settings for version 1661 (for the new BIOS with the Performance Preferences option)?

Regarding this inquiry, could you please specify the parameters you need clarification on?
Starting from BIOS version 1656, the introduction of the Intel Baseline Profile option provides Intel's factory default settings aimed at basic functionality, lower power limits, and improved stability in certain games, which were not available in previous BIOS versions.

Meanwhile, the ROG forum is specifically for discussions related to the ROG or TUF gaming series products. 
If you have inquiries regarding non-gaming series motherboards, we recommend posting your discussion on Zentalk>Motherboard.

Thank you.

[aikmeister]

Thank you for your response. Perhaps I missed the correct forum, but I appreciate everyone who responds here. I hope this topic can help some ROG users as well.

Regarding the recommendation to use "Intel Default Settings," I would be happy to, but on the contrary - these settings are very unstable in terms of temperatures and VCORE spikes up to 1.45. And I don’t know what to do about it.

At the same time, on firmware 1402 (I think this is true for any firmware before the introduction of "Performance Preferences"), everything was stable. Concerned about the processor and possible silicon degradation, based on latest news and Intel’s reports, I decided to update the BIOS, in my case to 1661, where with the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" everything is just as stable as on 1402.

I was also curious if the "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" settings in 1661 are the same as the default settings in 1402. I mean the Ai Tweaker settings like "DIGI+ VRM," "Internal CPU Power Management," "Thermal Velocity Boost," "Tweaker's Paradise," and others. According to my observations - yes, they are the same, except that the [Current CPU Core/Cache Current Limit] value is now 307 instead of 500. But maybe there were other changes that are not visible in the settings, or is the behavior of 1402 and 1661 with "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" the same in other respects?

Another reason I decided to see how the processor would behave with the new firmware is that on the old firmware (1402), the processor, according to HWiNFO, would throttle at core temperatures of around 96°C (very rare spikes), and this was during gaming, but it was a rare event. Either HWiNFO didn’t update the data quickly enough due to the polling frequency, or it was due to the VRM temperature (?), although it was within the normal range. On the new firmware (1661 with "ASUS Advanced OC Profile"), I haven’t seen this yet, but I haven’t had much time to test it.

P.S. On both 1402 and 1661 with "ASUS Advanced OC Profile," I always manually set the "Asus MultiCore Enhancement" value to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits."

[MurdocNicalls]

The higher voltages and temperatures are because on some (not all of them) motherboards with "Intel Default Settings" they set "SVID Behaviour" to "Intel's Fail Safe" instead of "Auto".
I also made a post about it here and tried to get an answer from ASUS if that's a bug or intentional behaviour because it differs from board to board, sadly I didn't got a respone. Since I'm not comfortable with these insane voltages at the current state of the Intel situation I will continue what I always did, using "ASUS Advanced OC Profile" with MCE disabled.

In this thread including myself are 3 users with 13700k CPU's on 3 different boards. Yours and mine are set to "Intel's Fail Safe" when using "Intel Default Settings", @inge70 board on the other hand is set to "Auto". Why is that? I would love to know...