Ryzen 3950X running hot

[lololohahaha008]

Straight to point:

 

Hi,

 

I have a Ryzen 3950X. It’s running hot when idle. I did everything they told me to do in forums and other website. It’s still hot. How can I lower the temps?

 

Thx!

 

 

 

———

 

Longer explanation:

 

Hi,

 

I just build a new PC for my friend and while setting it up, I ran into some problems/questionning

 

First, here are the specs:

• Ryzen 9 3950X
• MSI MEG X570 ACE
• 32GB (4 x 8GB) G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3000
• MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB Gaming X Trio
• Corsair RMx 750W 80+ Gold PSU
• Western Digital SN750 500GB M.2-2280 NVMe
• NZXT Kraken Z63

 

Now, when building, everything went fine. Setting up Windows also went fine. Gaming for the first time is the same thing.

 

*BIG TL;DR at the end

 

 

———

 

Part 1:

 

But, after a week, the PC was getting really noisy, from fans and pump, even when doing nothing. I then proceed to look at the CPU temperature. I saw 57-60ºC. The cooler reported a liquid temperature at around 30-35ºC.

 

I look up online and saw some solutions:

• It’s normal for Ryzen to idle between 40-50ºC
• Set the power management plan to AMD Ryzen Balanced
• Set the minimum CPU to 5-20%
• Update chipset driver
• Update BIOS

 

So I did the first 4 (need to be physically there to update BIOS, but can't because of the virus) and optimized the fan curves, and nothing has changed. Temps is still the same.

 

When I open Ryzen Master, I can see that the CPU is in Default OC mode with a clock at around 4.2GHz with temps at 60ºC. (**Quick reminder that this is after Windows startup, doing nothing).

 

Pictures:

 

  

 

 

 

 

So TL;DR Part 1, how can I lower my CPU temp when idling?

 

 

 

———

 

Part 2:

 

So it’s the second day since I wrote this, and today, I decided to play with Ryzen Master a little bit.

 

I did a reset of Ryzen Master: nothing changed

 

I put the CPU into Creator Mode with the OC at Eco Mode: nothing changed

 

I set the OC to Manual and decreased the clock down to 3900: a little bit changed (± 5ºC)

 

THEN…

I decreased the maximum voltage for cores down to 1.35V (decrease of 0.1V from 1.45V) and BOOM: temps dropped to 55ºC.

So, ok, what if I continue to drop it? Another -0.1V, another -5ºC.

I repeat it again and decided to stop at 1.20V. And that's when I got the sweet spot of 40-45ºC.

 

  

 

So I guess I found it. Decrease the voltage.

 

BUT, it still doesn’t answer my questionning. Why do I need to do that? Doesn’t the CPU and Mobo do it on it self? (btw, everything in BIOS is untouched except fans curves, boot priorities and SMT, so voltage should be at AUTO) I would expect the CPU to come out of the box ready to play, no OC. For someone, like my friend, with only beginner knowledge about computer, it could be risky and frustrating not to know how.

 

And I usually don’t like doing this (OC) because it’s not my PC and I don’t want to  take the risk and break something on it.

 

So TL;DR Part 2:

• Why do I need to manually decrease the voltage?
• Is there something I did wrong during the building process?
• Is there a way to set it to auto?

 

 

———

 

BIG TL;DR:

• How can I lower the temps on my Ryzen?
• Why do I need to decrease the voltage? Can I set it to AUTO?

 

 

———

 

Sorry for the long essay.

 

PS: If you need more info, write to me and I’ll provide more picture.

 

Thx!

 

NHL.

[FloRolf]

Idle temps don't matter (only to a certain degree ofc *pun intended). What are your load temps and clock speeds?

[Boomwebsearch]

 

Try changing the thermal paste and increasing RPM on the CPU cooler radiator fans and other case fans in general. What thermal paste are you currently using?

 

[lololohahaha008]

5 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

Idle temps don't matter (only to a certain degree ofc *pun intended). What are your load temps and clock speeds?

I don't remember. I'll ask my friend to run some games and I'll come back to you. 

 

Also, do you want me to test with the underclock or without?

[lololohahaha008]

1 minute ago, Boomwebsearch said:

 

Try changing the thermal paste and increasing RPM on the CPU cooler radiator fans and other case fans in general. What thermal paste are you currently using?

 

I'm using the one included in the NZXT Kraken cooler. The pre-applied one

[FloRolf]

2 minutes ago, lololohahaha008 said:

I don't remember. I'll ask my friend to run some games and I'll come back to you

preferably not games as no game on the planet maxes a 3950X. I need long and heavy tests. like a 30min render.

I seriously hope he didnt buy it for gaming. 

[-rascal-]

1.45V Core Voltage is high, so that is ONE of the reasons why.

Usually the motherboard can set the proper voltage; BIOS updates will have better optimizations, etc.

 

You might also need to adjust the AIO pump + fan speeds.

Set up a custom fan curve for your AIO fans, and case fans, etc.

 

What computer case / chassis are you using?

Might need to improve the overall airflow (e.g. better or more case fans, etc).

[lololohahaha008]

Just now, FloRolf said:

preferable not games as no game on the planet maxes a 3950X. I need long and heavy tests. like a 30min render.

I seriously hope he didnt buy it for gaming. 

No, it was for a combo of gaming, streaming, photoshop.

[lololohahaha008]

Just now, -rascal- said:

What computer case / chassis are you using?

Might need to improve the overall airflow (e.g. better or more case fans, etc).

It's the NZXT H510 Elite with a Kraken Z63

[lololohahaha008]

2 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

like a 30min render.

Do you mean something like Cinebench?

 

[-rascal-]

4 minutes ago, lololohahaha008 said:

It's the NZXT H510 Elite with a Kraken Z63

 

The front airflow for the case, in stock configuration, is not the greatest...

It is quite restricted, with the giant front glass panel, and the vents/holes along the side (on JUST the front right-side, too)

Spoiler

 

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3496-nzxt-h510-elite-case-review-making-things-worse

 

[lololohahaha008]

9 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

1.45V Core Voltage is high, so that is ONE of the reasons why.

Usually the motherboard can set the proper voltage; BIOS updates will have better optimizations, etc.

What voltage whould you recommend if I would like to exploit the full potential of the CPU? (I'm at 1.20V)

[lololohahaha008]

Just now, -rascal- said:

The front airflow for the case, in stock configuration, is not the greatest...

It is quite restricted, with the giant front glass panel, and the vents/holes along the side (on JUST the front right-side, too)

Ah ok, I see. But my friend really liked that case so, I just let him go with it.

[FloRolf]

9 minutes ago, lololohahaha008 said:

Do you mean something like Cinebench?

 

Cinebench only takes 2minutes to complete. That's not enough to heat the system up all the way. More like Prime95 or IBT for 30minutes. 

[lololohahaha008]

1 hour ago, FloRolf said:

More like Prime95 or IBT for 30minutes. 

So I ask my friend to do Prime95 for 30 minute.

 

The first time, for some reason I don't know, the CPU was running at 3.5GHz and no mode was selected (not Creator, not Gaming, not Profile 1 nor 2). The temps are good, around 50-60ºC.

 

The 2nd time, I selected Creator Mode with Default OC and left the max voltage at 1.20V (I forgot to put back to default). The temps were higher but not astronomically high. I saw between 60-70ºC. BUT, the CPU was clocked at 3.6GHz when testing, even with Default OC selected (when Default OC was selected, I see a clock of 4.2GHz in RM). Before the test, CPU was at 4.2GHz and 60ºC, idle. (see pictures)

 

)

 

 

 

Really weird behaviour. Did I miss something? It's my first time with Ryzen so I'm not really familiar.

 

Note that the BIOS is not updated yet (because I can't be physically at my friend's house).

[-rascal-]

3 hours ago, lololohahaha008 said:

So I ask my friend to do Prime95 for 30 minute.

 

The first time, for some reason I don't know, the CPU was running at 3.5GHz and no mode was selected (not Creator, not Gaming, not Profile 1 nor 2). The temps are good, around 50-60ºC.

 

The 2nd time, I selected Creator Mode with Default OC and left the max voltage at 1.20V (I forgot to put back to default). The temps were higher but not astronomically high. I saw between 60-70ºC. BUT, the CPU was clocked at 3.6GHz when testing, even with Default OC selected (when Default OC was selected, I see a clock of 4.2GHz in RM). Before the test, CPU was at 4.2GHz and 60ºC, idle. (see pictures)

 

Really weird behaviour. Did I miss something? It's my first time with Ryzen so I'm not really familiar.

 

Note that the BIOS is not updated yet (because I can't be physically at my friend's house).

 

CPU boosting up to 4.2 GHz when the Processor is not stressed.

There is enough thermal and power headroom for it to do so.

You need to consider the Temperature / PPT / TDC / EDC headroom.

 

Once Prime95 is running, the 4.2 GHz speed can no longer be sustained, while keeping the CPU within power specifications.

It then downclocks the CPU to 3.5 GHz / 3.6 GHz

As you can see in Ryzen Master, when Prime95 is running, your TDC is at it's limit -- 100%.

 

Ryzen 3950X is advertised as 3.5 GHz base, and Turbo Boost UP TO 4.7 GHz.

How Turbo Boost works now is a bit more complex...but generally...something in the lines of this...

• Up to 4.7 GHz with only 1 or 2 cores is fully loaded (14/16 cores are idle)
• 4.4 GHz ~ 4.6 GHz when 3 ~ 4 cores are loaded (remaining 12/16 cores idle)
• 4.2 GHz when 4 ~ 6 cores are used (remaining 10/16 cores are idle)
• ....
• ....
• 3.5 GHz when All 16 cores are loaded 

 

If you open up CPU-Z, go into the About tab, and click Save Report (.TXT), you can then open up that file.

Scroll down in that .TXT file, and you'll see the "general" P-States listed.

 

For an example, my i7-8086K is listed as 4.0 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 5.0 GHz.

In the .TXT file...