Question CPU showing 3volt in bios and CPU-Z

PlanK69

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Jan 12, 2014
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BIOS shows: View: https://i.imgur.com/ExQfuTW.jpg

CPUID HWMonitor on the left and CPU-Z on the right: View: https://i.imgur.com/QecsxGR.jpg

But somewhat worryingly, CPUID shows the VCORE voltage as 3.056volt: View: https://i.imgur.com/36BW68j.jpg

And because I dont believe either CPUID or CPU-Z at this point, I ran RyzenMaster too, and RyzenMaster shows a normal 1.4ish voltage: View: https://i.imgur.com/zozdii2.jpg



So RyzenMaster shows 1.4v and CPUID shows the (correct?) normal voltage of 1.4volt on the chip too but shows 3volt on the mobo's VCORE and my bios AND cpu-z shows something around 3volt. I've checked and my cpu temps look normal (it's always around 55'C on idle because i have <Mod Edit> paste and stock cooler).

Should I just ignore the voltage warning that my bios is throwing out now, or what should I do? If it is REALLY 3volt, what should I do? Should I underclock my CPU to compensate? Can I manually offset the CPU voltage in the bios? How do I do that?

It's an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 that is about 3years old.
 
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BIOS shows: View: https://i.imgur.com/ExQfuTW.jpg

CPUID HWMonitor on the left and CPU-Z on the right: View: https://i.imgur.com/QecsxGR.jpg

But somewhat worryingly, CPUID shows the VCORE voltage as 3.056volt: View: https://i.imgur.com/36BW68j.jpg

And because I dont believe either CPUID or CPU-Z at this point, I ran RyzenMaster too, and RyzenMaster shows a normal 1.4ish voltage: View: https://i.imgur.com/zozdii2.jpg



So RyzenMaster shows 1.4v and CPUID shows the (correct?) normal voltage of 1.4volt on the chip too but shows 3volt on the mobo's VCORE and my bios AND cpu-z shows something around 3volt. I've checked and my cpu temps look normal (it's always around 55'C on idle because i have <Mod Edit> paste and stock cooler).

Should I just ignore the voltage warning that my bios is throwing out now, or what should I do? If it is REALLY 3volt, what should I do? Should I underclock my CPU to compensate? Can I manually offset the CPU voltage in the bios? How do I do that?

It's an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 that is about 3years old.
That's so obviously wrong reading as it would have overheated and shut down long before.
 
The reading in the BIOS screen wouldn't bother me since they're never very useful anyway. For a variety of reasons.

The CPU VDD sensor reading in HWMonitor is from the CPU's telemetry data report it's internal VCore voltage. I suspect the crazy-high VCore reading (up to 3.056V) is supposed to be the output of the VRM itself, but that can't be correct. I'd believe the CPU VDD reading, since it's perfectly normal, except everything else is so wonky.

I agree it has to be a faulty reading, possibly a faulty sensor in the Super I/O chip that reports the VRM output voltage. And also highly likely a defective BIOS.

I'd also measure voltage with a DVMM. It's easy to get the output of the VRM, just use a lead of one of the capacitors; one is ground the other is the output so it will be obvious. But it's hard getting a safe spot on the back of the CPU as you have to find it on one of tiny MLCC's without slipping off and shorting to an adjacent lead with the probe tip.

The VRM output should be higher than at the socket (but not like yours is reporting) so it's good to know both. I'd expect VRM output to be around 1.48-1.5V to get a CPU VDD, and back of socket, reading of 1.475. The difference between the two is caused by losses in the traces leading to the CPU socket, what we call VDroop.

Get HWInfo64. It's far more accurate and reliable for the AM4 platform.

Make sure BIOS is the latest. BIOS updates frequently fix problems like this: mis-reporting of voltages monitored by the super I/O.
 
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PlanK69

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thanks for the info. well, i gamed a bit today and nothing exploded and i didn't lag, so the PC is performing normally. i will in anyway re-seat the CPU just be to safe with a better cooler once amazon delivers it this week. the chip is still under warranty though, so maybe I should return it? or is it the mobo+bios that is causing the faulty reading, you think? my mobo isn't even a year old (B550-plus)
 
... or is it the mobo+bios that is causing the faulty reading, you think? my mobo isn't even a year old (B550-plus)

Even though a fairly recent board it's not likely to have the latest BIOS. I'd still look for newer rev and update if there is one. The latest will also improve compatibility, especially with Windows 11, in addition to possibly fixing this issue.

I don't believe the CPU would be the culprit here. That's because it's reporting a perfectly reasonable core voltage (CPU VDD) and as well setting a reasonable VID...which is it's instruction to VRM controller on what voltage it wants.

I believe it's in the super i/o or bios. Worst case it's in the VRM and it's actually outputting an uncommanded 3V. But if it were the CPU would be uncoolably hot and burn up in just a few minutes of gaming.

I'd be very interested to see what HWINfo64 is reporting. Look for two readings: CPU Core Voltage (SVI2 TFN), that's from the CPU's telemetry data, and VCore. They are in two different sections: one for the CPU, one for the motherboard super I/O sensors.
 
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So VCore, VRM output, is stupid high here too. If the board isn't on the latest I'd definitely update BIOS since this is just the sort of problem one would expect an update to fix. At the very least reset CMOS if you never have since you built the system.

And just so you know: the left-pointing arrow is highlighting a VID and that is not a voltage reading. I've never read a good interpretation of VID but I think it's the CPU telling the VRM controller the highest voltage it would (normally) want to see and changes with the clock speed it's running at. The controller then outputs a voltage from the VRM based on offsets to compensate for motherboard losses that are programmed in the BIOS by the board mfr. that should satisfy the request. It's basically ignored and therefore meaningless if you're overclocking.

The correct voltage to look at is the CPU Core Voltage (SVI2 TFN) sensor to compare to the VCore (highlighted with the right-pointing arrow).
 
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