FX-8350 voltage randomly jumping from 0.725v to 2.0v

[sanekgamerok]

Sup, i'm new here. And i need your help ASAP.

Not so long ago i've decided to clean install windows 10 instead of my old 7. I've had enough with it messing with my sound drivers so i went back to seven. Had to reset BIOS setting couple of times because it just won't POST neither boot.

Now W7 is working, but i've run into another problem: core voltage is just some uncotrollable mess. And performance is really poor.

I must say that Mobo sets cpu voltage to 1.45-ish every time i reset cmos.

Btw, VRM's are pretty cold unlike North bridge which is burning hot. Command center doesn't seem to have any effect on actual voltage despite it's set to 1.275v

EDIT:Config
FX-8350 downclocked to 3.6Ghz and 4 cores
MSI 970 gaming Mobo
ATI HD 7870 Hawk
1x4Gb HyperX fury
Chieftec APS-650SB

This could be the reason.

 

[mdd1963]

First, confirm your MB supports your CPU, and set assorted CPU/voltage schemes in BIOS to defaults...

Make sure you are using correct chipset drivers for Windows, preferably latest....(with incorrect or default Windows drivers, no telling which voltage readings are correct...)

 

[Darkbreeze]

What is your motherboard model number and what BIOS version do you have installed?

 

[sanekgamerok]

What is your motherboard model number and what BIOS version do you have installed?

 

[Darkbreeze]

There is a newer BIOS, from 12-23-15. Not sure what CPU-Z is reporting there as your bios version, but it doesn't match up with ANY of the listed BIOS releases for that board on the MSI website.

I'd update to the latest BIOS version and see if the problem remains.

https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/970-GAMING

 

[sanekgamerok]

On it, darkbreeze

 

[sanekgamerok]

I think i begin to understand how it works. When i raise voltage in ComandCenter it rises in CPU-z as well. With only difference it's almost twice as lower. Stress testing didn't change voltage (Checked if it's some low-consumption Idling mode), and bench shows that my FX-8350 is just 35% of FX-8350. i must say that updating bios to 22.4 (2015-12-23) lowered NB temp just a bit.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I think you might be seeing different actual voltages from one utility to the other. Some utilities falsely use the wrong voltage. Some use Vcore while others, and HWmonitor is often guilty of this, wrongly use VID, which is requested voltage based on the CPU rather than the actual voltage.

Are you overclocking, and if so, are you using a desktop utility to do it? I'm concerned with making voltage changes on the desktop. You shouldn't do that. All changes to the CPU configuration should be happening IN the BIOS. Changes to multiplier and voltage, memory settings, all of that should ONLY be done in the BIOS. Using automatic or desktop utilities to make these changes is a bad idea and can conflict with the settings that the BIOS has reported to the OS. Also, the vcore and vid are not usually static. They will change based on load.

Make sure you have the performance power plan set in control panel power options. Then go into the advanced options and set the min setting for processor power management to about 8 or 10%. Leave the max at 100%.

Make sure that all supported C states are enabled in the BIOS and that Cool N Quiet is enabled. These will all help to keep the core and package temperatures down as well as the VRM and northbridge temps.

 

[sanekgamerok]

I measured the v12 and v5. They're just as high as they should be so I'll just let it be. No, I'm not OCing neither planning to do so. I have C1E and C6 (i think) in bios, should I turn them on?
After updating bios NB got a bit cooler. I'll take your advice about changing (not doing so) voltage in OS as well. System is stable atm so I'll let it be.

 

[sanekgamerok]

Basically it's software misreading info. Bios seems to read those just fine tho. Guess I'll use something else but Comand Center for cooler control, any suggestions?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, Core Temp and HWinfo (Choose "sensors only" option when opening). Here's why. Click the spoiler for the info on those two utilities. You can disregard the rest of my copy pasta contained in the spoiler box below.

Spoiler

HWmonitor, Open hardware monitor, Realtemp, Speccy, Speedfan, Windows utilities, CPU-Z, NZXT CAM and most of the bundled motherboard utilities are often not the best choice as they are not always accurate. Some are actually grossly inaccurate, especially with certain chipsets or specific sensors that for whatever reason they tend to not like or work well with. I've found HWinfo or CoreTemp to be the MOST accurate with the broadest range of chipsets and sensors. They are also almost religiously kept up to date.

CoreTemp is great for just CPU thermals including core temps or distance to TJmax on AMD platforms.

HWinfo is great for pretty much EVERYTHING, including CPU thermals, core loads, core temps, package temps, GPU sensors, HDD and SSD sensors, motherboard chipset and VRM sensor, all of it. Always select the "Sensors only" option when running HWinfo.

In cases where it is relevant and you are seeking help, then in order to help you, it's often necessary to SEE what's going on, in the event one of us can pick something out that seems out of place, or other indicators that just can't be communicated via a text only post. In these cases, posting an image of the HWinfo sensors or something else can be extremely helpful. That may not be the case in YOUR thread, but if it is then the information at the following link will show you how to do that:

*How to post images in Tom's hardware forums



Run HWinfo and look at system voltages and other sensor readings.

Monitoring temperatures, core speeds, voltages, clock ratios and other reported sensor data can often help to pick out an issue right off the bat. HWinfo is a good way to get that data and in my experience tends to be more accurate than some of the other utilities available. CPU-Z, GPU-Z and Core Temp all have their uses but HWinfo tends to have it all laid out in a more convenient fashion so you can usually see what one sensor is reporting while looking at another instead of having to flip through various tabs that have specific groupings.

After installation, run the utility and when asked, choose "sensors only". The other window options have some use but in most cases everything you need will be located in the sensors window. If you're taking screenshots to post for troubleshooting, it will most likely require taking three screenshots and scrolling down the sensors window between screenshots in order to capture them all.

It is most helpful if you can take a series of HWinfo screenshots at idle, after a cold boot to the desktop. Open HWinfo and wait for all of the Windows startup processes to complete. Usually about four or five minutes should be plenty. Take screenshots of all the HWinfo sensors.

Next, run something demanding like Prime95 version 26.6 or Heaven benchmark. Take another set of screenshots while either of those is running so we can see what the hardware is doing while under a load.

*Download HWinfo


For temperature monitoring only, I feel Core Temp is the most accurate and also offers a quick visual reference for core speed, load and CPU voltage:

*Download Core Temp

"IF" temperature issues are relevant to your problem, especially if this is a build that has been running for a year or more, taking care of the basics first might save everybody involved a lot of time and frustration.

Check the CPU fan heatsink for dust accumulation and blow or clean out as necessary. Avoid using a vacuum if possible as vacuums are known to create static electricity that can, in some cases, zap small components.

Other areas that may benefit from a cleaning include fans, power supply internals, storage and optical drives, the motherboard surfaces and RAM. Keeping the inside of your rig clean is a high priority and should be done on a regular basis using 90 psi or lower compressed air from a compressor or compressed canned air.

Use common sense based on what PSU your compressor is set to. Don't "blast" your motherboard or hardware to pieces. Start from an adequate distance until you can judge what is enough to just get the job done. When using canned air use only short blasts moving from place to place frequently to avoid "frosting" components.

 

[sanekgamerok]

Let's just not forget that HWmonitor says "0.875-1.475" in voltage and is sure that octa-core cpu by AMD idles at 15C in 25C room.

Edit:and is sure that voltage is 13.026 on v12 and 5.7 on v5 line despite it's actually as high as it should be on PSU irl.

 

[Darkbreeze]

HWmonitor is NOT HWinfo. Totally different. Obviously you did not actually read the information contained in the spoiler box.

 

[sanekgamerok]

HWmonitor is NOT HWinfo. Totally different. Obviously you did not actually read the information contained in the spoiler box.

I did! I just didn't realise they're different as i was in subway. Anyway, is there good soft to control the CPU cooler?

 

[Darkbreeze]

The only software needed to control ANY CPU cooler, unless it's an AIO water cooler with it's own control software, is the settings in the BIOS for the CPU fan. No other software is necessary or recommended.