Question Ryzen 9900x high idle clock and temp

[Dt-Sodium]

Hello,

I hadn't used an AMD processor since... maybe like 2004, so I'm not as used to them compared to Intel.
I installed a Rzyen 9900x today and was surprised by the fact that it's clock is at minimum 4.4gz, often boosting to 5.5gz doing basically nothing.
The idle temp is around 50°C and this results in random cpu fan spikes that I don't mind when I'm doing something requiring intensive power but not so much when I'm just browsing the web.
I've searched for power management setups in the bios and couldn't find much. However if it limit the CPU speed in the Windows power plan it does reduce up to 3ghz, so it is apparently capable of limiting itself.
Am I missing something or is it just how AMD cpus work and I need to rethink my cooling system?

Thanks

 

[Aeacus]

I installed a Rzyen 9900x today and was surprised by the fact that it's clock is at minimum 4.4gz, often boosting to 5.5gz doing basically nothing.

It says so on the tin,
specs: https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9900x.html

The idle temp is around 50°C

Idle temps aren't looked at when CPUs are reviewed, since that doesn't matter. What matters, are under load temps, since CPU task is to compute things under load (gaming, render etc) and under load temps matter.

Depending on the CPU cooler you have, gaming temps for 9900X are around 65C. During render, around 70C (more with CPU OC or when using inferior CPU cooler).
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-ryzen-9-9900x/25.html

Am I missing something or is it just how AMD cpus work and I need to rethink my cooling system?

To me, those temps in review look normal. Actually pretty good, considering that some other CPUs run 95C during load.

E.g when Intel i9-13900K launched the CPU operating at 95C became the new norm, whereby seeing 100C out of the CPU was normal.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i9-13900k/23.html

Predecessor, i9-12900K averaged around 75C-85C during loads.
Review: https://www.tomshardware.com/review...-i5-12600k-review-retaking-the-gaming-crown/2

Successor, i9-14900K also averaged near 100C during loads.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i9-14900k/24.html

Keep in mind that powerful CPU provides a lot of computing power and thus, will idle at higher temps than much weaker CPU.

As long as your CPU doesn't run at 80C and above during load, there is nothing to worry about CPU temps (unless you have hot running chip and it is expected the CPU to comfortably operate near 100C, like latest Intel chips are).

Currently, the very latest Intel CPU has more "reasonable" operating temps. Mostly thanks to reduced power consumption compared to previous Intel CPUs.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-9-285k/28.html

 

[Dt-Sodium]

Cpu temp in full load is 80C°, which seems reasonable. But isn't there a way to get the cpu to downclock to 3ghz automatically when it isn't under heavy load?

 

[Aeacus]

But isn't there a way to get the cpu to downclock to 3ghz automatically when it isn't under heavy load?

I don't know Ryzen 9000-series CPUs that well, but my old(ish) 5th gen Intel CPU (i5-6600K), does downclock down to 800 Mhz when PC is on idle. On web browsing, my CPU frequency usually fluctuates between 0.8 Ghz and 1.1 Ghz. Though, i haven't poked around in my BIOS and i'm running default settings for CPU, except RAM XMP, which i have set from 2133 MT/s to 3000 MT/s (since my DDR4 RAM supports those speeds).

Maybe there is some setting in BIOS that would enable this downclock. Whereby, it is time to dig out holy bible of PCs and give it a good read (aka MoBo manual).
I'll also ask around and see if i can get someone to pitch in who knows more about Ryzen 9000-series CPUs.

 

[Dt-Sodium]

Yeah same, my 12600k used to run around 1.6ghz on low load, it did have e-core though. Haven't found anything in the bios and Google doesn't offer any help (all the result is about boosting performances) and Chat GPT doesn't even seem to know the CPU exists.

 

[JeffreyP55]

It says so on the tin,
specs: https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9900x.html


Idle temps aren't looked at when CPUs are reviewed, since that doesn't matter. What matters, are under load temps, since CPU task is to compute things under load (gaming, render etc) and under load temps matter.

Depending on the CPU cooler you have, gaming temps for 9900X are around 65C. During render, around 70C (more with CPU OC or when using inferior CPU cooler).
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-ryzen-9-9900x/25.html


To me, those temps in review look normal. Actually pretty good, considering that some other CPUs run 95C during load.

E.g when Intel i9-13900K launched the CPU operating at 95C became the new norm, whereby seeing 100C out of the CPU was normal.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i9-13900k/23.html

Predecessor, i9-12900K averaged around 75C-85C during loads.
Review: https://www.tomshardware.com/review...-i5-12600k-review-retaking-the-gaming-crown/2

Successor, i9-14900K also averaged near 100C during loads.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i9-14900k/24.html

Keep in mind that powerful CPU provides a lot of computing power and thus, will idle at higher temps than much weaker CPU.

As long as your CPU doesn't run at 80C and above during load, there is nothing to worry about CPU temps (unless you have hot running chip and it is expected the CPU to comfortably operate near 100C, like latest Intel chips are).

Currently, the very latest Intel CPU has more "reasonable" operating temps. Mostly thanks to reduced power consumption compared to previous Intel CPUs.
Review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-9-285k/28.html

Setting OC to auto causes the CPU to vary clock speed. Depending on load, my 9900x idles @ 40° 2xxxMHz-57xxMHz. I personally have no reason to change the setting from the auto. Games are last on my list.

Overclocking ain't what it used to be! Spare crystal oscillator anyone?

 

[Dt-Sodium]

I ended up setting my normal energy plan to CPU capped at 99% and I modify the fan curve slightly. It locks it at 4355mhz and I don't get those random fan bursts.

Still not ideal though, I don't understand why it never downclocks to 3000mhz on low charge.

 

[Aeacus]

I don't understand why it never downclocks to 3000mhz on low charge.

I wonder, where you take the notion that your CPU has to downclock to 3 Ghz? 🤔
It doesn't say it anywhere on the CPU specs (even my CPU specs doesn't state that my i5-6600K downclocks to 0.8 Ghz automatically).

But overall, as of why it doesn't downclock; could be that you have plenty of background processes running, that keeps the CPU busy at 4.4 Ghz.

 

[Dt-Sodium]

I wonder, where you take the notion that your CPU has to downclock to 3 Ghz? 🤔
It doesn't say it anywhere on the CPU specs (even my CPU specs doesn't state that my i5-6600K downclocks to 0.8 Ghz automatically).

But overall, as of why it doesn't downclock; could be that you have plenty of background processes running, that keeps the CPU busy at 4.4 Ghz.

Makes sense to me that lower clock speed would mean lower power consumption and thus less heat. My 12600k would be constantly moving anywhere between 1000-ish mhz and max power.

No I don't have anything running in the background that would justify a heavy load.

 

[Aeacus]

I asked around and got this answer to your downclock question;

It's normal behavior for basically almost ALL CPUs since about the Pentium 3 days for Intel so long as Speed step is enabled and so long as your Windows power plan advanced settings indicate something like an 8% min and 100% processor power management state, and since about 2002 for AMD so long as Cool N Quiet is enabled in the BIOS and same as above for advanced power options. Also, for almost all CPUs that have this support I'm pretty sure your C-states in the BIOS need to be enabled.

The only way it should not be supported on that CPU is if the Windows power plan is set to High performance, and you haven't changed the processor power management settings to allow a less than 100% setting on "Min", or if C-states and if Cool N Quiet is not enabled in the BIOS.

 

[drivinfast247]

Was this along with a fresh install of Windows?

 

[Dt-Sodium]

No I did not reinstall Windows, will probably do in the near future. I've looked around and didn't see any C-states option in the bios.

 

[Aeacus]

Also got a follow-up reply;

5-8% minimum and 100% maximum processor power management state settings. What the minimum should be set to depends, but for that 9900x and basically all Ryzen platforms, the power plan SHOULD be set to either "balanced" or "Ryzen balanced" depending on what's available in the power settings.

So, look over the power plan settings within Windows.

I've looked around and didn't see any C-states option in the bios.

MoBo make and model is?

 

[Dt-Sodium]

According to a video I've seen, recent AMD drivers don't install a power plan. Mine is set to balanced.

Motherboard is a MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk Wifi. There is an Eco Mode in the bios but this caps the power usage to 65w, which isn't exactly what you want on a high-end cpu.

 

[Aeacus]

Motherboard is a MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk Wifi. There is an Eco Mode in the bios but this caps the power usage to 65w, which isn't exactly what you want on a high-end cpu.

Link from where to download BIOS manual: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-X870-TOMAHAWK-WIFI/support#manual
Last one in the list.

BIOS manual, page 32;
Power Management Setup - ErP Ready
Is it Enabled or Disabled?

If Disabled, Enabling it may result in what you're seeking.

In BIOS (namely under Overclocking section), there are some other, interesting values that may help. Like Curve Optimizer and Curve Shaper. But i don't know enough about CPU OC to suggest what and how much you should change (if any at all).

All-in-all, i'd suggest that you live with the 4.4 Ghz base clock, since your CPU is high end (Ryzen 9) and it may not have low frequency state to begin with. It's not like you'd have lower performance Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5, where this lower frequency setting could be commonplace.

 

[drivinfast247]

No I did not reinstall Windows, will probably do in the near future. I've looked around and didn't see any C-states option in the bios.

That's probably your issue.