Overclocking Using Offset Mode for CPU Core Voltage

[Raja@ASUS]

Set Offset to negative and offset down to where you want it to be.

-Raja

[Fr0stX]

Yeah I know I can lower the v-core using negative offset value but the thing Im questionning is why is CPU-z reporting a voltage almost 0.150v over what the bios had chosen and reported after using auto value in the offset field... Are you saying this is a normal behavior?

From testing, in manual mode, 1.165v is fine for 4.0Ghz. I know auto value will be over this so 1.175v seems fine to me. This is why I don't understant why once window is loaded I get en increase of 0.150v...

Also, offset cannot lower under -0.075v, beyond that, the system won't post. So lowest V-core I can get is 1.250v even if in manual it works at 1.165v.

[Raja@ASUS]

The CPU is not at max frequency when in UEFI, so yes this is normal (the VID is ramped with the multiplier/load). There are some tradeoffs to using Offset Mode, however, most CPU's will run 4.5GHz or so with the right cooling, so the voltage ramp generally fits.

Best for you to choose an operating point that gives you the peace of mind you are looking for.

Yeah I know I can lower the v-core using negative offset value but the thing Im questionning is why is CPU-z reporting a voltage almost 0.150v over what the bios had chosen and reported after using auto value in the offset field... Are you saying this is a normal behavior?

From testing, in manual mode, 1.65v is fine for 4.0Ghz. I know auto value will be over this so 1.175v seems fine to me. This is why I don't understant why once window is loaded I get en increase of 0.150v...

Also, offset cannot lower under -0.075v, beyond that, the system won't post. So lowest V-core I can get is 1.250v even if in manual it works at 1.165v.

[Fr0stX]

Thanks guys. I stuck with the optimized and as I mentioned already it is very stable at 1.38V now @ 4.8. I chose manual voltage instead of offset because I felt there is way too much range between min and max in the offset. Without offsetting anything +/- it did dip down to 1.1x range at idle but it did spike well into the 1.5x range (even saw a 1.61 once) which doesn't sit well with me. I wish there was a way to control the range as well. When I set a - offset I think it was too low because a couple of times I had problems booting.

Seeing is I have run several benchmark programs to check stability with 4.8 @ 1.38 and have yet to have a single problem, I don't see any benefit in the offset going above 1.4 much less close to 1.6. I can see this being beneficial for a lower OC though.

As for the 5.1 setup, thank you! That works just as well but I needed to jump to 1.45V for this to work. I am satisfied now knowing I can hit 5.1 and gotten more familiar with all the settings which is what I wanted in the first place. 4.8 is perfect for everyday multi-tasking over the stock 3.4.

One thing I have noticed is with my current setup at 4.8 I am using 112-117 watts at idle whereas I was using in the 120 range with all defaults. That's not what surprises me, what does surprise me is the default 4.6 OC uses 160 watts at idle yet an extreme auto tune that hits 4.6 only uses 120-130. Not sure which settings are changed from default to auto tune that would make auto tune run more efficient. Just something I noted in case anybody else is reading this.

Based on Raja answer, I can see the same here:

Offset auto
3.4 1.250v
4.0 1.328v
4.5 1.420v
4.8 1.530v

Using the offset mode - best stable value
3.4 1.250v - 0.165 = 1.088v
4.0 1.328v - 0.070 = 1.260v
4.5 1.420v - 0.060 = 1.360v
4.8 1.530v - 0.005 = 1.525v (not tested for stability for ovious reason...)

Manual stable voltage:
3.4 0.975v
4.0 1.165v
4.5 1.300v
4.8 1.375v

So my conclusion is:

For stock undervolting or for people with low OC and computer sitting at idle for long period, the offset option is worth it.

For higher overclock, the load voltage is too high to make this option worth it and in some case it is limit to be dangerous for long period (ex. 4.8 at 1.525v...)

[Audionut]

The CPU is not at max frequency when in UEFI, so yes this is normal (the VID is ramped with the multiplier/load).

It would be extremely handy if the bios could report VID at various frequencies.

[fsxguru]

Raja

I just tried using your write up for offset mode

My problem is that in my bios There is no way to choose Offset mode
Under CPU voltage I have manual but it's blackened
If I change Extreme OV to enable or disable still blackened manual under CPU voltage

Am I missing something

My system is
Maximus Gene-Z
i2500K
Latest 0403 bios - new board 3 days old

Thanks
Bo

[Praz]

Need to change the default Phase Control setting. From the first part of the guide:

Note that on the ROG boards; Phase Control needs to be set changed from Extreme to Standard, Optimized or Manual in order for Offset Mode to become available in the CPU Voltage menu.

[fsxguru]

thanks Praz
i missed that
will try and do

[Praz]

You're welcome. That should do the trick.

[stupidolive]

Hi,
I have an ASUS P8Z68-V LE board, I am having offset as AUTO right now and the Ratio is 43. I use a Corsair A70 heatsink/cpu cooler. I also got similar number to the one posted before that in idle, vcore is 1.048 and in prime95, it's at 1.328. I tried to offset to - 0.05 and it wont boot up, now i change to -0.02 and i got BSOD within 1 minute running Prime95. Is that weird? Right now i'm keeping at AUTO for OFFSET... and running prime95, the vcore is 1.328.
Should i set something else?
Also, there is ino dropdown menu in which I can set my CPU Voltage manual . Is that b/c i have the LE motherboard?
I also wonder, between temp reported in Asus AI software and realtemp, which one i should believe? Real temp is saying i have 57-64-64-61C while ASUS says 42C. I am confused! thank you