Question Do I have to worry about frying my CPU?

Marcos Baras · Apr 25, 2024

Hi everybody!! My PC specs are as follows:

Core i5-13400F (stock)
Arctic Cooling i35
2 x 16 GB DDR5 Kingston Fury Beast (XMP1-5200 CL40)
SSD1: 1TB WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe
SSD2: 480GB Kingston A400
ASUS TUF Gaming B760-Plus Wifi
PNY GeForce GTX 1660 XLR8
Gigabyte UD750GM PG5 750W ATX 3.0 PCIe 5.0
Windows 10 Pro 22H2 x64

I am aware of reports regarding Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen unlocked desktop processors experiencing issues with certain games, especially crashes during the shader compilation process. I know this would not be my case because I have a locked i5, but I do know too that these issues are, in many cases, related to certain default BIOS settings that unlock CPU’s current and power limits. The point is my BIOS comes with APE 3.0 (Asus Performance Enhancement) setting enabled by default, and Asus itself warns the user about it not following Intel guidelines regarding power limits.

Having heard about the problem, I disabled it, but even when it disabled, ICCmax setting remains at 500A, which seems rather excessive to me. The problem is that I have no way of changing it: the feature is greyed out, be it in the BIOS, be it in XTU application.

First, I have to clarify than I am NOT currently having any issues with my system, but I have been using my PC during 2 months with APE setting enabled, and I prefer being cautious than being sorry later. My question is simple: should I be worried about harming my CPU in the long term?

I attach some BIOS screenshots below.

Thx in advance!

Tech Junky · Apr 25, 2024

Marcos Baras said:
500A

If that were the case you would melt everything inside the case.

Nothing in your parts list screams power hog either. The system will self protect from the PSU and mobo if the power draw is too high. The CPU will throttle when it hits 100C and continue to back down to prevent damage.

Marcos Baras · Apr 25, 2024

Tech Junky said:
If that were the case you would melt everything inside the case.

Nothing in your parts list screams power hog either. The system will self protect from the PSU and mobo if the power draw is too high. The CPU will throttle when it hits 100C and continue to back down to prevent damage.

Ok, thank you very much for your repply!

coercitiv · Apr 26, 2024

Marcos Baras said:
Having heard about the problem, I disabled it, but even when it disabled, ICCmax setting remains at 500A, which seems rather excessive to me. The problem is that I have no way of changing it: the feature is greyed out, be it in the BIOS, be it in XTU application.

You're safe for multiple reasons. One of these reasons is the locked parts such as your 13400F also have some protections settings locked in by Intel (read this article if you're curious). Another reason is your power limits will kick in before current limits are a problem. Another reason is the 13400F has relatively modest clocks when compared with the unlocked K SKUs, and the high clocks are part of the combination that cause instability (together with high temps and high voltage/current combo).

This problem with Intel chips is a combination of factors that lead to the system crash (like in so many situations when accidents happen), remove even one of the factors and the issue is probably gone (lower max clocks, lower current limit, enforce Current Excursion Protection etc). For example, if we limit the 14900KS to 4.6Ghz like your 13400F, then none of them would have issues even if their power/current limits were badly set in BIOS.

The only thing you can consider doing, but only if the fan noise is annoying some times by ramping up and down, is to lower "Short Duration Package Power Limit" from 148W to something like 120W. That's just a quality of life thing though, not a stability requirement.

lakedude · May 3, 2024

500A

Tech Junky said:
If that were the case you would melt everything inside the case.

The 1st time I ever looked at a pinout for a CPU I was shocked at how many pins were for power. I had assumed that there would be just a few power pins (like the old TTL-DIPs) and that the vast majority of CPU pins were for I/O. It took me a few minutes to realize that with CPUs running on such low voltage they would need a huge amount of current resulting in lots of power pins being required.

500A does seem high but these CPUs can draw over 200 watts and they run right at about 1 volt so I'm guessing they can pull over 200A.

Marcos Baras · May 3, 2024

Ok, so following your reasoning, if my CPU Vcore ranges between 1.10 - 1.24v under load, then setting the ICCMax at 140A (intel recommended value) should be more than enough for hitting the 148W PL2 stably, isnt it?

lakedude said:
500A

The 1st time I ever looked at a pinout for a CPU I was shocked at how many pins were for power. I had assumed that there would be just a few power pins, like the old TTL-DIPs and that the vast majority of CPU pins would for I/O. It took me a few minutes to realize that with CPUs running on such low voltage they would need a huge amount of current resulting in lots of power pins being required.

500A does seem high but these CPUs can draw over 200 watts and they run right at about 1 volt so I'm guessing they can pull over 200A.

lakedude · May 3, 2024

IDK partner, Intel's power specs have gotten too complicated for me to understand. I find them a little disingenuous to be honest.

I went AMD this time in part because of efficiency. We are pushing a 500 watt PS pretty hard, not sure we could pull it off with Intel.

Tech Junky · May 3, 2024

lakedude said:
500A

I don't know how you're going to pull 500A when the typical mains feed is 100 or 200A to feed the whole house. If you take a 200W situation it's V*A=W. For instance a laptop power adapter for 180W is usually 20V*9A and most circuit breakers are 15A unless it's a major appliance with a dedicated feed then it might be 30/50A depending on the draw.

Markfw · May 3, 2024

Tech Junky said:
I don't know how you're going to pull 500A when the typical mains feed is 100 or 200A to feed the whole house. If you take a 200W situation it's V*A=W. For instance a laptop power adapter for 180W is usually 20V*9A and most circuit breakers are 15A unless it's a major appliance with a dedicated feed then it might be 30/50A depending on the draw.

The 500A is at like 1 volt or so, that would be 500 watts, but that would cause the CPU to throttle, even if it got there.

Tech Junky · May 3, 2024

Markfw said:
500A

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Max input 10A and dc output 24A on an 850w PSU.

Markfw · May 3, 2024

Tech Junky said:
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Max input 10A and dc output 24A on an 850w PSU.

You did not understand. Thr 500A setting in the bios is the max amperage for the CPU which is like 1.1v or 550 watts, it has nothing to do with the power supply.

In2Photos · May 3, 2024

Tech Junky said:
I don't know how you're going to pull 500A when the typical mains feed is 100 or 200A to feed the whole house. If you take a 200W situation it's V*A=W. For instance a laptop power adapter for 180W is usually 20V*9A and most circuit breakers are 15A unless it's a major appliance with a dedicated feed then it might be 30/50A depending on the draw.

You do realize that those are entirely 2 different voltages? Your house is 120/240V AC. The CPU is using ~1V DC.

Power=Volts*Amps

For the house, a 200A service times 240V is 48,000 watts
For the CPU in this case 500A times 1V is 500 watts

Question Do I have to worry about frying my CPU?

Marcos Baras

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Tech Junky

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Marcos Baras

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coercitiv

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lakedude

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Marcos Baras

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lakedude

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Tech Junky

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Markfw

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Tech Junky

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EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G3, 80 Plus Gold 850W, Fully Modular, Eco Mode with New HDB Fan, 10 Year Warranty, Includes Power ON Self Tester, Compact 150mm Size, Power Supply 220-G3-0850-X1

Markfw

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EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G3, 80 Plus Gold 850W, Fully Modular, Eco Mode with New HDB Fan, 10 Year Warranty, Includes Power ON Self Tester, Compact 150mm Size, Power Supply 220-G3-0850-X1

In2Photos

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