It turns out that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, one of AMD’s top gaming CPUs, can inadvertently shut down if you attempt to overclock it, and it’s all because there are no restrictions on how far you can push the processor.
The software used to overclock and overvoltage Ryzen CPUs currently doesn’t impose any constraints when you try to ramp up the voltage, according to Igor Wallossek of Igor’s Lab. And following that recipe will result in an overclocked nightmare instead of an enjoyable performance bump.
One of the most recent fastest gaming CPUs is AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Although while it’s no longer the only processor with AMD’s exclusive 3D V-Cache, it’s still a powerhouse capable of running even the most difficult games without any issues. The Processor contains eight cores and 16 threads, along with a sizable 96MB L3 cache. The boost clock is capable of reaching 4.5GHz.
With Precision Boost Overdrive, more recent 3D V-Cache chips, like the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, enable some degree of overclocking (PBO). The Ryzen 7 5800X3D, meanwhile, was previously declared by AMD to not be suitable for overclocking. Your warranty will probably be voided if you do this. Of course, people have been boosting the CPU’s maximum clock speed regardless, but Igor’s Lab has shown that tinkering with the voltage can have disastrous results.
It makes obvious that any accompanying software would prevent the user from attempting it if the CPU is not intended to operate above a particular voltage. Wallossek, however, found that this is not true and that it appears to be possible to overvolt the chip to your heart’s delight.
Igor discovered this and was able to change the voltage once before killing the chip permanently by pushing it past 1.3 volts. The chip cannot be repaired because the computer shut down instantly. He concluded his report by saying, “Rest in peace, and let this serve as a reminder that there is now one more keychain in this world.”
It might have been less severe, but still dangerous for the chip that paid the price, if this issue only affected MSI Center. Nevertheless, it has since come to light that Gigabyte, ASRock, and Asus all permit this kind of overvolting in their respective software, raising the possibility that the entire platform may be impacted.
What does this signify for Ryzen 7 5800X3D owners? Not much else to add to AMD’s previous statement that tampering with the voltage on that specific chip is not advised. When this might be fixed is unknown. In the interim, many Ryzen 7 5800X3D customers can still instantly terminate their CPU, and it’s now simpler than before.
