Intel Removes DLVR Bypass for "Arrow Lake" in Latest 0x112 Microcode Update

[AleksandarK]

Intel has significantly changed its latest 0x112 microcode update, removing users' ability to bypass the Digital Linear Voltage Regulator (DLVR) through standard BIOS settings on "Arrow Lake" processors. DLVR, a technology designed to provide precise voltage control for individual performance cores and efficiency core clusters, offers great benefits during gaming sessions and light workloads. According to overclocker der8auer's analysis, DLVR can effectively manage power consumption during gaming, with power losses of around 20 W at typical gaming loads. However, these losses can shoot up to approximately 88 W under full CPU utilization. Previously, users could disable DLVR through a BIOS setting called "Power Gate" mode, which is particularly useful for intensive workloads where power losses might impact performance. With the new microcode update, this option has been removed from standard BIOS settings. It is also worth pointing out that DLVR is in its second iteration inside Arrow Lake CPUs, after the initial debut in "Raptor Lake," which had DLVR fused off.

Intel explained to Hardwareluxx that this change was implemented to "prevent accidental misuse of DLVR bypass," restricting its use to extreme overclocking scenarios involving sub-ambient cooling methods like liquid nitrogen. The update has already been rolled out through BIOS updates on some Z890 chipset motherboards, with ASRock and MSI being among the first manufacturers to implement the new microcode. While DLVR bypass may still be accessible through specialized LN2 profiles on high-end motherboards, the average enthusiast user loses direct control over this feature. This development mainly affects early Arrow Lake adopters, as not all motherboards include extreme overclocking profiles. While Intel's move appears to prevent potential issues, we must remember that power settings are something that users should only change with plenty of consideration. Removing this power gate mod is Intel prevention for Raptor Lake-like situations where these chips had an issue with Vmin shift.



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[Hyderz]

Tpu should retest after this update

 

[Ed_1]

Tpu should retest after this update

Huh, What to retest?
Default is on and I am sure TPU tested with it on, you can still OC but I think it would be better to just have a warning message and let users have the option.
Performance improvements will come later (end on month or early next month). Then be good time to retest.

 

[Hyderz]

Huh, What to retest?
Default is on and I am sure TPU tested with it on, you can still OC but I think it would be better to just have a warning message and let users have the option.
Performance improvements will come later (end on month or early next month). Then be good time to retest.

Cool! Didn’t realize that by default it’s on

 

[Daven]

To all you retesters, there are enough processor updates, processor releases and processor what if scenarios throughout the year to have an occasional new review. This year alone there have been 12 different review days for processors. That's an average of one per month. And since W1zzard retests all recent processor generations every time under the new conditions, this is effectively a retest using the latest STABLE bioses, windows updates, microcode updates, drivers, etc.

Just wait until the next planned review.

 

[N/A]

If at 250 watts load there is a power loss of 88 watts to step down or convert the input 1,5 volts to 1,2 volts that is extremely insanely wasteful. We need real measurements at the 8 pin and 24 pin connector to see if that's really happening.

 

[DavidC1]

If at 250 watts load there is a power loss of 88 watts to step down or convert the input 1,5 volts to 1,2 volts that is extremely insanely wasteful. We need real measurements at the 8 pin and 24 pin connector to see if that's really happening.

Of course. DLVR stands for "Digital Linear Voltage Regulator". Even though it's a Low Dropout regular it's still linear so it loses power.

And the idea for DLVR is to save power during bursty scenarios, which is perfect for laptops, but not so good for load, because DLVR adds multiple parallel regulators to reduce voltage droop.

 

[:D:D]

We need real measurements at the 8 pin

Agree, that would be nice even though efficiency loss of the mainboard VRM.

Maybe I missed something but don't know where 1.1V came from and calculating 220A presumably from 240W with it! Sensor tables only showed around 160A IIRC. So if 220A at 1.1V then package power at 1.5V is at least 330W?

Also I would think bypassing the DLVR would mean all DLVR gates turned on and still in circuit.