Changing the LLC levels can change the voltage but that is not the same as undervolting. You can undervolt an HX processor with zero loss of performance.
I think the droop you are seeing is being caused by the Intel Current Excursion Protection feature. Playing around with the loadline values can trigger CEP. This can drop performance and likely the effective clocks significantly. That might be what is causing the performance drop for,
@mullemeck the guy that started this thread.
It is exactly the same as under-volting. Or if you will, Over-volting (Asus LLC lvl 4 and higher).
I can example clock droop where I've beaten scores that where run at 7ghz but considerable clock droop from not enough v-core, or lack of power if you will.
Suppose we can say the LLC is similar to NV power slider.
CEP is disabled by default Via Asus MCE (Multi-core enhancement) which lifts all power limits at default (enabled, power limits lifted) and why users feel the need to under-volt.
While 100c worries people, You can also set MCE to a 90c lifted power limits and it'll throttle 10c early.
All of which does hinder some performance, just depends on a good grip of variables.
But like I was trying to help with, I'd set MCE to enforce 253w limits. That should be first and foremost with any Asus user. Boards that don't have this feature should go into bios and set Long Term power limits manually to ensure 253w isn't exceeded causing unnecessary throttling due to high package temps. No, it's not always just about the core temps. It seems both my 14700K and 14900K package temps throttle first. Of course when I'm lifted power limits using ambient cooling.
The reason under-volt protection is blocked by default is that the ring (Cpu cache) frequency also requires decent v-core at 5ghz boost with ring down enabled (auto-defaults).
But like all processors, they come from the box boosted to about max capability and the Motherboard venders cater to just leaving power limits lifted and Intel can't figure out why people are smoking processors and everyone goes onto an under-volt band wagon. But it's just not necessary.
HX processor isn't a desktop processor. The reality is that HX chip will run 100,000 hours full load at 100c. No problem.
But no, the effective clocks obviously drooped hard on the Original poster here. The CPU being power starved will cause it.
Additional Comment: edit
Additionally, friend, the 3rd screen shot, Package power 327w peak. Wow. MCE - disable. Then, he'll be all good.
Edit:
I took the time to set up 14900K to run cool and hit target Cinebench score at 253w. When the board MCE has power limits lifted, expected should be over 42000pts. But at the cost of much thermals to sustain clocks.
Ran the benchmark twice, once for the hwinfo 64 readings which benchmate utilizes and cpu-z just after to show the actual v-core being used. I will agree, the system is useful for lying, but it's not anything to do with the timers. It's actually how ME is set up and what firmware is installed, but the same basic principle exists for OC. You don't need to add v-core up to a certain point.
This screen shot is only
Set up in bios.
XMP enabled.
MCE disabled
LLC lvl2
All other settings AUTO.
Windows is in performance mode.
1.19v is not enough to sustain actually 5.7ghz.
So why under-volt? The system handles the v-core extremely well.
there's not really a lot of performance loss per say.
There's loss of performance against power limits lifted only.
Which would produce scores with a manual OC of 5.8/4.5ghz P/E respectively. (42000pts to 43000pts CBR23)
But this runs pretty cool, hits target scores. 40K is ok.
This screen shot is XMP only, all else AUTO defaults. damn thing hit 385w For what, a couple thousand points if that?
Boosted products of motherboard manufacturer to make more sales. At the cost of too much wattage usage.
But for Asus Desktop board, you gotta turn of the MCE. it's nasty performance marketing gimmicks.
Running v-core 1.365vdc. LLC auto.
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