Case in point, here's a similar VRM with the same CPU.
5,116.15 MHz CPU-Z Validation - it's totally stable at 1.5v set in BIOS. (LLC brings it there under load, 1.488v @ idle)
I use 25% LLC but Bones may have a better recommendation.
I can say using my Asus Crosshair V-Z as the example here that I don't use DIGI settings to excess, even if doing runs on Ln2.
For most anything done on air/water "Standard" or "High" is about as far as I go, for DICE (Dry Ice) "High" will suffice in about any instance I've ever ran into. You CAN use the "Extreme" setting if you want and it's still fine, it's when you combine that with the percentages from 100 to 140% is where the real danger is, esp, if not running it on Ln2 and even then you could fry something, Ln2 cooling isn't as "Foolproof" as you'd think.
You must be careful once you start messing with percentage settings regardless of how you have your LLC settings themselves.
Higher settings of anything makes whatever part of the system it's affecting run a little warmer so bear that in mind.
It's not unlike it is with the older DFI LanParty boards when you start wanting voltages above 1.55v's for the CPU for example with a Socket 939 setup.
The percentage with those is based on what voltage you set manually in the BIOS to use and then set a percentage to go along with it.
For example, with the DFI if you were to set CPU voltage manually for 1.50v's and then use 110%, that means based on 1.50v's as set manually in the BIOS it adds 10% of 1.50v's to CPU voltage and that's what you get in real voltage to the chip.
Mind you this can vary to a degree with a DFI but that's how it's supposed to work and you can think of your DIGI settings in a 990 FX Asus board the same basic way whether it's CPU, CPU-NB or RAM voltage ran with a percentage increase.
In the case of the CPU
You can even induce instability if not careful making the VRMs work too hard, leading to issues about it flaking out under load and so on because it also makes the VRM's run hotter, it can induce throttling or even system crashing due to a hot VRM setup, not to mention it's just not good for the board in general.
LLC in itself isn't as harmful as overuse of the percentages you set for your DIGI Settings can be but at the same time your LLC settings do matter in the same way.
Also bear in mind a Crosshair V-Z is made to go for world records and the settings are there to do so if you want, it doesn't mean you can jack those setings to the max on air/water and come out to the good because you won't.
You'll have to experiment and see what the system likes and as long as VDroop isn't taking place it's OK and should be fine but overuse of these settings can lead to all kinds of issues that will make you go crazy trying to figure out what's going on when the problem in this instance is really you.
Don't get crazy thinking along the lines of "Moar voltage", that's not always the solution to a problem you'd have and that goes for about any setting you can tweak regardless.
TIP:
If it's not wanting to boot the OS and keeps flaking out at the boot screen,
take note of how far into the booting process it gets before it crashes. Normally you'd bump voltage up a tick to try and make it go but if it then starts crashing faster/sooner, that means you're already at the limit and dropping voltage
below where you had it is the most likely solution, provided you haven't already maxxed the chip out on what's it's capable of with the setup "As is", cooling being the biggest factor in most cases here.
Also realize this isn't limited to just the CPU, other things could be affected too but typically it's the CPU whenever this happens.
And don't be afraid to realize you've reached the limit no matter what you do - Everything has a limit and once you're there, that's it and simply throwing more voltageat it is just making it all run hotter for absolutely nothing.
As you guys know I do hold some WR's and speak from experience on the subject, perhaps what I've posted won't be the case in any example cases you can name but that's more or less the generality of it.
Hope this helps.
. I said I'll stop with 2, one for cold and one for ambient. I got another one, 'just to be safe' if one fails. Now I have a backup for the backup. All work flawless and are in good condition. Just the cold prepped one has a mangled heatsink after my modification.
