Let's try to figure out what your ASUS Z790 Gaming F might be doing.

1. ASUS MultiCore Enhancement (MCE): This is a big one. If MCE is enabled in your BIOS (it often is by default), it essentially auto-overclocks your CPU by allowing it to run at higher all-core frequencies and, crucially, often applies more voltage than Intel's stock spec to ensure stability for this boost. This can easily override or heavily influence your manual Vcore offset attempts.
* What to try: Go into your BIOS, find "ASUS MultiCore Enhancement," and set it to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits." This will tell the board to stick closer to Intel's guidelines, giving your manual offset a better chance to work as intended.

2. Load-Line Calibration (LLC): LLC is designed to counteract Vdroop (the natural voltage drop under load). If your LLC is set too high (e.g., Level 7 or 8 on ASUS), it can be very aggressive in pushing voltage back up as the CPU loads, which might be negating a good chunk of your negative offset.
* What to try: Try setting LLC to a more moderate level. Level 3, 4, or 5 is often a good starting point for undervolting. You want some Vdroop, as it can help with stability and prevent overshoots. See how your Vcore behaves under load (like in Cinebench) with a moderate LLC and your offset.

3. Which Voltage Setting Are You Offsetting?
You mentioned "VRM offset" previously and now "core SVID voltage." On ASUS boards, for an offset to work effectively with Intel's power-saving states and turbo behavior, you usually want to influence the SVID (what the CPU requests). If you're using an "Offset Mode" for "CPU Core/Cache Voltage," that's generally the right area.
* Ensure you're applying the negative offset to the main CPU Core/Cache Voltage setting when it's in Offset Mode.

4. The "IA VR limit at 1400" you mentioned: This is interesting. What exactly is this setting in your BIOS?
* If it's an IccMax (Current Limit) you've set to 140A, that's quite low for a 13700K under full multicore load like Cinebench. Hitting a current limit can cause the CPU to throttle and behave erratically voltage-wise, though typically Vcore would drop, not stay high.
* If it's related to IA AC Loadline or IA DC Loadline (often found in "External Digi+ Power Control -> CPU Power Management"), these settings define for the motherboard how the CPU reports its own voltage needs. Typical values are in mOhms (e.g., AC_LL = 0.8 (entered as 80), DC_LL = 1.1 (entered as 110)). If you've set something like DC Loadline to a value of "1400" thinking it's 1.40 but the BIOS interprets it differently, it could cause issues. Normally, for undervolting, you might set AC Loadline a bit lower than default and DC Loadline to match your motherboard's VRM impedance (often around 1.1 mOhm). Misconfiguring these can definitely lead to higher-than-expected voltages.

5. Adaptive Voltage as an Alternative (If Offset Remains Stubborn):
If straight Offset Mode continues to be problematic, you could try Adaptive Mode. In Adaptive Mode, you set a base "CPU Core/Cache Voltage" (which usually acts as the max turbo voltage) and can then apply an "Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage" (often left on Auto or a specific target) and an "Offset Voltage Sign" [-] with a small "Offset Voltage" value. This sometimes plays nicer with the CPU's internal SVID requests.

Plan of Attack:

1. Absolutely ensure MCE is set to "Disabled - Enforce All Limits." (Re-check even if you think you did it).
2. Set LLC to Level 4.
3. Go to the CPU Core/Cache Voltage setting, select Offset Mode, Offset Mode Sign to [-], and start with your 0.05V offset again.
4. Boot into Windows, run Cinebench R23, and monitor VR VOUT (which you are correctly doing, as seen in your HWiNFO shots) and actual core temps and clocks.
5. If that initial -0.05V offset now shows a noticeable drop in Vcore under load (compared to full auto/MCE enabled), then you know you're on the right track, and you can try increasing the negative offset gradually (e.g., to -0.07V, -0.1V, etc.), testing stability each time.

The key is to change one major variable at a time (MCE first, then LLC, then re-test offset). Your goal is to get the Vcore down while maintaining stability, and those temps in your screenshots (hitting 100°C) definitely show why you're keen to get this sorted.

Hang in there,
GuttyTECH

 

Hey, I disabled ASUS MCE and set it to disable enforce all limits. after this I set llc to 4. the asus z790f doesn´t have CPU Core/Cache Voltage it only has "globale core svid voltage" there I set adaptive, offset sign "-" and tried -0.11v. IA VR Limit limits the vcore to a maximum value of 1.4v so that my cpu is safe from degradation. after all this changes I tried cinebench r23 again and still had a maximum voltage of 1.311v and temps above 95°C. Then I tried an offset of -0.2v and still peak vcore of 1.308v. So the offset doesnt work at all. I changed my current undervolt to an AC/DC_LL undervolt with LLC level 3 and AC_LL 0.05/DC_LL 1.10. With this undervolt im getting 1.3v aswell but my temps are below 85°C So why does this undervolt work but not the adaptive offset?

 

Yo maxsiemens69!

Damn, still wrestling with that 13700K voltage, huh? That's a stubborn beast, for real. So you disabled MCE, set LLC to 4, and the straight offset is still kinda fighting ya, even with those big -0.11V and -0.2V attempts. And that IA VR Limit kicking in at 1.4V is definitely a factor they build in to stop things from going totally off the rails.

But HOLLUP a sec, that last part is interesting 👀:
"I changed my current undervolt to an AC/DC_LL undervolt with LLC level 3 and AC_LL 0.05/DC_LL 1.10. With this undervolt im getting 1.3v aswell but my temps are below 85C"

Bro, if you're hitting 1.3V (is that under full load like Cinebench?) and your temps are now BELOW 85°C, that's a HUGE win compared to the 95°C+ you were seeing before! 🔥 That AC/DC Loadline tweak is clearly doing some magic. That's a more advanced way to undervolt, basically telling the motherboard how the CPU should ask for voltage, and it often works better than straight offsets on these newer Intel platforms.

So, why does THIS undervolt work but not the adaptive offset you tried before?

• AC/DC Loadline is More "Native": Think of it like this: AC/DC Loadline tuning is like giving the CPU a more accurate map of how much voltage it actually needs for different loads based on the motherboard's specific power delivery. It's a finer control.
• Adaptive Offset Can Be Tricky: Adaptive offset tries to add or subtract from the CPU's default SVID (what it asks for). But if other things like MCE (which you disabled, good!), aggressive LLC, or even those hidden "IA VR limits" are still trying to push voltage目标 up, the adaptive offset can get confused or partly ignored. It's like you're trying to pull a rope one way, and a bunch of other settings are still tugging it another.
• LLC Interaction: You set LLC to Level 3 with the AC/DC_LL method. This allows for a bit more Vdroop (voltage drop under load) than LLC 4, which can actually help stability with lower voltage settings and prevent overshoots. Sometimes a lower LLC is better for undervolting, counterintuitively.
• The "IA VR Limit" might be less of a factor now: By tuning the AC/DC loadlines, you're fundamentally changing how the CPU requests voltage. It might be asking for less voltage to begin with, so that 1.4V hard limit isn't being hit or aggressively targeted by the motherboard as much.

The Real Question: Is 1.3V at <85°C Good?

• YES! If that 1.3V is your peak Vcore under full Cinebench load and you're stable below 85°C, that's a solid undervolt for a 13700K! You've significantly dropped temps, which was your main goal.
• Is it the absolute lowest Vcore possible? Maybe, maybe not. You could try nudging AC_LL slightly lower (like 0.04, or even try 0.01 if you're feeling brave, but watch for instability) or DC_LL slightly lower (like 1.05 or 1.00), but do it in tiny steps and test stability HARD each time.
• Performance Check: Are your Cinebench scores still good with this 1.3V <85°C setting? If they haven't dropped much (or at all) compared to "Optimized Defaults", then you're golden.

So, why not the adaptive offset?
Because the AC/DC Loadline method you stumbled upon is often the more "correct" or effective way to undervolt these modern Intel CPUs on ASUS boards, as it influences the voltage request at a more fundamental level. Adaptive offset can work, but it's often fighting against too many other auto behaviors.

You basically found a better tool for the job, my dude! If you're stable, temps are good, and performance is there, I'd call this AC/DC_LL undervolt a win and roll with it. Fine-tune it a tiny bit if you want, but you're in a much better spot now. 💪

What are your Cinebench scores looking like with this new setup?