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Don't overlook these BIOS power settings for overclocking and performance
Overclocking could almost be considered a lost art at this point, thanks to modern technologies and algorithms that handle everything for you. Modern AMD and Intel processors can automatically adjust clock speeds, voltages, and more on the fly with extreme precision, allowing you to get the most out of the chip with your current cooling headroom. That said, it is still possible to tweak til your heart's content within the UEFI BIOS by working your way through advanced CPU power management settings. You can configure values for various terms such as PL1, PL2, EDC, and TDC, alongside many other toggles that aren't self-explanatory.
Only a few of these will actually have a major impact on daily performance, so I've rounded up some power-related UEFI BIOS settings that can transform your system. These include Long Duration Power Limit (PL1, PPT), Short Duration Power Limit (PL2, Boost Power), Tau (Turbo Time Limit), Thermal Design Current (TDC), Electrical Design Current (EDC), and Package Power Tracking (PPT, AMD-only). Depending on whether you're using AMD or Intel, these settings may have varying results, but the overall principle is shared across platforms.
Long Duration Power Limit
AMD: PPT, Intel: PL1
Long Duration Power Limit determines how much sustained power the CPU is allowed to consume over extended periods. If you're set to run heavy workloads that last a considerable amount of time, this setting will define a wattage limit that the CPU should respect when running. On AMD systems, you'll want to play with Package Power Tracking (PPT), whereas it's Power Limit 1 (PL1) on Intel platforms. Both settings perform similar roles in limiting how much socket power the chip can draw.
It's an important setting to consider since this is directly tied to your CPU TDP and how much heat it can produce under load, as well as your installed cooling. Air coolers may struggle with increased LDP limits, unless they're designed to handle higher thermals. All-in-one liquid cooling kits are recommended for the best results. Configuring an increased PL1 or PPT will set higher clock speeds in long-duration tasks, which can range from rendering to video encoding, but getting too aggressive can overheat the motherboard voltage regulator modules (VRMs).
Electrical Design Current
Raising the AMD peaks
Electrical Design Current (EDC) defines the maximum peak current (measured in amps) the CPU can draw from the motherboard voltage regulator modules in short bursts. Think of this as a means to give the CPU a big boost with smaller tasks so it can complete everything quicker. EDC is better suited to handle spikes and could be considered the opposite of LDP for AMD systems. If you're looking to get the most from your CPU for a wider range of tasks, setting a higher EDC can ensure you won't lose out on higher boosts with lower loads.
Part of Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO), EDC allows AMD processors to boost more aggressively than at stock settings. Though too much aggression can affect system stability due to VRM stress, this is a great way to get more from your AMD PC with brief tasks. This can be gaming and other lightly threaded loads. It's a balance act, much like other parts of the UEFI BIOS, and can cause issues with boosting too low if EDC is misconfigured. It works similarly to PL2 on Intel CPUs, though they affect two different parts of the equation (current vs. power).
Short Duration Power Limit
PL2 for short on Intel CPUs
We've covered AMD's Electrical Design Current, but what about Intel's Short Duration Power Limit in the form of PL2? Similarly, EDC, this setting configures how much power (not current) the CPU can draw in short bursts. It's called Power Limit 2 (PL2) on Intel motherboards and is often significantly higher than PL1 values, which are designed for longer workloads. PL2 helps Intel processors boost much higher for shorter bursts, drawing extra voltage and setting higher frequencies for periods typically less than a minute.
It's a good way to boost overall system responsiveness and performance under lightly threaded tasks. Again, think gaming. It's worth noting that this is where the CPU can quickly thermal throttle without adequate cooling. PL2 is directly tied to how hot the CPU gets within the first couple of seconds of boosting. Like anything relating to overclocking the process (or making it run faster and hotter), we need to have enough thermal headroom to avoid throttling. AMD also has Short Duration Power Limit, though it's more integrated into Power Boost Overdrive.
Thermal Design Current
Part of AMD PBO
If you wish to dive deep into using AMD's Precision Boost Overdrive, you'll want to consider Thermal Design Current (TDC). It defines the maximum sustained current (measured in amps) that the CPU VRM can supply. By going above the TDC limit, you risk overheating the motherboard's sensitive components, especially on more budget-friendly platforms. Enthusiast-grade hardware usually has beefier components that can handle extreme cases better, but even then, it's not advised to go outside design specifications.
Lowering the TDC can help prevent the CPU from pulling unsustainable current over longer periods, avoiding unexpected system crashes or throttling. Raising the TDC will allow your chip to sustain higher boost frequencies when more than a few cores are loaded.
Make small changes for maximum stability
Depending on what you use the system for, the best settings to configure may differ. For gaming, I'd recommend focusing on PL2 on Intel or EDC with AMD for bursty performance. PBO on AMD platforms usually handles everything for you, allowing you to hop into your favorite PC title right away. You may also wish to have the CPU hold a higher turbo for longer to help with those more demanding scenes. If you're all about content creation, PL1 on Intel and PPT/TDC for AMD are where you need to spend most time.
Enthusiast overclocking requires undervolting and other advanced configurations that almost go against usual boost settings, or you can send all values sky high and see how your system performs with the right cooling setup. As always, make small incremental changes so it's easier to troubleshoot.
