Pushing the Limits: Extreme Overclocking on Ryzen 9 7900 – Flying Above 6 GHz!
The Ryzen 7000 series is not exactly a novelty on our page, as we have several articles about them, such as this kind of guide using the Ryzen 7 7700X, where we explore how far these processors can go with ambient temperature overclocking. On our YouTube channel, we have also conducted several live streams exploring other aspects, such as Raphael’s integrated video performance. All of this is very exciting, but we were still missing our specialty – extreme overclocking.
Despite our Ryzen 7 7700X being a “golden” sample, we also received the Ryzen 9 7900 from AMD. This 12-core CPU has a TDP of only 65W, making it an excellent choice for those looking to build a compact yet powerful machine. However, before we explore its full potential, our first mission is extreme overclocking, as this CPU has the potential to be highly competitive on the HWBOT leaderboard!
Regarding the motherboard insulation, it was done with art eraser and paper towel, in a way that is not very recommended, protecting only the sensitive components around the socket, when the correct way is to cover the entire region. This was this way simply because there was an insufficient amount of rubber available.
Hardware used (and affiliate links):
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7900 (Thanks AMD!)
MOBO: GIGABYTE B650M Aorus Elite AX (UEFI F3c)
GPU: EVGA GTX 970
PSU: Silverstone SST-ET750-G
COOLER: Kingpin F1 Dark and Dry Ice (1.5kg)
STORAGE: Goldenfir 120 GB
Objective of the tests:
Our goal is to push the limits of extreme overclocking with dry ice cooling on the Ryzen 9 7900 CPU, and see how the platform behaves under such extreme conditions. Ultimately, we aim to obtain results that can be submitted to HWBOT. Details about our methodology and testing procedures can be found in the accompanying text alongside the results.
Results:
The Ryzen 9 7900 performed well when subjected to a temperature of -50°C, without presenting any problems such as CB/CBB, which usually occurs only when using LN2 at temperatures below -120°C.
An interesting detail is that the cold temperature was beneficial for the memory controller, allowing the completion of tests at DDR5-6600 and 6800, even passing post at 7000MT/s, which is exceptional for a Ryzen 7000 CPU.
As for the CPU frequency, the tests were completed between 5700 and 6100 MHz, with voltages ranging from 1.325V to 1.425V, depending on the test load. For example, GPUPI passed at 6100 MHz and y-cruncher at 5700 MHz.
Regarding the world league, HWBOT, these results earned between 48 and 81 points, with all except y-cruncher ending up in the top 20 of the 12-core CPU ranking. It is important to note that there is still plenty of room for improvement, including using LN2 for cooling.
Gallery – Frozen Hardware:
Finally, we have the traditional photo gallery of the fully frozen hardware, something that can never be missing in a post about extreme overclocking! Note that the pot was “assembled” only using gravity, since the mounting screws are incompatible with the thread used in the AM5 backplate.
Conclusion:
The Ryzen 9 7900 performed well during the extreme overclocking session, handling temperatures as low as -50 °C without encountering any issues like CB/CBB.
Interestingly, the memory controller responded positively to the cold, enabling benchmark results up to 6800 MT/s, with a successful POST at 7000 MT/s, both exceptional for Ryzen 7000. Regarding CPU frequencies, they ranged from 5700 MHz to 6100 MHz with voltages between 1.325V and 1.425V, depending on the benchmark, which appears to be average for these processors.
Regarding HWBOT results, except for y-cruncher 1b, all others ranked in the global top-20 list for 12-core CPUs, with potential for improvement using liquid nitrogen, which will be tested in a future opportunity.
