Prebuilt [SFFn] ASRock's DeskMini A300 - Finally!

[confusis]

Can you download AMD uProf on both machines and click "see whats guzzling power in your system" on the right, then select all counters? Run time spy and upload photos of the graphs?

This is what caused issues with Ryzen Laptops and their terrible stock performance.



IF is directly tied to memory frequency. It shouldn't be different if the memory clocks are the same.

Alas, the scales self-adjusted but it should be able to be analysed:

DeskMini:
http://imagehost.losias.net/images/2019/04/06/dmuprof1.png

ITX:
http://imagehost.losias.net/images/2019/04/06/itxuprof1.png

 

[Danlopez1222]

Alas, the scales self-adjusted but it should be able to be analysed:

DeskMini:
http://imagehost.losias.net/images/2019/04/06/dmuprof1.png

ITX:
http://imagehost.losias.net/images/2019/04/06/itxuprof1.png

What was STAPM (the last value on in the list) for the ITX?

 

[confusis]

My snip of that one failed. Will run it again this evening

 

[confusis]

http://imagehost.losias.net/images/2019/04/07/itxup1.png

New run on the ITX

 

[Danlopez1222]

So, I removed the power limits on my Deskmini and got a score of 1267- https://www.3dmark.com/3dm/35205517?
However, my ram is clocked at 3133Mhz 14-14-14-30, so that would cause a noticeable increase in performance. Here is the uProf graphs- https://i.imgur.com/DzV0XkV.png

I'm using smu-tool v0.2 (https://github.com/FlyGoat/ryzen_nb_smu/releases) to increase the STAPM limits to ridiculously high wattage values so that the system won't be power limited. The processor will still be thermally limited, and still probably wont ever go over 100 watts (from my own experience). I think for some reason the Deskmini is pushing a higher voltage to the CPU, causing it to power throttle at stock at lower frequencies- look specifically at the socket power graphs for your two runs- although the ITX board is using less power during the physics portion of the test (45ish vs 60ish watts), it still gives you a higher score.

The way you can see if the Deskmini will perform the same as the ITX board is to remove the 65 watt power limit.

Of course, everything after this point is AT YOUR OWN RISK. You would be messing with power limits for the entire system, which has inherent risk associated with it.

Spoiler: Removing Power limits

First, download smu-tool release v0.2, and extract the contents.

Then open notepad and paste the following lines:

cd %~dp0
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x1a -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x1b -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x1c -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x20 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x21 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x22 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x23 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x24 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x25 -a 100000000
smu-tool.exe -m -n 0x1F -a 95
pause
exit

This sets the wattage and amperage limits for the board to 100000 watts and 100000 amps, respectively. It also raises the max temperature to 95C. Change the 95 to whatever maximum temperature you feel safe operating at (in celcius). The APU will never hit that high of a number, since there are other limiting factors hard-coded into the APU itself. I've personally ran ultrathin laptops with 2+1 VRM setups at these settings, so I personally don't have any fears about running this on my deskmini.

Next, save the file as removelimits.bat in the same directory as wherever you extracted smu-tool.exe

Then, right click the removelimits.bat and select "run as administrator".

You can verify that the limits were changed by checking the STAPM counters in uprof.

If you want, you can try that and see if you can get a closer score with the a300.

 

[confusis]

Bricking the A300 board is beyond what I want to do at this point - I have a few projects planned for this little beasty on the SFFWorkshop side of things.. oh and I'm reviewing a couple of STX cases from a major manufacturer very soon

 

[Danlopez1222]

Of course! I always include the disclaimer so people can make an educated decision before taking any risks.

I run my batch file on boot, and I feel it makes everything just a little bit faster.

 

[Slowjim]

Wanted to share my Time Spy results for comparison purposes. I have a 2400g and the A300.

Previous setup 1:
2400g stock speeds, Wraith Spire
MSI B450 matx board
2x4gb DDR4 3200 OC to 3333
Time Spy score 1247

Previous setup 2:
2400g OC 1460 on GPU, Wraith Spire
ASrock B450 matx board
2x4gb DDR4 3200 OC to 3333
Time Spy score 1492

Current setup:
2400g stock speeds, Wraith Stealth
A300
2x8gb DDR4 3000 OC to 3066
Time Spy score 1212

Hope this helps

 

[Primerib]

Just attempted the m.2 PCIe x4 external gpu using the adapter that ETAPrime used in his video. When I connected my molex to the adapter to provide power the adapter the included cable went up in flames. A managed to unplug it in time. Motherboard and M.2 slot are still working thank goodness. I tested it with a m.2 SSD. I’m hesitant to try it again but I really want to see a 1080 running on it.

 

[Boil]

Just attempted the m.2 PCIe x4 external gpu using the adapter that ETAPrime used in his video. When I connected my molex to the adapter to provide power the adapter the included cable went up in flames. A managed to unplug it in time. Motherboard and M.2 slot are still working thank goodness. I tested it with a m.2 SSD. I’m hesitant to try it again but I really want to see a 1080 running on it.

Well, if you do try again, make sure to roll footage...! ;^p

 

[Kmpkt]

After playing around a bit, I've managed to get the RAM stable at 3333 MHz on the A300. as well as a stable undervolt (I believe) on the CPU at 1.1875 V and GPU running at 1700 MHz for a TimeSpy score of 1327.

I will say that tightening up your timings on this platform was really helpful for me (using the Ryzen DRAM Calculator by 1usmus). Went from a TimeSpy score 1183 at 3200 MHz at stock timings to a score of 1308 with "safe" optimized timings at 3200 MHz. By comparison, moving from 3200 MHz to 3333 MHz only boosted my score to 1327 (GPU was set at 1600 for these tests).

 

[Danlopez1222]

GPU running at 1700 MHz for a TimeSpy score of 1327.

Were you able to get that overclock to show on GPU-Z? I haven't been able to get gpu overclocks to stick yet.

 

[Kmpkt]

Were you able to get that overclock to show on GPU-Z? I haven't been able to get gpu overclocks to stick yet.

Apparently not. Since I was told iGPU was overclockable I just presumed they were sticking. On the upside I presume that means there's a decent amount of performance left on the table if that can be enabled.

 

[Danlopez1222]

Since I was told iGPU was overclockable I just presumed they were sticking.

Also I hate to break it to ya, but overvolting/undervolting also doesn't change anything. You can set the CPU voltage to the lowest possible setting (0.875 volts) at 3.9Ghz and it boots just fine at 1.488 volts. The only thing that seems to work is changing the CPU frequency, but raising that over 3.9 causes the system to not post.

I delidded my 2400g in my deskmini to make up for the high stock voltage and push the thermal envelope.

 

[Kmpkt]

So lowering CPU voltage doesn't lower power consumption on this platform? Think I've misunderstood the capabilities it has. I was under the impression you could undervolt but not overclock, could set GPU frequency (obv not at this point) as well as setting memory frequency (this seems to work fine).

 

[Danlopez1222]

So lowering CPU voltage doesn't lower power consumption on this platform? Think I've misunderstood the capabilities it has.

That would be correct. ASRock's implementation of AGESA on this board is absolutely terrible, which is why an unlocked bios is so important at this point. I was under the impression that all the features on the overclocking tab in the bios would work when I ordered it online, and probably wouldn't have wasted my money with it otherwise. Ryzen Master can't even change any settings.

And I believe ASRock is not even fully supporting the board. The number of options in the bios from 3.20 to 3.40 is essentially halved as a result from their removal of almost all system-level performance customization (besides memory timings).

 

[Kmpkt]

I was under the impression that all the features on the overclocking tab in the bios would work when I ordered it online, and probably wouldn't have wasted my money with it otherwise.

This

 

[Kmpkt]

@Danlopez1222

What are the odds you can open up iGPU overclocking/controls as well as the ability to effectively undervolt and or/ overclocking on CPU on this platform?

 

[Danlopez1222]

What are the odds you can open up iGPU overclocking/controls as well as the ability to effectively undervolt and or/ overclocking on CPU on this platform?

Although I feel confident I will find a way eventually, there is no guarantees how long it will take me. Especially without documentation from AMD or support from ASRock.

I do, however, have other sources that may make this a little easier.

I'm going to be dedicating more time to this after finals.

 

[chinevo]

Asrock wrote very clearly that this is an A300 chipset, what problems do you have?