Intel Disables DLVR Bypass On Core Ultra 200S CPUs With The Microcode 0x112, Reserving It Only For “Extreme” Overclocking Scenarios

wccftech.com:

Intel has disabled DLVR Bypass on its Core Ultra 200S, a move that will result in significant power dissipation at high loads, which now won't be able to be bypassed by the user, which was easier to do with the previous BIOS versions.

Intel says it disabled DLVR Bypass on Core Ultra 200S CPUs to prevent "Misuse" and will only unlock it for extreme overclocking

Intel's DLVR or Digital Linear Voltage Regulator was introduced back in 2021 but was integrated in 2022 with Raptor Lake processors even though it was disabled. However, DLVR is integrated into Intel's Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200S processors by default, which seeks to enhance the power efficiency of these CPUs.

Related Story Intel Core Ultra 200S “T” & “F” CPU Specs Leaked: Seven SKUs In 35W & 65W Configs

There are some advantages as well as limitations linked to Intel DLVR and therefore, Intel provides users with the option to disable/bypass the DLVR mode through the motherboard BIOS on Z890 motherboards. This, however, won't be the case with the latest BIOS update that brings the microcode 0x112.

As reported by HardwareLUXX, one of their community members, "Trill", found out that his ASRock Z890 Pro RS motherboard doesn't have the option to bypass the DLVR mode. Typically, this is shown as "Power Gate Mode" in the BIOS, which helps minimize power dissipation to a significant extent. The new BIOS only has the 'Stable Mode' as shown by the user and no Power Gate Mode is available.

The DLVR has problems when it comes to high loads since the DLVR introduces dynamic adjustment of the voltage in response to the changes in processing demand. Even though DLVR manages to get sufficient power to the CPU under high loads, it results in higher power dissipation of up to 90W as a result of converting the high input voltage to the appropriate output voltage for the CPU cores and clusters.

This impacts the power efficiency at higher loads, but with a bypass, users were given the option to turn this feature off on their Z890