Help me understand 'VID' versus vCore set in the BIOS

[Noel 4,495]

I've never understood this but when I have CPU voltage set to say 1.32v in the BIOS the CoreTemp I think it's called indicated 'VID' will be right around 125v.  What is VID and how does it relate to voltage set in the BIOS, and is VID any indication of the current going thru the CPU, so that even though 1.32v is available as the maximum supplied voltage, a VID of 1.25v for example demonstrates it is only using 1.25v?   Help!

While we're here, I have a 5y/o 3930K running at 4.42Ghz w/ core voltage set at 1.32v.   What I'm really fishing for is a consensus about what voltage set in the BIOS my 3930K can *safely* tolerate.  Obviously w/ 5 years of nearly daily use and many hours/day, clearly 1.32v has been safe by this test.   I can go to 4.55Ghz at 1.345v or so, but I don't want to kill it before Ice Lake appears if possible.

[martin-w 3,235]

My understanding is that VID is the voltage that the CPU runs at in relation to frequency. Each frequency that the CPU can run at has a voltage assigned. Programmed into the chip. The CPU tells the Voltage Regulator  what voltage to run at.

When we overclock, we dispense with VID and run the CPU at our chosen voltage and frequency. If you select offset voltage however, it once again relates to VID and voltage changes with frequency. Useful for power saving etc.

That's my take, I may have got it wrong, not my area of expertise. 

Re max voltage, and according to Chino form Asus.... 1.34 - 1.4 is safe. But if you really want to push it you can go as far as 1.45. Cooling permitted of course. Not my fault if it's transformed into a ball of super heated plasma though, that's just what I read on the Asus ROG forum. 

 

https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?30838-Safe-CPU-Vcore-for-24-7-overclock-on-RIVF-3930k