Do non "k" CPUs underclock well?

[DesiPower]

Looking for a CPU/mobo combo for a 24x7 PC that I could under clock, to lets say 1.2 ghz and under load I am expecting it to bump up to its native frequency for 3 ghz or whatever.
My gaming main PC is i7-6850k on a ASRock Taichi mobo. It is stably overclocked to 4.2 ghz, then on the mobo's utility I choose power saver mode and it runs at 1.2 ghz but when I run and CPU intensive application, it automatically bumps up to 4.2.

Looking to do something similar for this new 24x7 PC, it's primary function is DVR and media server, both the applications need decent amount of CPU power, so I want at least a i5 CPU, but definitely do not need a pricey "k" cpu. So I was wondering if I get a cheap $ 80 - 100 range "Z" mobo and use a regular i5 CPU like 7400, can I replicate the above experience?

 

[formulav8]

both the applications need decent amount of CPU power, so I want at least a i5 CPU, but definitely do not need a pricey "k" cpu. So I was wondering if I get a cheap $ 80 - 100 range "Z" mobo and use a regular i5 CPU like 7400, can I replicate the above experience?

Ryzen 1600 nonX (or even lower) and cheapo $55-65 AM4 mobo looks to be up your alley. Very strong performance/watt, and performance/$. No real need to under clock, very low consumption. It will rip any i5 for rendering. And most likely cheaper in every way.

 

[DesiPower]

How about on the fly encoding for the dvr?

 

[formulav8]

The 6 core/12 thread Ryzen for rendering, well most anything is better than any 4/4 Kaby Lake overall by far. I guess in the end look up the app you will use and the scaling of threads to be sure. But 6 Core/12 thread Ryzen should thump every current I-5 in encoding/rendering in most things. Also with a strong bang for buck.

Edit: But if you want an i-5, they do uv well from a quick look up if you lower clocks. I still think Ryzen is up your alley though, even if you want lower than 65w tdp and still decide to undervolt Ryzen.

 

[scannall]

How about on the fly encoding for the dvr?

Here's some encoding benchmarks. Looks pretty convincing to me. Encoding Benchmark

 

[DesiPower]

Well, I guess my question is more about the ability of a CPU, or the CPU/mobo combo to go from its under clocked (1.2 ghz) clock speed to its turbo 3.6 ghz automatically on demand. I am not worried about the overall capability/benchmark of the CPU. For what I need, any quad core CPU will suffice, be it AMD or Intel.

 

[scannall]

Well, I guess my question is more about the ability of a CPU, or the CPU/mobo combo to go from its under clocked (1.2 ghz) clock speed to its turbo 3.6 ghz automatically on demand. I am not worried about the overall capability/benchmark of the CPU. For what I need, any quad core CPU will suffice, be it AMD or Intel.

The Ryzen will be more adept at that, since they are all unlocked. The 4 core R3's go on sale tomorrow starting around $109.

 

[formulav8]

CPU, or the CPU/mobo combo to go from its under clocked (1.2 ghz) clock speed to its turbo 3.6 ghz automatically on demand

AMD/Intel has on the fly clock turbo/clockspeed that increases nearly instantly on demand. It sounds like a simple r3 Ryzen or the cheap Pentium (hard to find unfortunately at the proper price) will suit you. The Ryzen you can oc/uc, but not sure about the Pentium 4560 (also not sure if you can find the Pentium at the retail $75 or whatever price it is suppoed to be.). The R3 Ryzen should still win in most everything except having a bit higher retail price.

 

[Zucker2k]

Looking for a CPU/mobo combo for a 24x7 PC that I could under clock, to lets say 1.2 ghz and under load I am expecting it to bump up to its native frequency for 3 ghz or whatever.
My gaming main PC is i7-6850k on a ASRock Taichi mobo. It is stably overclocked to 4.2 ghz, then on the mobo's utility I choose power saver mode and it runs at 1.2 ghz but when I run and CPU intensive application, it automatically bumps up to 4.2.

Looking to do something similar for this new 24x7 PC, it's primary function is DVR and media server, both the applications need decent amount of CPU power, so I want at least a i5 CPU, but definitely do not need a pricey "k" cpu. So I was wondering if I get a cheap $ 80 - 100 range "Z" mobo and use a regular i5 CPU like 7400, can I replicate the above experience?

The answer to your question is YES. Moreover, you can even run something like the 7500U fanless. The big advantage is the integrated graphics processor, and the icing on the cake is native HEVC enc/dec, capable of 4k streaming.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10959...ration-kaby-lake-i7-7700k-i5-7600k-i3-7350k/6

 

[BSim500]

Looking for a CPU/mobo combo for a 24x7 PC that I could under clock, to lets say 1.2 ghz and under load I am expecting it to bump up to its native frequency for 3 ghz or whatever. My gaming main PC is i7-6850k on a ASRock Taichi mobo. It is stably overclocked to 4.2 ghz, then on the mobo's utility I choose power saver mode and it runs at 1.2 ghz but when I run and CPU intensive application, it automatically bumps up to 4.2.

SpeedStep has been normal for several generations of Intel chips from Celeron's to i7's for years. From Haswell onwards, it's 800MHz idle, then whatever the max Turbo CPU freq is under load. No need to manually underclock anything, just make sure the Windows Power profile is on "Balanced" rather than "High Perf" and it'll do itself according to load. "Locked" Intel chips simply means the max multipler frequency is capped and that you can't overclock them. It doesn't mean they're "hard fixed" to one frequency in the sense that SpeedStep doesn't work or that you can't underclock them to aim for a lower power target.

So I was wondering if I get a cheap $ 80 - 100 range "Z" mobo and use a regular i5 CPU like 7400, can I replicate the above experience?

You can but you don't even need a "Z" board for above feature. For Kaby Lake's, a B150/B250/H110 will do exactly the same thing. In my experience, ASUS boards usually allow undervolting on non Z boards down to and including budget H110, allowing you to knock off another typical 10-20w from a 55-65w non K i5 under load.

It's up to you what brand you buy, but "auto-underclock & undervolt to save power when idle" has been the standard for literally years even on the lowest end CPU's & motherboards.

 

[dullard]

It's up to you what brand you buy, but "auto-underclock & undervolt to save power when idle" has been the standard for literally years even on the lowest end CPU's & motherboards.

Exactly. Even today's Anandtech review shows that the low end chips from both manufacturers have almost identical idle power consumption.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/11658/the-amd-ryzen-3-1300x-ryzen-3-1200-cpu-review/16

 

[Bouowmx]

Not discounting AMD, but I knew a few things about Intel processors:

Turbo Boost can be disabled: maximum frequency is the base.

Power limits can be reduced to reduce maximum frequency. Example, on a 65-W processor, set short power limit to 65 W and 30 seconds, for performance in short tasks, and long power limit to 45 W for reduced frequency in long tasks.

Skylake and later have Speed Shift, which can make for a more responsive experience than Windows power plans (since they may not enable Speed Shift by default). With ThrottleStop on Windows, setting Energy-Performance Preference can be changed, how aggressive frequency will increase.

• Default value is 128. With Turbo Boost enabled:
• Lower values toward greater frequency with loads. 0 to maintain constant all-core Turbo frequency, or maximum Turbo frequency? On Core i5-7200U, both are the same.
• Higher values toward lower frequency with loads. > 200 to reduce maximum frequency. 255 to maintain constant minimum frequency.

Three methods to reduce frequency, without Z motherboard.

In addition, there is Coffee Lake, set to increase core or thread count, to come in the future. Likely a filled product stack in 2018.