How Bad For An i7 Is It To Raise The Memory Voltage?

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
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I'm helping a friend spec out a new i7 system, and RAM has become an issue. He likes this G.Skill set, but I noticed that it can require more voltage than the DDR3 spec calls for; it needs 1.5v-1.6v. I know raising the memory voltage on the i7 is bad, but how bad is it? If he needed to goose it to 1.6v, would it have any serious implications on the longevity of the chip?
 

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
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Sep 13, 2008
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Should be fine up to 1.65 V, and even I hear that it is not so much related to absolute voltage of Vdimm, but the difference between Uncore voltage and Vdimm. Your friend will be fine up to 1.65 as long as the ram can run it.
 

PCTC2

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Feb 18, 2007
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Originally posted by: Shmee
Should be fine up to 1.65 V, and even I hear that it is not so much related to absolute voltage of Vdimm, but the difference between Uncore voltage and Vdimm. Your friend will be fine up to 1.65 as long as the ram can run it.

The difference between the vQPI and vDIMM has to be less than 0.5v
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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Sep 28, 2005
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Originally posted by: PCTC2
Originally posted by: Shmee
Should be fine up to 1.65 V, and even I hear that it is not so much related to absolute voltage of Vdimm, but the difference between Uncore voltage and Vdimm. Your friend will be fine up to 1.65 as long as the ram can run it.

The difference between the vQPI and vDIMM has to be less than 0.5v

this, but no higher then 2.0 im hearing.

However if this is your 24/7 i wouldnt push more then 1.8 @ 1.4+vcore.