Question Overvolted CPU by Accident - Damage to CPU?

[shermoid]

Hello,

I have a Lenovo X1 Extreme Laptop with the i7 8850H CPU configuration. I was actually trying to undervolt my CPU but instead of setting the core voltage offset to -0.185V, I accidentally set it to +0.185V. Not realizing my mistake, I ran a 15-minute stress test with this +0.185V cpu voltage before I changed it back. I'm paranoid and my question is, is there any possibility of damage to the CPU having ran the 15-minute stress test on the +0.185V overvolt?

Thank you!

Sherman

 

[Shmee]

Its probably fine, but what were the temps like? Also, did you happen to get a reading in CPUZ or similar as to what actual voltage it was reporting for vcore?

In fact, I suspect it is likely it would throttle to not overheat. It may not have been running at highest frequency because of that, and maybe would lower voltage because of this as well.

 

[shermoid]

Well I think it was hitting the limit at 99C, but you are right that it was getting thermal throttled and power throttled. In fact, because it was throttling so much, the performance benchmark was actually lower than the default voltage - that's how I actually noticed that something was off and realized I had set the voltages wrong.

Is there any way to tell whether there was any damage or is the fact that things are running fine now pretty much the indicator?

 

[Shmee]

You could try a stress test under the undervolt or at stock settings. If both are fine, you are most likely fine. If you the undervolt settings crash but the stock do not, you are likely fine but just your undervolt is not stable. (you need a bit more voltage) If neither are stable, that is a problem. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Charlie22911]

It’s going to be fine, those mobile cores are already undervolted compared to their desktop siblings.

 

[shermoid]

I finally got around to running a stress test for a prolonged period of time - temps were good and it ran successfully. So, I think it's safe to say that everything is working fine. Thanks a lot for all help!!

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah, I really doubt you'd damage a modern Intel CPU with less than what 200mV extra. Now if it was like 2V extra, ok (but I think there's generally safeguards that would prevent you from doing that, although those might be that you'd brick an OEM system where it would refuse to boot and you wouldn't be able to reset it easily). Most mobile chips would throttle and have other safeguards from burning it up from heat and even then that'd only affect it while you kept stuff at those levels and pushed it (its not likely to do long term damage).

I'd actually love a comparative analysis of modern transistors (say from like the past 10, or even better 20 years), comparing stuff like longevity and issues related to degradation (just from heat/temp would be interesting, although I have a hunch most would be fine for years other than in pretty serious overclocking (with increased voltages), where if you went back to stock it'd probably still be fine.

 

[scannall]

Yeah, I really doubt you'd damage a modern Intel CPU with less than what 200mV extra. Now if it was like 2V extra, ok (but I think there's generally safeguards that would prevent you from doing that, although those might be that you'd brick an OEM system where it would refuse to boot and you wouldn't be able to reset it easily). Most mobile chips would throttle and have other safeguards from burning it up from heat and even then that'd only affect it while you kept stuff at those levels and pushed it (its not likely to do long term damage).

I'd actually love a comparative analysis of modern transistors (say from like the past 10, or even better 20 years), comparing stuff like longevity and issues related to degradation (just from heat/temp would be interesting, although I have a hunch most would be fine for years other than in pretty serious overclocking (with increased voltages), where if you went back to stock it'd probably still be fine.

My first CPU was a 6502. It ran at 5 volts, with a whopping 3510 transistors. At the time it was great!