Reducing voltage to decrease the CPU's temp.

[Noema]

I have a A64 3200+ s754 (Newcastle). It runs a bit hot (35C idle, 48ish if moderately stressed, 55+ after playing Doom 3 or WoW). Performance is good, though.

I've heard that reducing the voltage (currently 1.5v) can help those temps drop. I was thinking on going 1.4V.

Will that help? Will it affect performance-durability?

 

[BigBadBiologist]

it would only affect stability. If your system is stable at 1.4V, then by all means go for it.

 

[Amaroque]

I've been on a quiet kick recently. In getting the fans at lower RPM's, and the CPU's running cooler, I have to reduce voltages across the board.

If it runs stable at 1.4 Vcore, by all means do it. If anything, it will help to reduce the various stresses on the CPU.

 

[Messudieh]

First; there is no risk of damage for lowering your voltages on your processor. The only thing that might be affected is your stability.

Basically more power = more megahertz (to a point), but I know there is an upper limit on the benefits from personal experience.

Anyway, to answer your question; if you want to lower your voltages, by all means go ahead. If you're having stability problems at your current speed, then either raise your voltages again or lower your processor speed.

Lowering your clocks or lowering your voltages will make your processor run cooler. If you do both, then it will run much cooler, again, with diminishing returns at some level.