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Strange voltage/temperature response

dkm777

dkm777

Senior member
Hi guys,

During my overclocking of my i7 I noticed that certain lower voltages would give me higher temps than higher voltages. Does anybody have an idea of why this is happening? I have an unfounded theory that the lower voltage is right on the edge of stability and the ECC hardware for L2 and L3 caches is working hard correcting little errors.
 
hmmm
I suppose your theory is possible, but more likely you are getting false temperature readings.
Where are you reading your temperature ?
are the power saving features enabled in the bios (ie: speedstep) ?
 
I have all the features enabled and we're talking a small, but consistent difference of ~3 degrees as reported by HWMonitor.
 
u cant assume this unless EVERY voltage u have is hard set... meaning u dont have ANYTHING on auto.

For all you know it could just be the Northbridge generating more heat... or the south bridge generating more heat.. or your cant finding a nice spot ontop of your PC and resting there.. 😛
 
aigomorla said:
u cant assume this unless EVERY voltage u have is hard set... meaning u dont have ANYTHING on auto.

For all you know it could just be the Northbridge generating more heat... or the south bridge generating more heat.. or your cant finding a nice spot ontop of your PC and resting there.. 😛
Click to expand...

PC butt warmer? Ha
 
dkm777 said:
I have all the features enabled and we're talking a small, but consistent difference of ~3 degrees as reported by HWMonitor.
Click to expand...

Yeah that is strange. The physics of power consumption and voltage are pretty straight forward and incontrovertible, so if the observation is real and repeatable then it must be something to do with a PLL or VRM somewhere in the loop that is operating at the near end of a voltage range (so its efficiency is lower) at the lower voltage but when you step up the voltage one more notch the VRM/PLL changes modes and starts operating in a more efficient portion of its power curve?

An analogy to the ram straps on FSB systems like LGA775 is about the best I can mentally visualize.

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