Testing intermediate clock speeds/voltages (i.e. when SpeedStep reduces CPU clock

[996GT2]

For example, let's say a certain CPU is stable at an overclock of 4 GHz with 1.3 VCore.

When it's not under load, Speedstep will lower the VCore to something like 0.90V at a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. When using a negative dynamic VCore offset to reduce the VCore at full load, the VCore at these lower clock speeds is reduced as well, no?

I know that I had to test all multiplier/VCore combinations when undervolting the Core 2 Duo T8300 in my Thinkpad, so my question is whether it is necessary to do the same kind of stability testing on desktops at these lower VCore/clock speeds? If so, what's the best way to go about testing at these lower clock/voltage combinations?

 

[drizek]

Set you max overclock to 1.6ghz/0.90v and then run OCCT. If you have control over the voltage, try and see how far below 0.90v you can get it. I got my Phenom II to idle at basically room temperature running at 0.85v.

What I do is set all the intermediate steps at the max VCore and only stress test my idle one.

 

[Idontcare]

When using a negative dynamic VCore offset to reduce the VCore at full load, the VCore at these lower clock speeds is reduced as well, no?

Don't know the answer but you could answer this question with CPUz, look at Vcore when idle with your VCore offset active (non-zero value) and again with it not active (zero value).

 

[996GT2]

Don't know the answer but you could answer this question with CPUz, look at Vcore when idle with your VCore offset active (non-zero value) and again with it not active (zero value).

It seems like Dynamic VCore is in fact a permanent offset from the VCore set in BIOS. So, if you have 1.32V set in BIOS and apply a dynamic vcore offset of -0.05v, then your VCore @ 100% load goes to 1.27V. In addition, your VCOre @ idle is reduced by 0.05v.

Unfortunately, Gigabyte mobos only have 3 options for voltage: Auto, Normal, and a user-set value. If you use the third option, then that VCore gets delivered ALL the time, regardless of load. Using the second option in conjunction with dynamic VCore allows voltages lower or higher than stock to be set, but the offset applies to idle as well as load.

It's this second part that is hard to test, lol