What is the Spread Spectrum Setting??

[holdencommodore]

On my m/b it has a setting for Spread Spectrum. What is it??
The m/b manual doesn't explain...
The settings are 0.6%(Down), 1.5%(Down), 1.5%(CNTR), 0.6%(CNTR) and Disabled.
Anyone help...
My computer specs are below

 

[Super6]

If my memory serves me correctly, it has to do with suppressing EMI. If you aren't having any problems leave it disabled.

Super6

 

[Peter]

SSM makes the CPU and PCI clock frequencies bob around their respective frequency points by a slight amount. This flattens and widens the peaks that the EMI emission spectrum would show with constant, standing frequencies. (The problem originates from most of the frequencies in a PC being multiples of each other.)

Exaggerating that brings stability problems, since not all devices can cope with the variations in frequency. Normally, you don't see any difference in operation, only in EMI emission.

Regards, Peter

 

[holdencommodore]

Thanks for the reply,
Would I get better performance if I enabled this feature?

 

[Jhhnn]

Spread spectrum isn't a performance issue, rather a stability issue for radically overclocked hardware. If you are having stability problems, try turning it OFF. Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

 

[mikeyd]

You should only enable ssm when in an area of when you have emi emmissions. Disable it. If your computer is unstable then enable it. The computer will perform better with it disabled but in some areas it's neccesary to enable it to eliminate emi interference.

 

[Peter]

Normally, performance isn't affected at all - unless one enables a really high amount of modulation, in which case the base frequency needs to be lowered to not exceed CPU and PCI bus max freq specification. Normal .5% modulation usually is set up to go up and down from the original frequencies, so nothing lost.

Not all cards can cope with a "wavy" operating frequency, especially not when overclocking - and that's when you disable it.

Regards, Peter