Would it be safe to...

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
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Hi.

I recently heard that decreasing the VCore voltage for some processors could help decrease the temperature. Is it true ?

That's when taking into consideration that there is no over-clocking at all. For example, just accessing the BIOS, and simply decrease the "default" VCore voltage by just a bit. That such a thing could help reduce the CPU temperature.

I'm wondering if it's true, because I'm willing to give that a try, for my new AMD 3500+ NewCastle I got just two days ago.

I love it, it runs smooth, fast, really nice processor. But it runs just a bit hot for my tastes.

I do not want to over-clock the processor / FSB at all.

The guy who installed it also applied some AS5, and it was done very well. The first day, the CPU would go between 40º to 50º Celcius just idling in the Desktop doing nothing. But around 24 hours later now, the CPU stays between 36º to 40º Celcius in the same conditions. Very good improvement to my eyes.

But I'm still looking to get that baby cooled just abit more, maybe two or three degrees if possible.

I'm probably going to buy a new CPU Fan, and that could help of course. But right now I'm stuck with changes in the BIOS.

If it matters to mention, my Power Supply is an Antec 450 Watts. Three days-old.

My current Memory Timings (if it also matters to mention) is 3.0 - 3 - 3 - 6, according to CPU-Z (it's Non-ECC Kingston KVR PC-3200). That's the default, since I never touched the timings at all. And the CPU VCore voltage is going between 1.584 to 1.600. Never goes lower nor higher then these extremes.

Would it be possible to just...say...decrease that voltage to what...maybe 1.4 ? or 1.3 ? Without causing any sort of troubles ?

What do you guys think ?

Thanks for your time.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
You can do that, it won't hurt anything as long as you don't lower it so much that it becomes unstable.
 

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
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windows power management also does this. my cpu does 200x9 at 1.2 at idle and 200x12 at 1.5 at load automatically. (i have a paris core 3300+ a64 same as newcastle but with higer clock and less cache.)

go to power settings and turn select energy star form the drop down list.
 

BadThad

Lifer
Feb 22, 2000
12,100
49
91
All you can do is try, all CPU's are different. The worst thing that will happen is instability, if that happens just put it back to default.
 

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
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Ok thanks guys I'll give that a try. I might verify later for Cool & Quiet.
 

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
106
CaBoOse999, simple answer is...because I like my Processors to be as much cooled as possible with the resources I have to cool them. And...well, because I'm an avid PC gamer, and I can (when I'm not at my job) play 5 to 8 hours + if I really like what I'm playing. So I wouldn't want to cause any over-heating issues caused by CPU-heavy games, specifically.

Well, more on-topic now...

I've set the CPU voltage at 1.425, and so far it is very stable.

I was also able to set the TRAS at 5 Clocks, and the 2T Command at Disabled, without causing troubles, and without touching the CPU frequency. Not sure if these changes will help performance, but if it stays stable like it is right now, I wouldn't see the need to set them back at their defaults.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Interesting... I just decided to enable Cool 'n' Quiet and see what happened... I have my 3500+ running at 225x11 (2475 MHz) on 1.45V, and with CnQ it runs at 1125 MHz (225x11) on 1.12V and at that speed it sits idle at 30-33 C vs. about 44 C idle at 2475 MHz. It's perfectly stable too. Awesome! :D

Screenie
 

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
106
Indeed that's quite cool ! (No pun intended ! Haha !)

I've just set the CPU voltage to 1.400 now. So it goes between that, and 1.475, compared to 1.550 to 1.6. It's now idling between 35º to 38º Celcius, and at load it goes around 40º to 46º Ceclius.

That's considering there is some AS5 applied.

But I think I've managed to reach some very good...even surprising (to me that is) temperatures for a NewCastle !

Now I don't have that damn "I should have waited for a Winchester" feeling in my heart anymore.

I'm happy with it, and it's stable. I'll do months with it, maybe even two years, before getting my next upgrade in term of Processor...which is going to be at least a 90nm one, that's a 200% probability !
 

BadThad

Lifer
Feb 22, 2000
12,100
49
91
HAHAHAHA

That's interesting stuff guys! This thread reminds me of the "under clocking" threads of the past. Gaming is the ultimate test for this under volting experiment. That's one thing that would make it crash......if there wasn't sufficient voltage. Keep dropping it, I'd like to see where the bottom is. :)