Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.overclocking (
More info?)
Why not begin by lowering the CPU core voltage bit by bit. If you can
overclock a CPU, it is because it has extra performance headroom that
overclocking can use. Conversely, you can likely reduce the core voltage
while keeping the clock speed the same, using performance headroom to get a
cooler running CPU at the rated speed, or a lower flow of air for the same
CPU temperature.
Underclocking will not damage the CPU, niether will overclocking. Raising
the core voltage unreasonabally high WILL destroy the CPU in a heartbeat.
Having the heatsink fall off, whether your CPU is underclocked or
overclocked, can destroy AMD CPU's that don't have implementation of the
catastrophic overheating stop function.
--
Phil Weldon, pweldonatmindjumpdotcom
For communication,
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"Frank" <Frankheon@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4cuuc.11164$Ca5.385698@wagner.videotron.net...
> I know my pc will be very slow compared to what it should be by default.
I'm
> not planning on underclocking my cpu for everyday life, just as an
> experiment I want to do for my own sake involving temps and noise.
> Thanks for the info BananaOfTheNight
>
> "BananaOfTheNight" <bananaofthenight@hotmail.com.nospaam.please> wrote in
> message news:c9da0n$piq$1@pegasus.csx.cam.ac.uk...
> > > Anyone know how much underclocking can be done on a cpu and if it can
> damage
> > > it like overclocking will do.
> >
> > I think that underclocking a processor will do no damage whatsoever, and
> > might even increase the life of your CPU
> >
> > > I have a 2600XP running a 1.9ghz 333FSB 1.65V
> > > stock. Can I lower this thing to like 100FSB with a voltage of 1.5V
> without
> > > damaging the cpu. What are the effects of underclocking. I'm gussing
> there
> > > might be some stability problems to some point but will it damage the
> cpu.
> >
> > I personally have never tried it - I want performance out of my PC. It
> > should not damage your CPU at all - the worst that can happen is that it
> > doesn't start because the processor needs more volts, and that is a
> > temporary problem, fixed by clearing the CMOS.
> >
> > Bear in mind that semiconductors need at least a certain voltage to
> > function - something about band gaps and bias voltages. 1.5V should be
> > adequate, though.
> >
> > Default for your athlon is 166FSB, actually - it is DDR memory, so take
> > that into account. Bringing your FSB down to 100 will result in an
> > Athlon XP 1560+ (if the same naming scheme holds and the numbers are
> > linear). It will be a 1.14 GHz processor - reminds me of the days of the
> > very first, Pentium III-busting Athlon....
> >
> > It will also run cooler and last a lot longer then the Athlon of that
> > day, but don't be tempted to take the heatsink off, as it could quite
> > literally melt down. You might be able to take the fan off - but check
> > the temperatures under load and while idling first.
> >
> > Good luck, though.
>
>