Questions about core i7 voltages

1. 1.375V: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=41447

2. Instability. Bluescreen at startup is a sign of major instability. Even more major instability is shown by the computer not booting at all. To ensure full stability, run Prime95 for at least 8 hours without errors.

3. See question 2. You could also get a bluescreen just randomly. In games, for instability of the CPU, random squares of colours that aren't supposed to be there are a sign of instability.

4. Never heard of "PPL" before. http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=cpu+PLL&aq=f&aqi=g1...

5. Not necessarily. You could change the DRAM multiplier instead. Lower it to make it run within specifications. There is probably something similar with the QPI. I recommend you lower them first anyway, then see how far you can push the CPU. Then lower the CPU to stable. Then increase the other multipliers one at a time and see how far you can push them stable. You will need to run memtest86 to determine RAM stability.

Hope that helps. Any more questions or if you need clarification, just ask.

Is there a possibility to overclock Core i7 930 from 2.8 Ghz to 3.2 Ghz without increasing Vcore?

I know that very high Vcore can damage the CPU by having temperatures over 100 degress, but does insufficient Vcore damage the CPU as well?

it will depend on the quality of the chip you get but a 3.2GHz overclock is nothing for the i7 so you should be able to hit that easily on stock voltage.

Truth be told you could probably hit it on less than stock voltage - I overclocked a i7 920 recently to 3.6GHz on 1.25V


Pumping too much power through a CPU will damage the silicon yes, but I don't see how putting too little through it will cause damage - the chip just won't work properly.

^ yep.
I don't have experience with the i7, but my Athlon II x4 620 can go to 3.25GHz from 2.6GHz without any increase to the Vcore.