Benefits of minimum processor state for desktops

[stombie18]

In the past I've had the minimum processor state for my desktop CPU set to 100%. Recently I've decided to lower it to 5% so that its not always at full blast. Are there any benefits to this? Possibly less power used over time? Or does it not really matter for a desktop to leave the minimum processor state at 100%?

My CPU is a Intel Core i5 4670k

 

[stombie18]

It extends the life of your components, it lowers power consumption and therefor your power bill and keeps the processor cooler along with the VRM. Not sure why you would set it to 100% all the time. An AMD processor for instance can change that stuff 30 times per second depending on load, so you won't notice it at all.

Great. Thanks for the reply!

 

[sedona]

Is there a website to find out how many P-states are there for each processor? Mine is i5-3470 and like him, I used to set Minimum Processor State at 100%, but recently found out more about it and decided to lower it to 50% or 5%. But i5-3470 is stepping between x16 to x34 and turbo to x35, x36. But the Windows 7 power options setting goes from 0% to 100%. Surely there are no 100 P-states between x16 and x36.