how low can a CPU be underclocked?

[EnderBorn]

ive been wondering for a long time how low can CPU be underclocked.

for example i5 6500

 

[snurp85]

well, the 6500 cant be at all because its not unlocked.

However, if youre talking about an unlocked CPU, it can go down to the lowest multiplier, which I think is 8. you could then reduce the frequency further (although im not sure how low specifically you can go on the frequency, default being 100 Mhz).

So all that said you can go down to at least 800 Mhz.

 

[BadActor]

They have contests to see who can run the lowest clocks. I have seen where someone has claimed to run as low as 1 mhz, but this was many years ago. Modern under clocking is done to reduce heat, noise and power consumption. I suppose if you had an Asrock Hyper series motherboard, you could down clock your CPU and find out how low it would go before running into instability.

 

[ss202sl]

Turn it off, so it has a clock speed of 0

 

[CountMike]

Turn it off, so it has a clock speed of 0

Are you sure it won't go into minus ?

 

[ss202sl]

Turn it off, so it has a clock speed of 0

Are you sure it won't go into minus ?

Yep - no power means it at 0

 

[CountMike]

Turn it off, so it has a clock speed of 0

Are you sure it won't go into minus ?

Yep - no power means it at 0

Easy, reverse polarity !

 

[ss202sl]

That make it a clock speed in a negative direction. it would still have a calculated clock speed.

 

[ss202sl]

How do you reverse polarity of a cpu without frying it?

 

[CountMike]

Those darn laws of physics, gonna have to hire a lawyer.