Undervolting thy CPU doth present a noble opportunity to improve its temperatures apace and lessen its power draw. But verily, should thy chip run too hot and heavy most of the time, undervolting may indeed bolster its performance as well. Intel’s finest CPUs, such as the 13900K and 14900K, doth stand as prime candidates for such adjustments. Yet fear not, for other CPUs may also partake in the benefits of undervolting.
Wouldst thou be intrigued to witness how thy CPU performs when not relentlessly redlined with all the power? Then heed these instructions to undervolt thy CPU in but a few quick steps.
What ho! What is CPU undervolting, thou may ask? Undervolting thy CPU doth entail the process of lowering the amount of power that thy processor doth receive. Aye, on paper, this may not sound prudent, but lo and behold, it doth bring more benefits than it brings risks. When handled with care, undervolting can aid thy processor in functioning well without being overwhelmed, thus affecting the performance of thy entire computer.
As thy CPU draweth less power, thou gainest more than mere savings on thy next power bill. Undervolting doth also quell the temperatures generated by thy processor, potentially lessen the strain upon it over time, and for laptop users, mayhap have favorable effects on thy battery life.
Undervolting is most often practiced on Intel processors. This doth stem from the fact that modern AMD CPUs, such as the Ryzen 5000 series, boast a different architecture. Hence, they do oftentimes possess lower power requirements than Intel CPUs from the outset. Nonetheless, if thou dost possess an AMD CPU that doth run a trifle hot, thou couldst still venture to try the steps laid out below.
It doth behoove thee to know that the processor is not the sole component which thou canst undervolt. Verily, thou can also undervolt graphics cards (GPU) to achieve akin results — lower power consumption, diminished temperatures, and consistent performance. It is acceptable to undervolt both the CPU and the GPU, yet this must be done separately and with distinct programs. Shouldst thou wish to embark upon this path, peruse our guide on undervolting the graphics card.
Undervolting thy CPU is a relatively simple process, albeit it may initially seem daunting — if only due to the myriad options available in the software most frequently employed for such purposes. However, with our guide, any soul can accomplish it.
Hark! Undervolting versus underclocking versus overclocking, three distinct pursuits they be. Underclocking doth pertain to the lessening of thy processor’s frequency. Whilst this doth usually result in lower temperatures and power draw, it doth nought to enhance thy computer’s performance. As the clock speed is reduced, thy CPU shall be compelled to throttle its own performance, bringing not the kind of performance thou dost desire.
Overclocking, on the contrary, is the exact opposite of underclocking, indicating that thou art pushing thy computer’s clock speed beyond its base frequency. Most modern processors do come with a base frequency and boost/turbo frequency, yet overclockers can reach speeds even higher than the advertised numbers. When executed correctly, this can improve thy processor’s performance at the cost of higher power consumption and raised thermals. To some extent, thou can undervolt whilst overclocking, but thy mileage may vary.
Overclocking should be embarked upon with caution. Not every processor doth support overclocking, and thou should approach it with a measure of circumspection on those which do. We have a helpful guide to aid thee in deciding whether thou shouldst overclock thy CPU, and once thou dost resolve to proceed, ensure to follow our tutorial on how to overclock thy processor.
Is undervolting the CPU safe, thou may query? Undervolting thy CPU is most usually safe. Yet this is not to say that it cannot be done erroneously. Shouldst thou undervolt thy processor too drastically, thy computer may experience instability, crashes, and diminished performance. Most common issues do include the blue screen of death (BSOD) and freezes.
Undervolting is a somewhat of an art form — thou should never do too much all at once. ‘Tis better to take things step by step and gradually adjust the voltage to a slightly higher number should something go awry. In many instances, instead of being hazardous, undervolting is indeed the safest course. Laptops and small-form PCs do serve as a prime example of where undervolting can be of benefit. As the components are packed closely together, temperatures are oft an issue, and overheating doth occur all too frequently. Undervolting thy CPU can be one method to address such concerns, and if successful, thou shalt be granting thy processor a boon to both its lifespan and performance.
Prepare thyself for undervolting, for thou can test out various programs to engage in such endeavors. We shall discuss all of them in detail below. However, regardless of the method thou dost employ to undervolt, the preparation and monitoring shall evermore remain the same. To discern how much thou can undervolt thy CPU, and to ascertain whether thou hast achieved an improvement, thou should first test thy processor.
Step 1: Download a benchmarking program. Thou shalt use it periodically throughout and after thy undervolting attempts.
A goodly way to test thy CPU is to employ CPU-Z, yet there are other programs that can fulfill this task as well. Ensure that it shall be able to subject thy processor to a stress test.
Step 2: Open up CPU-Z and then proceed to download another program: HWMonitor. This program shall aid thee in keeping track of both thy temperatures and thy voltage whilst thou dost tinker with it.
Alas! Proceed forth on this undervolting journey with caution and care. Thy CPU doth dependeth upon thee to handle it with the utmost diligence, lest it meet its untimely demise.
