So currently I have my i7 920 undervolted to 1.0875v (which shows up as ~1.055v in Windows, and goes to ~1.04v) from an initial 1.15v
I wish to undervolt it further...should I undervolt it to 1.05v base value, or should I go all-out and try to get it to 1.0v?
Has anyone even tried running their i7 920 at 1v or less?
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Best answer from notty22
Its not always a good idea to undervolt. I know its seems like it would be the EXACT opposite of over volting, which is what we do to achieve higher MHZ than stock. Theres a lot of complexity to this, some background. I have a degree in electronics (ac/dc digital theory, 20 years ago, I took a diff career route) , I also have relatives and friends that work for the Electric utility. Long story short, low voltage to your house is BAD, to power your devices, to satisfy the voltage regulators and draw to make them work generally they have to draw MORE amperage to make up for less voltage. The chip is designed to work with the voltage regulator of your motherboard plugged in to a 120 volt outlet. Lowering your voltage at that point in the chain from 120 volts at your plug and to the 1.25 volt the chip needs (under some conditions) you are causing the chip to pull more amperage resulting in the higher wattage at idle. go back to all default settings , I bet your wattage at idle will go down. My I5 750 is at 29 watts at 3600mhz idle. the voltage on auto, all power saving features on, I just don't let it factory overvolt, in my case. In short your trying to be more efficient than the power saving features of the chip/ motherboard. Its not impossible to do, but I think your seeing a higher wattage is the result of what your doing being less efficient.
No I don't think you can hurt anything at all on this level.
