Underclocking Games

Ian C · March 31, 2018, 05:10:53 AM

Anyone underclock? I've recently discovered that running the CPU at 80% reduces overheating, greatly reduces fan noise but has no apparent effect on gameplay. Seems a good choice, since it will lengthen your processor's lifespan.

Grim.Reaper · March 31, 2018, 05:26:10 AM

Knock on wood....I have never had a CPU processor die on me and typically have kept a computer 5-7 years before completely replacing. Only thing I have really ever lost was power supplies so I guess I have been pretty lucky with my computer components where I am not too worried about extending their life.

Ian C · March 31, 2018, 06:31:40 AM

Well, I did this because a Windows update screwed up the AMD AI Suite II temperature monitor and my CPU (top temperature 61C) was running dangerously over into 65C+.
The update mysteriously put the warning level at 70C instead of the usual 61 and my fans were going crazy. I'd had enough, so I reduced the CPU to 80% usage and it now works fine – no more turbo fan crud or overheating.

JasonPratt · March 31, 2018, 08:51:30 AM

I use a Falcon system (and have for, gosh, coming up on 20 years now? -- not the same system of course, I've gone through two of them plus the current), so I've never worried about it overheating, even though the desktop-replacement laptop had to be put on its aluminum travel case due to heat generation. Come to think of it, maybe underclocking that one would have been a good idea... but it never damaged itself, however many hours I played on it.

Still, I like the basic idea! O0

Yskonyn · April 01, 2018, 01:33:45 AM

65 degrees for a processor is not dangerously hot. Where did you read this?
The only thing software could do to your processor is running it constantly at 100% for long periods of time which will, of course, make temperature rise.
But software (save for specific malicious ones) won't be able to fry your CPU.

If its an older CPU its likely the cooling paste between the chip and fan needs replacing. Easy to do. Or
You could invest in an off the shelf closed liquid system.

Either way, running your cpu at 80% of its power might reduce temp buildup but the increased longevity is nihil as a CPU does not have any mechanical moving parts.
Excessive heat, on the other hand, does descrease its lifespan.

Huw the Poo · April 01, 2018, 02:56:00 AM

Quote from: Yskonyn on April 01, 2018, 01:33:45 AM
65 degrees for a processor is not dangerously hot. Where did you read this?

It's CPU specific, and I've seen some max temps listed on manufacturer websites as low as 70 degrees, so Ian C probably did have cause for concern.

Yskonyn · April 01, 2018, 04:04:03 AM

Still, if you reach the threshold max temp spec for your processor the system will indicate this with BSODs, Reboots, Extremely slow performance due to throttling to try to cool.
You won't just fry your chip that easily.
The listed max temps are max certified operating limits, not damage onset limits.
Only overvoltages can damage your chips rather easily.

Ian C · April 01, 2018, 05:57:09 AM

The max temp spec for my AMD FX 8350 is 61 C.
The fact that my system app increased the threshold for alerts from 61 to 70 concerned me and didn't seem logical...

I have a pretty good cooling system as well and my fans went into turbo and I did have some screen freezes at times. I changed my max CPU usage in power settings to 80% and now all is well. Nice quiet fans and no more freezes. There doesn;t appear to be much observable difference between running my 8-core CPU at 3.20 GHz from 4.00GHz

I think Windows Update screwed something up or that OS patch for the spectre and meltdown vulnerabilities.

Yskonyn · April 01, 2018, 06:16:22 AM

Perhaps I am just not understanding correctly? I can be thick at times. :bd:

But if your SOFTWARE raised an alert setting, that doesn't tell you anything about the correct operation of your HARDWARE, does it?
It's only an alerting system to give the user a headsup about possible damaging conditions.

So the fact that, due to the raise in threshold from the software, you would now not get an alert in time, doesn't change the fact that your CPU aparently runs too hot. You should be looking into the root cause of that problem, not throttling back your CPU and pretend its all good. :D

Like I said, if your CPU runs too hot on full throttle then something is wrong with the cooling of the chip.
Old paste can be a factor, but perhaps you have been altering your hardware setup inside the case of the PC which has caused heat dissipation problems due to obstructed or inefficient airflow, stuff like that.

A CPU should be able to run full throttle without any problems and to reiterate, throttling it back only has very little impact on its lifespan.

JudgeDredd · April 01, 2018, 06:27:01 AM

Quote from: Ian C on March 31, 2018, 05:10:53 AM
Anyone underclock? I've recently discovered that running the CPU at 80% reduces overheating, greatly reduces fan noise but has no apparent effect on gameplay. Seems a good choice, since it will lengthen your processor's lifespan.

No ;D

JasonPratt · April 01, 2018, 08:35:34 AM

I think someone is talking centigrade (70 percent of boiling water) and someone else is talking Fahrenheit (70 degrees is a decent daytime temperature, maybe a little breezy)?

Ian C · April 01, 2018, 08:40:16 AM

Quote from: Yskonyn on April 01, 2018, 01:33:45 AM
65 degrees for a processor is not dangerously hot. Where did you read this?

Manufacturer's website (quote: Max Temps: 61°C/141.8F). I get the overheating freezes when it goes up to 65 or more.

Quote
If its an older CPU

It's not. 18 months old.

My CPU previously ran around 58C. Seems to be pushing 61 routinely and fans are going crazy when running intensive games.

Yskonyn · April 01, 2018, 09:11:09 AM

I understand! But shouldn't you be looking for the root cause of WHY its running so hot, instead of throttling the thing back?

bobarossa · April 01, 2018, 09:41:20 AM

When my CPU runs hot it is usually due to buildup of dust in the heat sink. I use compressed air to blow it out and a vacuum to keep the dust from settling back into the computer case.

WallysWorld · April 01, 2018, 10:41:30 AM

I've been running my i7-920 overclocked at 4 Ghz for almost 7.5 years now and no issues with temperatures. Like bobarossa wrote, when I see the idle temperature start to rise, I clean out the case which is usually once a year in the spring before summer heats up. I just did a few weeks ago and noticed a 7-8c drop in the idle temperature. Running Prime 95 sees the temperature settle around 75c which is way lower than the 100c the i7-920 specs say.

Good cooling and good case airflow should prevent overheating even with an overclock so I think something may be wrong with your cooling as others have pointed out, Ian. The only underclocking I've read about is video card underclocking in specific cases and with specific games, but I've never really read about someone underclocking their processor.