Can you explain what it means to undervolt an Intel CPU that is 10th generation or newer?
Can you explain what it means to undervolt an Intel CPU that is 10th generation or newer?
Today I discovered that it's not possible to undervolt 10th generation Intel CPUs, and it looks like other newer models are also more complicated than before. In short, the usual steps—install Throttle Stop, adjust voltage, run a crash test, and finish—seem to be harder now. I’m not satisfied with this situation. Here are my questions:
1. Is every Intel CPU from the 10th generation onward truly difficult or complicated to undervolt?
2. If undervolting isn’t feasible, does that mean there’s no longer any need to do it because default voltages are already very stable? (I’m pretty sure the answer is no.)
3. Do newer Ryzen CPUs also present challenges in undervolting, or did AMD maintain a simpler approach? I appreciate how straightforward it is for GPUs on Adrenaline, and I hope they apply the same principle to CPUs.
4. Is this "locked undervolting" issue limited only to laptops, or do desktop CPUs share the same limitation by default?
If you're referring to the laptop SKU's of processors, yes the only one's you can undervolt are the HX SKU's. Look up plundervolt exploit and it'll make sense as to why you can't unervolt using ThrottleStop for 8th Gen and beyond. You could also try and introduce power limits on the processor. If it's a laptop, you're working with, please include the make, model and SKU to said laptop. What
If you're on a desktop, please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.
What CPU model do you have? I have been undervolting my 10850K since the day I bought it. A quick Google search and I found this person undervolting their 10750H mobile CPU.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLapt...71...teps_good/
Some manufacturers can set the lock bit in the BIOS to lock out CPU voltage control. This can be done to any Intel CPU from any generation, mobile or desktop. A CPU might become locked out after a BIOS update.
Starting with 12th Gen, Intel removed the ability to undervolt from their H series mobile CPUs. The HX and HK mobile CPUs still support undervolting as long as the BIOS has not locked out this feature. Even the latest Core Ultra series like the 275HX still support undervolting. It continues to be a simple way to reduce power consumption and heat.
Unlocked K series desktop CPUs support undervolting in Intel XTU or ThrottleStop. Most desktop motherboards from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, etc., have options available in the BIOS for undervolting. Motherboards used in computers from large OEM computer manufacturers like Dell, HP, etc. will rarely have options in the BIOS for undervolting. It is best to keep advanced features like this out of the hands of novice users.
Here is an example of a -150 mV undervolt of the CPU P Cores and P Cache as well as a -100 mV undervolt of the Intel GPU and iGPU Unslice while using a 14900HX mobile CPU. Intel undervolting is alive and well.
https://imgur.com/yuzY04q
View: https://i.imgur.com/yuzY04q.png
The CPU I attempted to undervolt was an i5-1135G7 in a laptop. According to what I found on Google, it doesn’t seem possible to do so. Searching for other CPUs online felt uncertain, with mixed information about BIOS restrictions and removal options. It seems there’s a high chance of encountering a CPU that is fully locked to voltage settings. This makes it less appealing, especially since modern processors tend to be power-hungry and generate heat, particularly in laptops. Do you have any suggestions for CPUs that are easier to undervolt? I’m open to both AMD and Intel options as long as they allow me to adjust the power curves.
If the goal is just to play around and test things, then fine, I get it. But if there’s a specific purpose behind slowing down the processor, let me know what you’re aiming for.
The 11th Gen G7 series marks the first models Intel chose to eliminate undervolting support. If you value this feature, consider purchasing an Intel mobile HX or HK series. Adjusting the voltage can significantly impact heat generation, leading to quieter operation. Reducing the voltage by 150 mV on my 14900HX transforms its experience from tolerable to nearly silent during light tasks like browsing the web. Undervolting doesn’t slow down the processor; it merely lowers power use and heat output, allowing the CPU to run at higher speeds without overheating. This enhances thermal capacity, boosting performance. Achieving over 39K in Cinebench R23 on a mobile 14900HX is only possible with undervolting, matching the performance of a desktop model at standard settings. The device also offers greater portability.
In an experiment, adjust the windows power profile to normal (not performance) and limit the max CPU usage to 99%. This prevents the processor from overclocking, which causes heat buildup that the laptop's coolers can't handle well. The outcome is thermal throttling that cycles back, lowering performance. Observe how cinebench behaves.