Cpu LOAD vs FREQUENCY/ VOLTAGE
Cpu LOAD vs FREQUENCY/ VOLTAGE
This is just a minor question, it won’t change my approach or actions. It’s only here to help me grasp this subject better.
I’m using my AMD FX8370e CPU with an overclock of 4.61ghz (turbo off, constant frequency across all cores) at 1.424v. It’s running smoothly and stably (finally!) at a max temperature of 49°C for the CPU package and 50-51°C on the socket during full load (using Prime95). These temperatures are among the highest in the PC, compared to the stock 3.3Ghz which now reaches 4.6Ghz. I’ve noticed a 35-40% boost in performance (for example, Final Fantasy 15 benchmark) so it really helps my GTX 1070 OC.
🙂
All power-saving settings are turned off in the BIOS, so the CPU maintains a steady 4.6Ghz across all 8 cores and keeps the voltage constant. The question is: when the CPU is idle (like when not doing anything on a desktop) or just browsing the web (about 20% CPU load), the temperatures drop significantly (25-35°C for both package and socket). That’s great, and I’m satisfied but
WHY IS THIS SO???
The CPU still gets 1.42v (taking into account voltage droop, it actually receives more voltage during idle than while under load) and remains locked at 4.6Ghz. Isn’t frequency and voltage the main drivers of heat output?
Putting it another way: if I keep maintaining these low temperatures consistently, will the chip’s lifespan be affected by this significant overclocking or not? Should I enable power-saving features (frequency and voltage scaling) for half the time my PC is idle but I’m not playing games?
I plan to upgrade my system in the next 6-8 months anyway, but I definitely don’t want it failing prematurely, especially if I decide to push it up to 5Ghz.
So, is constant high voltage and frequency on the CPU harmful?
Temps drop when the chip isn't working as hard at a 20% load. When overclocked, the chip's TDP is around 200w, so cooling must handle 200w during full operation, but even when idle at maximum clocks it might only draw 50w. This means the cooler will only need to manage 50w of heat.
About the OC voltage, I'm not very familiar with the FX series and its recommended settings. It's like comparing walking on flat ground to carrying heavy bricks—much easier, but much more energy-consuming when you add weight.
Temps drop when the chip isn't working as hard at a 20% load. When overclocked, the chip's TDP is around 200w, so cooling must handle 200w during full operation, but even when idle at maximum clocks it might only draw 50w, meaning the cooler needs to manage just 50w of heat.
About that OC voltage, I'm not very familiar with the FX series and its recommended settings. It's like comparing walking on flat ground to carrying heavy bricks—much easier, but much more energy-consuming when you add weight.
The temperatures are dropping because the chip isn't operating as hard at a 20% load. When overclocked, the chip should have a TDP of 200w, meaning the cooling system must handle 200w when running at full speed, but even at maximum clocks it might only be drawing 50w, so the cooler only needs to manage 50w of heat.
About the OC voltage, I'm not very experienced with the FX series and its recommended settings. It's like comparing walking on flat ground to carrying heavy bricks—much easier, less effort required. But I overlooked how much current the CPU draws (50 to 100 Amps). That was the factor I missed.