No, a CPU typically uses less voltage and power during idle compared to active operation.
No, a CPU typically uses less voltage and power during idle compared to active operation.
It requires additional power because when the CPU runs on a single core it consumes more voltage, and during idle mode my 8-core processor has only 6 cores active, resulting in lower voltage. However, under stress testing the 8 cores are engaged and voltage is distributed across all 8 cores, not just the 6.
It isn't really consuming more energy when not in use; the voltage stays higher, but the real power usage is lower. When under load, the voltage drops because of increased current draw. Most motherboards include LLC (Load-Line Calibration) features to help prevent instability during overclocking.
It seems you're wondering about adjusting your CPU's settings. You considered increasing the voltage first, thinking that might help with power consumption, but realized that boosting voltage isn't the main factor for saving energy.
The voltage increases slightly while the current drops significantly. As a result, the power consumption decreases.
Voltage droop from loading isn't the main factor at stock. There's a curve of voltage needed at a given clock. When a single core is loaded, which can include light loads, the CPU will boost right up. At higher clocks, it needs higher voltage. When multiple cores are loaded, the boost is less and the lower clock needs a lower voltage. If you were running fixed clock and voltage like you would in a manual overclock, then the drop with more cores loaded is from loading.