Increased overclock stability with undervolting?

Hey guys! New to the forums here! (Although I've been reading and tinkering with my laptop with the guides posted on these forums since December)

I have an Asus G72GX-RBBX09 Laptop (Q9000 CPU) overclocked to 2.3GHz at the moment. I have gotten it up to 2.5GHz using setfsb, although after about a half an hour my computer locked up (I'm assuming the number was unstable with my processor).

I initially undervolted my CPU in order to reduce temps, but set it back to stock when I played with my cooling and maintained overclocked temps below 60*C .

Would undervolting increase my CPU stability at all in order to maintain higher overclock speeds? Or is there no relationship between the two?

Thanks!

 

if you undervolt it AFAIK it may strive for power (so the overclock may be useless since it won't have enough power to function, so AFAIK it's useless )

 

Undervolting typically is the bane of overclocking. Overclocking typically draws more power (thus more heat, etc) and it NEEDS that voltage to be stable at the new clock speed. Undercutting that would just lead you to a lock up. Typically you only undervolt if you're looking to improve heat dissipation, use less energy, or otherwise not overstress a CPU/GPU.

 

Conversely then, as I've never seen temperatures above 55*C, do you think my CPU could handle a little bit of Overvolting? This is a laptop so I am not quite sure the effects that Overvolting would have on my power supply aside from consuming more electricity and increasing temperatures. I rarely use this computer on battery power.

(EDIT: This, of course, would be done well inside tolerable allowances.)

 

you just overclock it, it takes the power by itself (the bios takes care of that) don't play with the voltage yourself I fried a mobo once!

 

It's extremely dangerous to live and act by this statement. Sometimes motherboards are TOO smart for their own good and can make really cool useless pieces of equipment!

 

So effectually, I should be overvolting? The G72GX with the Q9000 comes with a locked BIOS and had to be overclocked using SetFSB. I'm using CrystalPUID and about to dial in my voltage. I'll let you know where I end.

 

You should not overvolt unless you can afford a new laptop.

He was usggesting that even if you just overclock, the motherboard might actually overvolt the cpu to keep the system stable. A small overvolt can increase temps quite a bit. I've been told that overvoltng is the easiest way to break your computer (other than with a hammer ).

Overvolting is much better done in a desktop, where one can do amazing upgrades to the cooling system. Laptops are rather limited in this regard.

I would strongly recommend you simply do a MODEST overclock, or reduce the clocks to stock and actually undervolt, which would be the safest and coolest solution.

IMHO, the risks far outweigh the rewards in performance.

 

I'll agree with this statement and advice. From your first post, I feel comfortable with stating that it's probably not a good idea for you to play around with voltages if you have to ask some of the most basic overclocking questions. I overclock my desktops and have for years and really see no issue with overclocking most laptops as you won't gain much. Also yes (if you may be asking), I have burnt up a motherboard or two because of my ignorance on overclocking. The system I have currently is built for nothing but overclocking and benchmarking ability with heavy gaming on the side and it's air cooled.

 

I respect your opinion and in all honesty know the risks of overclocking. I've overclocked my last two desktops, and never had a problem with, as posted before, moderate overclocks and improved cooling. I'm not running stock cooling and ran countless 2 hour stress tests while tuning this laptop. I appreciate the warnings, but I've been OC'ed for months now and haven't seen it get over 60*C. If my memory serves correctly, it's the temps that destroy MBs, not overclocks.

I had hoped to learn more about the why, and not the what.

 

Not necessarily, overvolting and static too can destroy mobos. Instantly. Like everyone says the benefits of the slight overclock with a volt mod on a laptop is just not recomended. It is far too risky for a few 3D mark points or FPS. Just overclock it until stable. BTW, if overclocking you should run your stress tests much longer than 2 hours. Most will say 12-24 hrs. My 2 Cents.

 

Thanks, I was looking more for what the overvolting would in fact do to my motherboard. (I'm an English student so all of my computer knowhow is self-taught) I just wanted to make sure that the overclocking through SetFSB was going to have any adverse effects on my MOBO if I wasn't making similar changes across the board.

As for the stress tests, I haven't read anywhere for 12-24 hour stress tests but I'll definitely start running some once I have time to actually monitor it.

As for the stress tests, I've been running two blended Orthos Stress tests with each one's affinity set to two different processors, effectively stressing all four cores at the same time. Is this appropriate or overkill?

 

I'd run Prime 95, which can handle as many threads as you can throw at it with no room for error.

 

cool switching over to that and running it tonight.

ran overclocked cpu and gpu for my gaming needs and can't even compete with stress test temps. framerate bonuses were decent for my gaming needs but temps were same as stock.

honestly this is all more for knowing i'm tailoring my computer as opposed to having the best benchmarks.

 

I use OCCT. It stresses all cores and has a plethora of options.

The answer you seek about the actual adverse affects has to do with stressing the capacitors/voltage regulators, circuits and such on the mobo. The more you stress the more likely you will have failure. At one point the gains you will receive will not outweigh the costs. Heat is a major problem with laptops. The more the temps rise the less life you have out of your parts. Think of it kind of like a battery. It has a finite amount of charges. The more you use the battery the less life it has left. Overclocking accelerates this affect on your computer. Most affects are negligible if you do things correctly (Proper cooling and voltages). But if you push to hard, things can fry and your parts go, just like that. In an instant.