Safe to downclock ASUS computers using NHC?

Hey guys,

Just wondering if it was safe to downclock you ASUS computer on a long term basis using NHC...

I'm not too familar w/downclocking (and NHC) but this is what I found on wiki:

Downclocking is the process of forcing a computer component to run at a lower clock rate than it was designed for or was designated by the manufacturer.

Downclocking is usually being used to closely monitor a process for its behavior at lower speed where a fast speed running of the process does not allow that, it gives programmer or technicians to run application that is running abnormally fast. Also it is being used where extra CPU power is not needed to avoid high power consumption or even less heat generating from the Processor and better stability.


Also, they say it's related to underclocking and listed the pros / cons.

Advantages
Considerably longer hardware lifespan.
Reduced heat generation (and hence dissipation).
Reduced electrical power consumption.
Increased stability.
Reduced noise from mechanical cooling parts (i.e. removing fan)

Disadvantages
Slower speeds.


So have any of you downclocked your computer for a long time (as in a couple months)? Notice any differences? For me, I downclocked the last few days but the computer temp. for a core 2 duo 1.8 ghz and 1.6 ghz was more or less the same, around 46 - 53 c.

Is there anyway to stop NHC from adjusting your screen brightness? The only option I see for LCD brightness is under "graphic" tab, and I already have everything set to 100% brightness.

Any tips you would like to add?

 

1. Laptop CPUs are designed to downclock (using multiplier, and some also FSB). It seems you do not know too much on the subject (no offense intended it's just an assessment) so I would advise you let it be for a while and do a bit of research on the issue.

The CPU will downclock on its own as long as it's on a reasonable Power4Gear power profile (not Max Performance), if you're using Power4Gear. If you're not using it, more likely than not the CPU is speedstepping already. That is the reason for which you did not notice a temperature differential.

The downclocking feature is called Intel Speedstep for Intel, and (I think) cool&quiet for AMD.

2. Once you did your research and know what you're doing, I suggest RMClock (google for it; make sure on the rightmark site you download RMClock and NOT CPU RightMark, that's something else). NHC has compatibility issues with Vista and some newer CPUs.

With RMClock you can also undervolt. That is actually its main purpose, as stated above the Windows drivers will downclock just fine without any additional software.

 

Yeah that's true, I'm not much of a techie. You got to start from somewhere, right.

I did notice for NHC that you could undervolt and it seemed to work fine with VISTA, at least on my vaio. Constantly having to readjust the LCD screen is driving me nuts though.

ThnX!