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    P-173X FX RMClock Min VID

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by i.blades.i, Nov 4, 2009.

  1. i.blades.i

    i.blades.i Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a T9300 cpu in this comp and I am able to set the VID for 8X100 and 6X200 to below .95V but I never actually see the results. I can confirm that the other voltage settings work (IDA has been lowered and the correct voltage is applied). What am I missing, is there a min voltage constant that intel has enabled, blocking me from doing this?
     
    i.blades.i, Nov 4, 2009
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  2. i.blades.i

    i.blades.i Notebook Enthusiast

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    Q: CPU voltage indicated by RMClock greatly differs from the voltage reported by my vendor-supplied monitoring software. What's wrong?

    A: Nothing. RMClock reports the CPU VID, i.e., just a requested CPU voltage level. It is up to the motherboard logic to decide whether this request should be handled or ignored. Most motherboards designed to properly support processor's power-saving features (e.g., AMD Cool`n'Quiet(tm) technology) should adjust the real CPU voltage so that it's close to the requested VID level. Other models may apply some extra over-voltage (e.g., +0.1 or +0.2V), which is useful for overclocking. Finally, there are many motherboard models that can be set up (via BIOS settings) to supply constant voltage to the CPU, which is far from being good for achieving significant power saving.

    Q: Why can't I set CPU voltage above 1.55V (or even 1.45V), or below 1.1V on my Athlon 64? BIOS setup offers the voltages from 0.8V up to 1.7V. Is there a way to unlock these "hidden" voltages?

    A: RMClock manipulates with VID and not directly with the CPU core voltage. Maximal VID value you can set is limited by the CPU itself (as indicated in the "Maximal VID" field of the General page). 1.55V is the absolute maximum VID for all Athlon 64 processors family; usually, actual maximal VID is even lower (e.g., 1.45V). There's no way to set current VID value higher than the maximal, as the CPU will choose maximal value instead (the same is true for FID, the bus clock multiplier). It is also impossible to program a VID being lower than the Minimal VID reported by the CPU. The voltage level you adjust in the BIOS is set in entirely different way, via direct manipulation with the CPU VRM and not involving VID changes. Please also note that the voltages you set manually in the BIOS setup cause the motherboard logic to ignore VID change requests, thus greatly diminishing power saving features of the AMD Cool`n'Quiet(tm) technology.

    Just incase someone references this FAQ.. RMClock reports .95 as well.. RMClock also reports my minimal voltage as .7125.. So my proc seems to be capable. it is just not getting set.
     
    i.blades.i, Nov 4, 2009
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