Desktop processors downclocking to save power

Do they do this, like their laptop counterparts? If not, why not? I mean sure, with a desktop power consumption is a lot less important, but it'd still be a good feature to have right?

 

i do it on the homeserver, as it's on 24/7 and passive cooled. but it's not really needed.

i'm considering it for my new desktop, but, again, i think it's not worth the effort.

 

Yes, they do. On the AMD side, this is known as Cool 'n Quiet. Intel calls it SpeedStep. It's the same names used by the mobility variants of the desktop CPUs and it does the same things.

 

hm.. which one is ment by the OP, now? manually downclocking, undervolting and such? or just the default processor features.

if it's the first, then, mostly no (see my post). if it's the second, then yes, about always (see zoomastigophoras post.. (what a nick!!))

 

In a desktop sure heat isn't usually a problem. But in a laptop it is a different kettle of fish. I keep my Q9650@ 1.075V while the stock voltage is a whopping 1.15V and this is to keep it stable at a 5% OC. At stock 3GHZ all it needs is 1.0375V. As this is in a laptop it sure makes a heck of a difference I can imagine other people that have other desktop replacements such as the Sager Np9262 do the same.

Speedstep also works just the same as well as low power modes amazingly although this is a desktop quad it will happily downclock to 1GHZ a 1/3 slower than normal in power saving mode!

 

Yes, they do. Mine does it. The processor not under load is usually at something like 1596Mhz, on my desktop, but the GPU doesn't.