CPU Cooling software - is it worth?

[snow]

Hi!

I'm wondering how easy was the overclocking my PIII 750 from 100FSB to 133FSB. There were no temp. change at all! I got the bundled PC Alert III software with my MSI motherboard and using it to monitor temp-s and voltages. There is also a CPU cooling feature which lowers the CPU temp about 10´C. The same thing happens with any other CPU cooling software I tryed. I also measured CPU speed by Sisoft Sandra and 3DMark2001 with cooling feature on and off and got the same results. My CPU idle temp with CPU Cool is 34´C and without 44´C.
So the question is, are the software CPU coolers "real" or some kind of speed-eaters or just cheating?

[RedDeathDrinker]

If I remember rightly.....

Software coolers work by idling some of your CPU cycles when there is little or no load, reducing the voltage passing through, and therefore the temp.......

[Owenator]

As I understand it on AMD CPU's the cooler software effectively shuts off the CPU at idle. I used the register 52 change to EC on my Duron with Wpcredit and it idles at my ambient temp of 25 C, essentially sitting there doing nothing. My only issue was that when I do a Shutdown or Restart the system goes down and then hangs when the screen goes blank instead of shutting off or restarting? Maybe an issue with my system i, don't know? You may have different results with your cooler software and your PIII? For me I am happy with 35 C idle and no restart issues.

My $.02

O

[maha_x]

It certainly boggers my logic... I think it might do sometin when the CPU idles but when its under load I dont see how software could cool it. Unless it eats performance.

[snow]

the software is lowering CPU voltage or smth which is not done by windows OS automatically when CPU is idle. and it also works as i can see with all kind of temp monitors and it is not eating recources compare to other tsr software (it can be monitored by microsoft's WinTop application. if you guys have any negative experience with those programs please let me know!
and thanks for those posts!!

[Sir MMPD]

Just curious what set of software would be considered good for keeping the heat of your comp down?

Anything made for a P4?
I have looked and i have found nothing..

Thank you,
Sir MMPD

[JaY_III]

Do not rely on software cooling.
Its only cools your computer when it is under little load....
now when you are playing games or using 100% of the CPU.. and that is when heat can become a problem.

Not all OS's have HLT instructions (software cooling)
windows 9x do not... i think NT does though... that is think.

[nolan_3d]

I use Vcool myself, drops my idle temps to 31º (underfull load these software packages do no good at all except cool it off at any possible idle cycle), when playing quake 2 I get up to 58º and when runing seti and playing quake I hit 64º

[Kingslayer]

Cooling programs are 100% worthless. Here is why.

Why do you have to cool your system at idle, where these programs work? If your temps are so high at idle, that you have to run this kind of software, then your full load temps are going to kill your CPU.

If you need these programs at idle, you have other cooling issues that you need to address. Not mask with software.

[AmbientFiction]

I have heard that with new CPUs that these style programs don't even work but Kingslayer is right get yourself some better cooling. I myself like plycon.com maybe you could check them out and see if you like what they have.

[snow]

Yeah, thanks you are maybe right, unfortunately i can found to buy from here (where i live) only cheap and limited number of cooling choices. 2-3 types of heatsinks and fans but i'll try to think something.
thanks anyway!

[-=UR=- Ranger]

The cooling software creates huge temperature changes while your system is running. With cooling, your CPU is kind of cool, but it heats up very quickly when under full load. Those rapid temp changes decrease the life of your CPU, I prefer to have a little higher but more or less constant temp.

[Mr.Lansing]

i love Vcool!!!

[!-=sky=-!]

i'm using it on my second sys.......
it works in win98se too
i mean vcool works
idle loop

[train22]

it might work but I believe that you have a chance of ruining somthing, CPU halt commands arn't used for a reason and with no use under full load why would you ever risk it?

[-=UR=- Ranger]

There´s no use for those programms, as they do nothing for your stability. You CPU will crash under full load, even if it´s stable in idle cause of some cooling software..

By the way, you should start folding then you would never have a use for those progs, as your PC will never be idle again:D

[dimmreaper]

Origionally CPU HLT progs were written to reduce power consumption and heat output of mobile computers(laptops). This was back in the days before speed-step technologies, and it worked very well! Later is was discovered that the HLT instruction was included in the design of non-mobile CPUs as well as mobile ones, so a few of the proggramers started advertising the benefits of using the progs on desktop PCs.

They really work, I use them mayself, but not to cool my CPU. I use them to conserve energy. Electricity is primarily generated from burning fossil fuels, so the less of it we use, the less we pollute the air :)

[lennytiger]

the cooling software effectively sends the HALT signal to the CPU as soon as it becomes idle even when you pause in games!!!

as soon as new instructions are delivered to the CPU cache the CPU goes out of HALT mode and returns to normal state. When the cpu is not doing anything it cools of when its doing something the cooling software hold off.

I can give you even more technical reasons why but you'll get bored and so will I. :)
:rolleyes:

[Luie]

i rather get an better heatsink and fan than a software cooler. why? because i usally game on my system or put to to full load with my IT graphics homeworks.