Minimal vcore = coolest CPU

[sleddog]

After getting the best case and CPU cooling I could manage for my Duron/A7V, I decided to see how much I could lower vcore and still get a decent overclock. (Everyone knows that raising the vcore adds significantly to CPU temp.)

After a night of experimenting I came up with these results:

Voltage: Best Stable Overclock

1.60v: 935MHx (8.5x110)
1.65v: 945MHz (9x105)
1.70v: 970MHz (9.5x102)
1.75v: 980MHZ (9.5x103)
1.80v: 990MHz (9x110)
1.85v: 1000MHx (10x100)
1.90v: 1020MHz (10x102)

At 1.60v my CPU temps are in the 33-38C range (from idle, cool room to full load, very warm room). At 1.90v the CPU temp is 6 to 8C higher under various conditions.

For me the performance difference between 935MHz and 1020MHz is insignificant. Given the major temperature difference I've opted for the more conservative overclock.

 

[wild_andy_c]

I raised to 2.00v this morning on a coppermine and got a loaded temperature reading of 24°c. Turns out the motherboard got confused at 2.00v.

The moral of the story is - never take notice of temperatures as meaning anything other than being a self comparitive level,. The info those probes give is poor.