Voltages

[newbuilder14]

I was monitoring the voltages, and it appeared odd that the Vcore was fluctuating based on CPU load. Is this normal? My guess is that it is normal.

For example, right now it is 1.17 fluctuating to 1.19, etc.

I was researching on Google and people say that you shouldn't always trust programs to monitor this. By the way I am using Asus PC Probe II.

[TwoRails]

That is negligible, and not to worry. PSs should stay within 5% and most quality units stay a little closer.

[newbuilder14]

Okay, thanks. Is the Vcore allowed to fluctuate based on load? Everything is solid/stable as a rock so I am not worrying.

[Cricket]

Is the Vcore allowed to fluctuate based on load?Yes, perfectly normal.

:) Cricket

[Mr.Ferrari]

I hate pc probe for any kind of reading. Temperature or Voltages. I'd trust cpu-z or speedfan instead.

And what your experiencing is Vdroop. Its a famous attribute of Intel cpu's. Vdroop is designed into every recent intel chipset. And for some unknown reason, causes the vcore to fluctuate lower when put under a load.

Intel probally designed it to not have such a heavy hit on the capacitors on the motherboard, as in the past, intel's were voltage hogs.

Just FYI, alot of overclockers try to get around this feature by modifying their boards so vdroop is elminated. As vdroop is harmful for overclocking.

[newbuilder14]

A friend wants to know if you can disable vdroop..?

[Mr.Ferrari]

If your friend is willing to solder his motherboard, void warranty, and possibly damage the board if he is not experianced with soldering, then yes. Let me explain..you dont exactly disable vdroop. You counteract it. vDroop lowers the voltage when the processor is put under load, in order to make it so this wont happen, you solder a pot that over volts inorder to keep the voltage stable.

However is there a reason for him to want to do this? I mean, this is only for people who have pushed their overclock to the max and want to do some more. This does not hurt processor stability in any way. Besides with core 2 duo being low power consumer, this is a non-issue. Besides you cant get exact readings through software..

You sure your not confusing this with speedstep?

[newbuilder14]

Well, he had a 4400+ X2 and a Ultra-D and is now switching to a E6300 or E6400 setup. This was all in my effort to get him away from the DS3, because he said that he read you could disable vDroop. I will tell him this is not doable via BIOS. He has decided on the Bad Axe 2 I think - how is that board? Also, what memory is good to go with that?

Maybe I'll open a new thread for my friend - but I think this is relatively still in tact.

So our questions:

Bad Axe 2 + which memory = good overclocks? He is an overclocker.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Badaxe2 is great..just tell him that if he wants to overclock, he will need to modify the motherboard.

corsair..or corsair xms for guranteed compatibility If he plans on seriously overclocking then I would get some crucial ballistix or buffalo firestix.

Like I said, with core 2 duo, vDroop is a non-issue.

[newbuilder14]

I think you're thinking of Bad Axe 1, where you did have to mess around with stuff to overclock, am I wrong? I understand revision 2 is ready to overclock out of box: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=124131

[Mr.Ferrari]

haha, apparently havent been keeping up :P. Apparently intel finally broke down and gave us a fully overclockable bios is suppose.

good news.

You need simple circuit mod for bad axe 1.