AMD’s Cool ‘n’ Quiet for Athlon 64 reduces the working frequency and Vcore for reduce power consumption and heat when the processor is not under heavy load. Combined with an intelligent thermal fan setup, CnQ can be an easy way to make a quiet, very powerful PC. Unfortunately, only some Socket 754 and Socket 939 boards have CnQ support. Information about CnQ boards is spotty, and even AMD does not appear to have a comprehensive list. Here’s a start to SPCR’s own CnQ motherboards database in the Recommended section, with data compiled by Joachim Kluge.
- April 7, 2005 – Major update by Joachim Kluge to reflect recent development and socket-939
- Nov 15, 2004 – Updates and additions, thanks to Joachim Kluge
- July 7, 2004 – Minor updates and corrections
- June 25, 2004 – First published
Cool ‘n’ Quiet is a feature in AMD Athlon 64 that reduces the working
frequency and Vcore when the processor is not under heavy load in order to lower
the heat dissipation. This feature has never appeared in desktop CPUs before,
though it has been used in mobiles to save on battery power for a while under
the name PowerNow! for AMD and SpeedStep for Intel.
The power saving is quite significant – examples are shown in this
post. When combined with an intelligent thermal fan control mechanism (either
built into the motherboard or external to it), C’n’Q can be an quick and easy
way to make a quiet, very powerful PC. It also reduces electricity consumption,
a worthy cause in our age.
- For more details about Athlon 64, please see our recent article article,
Athlon
64 for Quiet Power.
Cool n Quiet Technology Overview at the AMD web site
C’n’Q requires BIOS support in the motherboard. Only a few early
socket-754 mainboards supported C’n’Q. The situation has become better with further
development of the platform. Especially the socket-939 platform offers now very
good support.
The information about C’n’Q-supported motherboards in the table
below was painstakingly compiled by by Joachim Kluge, who many of you
may know as jojo4u in the SPCR Forums. It came from many sources,
which are cited. Joachim is also responsible for starting the forum thread,
Athlon
64 power reduction: C’n’Q, Vcore, mobile, tools, which contains extensive
information on the topic.
A few details to note:
- There are known
problems with socket-754 boards and 2+ DIMMS. You can find compatibility
notes on some boards below. You can also ask in the forum if someone has a
stable operation with 2 DIMMs. According to Aopen, 3 DIMM configurations are
incompatible with C’n’Q.
- C’n’Q sets the speed and the voltage to defined levels. If you are unsatified
with these levels, please refer to this
more detailed post.
- Enabling C’n’Q in the BIOS may help to unblock multiplier and voltage adjustments
with tweak utilities under Windows.
- AMD has improved the Athlon 64 from time to time. For low power use it
is best
to get a 90nm core. On socket-939 there is the “Winchester” core
available. The TDP is 67W and the OPN ends with -BI. If you can’t get a 90nm
core, try to get at least the 130nm “CG-stepping”
core.
- Given the ridiculously accelerated lifecycle of motherboards, it is very
difficult to keep a product database such as this up to date. Products get
revised, dropped or replaced, all without notice. Please help by posting any
relevant information in this thread: Athlon
64 power reduction: C’n’Q, Vcore, mobile, tools.
CnQ Mainboards | Socket | Size | Chipset | Notes | Info Source | Date |
Socket-754 boards | ||||||
Abit KV8 Pro | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | reliable with 2 DIMMs since rev 1.1 / fan control down to 8V/ BIOS has no undervolting options | hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
Abit NF8 series | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250GB | AMD, Abit-usa | 30.03.05 | |
Abit KV-80 | 754 | ATX | VIA K8M800 | Abit-usa | 31.03.05 | |
Albatron K8Ultra-U Pro | 754 | ATX | ULi M1689 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Albatron K8X800 Pro II | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 | |
Aopen AK86 | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | SilentTek able to stop fan at idle / reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | C’t | 24.06.04 |
Aopen AK86-L | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | SilentTek able to stop fan at idle / controls only 1 fan / reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | anandtech.com, planet3dnow.de | 24.06.04 |
Aopen AK89 Max | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 150 | newest BIOS/ not officially supported /SilentTek able to stop fan at idle / controls only 1 fan / Aopen: reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | SPCR-Forum | 22.08.04 |
AOpen S760GXm-SL | 754 | µATX | SiS 760GX | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
ASRock K8 Combo-Z | 754/939 | ATX | ULi M1689 | lowest C’n’Q voltage only 1.3V | planet3dnow.de | 30.03.05 |
Asrock K8S8X | 754 | ATX | SiS 755 | reliable with 2 DIMMs | hardtecs4u.de, planet3dnow.de | 27.07.04 |
Asrock K8Upgrade-760GX | 754 | µATX | SiS 760GX | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Asus K8N | 754 | ATX | nForce3 250 | fan control down to 4V | C’t | 30.03.05 |
Asus K8N-E Deluxe | 754 | ATX | nForce3 250GB | BIOS has no undervolting options / Qfan2 (not clear if able to stop fans) | hardwareluxx.de, Asus | 10.08.04 |
Asus K8N4-E Deluxe | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 4X | Asus | 30.03.05 | |
Asus K8S-MX | 754 | ATX | SiS 760GX | Asus | 30.03.05 | |
Asus K8V / K8V-X | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Asus | 30.03.05 | |
Asus K8V Deluxe | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | fan control able to stop fan at idle / controls only 1 fan / reliable with 2 DIMMs | C’t, planet3dnow.de, hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
Asus K8V Deluxe SE | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | SPCR-Forum | 30.03.05 | |
Asus K8V-MX | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Biostar K8NBP | 754 | other | nVidia nForce3 150 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Biostar K8NHA-M | 754 | µATX | nVidia nForce3 150 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Biostar K8NHA-M Grand | 754 | µATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | C’t | 30.03.05 | |
Biostar K8NHA-Pro | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 150 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Biostar K8VHA | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | C’t | 24.06.04 | |
Biostar K8VHA | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | C’t | 24.06.04 | |
Biostar K8VHA Pro | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Chaintech ZNF3-150 | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 150 | no BIOS switch, activated by default | hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
DFI K8M800-MLV | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M80 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
DFI K8T800Pro-ALF | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
DFI LANParty UT nF3 250Gb | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | hardwareluxx.de, SPCR-Forum | 30.03.05 | |
ECS 755-A2 | 754 | ATX | SiS 755 | reliable with 2 DIMMs | AMD, hardtecs4u.de | 27.07.04 |
ECS 755-M | 754 | µATX | SiS 755 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
ECS 760-M | 754 | µATX | SiS 760 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
ECS 760GX-M | 754 | µATX | SiS 760GX | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
ECS K8M800-M | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
ECS K8T800-M | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Epox EP-8HDA3+ | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | AMD, C’t, Epox | 24.06.04 | |
Epox EP-8HDA3I | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8HDA5+ | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8HDA5I | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8HDA5J | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8HDAI PRO | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8HMMI-A | 754 | ATX | VIA K8M800 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8KDA3+ | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250GB | reliable with 2 DIMMs | hardtecs4u.de:1,2, Epox | 24.06.04 |
Epox EP-8KDA3+ PRO | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250Gb | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8KDA3I | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8KDA3J | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250Gb | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8KDA7I | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-8NPAJ | 754 | ATX | nForce4 4X | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-9NDA3I | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
FIC K8M-800M | 754 | ATX | K8M800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Fujitsu-Siemens D1607 | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | fan control able to stop fan at idle | C’t | 24.06.04 |
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250 | reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | hardtecs4u.de | 30.03.05 |
Gigabyte GA-K8S760M | 754 | µATX | SiS760LV | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8S760M | 754 | µATX | SiS 760 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8VM800M | 754 | µATX | K8M800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8VM800M | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte K8NNXP | 754 | ATX | nForce3 150 | no BIOS switch: activated by default / reliable with 2 DIMMs | hardwareluxx.de, C’t | 24.06.04 |
Gigabyte K8NSNXP | 754 | ATX | nForce3 250 | no BIOS switch: activated by default / reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | hardwareluxx.de | 09.07.04 |
Gigabyte K8VNXP | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | no BIOS switch: activated by default | hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
Gigabyte K8VT800M | 754 | µATX | VIA K8T800 | no temperature protection! | AMD | 24.06.04 |
MSI K8M Neo-V | 754 | ATX | VIA K8M800 | SPCR-Forum, MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8MM-ILSR | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M800 | MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8N Neo series | 754 | ATX | nForce3 250GB | works with 2 memory sticks / fan control down to 5V | SPCR-Forum:1,2, MSI | 24.06.04 |
MSI K8N Neo3 | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce4-4X | MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8T Neo series | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | works with 2 memory sticks | C’t, tomshardware.de, SPCR-Forum, MSI | 24.06.04 |
MSI K8T Neo-V | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8TM-ILSR | 754 | µATX | VIA K8T800 | MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI MS-6741G | 754 | µATX | VIA K8M800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
MSI RS480M2-IL | 754 | ATX | ATI Radeon Xpress 200P | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
PC Chips W32 | 754 | ATX | SiS 755 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Shuttle AN50R | 754 | ATX | nForce3 150 | reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | hardtecs4u.de | 24.06.04 |
Shuttle AN51R | 754 | ATX | nForce3 250 | reliable C’n’Q only with one memory stick | hardwareluxx.de | 09.07.04 |
Shuttle FN85 | 754 | SFF | nVidia nForce3 250GB | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Shuttle FX83 (1.5) | 754 | other | K8M800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Soltek K890Pro-754 | 754 | µATX | VIA K8T890 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Soltek K8AN-RL | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 150 | no BIOS switch: activated by default / reliable with 2 DIMMs | hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR | 754 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250GB | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Soltek SL-K8AV2-RL | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Soltek SL-K8AV2-RL | 754 | ATX | VIA K8T800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Uneec MK8V 2.0 | 754 | other | VIA K8T800 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
WinFast 760GXK8MB | 754 | µATX | SiS 760GX | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
WinFast K8S755M | 754 | µATX | SiS 755 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
WinFast K8S760MG | 754 | µATX | SiS 760 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Socket-939 boards | ||||||
Abit AV8 | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | fan control down to ~60% | hardwareluxx.de, AMD, hardtecs4u.com | 24.06.04 |
Abit AN8 series | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 | Abit-usa | 31.03.05 | |
Abit AX8 series | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T890 | Abit-usa | 31.03.05 | |
ASRock K8 Combo-Z | 754/939 | ATX | ULi M1689 | lowest C’n’Q voltage only 1.3V | planet3dnow.de | 30.03.05 |
Asus A8N-E | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 Ultra | Asus | 30.03.05 | |
Asus A8N-SLI | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 SLI | Asus | 30.03.05 | |
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 SLI | AMD, hardtecs4u.de, hardwareluxx.de | 30.03.05 | |
Asus A8V Deluxe | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | fan control down to ~60% | hardwareluxx.de, AMD, Asus, hardtecs4u.com | 24.06.04 |
Asus A8V-E Deluxe | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T890 | AMD, Asus | 30.03.05 | |
DFI nF4 Ultra-D | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 Ultra | SPCR-Forum | 30.03.05 | |
ECS KV2 | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Epox EP-9NDA3+ | 939 | ATX | nForce3 Ultra | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-9NDA3+ | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 Ultra | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-9NDA3J | 939 | ATX | nForce3 Ultra | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-9NPA+ (SLI) | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 Ultra/SLI | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Epox EP-9NPAJ | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 | Epox | 30.03.05 | |
Foxconn NF4K8MC-ERS | 939 | µATX | nVidia nForce4 | SPCR-Forum | 02.04.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-9 | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 Ultra | SPCR-Forum | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 Ultra | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939 | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 Ultra | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP939 | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 250GB | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP939 | 939 | ATX | nForce3 Ultra | AMD | 24.06.04 | |
Gigabyte GA-K8NXP -9/-SLI | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 Ultra/SLI | no BIOS switch: activated by default | AMD, hardwareluxx.de:1,2, C’t | 30.03.05 |
Gigabyte GA-K8VNXP939 | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8N Neo2 series | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce3 (Ultra ) | fan control down to 5V | AMD, MSI, planet3dnow.de, hardwareluxx.de | 24.06.04 |
MSI K8N Neo4 series | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 (Ultra) | AMD, MSI | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8N SLI Platinum / K8N Diamond (MS-7100) | 939 | ATX | nVidia nForce4 SLI | AMD, MSI, C’t | 30.03.05 | |
MSI K8T Neo2 (MSI 6702E) | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | hardwareluxx.de, MSI, AMD | 28.07.04 | |
MSI RX480M2 (7093) | 939 | µATX | ATI Radeon Xpress 200P | AMD, SPCR-Forum, hardwareluxx.de | 30.03.05 | |
Shuttle FN95 | 939 | SFF | nVidia nForce3 Ultra | AMD, hardwareluxx.de | 30.03.05 | |
Soltek SL-K890Pro-939 | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T890 | SPCR-Forum | 04.04.05 | |
Soltek SL-B9D-FGR ( Qbic EQ3901-300P) | 939 | SFF | VIA K8T800 Pro | SPCR-Forum | 30.03.05 | |
Soltek SL-K8TPro-939 | 939 | ATX | VIA K8T800 Pro | AMD | 30.03.05 | |
WinFast 755FXK8AA | 939 | ATX | SiS 755 | AMD | 30.03.05 |