- April 7/05 - Updated by Joachim Kluge with recent info from
the SPCR-Forum.
- Nov 15/04 - Updated by Joachim Kluge with recent
info from the SPCR-Forum. Intel P4-775 socket category added, AMD-K8 boards
divided into different socket groups
- June 25/04 - Added links and comments on Cool 'n' Quiet
Athlon 64 Motherboards with information compiled by Joachim Kluge.
- June 10/04 - Update with recent info from the SPCR Forum,
painstakingly compiled by Joachim Kluge (thank you!); info
on 8rdaVcore added
- July 22/03 - Long overview update compiling info from the
undervoltable
motherboards thread in the SPCR Forum
- Mar 17/03 - AOpen MX4GR removed from list; apologies for anyone
misled by the erroneous listing.
- Mar 7/03 - More models added, along with chipset info, thanks
to the research of Andrew Hon
- Feb 7/03 - More models added
- Jan 27/03 - More models added
- Jan 26/03 - Several models added
- January 25/03 - First published
Even though this motherboard list is in the Recommended Components section, it is not really a list of "recommended" motherboards. It lists motherboards that allow the CPU voltage to be set lower than the default value by a reasonably significant degree -- an arbitrary 0.2V at least.
So why is this important? For silent computing, as this linked article explains, undervolting is a powerful and useful way to drop CPU heat dissipation. Many CPUs run fine with up to 0.2V at stock speed, with no instability. Combined with a bit of judicious underclocking, it is possible to drop CPU heat output by 20%, 30% or even more while suffering no or little performance drop. The reduced heat then allows the CPU (and the system) to be sufficiently cooled with lower airflow-- slower, quieter, fewer fans.
Motherboards are among the most widely reviewed PC components on hardware websites. Most reviews focus on performance, features and overclockability. While overvolting capability is routinely discussed, undervolting hardly ever is. So this list is identifies motherboards that give you the option of undervolting the CPU. This information is simply not readily availabe in any one place elsewhere. There are enough of them, we believe, that within this list there will be a great variety of brands, features, chipsets and prices to choose from.
The days of fiddling around with tiny jumpers to set CPU voltage are long gone. In recent years, the Vcore adjustment has moved into the BIOS alongside CPU frequency (clock speed) control and is accessed amost exclusively via the BIOS software, as shown above.
This page lists motherboards known to allow undervolting. Almost invariably, undervoltable motherboards also allow over- and under-clocking flexibility. No claim or assessment is made of the boards' quality or performance in any other aspect.
Much thanks to John Coyle for his generous time in researching this topic by poring through motherboard specifications and manuals. (John is an established contributor to SPCR; you may have read his article, Fanless (or Not) with TKPower 300 & VIA C3.)
Help Us with the Motherboards List!
This is a short starting list that will be expanded over time. How quickly this happens depends on how much help we get. You can help us a great deal.
The simple fact is that Vcore adjustments are usually not covered in specifications, and often, not even in manuals. In many cases, the only way to know for sure is to actually go into the BIOS of the motherboard and check the Vcore range available in the CPU frequency/voltage setup menu. Each and every one of you has at least one motherboard, the one in your computer. Most of you have two-- one at home and one at work. Just do a quick check on the BIOS CPU voltage adjustment range of your own computers and report on any motherboard that provides at least a -0.2V from default Vcore setting.
Please submit the information to this thread in the SPCR Forums. We will periodically collect the info and add it to the list below. With everyone's cooperation, we will soon have a large and useful list of undervolt friendly motherboards. If the list gets big enough, we may even divide it up into handy CPU and/or chipset categories.
As the lifecycle of PC products accelerates, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up to date. Some vendors say many motherboard models don't last even 3-4 months, what with frequent new chipset releases and upgrades by motherboard makers. This is why a Discontinued Motherboard list has also been created. It will also be helpful if you buy second hand or old stock at discounts or simply are running a board more than a few months old!
Please lend us a hand by letting us know when a particular model needs to be moved into the discontinued list.
NOTE: AOpen appears to have a very undervoltable line of boards, but not all are. http://club.aopen.com.tw/pss/mbsearch/default_advanced.aspx, an AOpen feature search engine page, lists 72 motherboards which allow for cpu undervolting (as of March 17, 2003).
Vcore is the range in volts of the CPU core voltage adjustment on the motherboard.
Date is the date of the entry.
8rdaVcore is a free software utility for some socket-A boards that allows sophisticated manipulation of Vcore, clock speed and other parameters within Windows. Its compelling feature is automatic up/down adjusments of clock/volt based on CPU load. A link to download this software is on the main menu (on the left of this page) under Web Links & Downloads. There are several threads in the SPCR Forums about this topic. The most comprehensive is probably 8rdavcore/nf7vore: Software controlled undervolting!
| Motherboard (current) |
CPU
|
Chipset
|
Vcore
|
Notes
|
Date
|
|
Intel P4-478 socket
|
| Albatron PX865PE Pro
II |
478 |
Intel i865PE |
0.85 - 1.6 |
- |
22.07.03 |
| Aopen AX4SPE-Max |
478 |
Intel i865PE |
1.1 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte 8S655TX
Ultra |
478 |
SIS 655TX |
0.8 - 1.6 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000-L |
478 |
Intel i865PE |
< 1V |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Gigabyte GA-8KNXP |
478 |
Intel i875P |
0.84-1.60 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| MSI P8T Neo |
478 |
VIA PT800 |
1.35 - 1.75 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle FB61 |
478 |
Intel i865G |
1.1-2.0 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle XPC ST61G4 |
478 |
ATi IGP9100 |
0.9 |
- |
22.07.04 |
| Shuttle XPC ST62K |
478 |
ATi IGP9100 |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Soltek - all |
478 |
- |
0.8/1.1 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Soltek SL-PT880Pro-FGR |
478 |
VIA PT800 |
0.84 - 1.80 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Intel P4-775 (socket T) |
| Albatron Mars PX915G |
775 |
Intel i915G |
0.85 - 1.6 |
- |
30.08.04 |
| Albatron Mars PX915G
Pro |
775 |
Intel i915G |
0.85 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Albatron PX915P
Pro |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| DFI LANParty UT
915P-T12 |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.83 - 1.95 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte 8ANXP-D |
775 |
Intel i925X |
0.85 - 1.6 |
- |
30.08.04 |
| Gigabyte 8ANXP-D |
775 |
Intel i925X |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte 8GNXP Duo |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte 8I915P
Duo Pro |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.85 - 1.6 |
- |
30.08.04 |
| Jetway 915 PDBG |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Shuttle SB95PV2 |
775 |
Intel i925XE |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Soltek SL-865Pro-775 |
775 |
Intel i865PE |
0.85 - 1.8 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR |
775 |
Intel i915P |
0.83 - 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
|
AMD Athlon 64-754 socket
|
| Abit KV8-Max3 |
754 |
VIA K8T800 |
0.8 - 1.9 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Albatron K8X800
Pro II |
754 |
VIA K8T800 |
0.8 - 1.9 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Aopen AK86-L |
754 |
VIA K8T800 |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Aopen AK89 Max |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| ASRock K8 Combo-Z |
754/939 |
ULi M1689 |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Asus K8N-E |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 250GB |
0.85 -1.75 |
- |
16.09.04 |
| Asus K8N-E Deluxe |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 250GB |
0.8 -1.75 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| DFI LanParty UT
nF3 250Gb |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 250GB |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
16.09.04 |
| Gigabyte GA-K8NS
Pro |
754 |
NVIDIA nForce3 250 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte K8NNXP |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Gigabyte K8NSNXP |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 250 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
09.07.04 |
| Gigabyte K8VNXP
|
754 |
VIA K8T800 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Jetway S775MAX |
754 |
SiS775 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle AN50R |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle AN51R |
754 |
nVidia nForce3 250 |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
08.07.04 |
| Soltek - all |
754 |
|
0.8 ~ 1.6 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Soyo K8USA Dragon
Ultra standard/"Black Label" |
754 |
AMD 8151 (ALI M1687) |
0.775 - 1.7 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| AMD Athlon 64-939/940 socket |
| ASRock K8 Combo-Z |
754/939 |
ULi M1689 |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 SLI |
0.8 - 1.65 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Asus A8V Deluxe |
939 |
VIA K8T800 Pro |
0.8 - 1.8 |
- |
27.06.04 |
| Asus SK8V |
940 |
VIA K8T800 |
0.8 - 1.65 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| DFI LANParty nF4
SLI-DR/Ultra-D |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 SLI/Ultra |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| ECS KV2 Extreme |
939 |
VIA K8T800 Pro |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
20.07.04 |
| Foxconn WinFast
NF4UK8AA-8EKRS |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 Ultra |
1.3 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte K8NXP -9/-SLI |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 Ultra/SLI |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 SLI |
0.8 - 1.75 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| MSI K8N Neo4/SLI
Platinum |
939 |
nVidia nForce4 SLI |
0.8 - 1.55 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Shuttle FN95 |
939 |
nVidia nForce3 Ultra |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Shuttle XPC SN95G5 |
939 |
nVidia nForce3 250GB |
0.8 - 1.7 |
- |
30.07.04 |
|
AMD Socket A
|
| Abit AN7 |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.4 - 2.3 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Abit KD7 (several
models) |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.1 - 1.85 |
- |
26.01.03 |
| ABIT KV7 |
Socket-A |
VIA KT600 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| Abit NF7 series |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 2.3 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Abit NF7S |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 1.85 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| Albatron KX18D |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| AOpen AK77-8XN |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.1-1.85 |
SilentTek |
25.01.03 |
| AOpen AK79D-400Max |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
1.1-1.85 |
SilentTek |
22.07.03 |
| AOpen AK79D-400VN |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
unknown |
SilentTek, 8rdaVcore |
22.07.03 |
| AOpen AK79G-1394 |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1-1.85 |
SilentTek |
20.02.03 |
| Asus A7V8X |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| Biostar M7NCG-400 |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.3 - 2.0 |
µATX - rev. v7.1 not
working |
27.06.04 |
| Chaintech 7NJL1 |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
unknown |
8rdaVcore |
07.03.03 |
| Chaintech 7NJS |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.4-2.1 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| DFI LANParty KT400A |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400A |
1.1 - 2.0 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| DFI LANParty NFII
Ultra |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
1.1-2.0 |
- |
22.07.03 |
| DFI LanParty nForce2
Ultra Infinity |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 1.8 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| ECS K7S6A |
Socket-A |
SiS745 |
1.1-1.85 |
- |
22.07.03 |
| Epox 8K9A2+ |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.4-2.1 |
- |
22.07.03 |
| EPOX 8K9A9I |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| Epox 8KRAI |
Socket-A |
VIA KT600 |
1.4-2.1 |
- |
30.03.05 |
| Epox 8RDA+ |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.4-2.2 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| Epox 8RDA3(+) |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 2.2 |
8rdaVcore |
10.06.04 |
| Gigabyte 7NNXP |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 2.0 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Gigabyte GA7N400 |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
1.1-1.85 |
- |
22.07.03 |
| Gigabyte GA7N400
Pro |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
unknown |
8rdaVcore |
30.03.05 |
| Jetway N2PA |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
unknown |
8rdaVcore |
30.03.05 |
| Leadtek K7NCR18D
(Pro / Pro II) |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1-2.0 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| MSI K7N2 Delta L |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
unknown |
8rdaVcore |
30.03.05 |
| MSI K7N2G-ILSR |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.55-1.8 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| MSI KT4 Ultra |
Socket-A |
VIA KT400 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| MSI KT6V |
Socket-A |
VIA KT600 |
1.35 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle AN35N (ultra) |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 1.85 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| Shuttle AN35N-400 |
Socket-A |
nVidia nForce2 |
1.1 - 1.85 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle XPC SK43G |
Socket-A |
VIA KM400 |
1.1 |
- |
10.06.04 |
| Shuttle XPC SN45G |
Socket-A |
nForce2 Ultra400 |
1.1 |
- |
06.08.04 |
| Soltek - all "recent" |
Socket-A |
- |
1.0 ~ 2.0 |
- |
07.03.03 |
| Soltek MicroATX
SL-75MIV2-L |
Socket-A |
VIA KM400 |
1.1 |
µATX |
06.08.04 |
| Discontinued
boards |
CPU
|
Chipset
|
Vcore
|
Notes
|
Date
|
| ABIT ST6 |
P3/Tual
|
Intel 815EP
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| Soyo SY-TISU |
P3/Tual
|
Intel i815EP
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| Abit IT7-MAX2 Rev
2.0 |
P4-478
|
Intel i845PE
|
1.1-1.8
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| Albatron 845GE/PE |
P4-478
|
Intel i845GE/PE
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
26.01.03
|
| AOpen AX4B-533 (all
5 models) |
P4-478
|
Intel i845E
|
1.1-1.85
|
SilentTek; tube audio out
|
25.01.03
|
| AOpen AX4GE Max |
P4-478
|
Intel i845GE
|
1.1-1.95
|
SilentTek
|
25.01.03
|
| AOpen AX4GPRO |
P4-478
|
Intel i845G
|
1.1-1.85
|
SilentTek
|
25.01.03
|
| AOpen AX4R Plus |
P4-478
|
Intel E7205
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
07.02.03
|
| ECS Elitegroup P4VXAD+ |
P4-478
|
VIA P4X333
|
1.1-1.85
|
w/jumpers
|
07.03.03
|
| Gigabyte G8PE667
Ultra |
P4-478
|
Intel i845PE
|
1.1-1.85
|
in Windows
|
07.02.03
|
| Gigabyte GA-81RXP |
P4-478
|
Intel 845D
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| Gigabyte GA-8PE800 |
P4-478
|
Intel i845PE
|
0.825-1.6
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| Soyo SY-P4I-845PE
/ LITE |
P4-478
|
Intel i845PE
|
1.475-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| VIA P4PA |
P4-478
|
VIA P4X266A
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| VIA P4PB (several
models) |
P4-478
|
VIA P4X400
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| ABIT BH6 |
Slot 1
|
Intel BX
|
1.35-1.55
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| MSI BX-Master |
Slot 1
|
Intel BX
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| Asus A7M266-D |
Dual Socket-A
|
AMD 768
|
unknown
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| ABIT KD7 |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT400
|
1.1-2.325
|
-
|
27.01.03
|
| ABIT KG7 (several
models) |
Socket-A
|
AMD 760
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
26.01.03
|
| Abit KR7A/R |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT266A
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
07.03.03
|
| ABIT KT7/A/AR |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT133
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| ABit KX7-333 |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.1-1.80
|
-
|
22.07.03
|
| Aopen AK73 Pro |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT133
|
1.1-1.8
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| AOpen AK77-333 |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
25.01.03
|
| ASUS A7V333 (all
models) |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.1-1.85
|
w/jumpers
|
26.01.03
|
| Epox 8k5A2+ |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.45-1.85
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| Epox 8KHA/L/+ |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT266
|
1.475-1.85
|
w/jumpers
|
07.02.03
|
| Gigabyte GA-7DXP |
Socket-A
|
AMD 761
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
10.06.04
|
| Iwill KK266/R |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT133A
|
1.125-1.85
|
-
|
07.02.03
|
| iWill XP333/R |
Socket-A
|
ALi M1647
|
1.2-1.85
|
-
|
26.01.03
|
| Soltek SL75DRV5
(3 models) |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.2-1.85
|
-
|
27.01.03
|
| Soyo SY-KT333 Dragon+ |
Socket-A
|
VIA KT333
|
1.1-1.85
|
-
|
07.03.03
|
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