undervolting an am3 cpu on am2 (non +) motherboard

vortex222 · Post by **vortex222** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:47 pm

I am contemplating installing a newer AthlonII cpu on my HTPC's am2 motherboard. It is confermed that the CPU will work. However my question is about undervolting it.

I know they normaly use seperate voltage planes on AM2+ and AM3 for the cores and IMC+L3, Do old AM2 motherboards undervolt the IMC the same rate as the rest of the cores? I have heard the IMC is not able to undervolt as low as the cpus, Is this going to be a huge limit as to how far i can underclock and undervolt the CPU?

Currently my CPU is a 2ghz 65nm X2 running at ~1.025v, it can run at .9v at 1.6 if i choose to go lower (dont really find the higher speed an issue for heat tho). My hope is to put an AthlonII 250 on this motherboard for a bit of extra performance, and i have heard of some getting as low as .70v and even hitting over 2ghz at ~.8v

loimlo · Post by **loimlo** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:40 am

It should be a limiting factor to undervolt CPU while trying to maintain uncore stability on AM2 boards. At least, that what I found on 740G and 6100/7025 boards. But how far does it impact CPU undervolt ability remains to be explored by yourself as CPU out-of-spec potential is case-by-case.

As for your lowest voltage requirement, it's the same as overclocking -- your mileage may vary depending on your luck. Some are lucky, some are unfortunate.

greenfrank · Post by **greenfrank** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:22 am

with k10stat my athlon II x2 240 has a minimum stable voltage of 0.6875v

vortex222 · Post by **vortex222** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:51 am

greenfrank wrote:with k10stat my athlon II x2 240 has a minimum stable voltage of 0.6875v

that is impressive! how low are you able to get your uncore to?