Underclocking?

GodsOtherHand · 06-17-2009, 12:19 PM

I got a AMD dual core processor, and a nVidia video card. Does someone know of a program i could use to easily underclock these? Preferably if you know something with present (like... has an option to turn down performance by x%, or lower frequency..), since i never tweaked my PC. Or a few words explaining what i should do if it's a little more complicated?

Phædrus2401 · 06-17-2009, 02:57 PM

You'll want to go in BIOS to underclock your CPU, and use Rivatuner (program) to underclock your graphics card. Usually the BIOS can be accessed by hitting tab/delete/F1/F12 (depending on your motherboard) when your motherboard logo flashes on the screen (you'll also see which key you need to hit then as well). Then you can usually find a tab that will allow you to change you "FSB Frequency". Dropping it lower will underclock your CPU. I suggest going down by multiples of 10, but don't go under two thirds of what you're currently at.

Unfortunately, if you have a pre-built PC (meaning, you got it at a store) your BIOS will usually be locked and you will not be able to adjust your hardware settings (though you can still use Rivatuner to adjust your GPU).

Is there any particular reason you want to underclock? Are you sure you're not thinking of overclocking? Underclocking will make your computer slower, but also cooler and (sometimes) more stable.

GodsOtherHand · 06-18-2009, 12:57 AM

My computer is pre-built.. Well i want to underclock it because i usually just use it for messenger, music, and surfing the web. It makes a lot of noise, it's summer so a cooler PC won't hurt either. And the electricity bill would be lower, since my pc is on more than 15h every day..
Any way to lower the processor (and maybe the hdd too?) from windows?
Anyway, i got RivaTuner and..no idea how to use it, and it also says that my video driver is not supported ( nVidia 6150SE nForce 430 )..

GodsOtherHand · 06-18-2009, 04:40 AM

Sorry for double posting .. well i gone into bios, and yep, some features are locked. All that i could do was to enable the qool'n'quiet feature, and to set the frequency for the memory(set it to 400mhz for now). i found something about the "fsb frequency", it says "14x", but i can't change in anywhere

Phædrus2401 · 06-18-2009, 09:56 AM

Yeah, sorry, but you can't underclock your CPU. As for your graphics card, it's not really a graphics card. It's an "integrated video chipset", which means it's built straight into your motherboard. There's no way to underclock it either.

Is your computer really all that noisy? If there's a loud buzzing sound (not just normal fan or hard disk noise) then it could be a fan that's gone bad, in which case you need to replace it (don't worry, it's usually only about $5-$10 for a case fan, maybe $15-$20 for a CPU heatsink). Worst case, the buzzing might be your power supply's fan gone bad, which could be expensive. But first, is there a buzzing? Or does it just "whir" when you turn it on?

GodsOtherHand · 06-18-2009, 11:39 AM

No, nothing is broken, it sounds like a normal PC. I just wanted to make it more silent. Anyawyz, thx for the help

Phædrus2401 · 06-18-2009, 02:26 PM

No problem. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

**greenbrucelee** · 06-19-2009, 12:50 AM

Why not just turn the fans down?

You computer really shouldn't be that noisey, my computer has 7 fans running and I can live with that and I have them all on high except the 200mm one at the top which is on medium.

If your is louder than mine then you have a problem somewhere, try oiling you fans on the bearings and clearing out any dust with a can of compressed air. It could be that you have dust in your cpu heatsink which will make than fans work harder and go faster which makes them louder.

GodsOtherHand · 06-19-2009, 01:33 AM

Can't really open up the PC, because i will loose my warranty.. Don't think it's that dusty inside, it's only a couple of months old.
As I said, it's not noisy in the sense that it make's more noise than a normal PC, i just wanted it to be less noisy.
And..turn the fan's down? how do i do that? All i found in my bios was a "smart fan" option, that had:
-disable
-40C
-45C and so on..

**greenbrucelee** · 06-19-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodsOtherHand

Can't really open up the PC, because i will loose my warranty.. Don't think it's that dusty inside, it's only a couple of months old.
As I said, it's not noisy in the sense that it make's more noise than a normal PC, i just wanted it to be less noisy.
And..turn the fan's down? how do i do that? All i found in my bios was a "smart fan" option, that had:
-disable
-40C
-45C and so on..

Read the manual for the computer it should say but my guess is on the smart fan control the high the temp the slower the fans will be working. Or see if your fans have a controller but you said you don't want to open it up so you can't do that.

As for dust, I have seen computers knackered within a week because of dust.

As for warranty they don't really count for much as it is they are a con to make you pay more money.

06-17-2009, 12:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
GodsOtherHand Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Windows XP SP3	Underclocking? I got a AMD dual core processor, and a nVidia video card. Does someone know of a program i could use to easily underclock these? Preferably if you know something with present (like... has an option to turn down performance by x%, or lower frequency..), since i never tweaked my PC. Or a few words explaining what i should do if it's a little more complicated?

06-17-2009, 02:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,337 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Underclocking? You'll want to go in BIOS to underclock your CPU, and use Rivatuner (program) to underclock your graphics card. Usually the BIOS can be accessed by hitting tab/delete/F1/F12 (depending on your motherboard) when your motherboard logo flashes on the screen (you'll also see which key you need to hit then as well). Then you can usually find a tab that will allow you to change you "FSB Frequency". Dropping it lower will underclock your CPU. I suggest going down by multiples of 10, but don't go under two thirds of what you're currently at. Unfortunately, if you have a pre-built PC (meaning, you got it at a store) your BIOS will usually be locked and you will not be able to adjust your hardware settings (though you can still use Rivatuner to adjust your GPU). Is there any particular reason you want to underclock? Are you sure you're not thinking of overclocking? Underclocking will make your computer slower, but also cooler and (sometimes) more stable.

06-18-2009, 12:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
GodsOtherHand Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Underclocking? My computer is pre-built.. Well i want to underclock it because i usually just use it for messenger, music, and surfing the web. It makes a lot of noise, it's summer so a cooler PC won't hurt either. And the electricity bill would be lower, since my pc is on more than 15h every day.. Any way to lower the processor (and maybe the hdd too?) from windows? Anyway, i got RivaTuner and..no idea how to use it, and it also says that my video driver is not supported ( nVidia 6150SE nForce 430 ).. Last edited by GodsOtherHand; 06-18-2009 at 01:02 AM.

06-18-2009, 04:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
GodsOtherHand Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Underclocking? Sorry for double posting .. well i gone into bios, and yep, some features are locked. All that i could do was to enable the qool'n'quiet feature, and to set the frequency for the memory(set it to 400mhz for now). i found something about the "fsb frequency", it says "14x", but i can't change in anywhere

06-18-2009, 09:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,337 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Underclocking? Yeah, sorry, but you can't underclock your CPU. As for your graphics card, it's not really a graphics card. It's an "integrated video chipset", which means it's built straight into your motherboard. There's no way to underclock it either. Is your computer really all that noisy? If there's a loud buzzing sound (not just normal fan or hard disk noise) then it could be a fan that's gone bad, in which case you need to replace it (don't worry, it's usually only about $5-$10 for a case fan, maybe $15-$20 for a CPU heatsink). Worst case, the buzzing might be your power supply's fan gone bad, which could be expensive. But first, is there a buzzing? Or does it just "whir" when you turn it on? Last edited by Phædrus2401; 06-18-2009 at 09:57 AM.

06-18-2009, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
GodsOtherHand Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Underclocking? No, nothing is broken, it sounds like a normal PC. I just wanted to make it more silent. Anyawyz, thx for the help

06-18-2009, 02:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,337 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Underclocking? No problem. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

06-19-2009, 12:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,677 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Underclocking? Why not just turn the fans down? You computer really shouldn't be that noisey, my computer has 7 fans running and I can live with that and I have them all on high except the 200mm one at the top which is on medium. If your is louder than mine then you have a problem somewhere, try oiling you fans on the bearings and clearing out any dust with a can of compressed air. It could be that you have dust in your cpu heatsink which will make than fans work harder and go faster which makes them louder. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

06-19-2009, 01:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
GodsOtherHand Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Underclocking? Can't really open up the PC, because i will loose my warranty.. Don't think it's that dusty inside, it's only a couple of months old. As I said, it's not noisy in the sense that it make's more noise than a normal PC, i just wanted it to be less noisy. And..turn the fan's down? how do i do that? All i found in my bios was a "smart fan" option, that had: -disable -40C -45C and so on..