Underclocking Athlon64 X2 6000+ (desktop board)

[break19]

So, I "upgraded" from 32bit XP, to Vista x64. Now, my system is plagued with a mainboard that auto-throttles when its chipset hits 45C temps. As a result, until I can figure out how to get a little more cooling into it, I've temporarily underclocked my CPU to 2600mhz(x2) from 3000mhz.

Or, at least, I -was- doing that, before Vista SP1.

Now, no matter what I set, or how I set it, it seems to get reset to 100%

If I use Vista's own power scheme settings, I can make it run at 85% max 5% min, and it saves, goes a while, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, then I notice the system is auto-throttling again. I check, and sure enough, it's set back to 100% max, 100%min.

If I use AMD OverDrive, the same thing happens.. I set to 13x multiplier, and drop the voltage a bit. 10-15 minutes later, It shows my "Desired Settings" still, and they have to be re-applied.

What the hell is changing my settings?

[Dwarf]

What motherboard are you using? Auto-throttling of processor speed due to temperature is usually controlled by your BIOS.

A bit more information about your system might also help - what is your present cooling arrangement?

[break19]

ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI board, can't disable the auto-throttling, already checked on that before ever deciding to underclock it.

As far as cooling goes:

Case has a "tunnel" on the side facing the processor, I have a stock heatsink/fan on the cpu.

I also have two 60mm case fans, both blowing -out- to draw more air in through the "tunnel" and over the CPU and chipset heatsinks.

The Power supply is a thermaltake 550W TR2 RX.. It draws air in..

The suction over the opening on the side of the case is powerful enough to hold a 8.5x11 piece of paper if I cover it.. So there's plenty of air moving around. Just, maybe, not enough.

[break19]

Now it gets weird. New information: It seems, that when I'm not running a full-screen, Direct3D app (game, for instance) then Vista obeys my "95% max processor speed" setting, in my modified "Balanced" power plan..

When I play any fullscreen game, it changes both the minimum, and maximum cpu speeds to 100%, until I quit the game, then it sets it back to what I chose..

So, it definitely appears this behavior is by design, and not a bug.

The fix I am doing right now, is simply playing my games in "windowed" mode, however, tomorrow I intend to replace one of my 60mm case fans with a 120mm variable speed fan, and place some thermal grease between the northbridge chipset and it's heatsink...

break19

[stoneys-nutz]

Hello break19,
What Bios do you have ?.
Asus are pretty good at updating a Bios and keeping it a secret.
Have you been to their forum for your board ?.
It is filled with issues and fixes for problems like yours. (link below).

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Forum-

The latest Bios is 1107.
If you do update the Bios, do it in the Bios itself, (use the EZ Flash) not with the Windows software, it's to unreliable.
Are all your other drivers are up to date ?.
Hope this helps, good luck and post your results.

[break19]

^ Pretty much already done all that. And from what I read, it's a pretty common issue with this particular board. So, pretty much the only way I will solve this issue, is either by more cooling, or keeping the system underclocked, or, simply getting a new mainboard.