Underclocking Athlon64 X2 6000+ (desktop board)

break19

New Member
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Athlon 64 X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI
    Memory
    2048MB 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard Radeon 3200HD - set to 256M shared (yuck. I know)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    too embarrased to say
    Screen Resolution
    1184x864
    Hard Drives
    500GB sata WD Caviar
    PSU
    Thermaltake 550W
    Case
    Some generic thing
    Cooling
    Pretty much stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-11
    Mouse
    TrackMan Wheel Wireless
    Internet Speed
    10M Cable
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
    CPU
    Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
    Memory
    4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0)
    Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2
    Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II
    Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0
    WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
    PSU
    XFX Pro Series 850W Semi-Modular
    Case
    Gigabyte IF233
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm Front Inlet 1 x 120mm Rear Exhaust
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 (USB)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 for Business (USB)
    Internet Speed
    NetGear DG834Gv3 ADSL Modem/Router (Ethernet) ~4.0 Mb/s (O2)
    Other Info
    Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 SATA Bluray
    Lexmark S305 Printer/Scanner/Copier (USB)
    WEI Score: 8.1/8.1/8.5/8.5/8.25
    Asus Eee PC 1011PX Netbook (Windows 7 x86 Starter)
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Athlon 64 X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI
    Memory
    2048MB 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard Radeon 3200HD - set to 256M shared (yuck. I know)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    too embarrased to say
    Screen Resolution
    1184x864
    Hard Drives
    500GB sata WD Caviar
    PSU
    Thermaltake 550W
    Case
    Some generic thing
    Cooling
    Pretty much stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-11
    Mouse
    TrackMan Wheel Wireless
    Internet Speed
    10M Cable
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
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Athlon 64 X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI
    Memory
    2048MB 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard Radeon 3200HD - set to 256M shared (yuck. I know)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    too embarrased to say
    Screen Resolution
    1184x864
    Hard Drives
    500GB sata WD Caviar
    PSU
    Thermaltake 550W
    Case
    Some generic thing
    Cooling
    Pretty much stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-11
    Mouse
    TrackMan Wheel Wireless
    Internet Speed
    10M Cable
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
^ 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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Athlon 64 X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI
    Memory
    2048MB 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard Radeon 3200HD - set to 256M shared (yuck. I know)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    too embarrased to say
    Screen Resolution
    1184x864
    Hard Drives
    500GB sata WD Caviar
    PSU
    Thermaltake 550W
    Case
    Some generic thing
    Cooling
    Pretty much stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-11
    Mouse
    TrackMan Wheel Wireless
    Internet Speed
    10M Cable
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