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You might want to learn how to undervolt a GPU, regardless of whether you have one of the best graphics cards that are currently available or an older model that is in need of a refresh. It is able to decrease the amount of power that is required, lower the temperature and the amount of noise, and in some instances, even improve performance.
This post will cover the topic of undervolting your graphics processing unit (GPU) as well as whether or not it is beneficial to do so. In the event that you discover that your graphics card is excessively loud and excessively hot while playing games with a heavy load, and the settings are not as you had anticipated, then GPU undervolting may be of assistance to you. There is a possibility that you will feel the need to undervolt the GPU, despite the fact that the factory settings are generally satisfactory.
For those individuals who are interested in undervolting their GPU, the instructions and an explanation that is provided here will prove to be of great assistance. Understanding the fundamentals of undervolting is necessary, but once you have a firm grasp on the process, it can be accomplished in a few simple steps. Continue reading to have a complete understanding of how to undervolt a GPU.
What Is Undervolting?
Undervolting, in contrast to overclocking, is a process that makes it possible to decrease the amount of voltage that the graphics processing unit (GPU) is consuming without lowering the clock speeds that it is operating at. Your graphics processing unit (GPU) is being forced to operate at the same high frequencies, but you are reducing the voltage it is operating at, which makes it a more power-efficient component.
Installing the most recent version of MSI Afterburner is required in order to make adjustments to the voltage and frequency settings of your Nvidia or AMD graphics processing unit (GPU). It is recommended that you download a free benchmarking tool, such as Unigine Superposition, in order to evaluate the stability of the undervolt.
How to undervolt a GPU
- Download the software for undervolting.
- Open the software and navigate to the curve editor or voltage-frequency (V/F) curve section.
- Make small changes then Keep the clock speed constant and decrease the voltage by 10-15 mV at a time.
- Check for stability After each voltage change, conduct a stress test for a few minutes. Monitor crash rates, temperatures, and clock speeds.
- Slow down the clock, If stability is maintained, gradually increase the clock speed while keeping the voltage low. This may improve performance without increasing power usage.
- Repeat and optimize to Continue making small adjustments to the voltage and clock speed, testing for stability and performance after each change.
- Find the sweet spot, Determine the best undervolt based on your GPU and its silicon quality. Aim for the most stable clock speed with the lowest voltage for optimal performance.
Benefits of Undervolting a GPU
- Less Power Use: When you undervolt, you lower the voltage that goes to the GPU. This makes it use less power. This is helpful for people who want to use less energy or make their laptop batteries last longer.
- Less Heat: The GPU makes less heat when it’s working because it has less voltage. This can help bring down the overall temperature of the system, which could make it more stable and last longer. In addition, it helps keep the computer room quieter and cooler.
- Better Stability: In some situations, undervolting can make things more stable. By figuring out the best voltage settings, users may have fewer crashes, system freezes, and graphics problems, which makes the system more reliable overall.
- Longer Lifespan of Hardware: Less heat and power stress on the GPU parts may help the hardware last longer. In general, lower temperatures mean less damage to electronic parts, which could make the GPU last longer.
- Customised Performance: Undervolting lets users find the best balance between performance, power use, and heat production. This gives people the freedom to tweak their GPU settings to suit their needs, whether they’re gaming, making content, or doing other tasks that use a lot of GPU power.
- Quieter Operation: When a system makes less heat, the fans usually run at lower speeds, which makes the system quieter. This is especially helpful for people who like their computers to be quiet, like people who use laptops or HTPCs (Home Theatre PCs).
Tools and Software for GPU Undervolting
| Tool/Software | Description | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Afterburner | Popular overclocking tool with undervolting | NVIDIA and AMD GPUs |
| EVGA Precision X1 | Precision overclocking and undervolting | NVIDIA GPUs |
| AMD Wattman | AMD’s built-in utility for Radeon GPUs | AMD Radeon GPUs |
| NVIDIA Inspector | In-depth monitoring and tweaking | NVIDIA GPUs |
| GPU-Z | GPU information and monitoring | NVIDIA and AMD GPUs |
| ThrottleStop | CPU and GPU undervolting for laptops | Intel CPUs with integrated graphics |
| RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) | Works in conjunction with MSI Afterburner | NVIDIA and AMD GPUs |
Conclusion
Like a person’s muscles, your graphics card does all the work to make sure that your PC has great graphics and great games. However, those heavy workloads make your graphics cards hotter and use more power. Undervolting is something that many gamers do all the time because high-end GPUs use a lot of power and don’t care about temperatures, fan noise, or coil whine. In older GPU generations, overclocking was a common step. These days, we would say that after installing your GPU drivers, you should look into undervolting it to get the most out of it.
Questions and Answers
In and of itself, undervolting a graphics processing unit (GPU) will not reduce its performance; however, it may reduce its stability. Undervolting may result in graphical artifacting, a blue screen of death (BSOD), or a failure to boot the computer. By underclocking your graphics processing unit (GPU), you would reduce its maximum potential performance while allowing it to maintain stability at lower voltages.
GPUs have a tendency to run hot, particularly when they are doing a lot of work, and excessive heat can shorten their lifespan. Undervolting your graphics processing unit (GPU) lowers the amount of thermal stress that it is subjected to. Not only does this increase its longevity, but it also has the potential to result in a more quiet operation because the cooling fans will not have to work as hard.
The process of overclocking is risk-free; however, any modifications you make are done at your own discretion and risk. Before you begin, make sure to save any work you’ve done and close any other applications. This takes about half an hour, and in some cases even less, and it is compatible with almost all graphics processing units (GPUs), including graphics cards that are not manufactured by MSI.
There will be no impact on performance if a GPU is undervolted. In point of fact, you will still be able to achieve the same clock speeds, but the amount of heat generated will be lower, the fans will be quieter, and the overall power consumption will be lower. This article is ideal for you if you are looking for straightforward methods to improve the energy efficiency of your gaming computer.