Why Vdroop is a good thing...

[Amuro]

For those that hate Vdroop, check this out:

It's part of an article on overclocking the QX9650, but it explains why Vdroop is an important design feature.

If you've ever overclocked a system, chances are that at some point or another you've had opportunity to become upset with your Vdroop "problem." Some users, confused as to why their system refuses to exactly match actual processor supply voltage to the value specified in BIOS, are quick to blame the quality their motherboard; still others find fault with the difference noted between their board's idle and full-load processor supply voltages. Actually, load line droop (Vdroop) is an inherent part of any Intel power delivery design specification and serves an important role in maintaining system stability. In most cases, comments regarding unacceptable power delivery performance are completely unfounded. To make matters worse, unjustified negative consumer perception surrounding this often misunderstood design feature eventually forced a few motherboard manufacturers to respond to enthusiasts' demands for action by adding an option in their BIOS that effectively disables this important function.

Based on the currently running tasks, processor load can vary significantly during system operation. ....

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3184&p=5

[Revs]

Interesting. I'll have a good read of that tonight. Cheers Amuro :)

I've read something before that suggested vDroop was a good thing, but it didn't back it up with a reason.

[911medic]

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1505147&postcount=18

[Amuro]

Thanks for the link.

And yeah, don't mess with Vdroop. Doing the pencil mod or enabling Load Line Calibration and setting the voltage in BIOS lower, say from 1.412 to 1.345, isn't really going to help you much. Right when the load starts, the voltage will still dip to the same level as before, and then stabilize at just below the new now lower BIOS vcore of 1.345V, and when going from load to idle, it will shoot back up to your old BIOS vcore of 1.412V, possibly higher, and then stabilize at 1.345V again. This takes only milliseconds, not enough for any software to measure, but in those milliseconds your cpu can crash. So don't get rid of Vdroop. If you need higher load voltage, just increase vcore in BIOS. The vcore set in BIOS is just the maximum specified voltage, not the actually vcore you run anyways.

[Telehubby]

Thanks for the link.

And yeah, don't mess with Vdroop. Doing the pencil mod or enabling Load Line Calibration and setting the voltage in BIOS lower, say from 1.412 to 1.345, isn't really going to help you much. Right when the load starts, the voltage will still dip to the same level as before, and then stabilize at just below the new now lower BIOS vcore of 1.345V, and when going from load to idle, it will shoot back up to your old BIOS vcore of 1.412V, possibly higher, and then stabilize at 1.345V again. This takes only milliseconds, not enough for any software to measure, but in those milliseconds your cpu can crash. So don't get rid of Vdroop. If you need higher load voltage, just increase vcore in BIOS. The vcore set in BIOS is just the maximum specified voltage, not the actually vcore you run anyways.
Thanks for this great information regarding Vdroop. I have been wondering if I should use it or not. I have heard a lot of contradicting information on this, so I do find this article extremely helpful. Now I have a better idea of what is going on and why.

[Muppet]

The average user has no need to turn off Vdroop, it is really only for sub zero cooling and going for stability at extremely high voltages with huge overclocks where the smallest amount of instability can cause the system to crash.

[MUYA]

Holy thread revivals ...erm.....tellyhubbyman?

[mullet]

I thought vdroop was a side effect when Viagra wears off.

[bacon12]

LOL Cialis FTW nubcakes.

[Dazz]

Already knew this but still hate it as an overclocker but for a normal user then it's fine and won't even notice it anyway.