Undervolting your graphics card (GPU) is the process of decreasing the voltage supplied to your GPU from your PC’s power supply (PSU). There are many advantages to doing so and the decrease in performance, in most cases, is quite negligible. While undervolting isn’t overly hard, it can take quite a bit of time to find the sweet spot for your own GPU.
One of the easiest ways to undervolt your GPU is by downloading MSI’s Afterburner software. Afterburner lets you do much more than just undervolt your GPU, so it is a good all-around program if you plan on playing with your GPU a bit. Of course, manufacturers such as AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA have their proprietary software you can use as well, but MSI’s Afterburner can be used on almost any GPU available.
4 Reduce the heat
The cooler, the better
By limiting the power to your GPU and not letting it just have what it wants, you will also reduce the heat it creates. The GPU is often the hottest component inside a PC, especially when running under any type of load. If you can keep your GPU cooler, it will also help to keep everything else inside the case cooler, including your CPU and motherboard VRMs.
Heat rises, and in a standard case, the CPU heatsink is right above the GPU. This means that any excess heat from the GPU can get caught in the CPU heatsink, making it harder for it to dissipate its own heat away from your CPU. Fans will help blow the heat away from the GPU, but if your GPU is, say, 80℃ or 90℃, odds are that some of that heat will also heat the CPU heatsink and be blown across other components inside your case. Undervolting your GPU can greatly impact its heat output, so it is worth measuring the GPU temps before and after your undervolt.
Related
Overclocking vs undervolting: Which one do you prefer?
Overclocking is one of the most common ways to extract some more performance out of your CPU, though it does have some inherent risks. Pushing your CPU’s clock speed past the normal level will require you to increase the core voltage, which, in turn, will make your processor more toasty. If your system lacks adequate cooling provisions, overclocking could reduce your processor’s lifespan.
Meanwhile, undervolting is the act of lowering the amount of the voltage supplied to the processor. While this may sound detrimental to performance, undervolting can help you mitigate the issue of thermal throttling. Heck, thermally-challenged systems might even see a boost in the FPS after a successful undervolt.
Personally, I’m a part of the overclocking faction, though I use Auto OC inside the BIOS to avoid spending hours fine-tuning the clock frequency and voltage. But what about you? Are you a fan of overclocking, or do you prefer the superior thermals provided by a stable
3 Reduce fan noise
We like things quiet around here
Believe it or not, some users are more worried about the noise their PC makes rather than how hot it gets. In theory, the cooler the PC temps are, the less noise they should make, as the fans won’t need to spin at higher RPMs. Yes, reducing how fast your fans spin inside your case, whether it be the case fans, CPU cooler fans, or even the GPU fan, will significantly reduce the noise output.
The GPU is usually one of, if not the hottest, components in the PC when under load. As such, the GPU fans have to spin much faster to keep it cool. As mentioned, undervolting the GPU can help drastically reduce its temperature, which means the fans won’t have to work so hard to keep it cool. The slower the fan spins, the less noise it makes, which results in a much more enjoyable experience, especially for those who keep their PC on top of their desk.
While the fan’s RPM plays a part in how much noise it makes, smaller fans also make more noise as they have to spin faster to create the same amount of airflow.
2 Reduce power draw
Saving money is always good
By undervolting your GPU, you reduce the power it can draw from the PSU. This also means that the PC will be drawing less power from the plug socket, reducing the electricity needed to power the PC. While it may not seem like much, over the lifetime of a GPU, you can save some money by reducing the power draw. This will also reduce the amount of electricity being drawn from the circuit breakers in your house, which can also make it worthwhile.
Reducing power doesn’t often have adverse effects. In many cases, you can still receive the same performance from your GPU. If things do change, you may lose 2–3 FPS in a game, which is nothing these days. Reducing the power draw isn’t hard and can be done in MSI Afterburner or most manufacturers’ proprietary software. Do it in small increments and test your GPU every time to help you find the sweet spot for your GPU.
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1 Increase longevity
Give your GPU a better and longer life
If you could extend the life of your GPU simply by undervolting, would you? Would it be worth it if it could add another year to the GPU’s overall lifetime? Of course, especially if you don’t lose any performance. Making any component in your PC last a bit longer is surely a win in any circumstances.
While GPUs may be designed to handle higher voltages and extreme temps, it doesn’t mean they always have to. Undervolting your GPU reduces the power draw, which means less heat. This also means the fans don’t have to work as hard, so the fewer RPMs they do, the longer the fans on your GPU will last as well. Undervolting can also help with the longevity of the thermal paste, thermal pads, and even the solder, ensuring your GPU lasts as long as possible.
Are there any downsides to undervolting?
In most cases, no, there aren’t aany major downsides. Most of the time, the only thing that you may notice is a very small dip in performance. The dip is so insignificant that if you are not recording your FPS or measuring your GPU performance with benchmarks, it may go completely unnoticed. The great thing is that if you do notice it and aren’t happy, you can also just go back to your normal voltage and settings.
As mentioned, undervolting your GPU isn’t hard. Make sure you take your time and do it in increments. The advantages listed above are well worth the trade-off of an hour or two of time. You may even find your system feels more stable overall after you’re done.
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source: https://www.xda-developers.com/reasons-undervolt-gpu/
