Question Can undervolting your CPU cause Windows 10 instability?

[yaggaz]

So I decided to undervolt my i9-14900k by -0.050v in the bios settings. Also my XMP profile was disabled so I could increase my RAM from 4800mt to 6000mt

Now I have gamed for days. I have ran multiple CPU and system stress tests across various programs. I let unigine heaven run overnight on extreme..

Not a single problem. Not a single stutter, crash, BSOD and my CPU hovers in the 33c at idle to 65c at gaming, GPU at 40c idle to 55c gaming. My CPU actually dropped 5 degress after the undervolt.

But here's the thing. While sitting idle in the Windows 10 environment doing barely nothing, the system locks up forcing me to reset.

Why no problems under extreme stress with gaming, but problems when doing nothing at the Desktop?

My setup at time of this post:

|| CPU: Intel 14900k || GPU: evga 3080 XC3 Ultra Hybrid || MB: Gigabyte z490 UD AC || RAM: 2 x 32GB 6000mhz DDR5 SDRAM || Samsung EVO 970 Plus 2TB || Dell S2417DG Monitor || Soundblaster AE-7 || Phanteks Eclipse p600s Case || be Quiet! Dark Rock Slim CPU Cooler || Corsair AX1600i PSU || 7 Fans total in system ||

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

"Can undervolting your CPU cause Windows 10 instability?" Yes.

There is no guarantee a chip will run stably at settings the manufacturer hasn't sold them to work at regardless what one may read or watch online. Integrated circuits, while repeatably reliable, still have ranges in quality and tolerance.

Intel has even run afoul of the reality that chips run without end-user scrutiny of default voltage settings set by motherboard manufacturers, may degrade in short order.

It's simple to test, really. If your system was stable before you tinkered with the settings, undo one of them. Start by undoing your undervolt. If your system stops behaving in an unstable manner when idling at the Windows Desktop, that's the most likely candidate for the unwanted behavior.

When undervolting, pick a target. If instability is witnessed afterward, dial back your target undervolt. The goal is to walk the setting from unstable to stable until you find what your particular chip will tolerate.

Why would your chip have issues at idle instead of under load? Chips often use the equivalent of voltage tables. Different amounts of work being done by the chip will require different voltages to remain stable. Does your undervolt apply to just a single entry in the table or is it an offset for the entire range the chip will operate at? It's possible your chip does not need the maximum voltage given at the top end of the table, but when workload reduces and allows for idle voltages, your offset now falls below the minimum threshold needed for your particular chip.