How to Undervolt an I5 2540m

[wisegamer]

Hello
Could any one tell me how to to undervolt an i5 2540m if its possible.
If it is please give me specific instructions because I am new to all of this.
My laptop is a Dell Latitude E6420.
Thanks in advance.

 

[engineersnitk]

any reason why you want to do that??

Use - Intel Extreme Tuning Utility to under volt your CPU.

 

[mdd1963]

I can't imagine any Dell BIOS giving many core voltage options with their laptop BIOS for manipulating voltages whatsoever...

 

[wisegamer]

any reason why you want to do that??

Use - Intel Extreme Tuning Utility to under volt your CPU.

I can't imagine any Dell BIOS giving many core voltage options with their laptop BIOS for manipulating voltages whatsoever...

Thanks for the replies.
But I don't know how to use Intel Extreme Tuning Utility.
I searched a few videos but when I try do the same most of the options are grayed out.
Please give specific instructions.
Also I want to do this to reduce my CPU temperatures since it gets very high after using it a lot.

 

[engineersnitk]

Thanks for the replies.
But I don't know how to use Intel Extreme Tuning Utility.
I searched a few videos but when I try do the same most of the options are grayed out.
Please give specific instructions.
Also I want to do this to reduce my CPU temperatures since it gets very high after using it a lot.

Step 1 - Install Intel XTU
Step 2 - You will see ADVANCE TUNING section on your left. Under that you will see, ALL CONTROLS, CORE, CACHE,GRAPHICS etc.
Step 3 - Under ALL CONTROLS, you will see CORE VOLTAGE OFFSET. Reduce this number to negative values one at a time and run stress test for 2-3 minutes and check if system is stable and not crashing. reduce this value in negative to the extent where after applying the value the system crashes. For ex. My CPU crashes at ( - 0.080 V ) so i keep it at ( -0.075 V ).
Step 4 - Apply the same negative value to Cache Voltage Offset. ( the stable negative value you got from CORE VOLTAGE OFFSET) for ex: if your system crashes at ( - 0.100 V ) then use ( - 0.095 V or - 0.090 V ) and set this value to both CORE and CACHE VOLTAGE OFFSET
Step 5 - Look for TURBO BOOST POWER MAX and set this same value for TURBO BOOST SHORT POWER MAX. If it is 15 W for TBPM then set 15 W for TBSPM as well.

Doing all this, your system should not throttle as much as it did earlier. Also, the temps will be lower.
PS - Stress Test is available in intel XTU right below advance tuning section

Peace

 

[wisegamer]

I tried following your instructions but I don't see anything under Advance Tuning like ALL CONTROLS, CORE, CACHE,GRAPHICS and when I select it everything on the right is grayed out and I am unable to change anything.
Could it be that my processor does not support it

 

[engineersnitk]

I tried following your instructions but I don't see anything under Advance Tuning like ALL CONTROLS, CORE, CACHE,GRAPHICS and when I select it everything on the right is grayed out and I am unable to change anything.
Could it be that my processor does not support it

If that is the case then, unfortunately nothing can done.
Maybe we can try to use throttlestop and check "disable turbo boost". (Don't touch anything else)
This is the last alternative. If this doesn't work for you. Its time to buy something new.

 

[smalecarol7]

Ive have just visited the "Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)" download page.
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24075/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-

It seems that - according to the "valididty" part of this download page - the XTU program/utility is valid only for cpu's that are gen3 and newer.

Doesnt look like the utility {or the latest version of it} supports 2nd gen chips like your i5 2540m... which might be the reason that even though it installs and executes, the program has some areas/features "greyed out" as you mentioned?

*as another, possibly "last ditch" option - - - have you considered a new fan, and some decent thermal paste? opening the lappy up, switching to new fan, and cleaning off the CPU {& dedicated GPU?} and heatsink - and then applying some arctic mx4 paste?