AMD Cool N Quiet

[eddyr]

OK guys - I have an Athlon X2 64- 3800 processor on an Asus A8N E board
It would seem that there is the Cool N Quiet function available - but does it actually work?

I last switched it on around the time the HD died - so I'm for some stupid reason too scared to enable it -I won't bother if it doesn't actually quieten the system at all, just wonder what experiences people have had and if its worth doing? (ie. won't kill everything!)

[arthurleung]

If you're not overclocking the processor, CnQ is a good way to save the Earth, erm I mean save some electricity.

CnQ reduces CPU voltage and frequency
As frequency is pretty much directly proportional to power usage, reducing the frequency (as low as 800Mhz AFAIK) will save more than half of the power the processor uses.

Then CnQ also reduce voltage at the same time which decrease the heat loss.

Stock: 2000Mhz 1.35V = 89W TDP
CnQ at maximum: 800Mhz 1V (Not really sure about the exect voltage though) = 20W
69W is quite a big chunk of power.

You'll have to install the AMD CnQ software to get it work though.

[atrull]

cool and quiet is rather good imo - most of the time you aren't using your cpu so why leave it at such a high frequency/voltage

[scrandman]

There's also a utility called RMClock which works like C&Q but allows you to customise the settings (including the ability to overclock while using C&Q). I use it and would recommend it to all A64 users.

[kalniel]

OK guys - I have an Athlon X2 64- 3800 processor on an Asus A8N E board
It would seem that there is the Cool N Quiet function available - but does it actually work?

Yes, definately. You can knock at least a third off your power draw when your computer is idle (more in most cases) and unless you use your computer for 100% load computing all the time it's on you'll save electricity, produce less heat and consequently any temperature sensitive fans will spin less and give you a quieter system. It's a noticable difference and I wouldn't live without it nowadays.

CnQ reduces CPU voltage and frequency
As frequency is pretty much directly proportional to power usage, reducing the frequency (as low as 800Mhz AFAIK) will save more than half of the power the processor uses.

Mine drops down to a 5x multiplier, which gives 1000mhz.

[Speed]

Yeah it's a great feature; the best thing for me personally is the reduction in heat when the processor is not doing anything stressful, Silence is Golden and all that!

I have an A8N-E like you and it works fine with my old 3500+ Winchester, so it should work fine for you. If you think it may have caused hard drive problems (I can't see why, but better safe than sorry) you'd feel better if you backed up before doing anything. It could have just been a coincidence as I'm sure you are aware.

All I do is simply download the latest drivers from the AMD site along with the AMD Dashboard Demo so you know it's working once it's all installed.

[Ozymandias]

Don't forget to set "Minimal Power Management" in PowerSettings to enable C&Q to work as well.

[Speed]

Don't forget to set "Minimal Power Management" in PowerSettings to enable C&Q to work as well.

Ah yes that slipped my mind, change Power schemes to "Minimal Power Management" in the Power Options Properties window, which can be easily accessed from the screensaver tab in Display Properties.

[Ozymandias]

Ah yes that slipped my mind, change Power schemes to "Minimal Power Management" in the Power Options Properties window, which can be easily accessed from the screensaver tab in Display Properties.

I've lost count of the number of times I've forgotten and wondered why C&Q wasn't working

[Bluecube]

This sounds an excellent feature and not one I was aware of. The reason I've been waiting for the Core CPUs from Intel is the low power draw but am I right in thinking that by using Cool 'n' Quiet the only difference between AMD and Intel is now the performance factor?

[chuckskull]

Yeah it works really well, tends to BSOD is you're overclocking though.

[sawyen]

CnQ + OC = BSOD... Remember... Remember dearly...

[chuckskull]

CnQ + OC = BSOD... Remember... Remember dearly...

Yeah no-one told me when I installed my new X2 and tried it Hooray for safe mode.

[kalniel]

This sounds an excellent feature and not one I was aware of. The reason I've been waiting for the Core CPUs from Intel is the low power draw but am I right in thinking that by using Cool 'n' Quiet the only difference between AMD and Intel is now the performance factor?

Intel Core CPU's have their own power saving modes similar to CnQ (speed step) - if power is your thing then the new core chips are even better than the AMDs.

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/07/14..._uk/page3.html

[DanceswithUnix]

Overall power consumption should be the same. The core chip takes less as it doesn't have a memory controller on board, so that power "advantage" just shows up as a loss in the chipset.

That is total power; performance per watt is of course a win for Conroe as it has better performance.

[DanceswithUnix]

Yeah no-one told me when I installed my new X2 and tried it Hooray for safe mode.

Just how hard were you overclocking?

I OC with cool-n-quiet enabled and never had a problem (3000+ Venice at 2.45GHz).