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Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Hi never really experimented with this but is it easy/possible to Underclock/ Lower the voltage on an X220 CPU as i was looking to get less heat & better battery life if possible?
Would like to get it running more like my x200s lol
Thanks
Would like to get it running more like my x200s lol
Thanks
Many Thanks for any advice, shared knowledge & wisdom is a wonderful thing.
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Not sure if it'll work but IBM_ECW might be able to adjust some of what you're looking for. I'm pretty sure it was designed for the T4x series but I used it on my T61p to help bring temps down with great success. Not sure if it'll run on the X220 (or any 20 series), and if so how effectively Sandy Bridge CPUs can be undervolted... but it might be worth a shot. Otherwise RMClock would likely do the trick - though it's not free like IBM_ECW.
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X13Y G3 | T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 | T601F | T420 | X220
T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
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X13Y G3 | T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 | T601F | T420 | X220
T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Windows 7 itself can underclock your X220.
Change the maximum processor state accordingly.
AFAIK undervolting is impossible in Sandy Bridge (and later) mobile CPUIs .
Change the maximum processor state accordingly.
AFAIK undervolting is impossible in Sandy Bridge (and later) mobile CPUIs .
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Undervolting on Sandy Bridge desktop processors is doable on BIOSes that have overclocking (and overvoltage) settings, as seen in the articleRealBlackStuff wrote:https://mattgadient.com/2012/05/21/sand ... ervations/
.
Laptops generally don't have this capability.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Can be quite easily done with hardware modification.axur-delmeria wrote:AFAIK undervolting is impossible in Sandy Bridge (and later) mobile CPUIs .
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
I'll rephrase that then: "AFAIK undervolting is impossible in Sandy Bridge (and later) mobile CPUs using just software"nitrocaster wrote:Can be quite easily done with hardware modification.axur-delmeria wrote:AFAIK undervolting is impossible in Sandy Bridge (and later) mobile CPUIs .
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
I have asked the same question regarding undervolting in the german thinkpad forum, unfortunately without any replies.
There seems to be no way to undervolt using software.
Can you give some more information on possible hardware modifications?
There seems to be no way to undervolt using software.
I, too, thought it should be possible. But I don't know how exactly it has to be done.nitrocaster wrote:Can be quite easily done with hardware modification.
Can you give some more information on possible hardware modifications?
using an X220 (i3->i5->i7, hopefully soon FHD IPS), an X41 (SSD via (m)sata-Mod, IPS, ~100Wh custom battery);
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
U48 is an adjustable switching regulator that controls VCCCPUCORE. One of R_SEL[0:8] terminals (I guess, R_SEL3) is responsible for output voltage. All you have to do is to replace the resistor connected to that terminal. The tricky part is that there's no datasheet for U48 available on the internet, so it may turn into trial and error.StefanKo wrote:Can you give some more information on possible hardware modifications?
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
I already searched for a datasheet for that voltage regulator, too. Didn't find it.
So it's hard to say what can be modified. Here are some o my thoughts about this:
The vcccpucore should not be static, but adjusted to the frequency, right?
The setpoint should be given from the cougar point (VCC1R05B ??).
U48 has so many inputs, why do you think one of those resistors should change the vcccpucore?
And change the different vcccpucore linearly with the resistance, or by offset, or how?
There are some Sense signals going into U48, too. Shouldn't it try to somehow match sense and setpoint?
Maybe it is easier to change the output of U48, SPHASE1_x. There is some power driver behind that anyway.
So it's hard to say what can be modified. Here are some o my thoughts about this:
The vcccpucore should not be static, but adjusted to the frequency, right?
The setpoint should be given from the cougar point (VCC1R05B ??).
U48 has so many inputs, why do you think one of those resistors should change the vcccpucore?
And change the different vcccpucore linearly with the resistance, or by offset, or how?
There are some Sense signals going into U48, too. Shouldn't it try to somehow match sense and setpoint?
Maybe it is easier to change the output of U48, SPHASE1_x. There is some power driver behind that anyway.
using an X220 (i3->i5->i7, hopefully soon FHD IPS), an X41 (SSD via (m)sata-Mod, IPS, ~100Wh custom battery);
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
To be honest I don't think the effort will be worth it. It'll be fun and interesting, of couse, but not worth it.
The only difference it would make is in long term high load scenarios which, generally speaking, are not that common on laptops. Most computers these days, including laptops, sit idle for more than 95% of their computing time, and the voltage is already significantly lowered for idle frequencies.
That said I too would be interested in how this could be achieved. Because, like I said, it'd be fun and interesting from an academic point of view
The only difference it would make is in long term high load scenarios which, generally speaking, are not that common on laptops. Most computers these days, including laptops, sit idle for more than 95% of their computing time, and the voltage is already significantly lowered for idle frequencies.
That said I too would be interested in how this could be achieved. Because, like I said, it'd be fun and interesting from an academic point of view
It's got that typical Thinkpad ruggedness. Drop it, and your floor may be in serious danger.
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Many Thanks for all the replies guys. As undervolting may not be possible & certainly appears tricky to do on Sandy Bridge mob. i have gone with axur-delmeria appreciated suggestion re: the windows power setting. Changed to 70% on battery & 90% on mains.
I now seem to get quite a considerable improvement in battery life & when on mains it runs cooler. Obviously i lose some'performance' but for every day stuff so far it is negligible to me so i am quite happy .
I now seem to get quite a considerable improvement in battery life & when on mains it runs cooler. Obviously i lose some'performance' but for every day stuff so far it is negligible to me so i am quite happy .
Many Thanks for any advice, shared knowledge & wisdom is a wonderful thing.
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Can you give values for your extended battery time?
Because I remember something called "Race to Idle", which means, the quicker the cpu is allowed to calculate, the earlier and longer it can sleep. See here: http://mjg59.livejournal.com/88608.html (written in an unique way
Because I remember something called "Race to Idle", which means, the quicker the cpu is allowed to calculate, the earlier and longer it can sleep. See here: http://mjg59.livejournal.com/88608.html (written in an unique way
using an X220 (i3->i5->i7, hopefully soon FHD IPS), an X41 (SSD via (m)sata-Mod, IPS, ~100Wh custom battery);
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
playing with an T430u(buntu), storing a T22, X41t, T42, R61, T61p;
and taking care of the T420s (FHD IPS) of my wife
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Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Theoretically, that should the case.StefanKo wrote:Can you give values for your extended battery time?
Because I remember something called "Race to Idle", which means, the quicker the cpu is allowed to calculate, the earlier and longer it can sleep. See here: http://mjg59.livejournal.com/88608.html (written in an unique way
The problem is, there may be workloads (as well as quirks on the clock scaling algorithm) that can cause the CPU to get stuck at high speeds (or even Turbo clocks), to the detriment of battery life. Reducing the max clock speed is one way to alleviate it.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Re: Underclock or Lower CPU voltage X220?
Stefan only tried for a couple of days & 95% has just been web browsing so i cannot really give any definite values yet but i have certainly seen an improvement in battery time. Read the article article & i guess in theory it should not happen but i am happy to keep a lower clock speed for my needs. Perhaps Azur is onto something with his explanation. Maybe you could tweak the processor setting on your machine and see if you notice any gains also?
Many Thanks for any advice, shared knowledge & wisdom is a wonderful thing.
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
1st Thinkpad T42 (Old 570,600e, A21,X31,X40,X41) Current X60s, T60, Z61T,X200
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