How to Undervolt CPU – Tips for Safe, Powerful Performance!

If your PC gets hot, slows down while gaming, or sounds like a jet engine, undervolting can help more than you think. It simply lowers the extra voltage your CPU does not actually need. The best part? Your performance stays the same but the heat and fan noise drop a lot.

Stay connected as we break down simple steps, expert tips, and safe methods to help you master how to undervolt CPU without risk.

What Is CPU Undervolting and How Does It Work?

A CPU needs voltage to run properly, but manufacturers usually set the voltage higher than necessary to guarantee stability on all units. By reducing only the extra, unused voltage, your processor runs cooler without losing performance. You are not changing clock speed just removing waste.

Is Undervolting Your CPU Safe?

Yes, undervolting is safe when done properly. Lowering the voltage reduces heat, power usage, and stress on your CPU. Since you are lowering voltage (not increasing it), there’s no risk of burning or damaging the processor.

Why Undervolting Is Safe:

• You are decreasing voltage, not pushing it higher
  
• Your CPU produces less heat
  
• Parts deal with less stress
  
• No risk of physical damage

When It Can Cause Problems:

Undervolting only becomes a problem if you lower the voltage too much. In that case, your system may show:

• Freezes
  
• Crashes
  
• Random restarts

These issues are harmless and easy to fix just raise the voltage slightly until stable.

Quick Summary:
Undervolting is safe, effective, and can help your CPU run cooler and more efficiently. Just make small changes, test your settings, and avoid dropping the voltage too far.

Benefits of CPU Undervolting for Heat and Performance:

Undervolting your CPU offers many helpful benefits, especially for laptops and gaming PCs. It reduces heat, improves stability, and makes your device run more smoothly.

Lower Temperatures:

Your CPU can run 10–20°C cooler during heavy use, which helps keep the system safe and stable.

Longer Battery Life:

Laptops use less power, so they can stay on for a longer time without charging.

Less Thermal Throttling:

When the CPU stays cooler, it does not slow down to protect itself. This means it can stay at full speed more often.

Quieter Fans:

Because the system stays cool, the fans don’t need to work as hard. This makes your laptop or PC much quieter.

Better Performance Stability:

Undervolting helps prevent sudden slowdowns, giving you a smooth and stable performance.

Increased Lifespan:

Lower heat means less wear on the components. This helps your CPU and other parts last longer.

Tips: When done correctly, undervolting improves both performance and comfort, making your computer cooler, quieter, and more reliable.

Also Read: Are CPU Coolers Universal? – Upgrade Smart 2025!

What You Need Before You Start Undervolting?

Before you start undervolting your CPU, make sure your processor supports voltage control, because some Intel and AMD models block it. Updating your BIOS is also important, as old versions can cause bugs or hide necessary settings. You should also install a temperature monitoring tool so you can monitor your CPU’s heat in real-time.

After that, prepare a stress-testing program to check stability once you lower the voltage. Cinebench, Prime95, and OCCT are good options for this. Finally, use the undervolting tool that matches your CPU, Intel XTU or ThrottleStop for Intel chips, and Curve Optimizer for AMD. Check your normal temperatures first so you can compare results later.

Recommended Tool: HWiNFO – Monitor CPU Temperatures & Voltages (Official Download)

How to Undervolt Intel CPU (Step by Step):

1. Download the Right Tool:

For older Intel CPUs, use Intel XTU, and for newer locked CPUs, use ThrottleStop since it gives more control over voltage settings.

2. Check Your Temperatures:

Before undervolting, run a stress test like Cinebench or OCCT to see your current temperatures and get a baseline for comparison.

3. Lower the Core Voltage:

Start with small voltage reductions such as –30 mV, then move to –50 mV or –80 mV. Always avoid big jumps because large changes can cause instant system crashes.

4. Run a Stress Test:

After every adjustment, run a 10-minute stability test to check for freezing, throttling, or unexpected restarts.

5. Keep Reducing Slowly:

If everything stays stable, continue in smaller steps of –10 mV, and repeat testing until you reach the lowest stable voltage for your CPU.

6. Save Your Profile:

Once stable, save your undervolt profile and set it to load on startup so your settings apply automatically every time you boot.

Also Read: CPU Fan Not Spinning? Quick Fixes & Causes (2025 Guide)

How to Undervolt AMD CPU (Step by Step):

1. Enter BIOS:

Restart your PC and press DEL or F2 to enter the BIOS menu.

2. Open Curve Optimizer:

Inside the BIOS, go to Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and open the Curve Optimizer option.

3. Choose a Negative Curve:

Select the Negative Curve setting and begin with a small value like –5 on each core, as smaller reductions are safer and help prevent sudden system crashes.

4. Test Stability:

Run a stress test such as Cinebench to confirm that your system stays stable, and keep an eye on temperatures during the test.

5. Fine-Tune Per Core:

Some CPU cores can handle deeper undervolts, so slowly try –10, –15, or –20 on individual cores, testing after each change to avoid instability.

6. Save Settings:

Save the changes in your BIOS and restart your computer. After reboot, test again to confirm everything runs smoothly.

Best Voltage Settings for a Stable Undervolt:

A stable undervolt depends on your CPU, but most Intel and AMD chips fall within predictable safe ranges. These values are commonly stable, easy to start with, and safe for beginners.

Recommended Voltage Offset Ranges:

CPU Type	Typical Stable Undervolt	Notes
Intel Laptop CPUs	–50 mV to –110 mV	Lower heat, less fan noise
Intel Desktop CPUs	–30 mV to –80 mV	Desktop silicon is tighter, needs smaller offsets
AMD Ryzen (Curve Optimizer)	–5 to –20 (per core)	Each core behaves differently
High-end Ryzen (5000/7000 series)

Signs Your CPU Undervolt Is Not Stable:

If your CPU undervolt is too strong, your system will start showing clear signs of instability. These symptoms help you know the voltage is set too low and needs adjustment.

• Random stutters or small pauses in apps and games.
  
• Lower benchmark scores where performance drops instead of improving.
  
• Short micro-freezes when the system is under load.
  
• Games are crashing or apps closing suddenly during heavy tasks.
  
• BSOD errors or complete system freeze, such as WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR.
  
• PC rebooting while gaming or stress testing.
  
• Cinebench or Prime95 is failing instantly during stress tests.
  
• CPU clock is dropping below the base clock because the chip is unstable.
  
• System refusing to boot after a BIOS undervolt, sometimes requiring a CMOS reset.

How to Fix CPU Undervolt Crashes or Failures:

Fixing instability is easy:

• Increase voltage by +10 mV (Intel)
  
• Reduce curve value by +2 or +3 (AMD)
  
• Turn off undervolt completely if system won’t boot
  
• Update BIOS
  
• Remove conflicting tools

Does Undervolting Reduce CPU Lifespan or Harm It?

Undervolting does not harm your CPU or shorten its lifespan. In fact, it usually improves longevity by lowering heat and reducing electrical stress. A cooler CPU experiences slower wear over time. As long as the undervolt is stable and your system is not crashing, the process is completely safe and can even make the processor last longer.

Also Read: Is 50°C Safe for CPU at Idle? – Expert Guide 2025!

Best Tools and Software for Safe CPU Undervolting:

These tools make CPU undervolting easier and safer. They help you adjust voltage, test stability, and monitor temperatures so your system stays healthy.

• Intel XTU: Best for Intel laptops and desktops.
  
• ThrottleStop: Great for older Intel systems or if XTU doesn’t work.
  
• Ryzen Master: Easy tool for undervolting AMD Ryzen CPUs.
  
• AMD BIOS Curve Optimizer: Most powerful way to tune Ryzen chips.
  
• HWiNFO: Monitors temperatures, voltages, and clock speeds.
  
• OCCT: Strong stress-testing tool to check stability.
  
• Cinebench R23: Quick benchmark to test performance changes.

Why Is Undervolting Blocked on Modern CPUs?

Modern CPUs often block undervolting to prevent security risks like the Plundervolt attack. Because of this, many Intel 10th-gen and newer processors have an undervolt lock enabled in the BIOS. If undervolting is blocked on your system, you can try these steps:

• Update your BIOS.
  
• Look for CFG Lock in BIOS settings.
  
• Look for Undervolt Protection and turn it off if possible.
  
• Try ThrottleStop, which sometimes works even when Intel XTU doesn’t.

Fine-Tuning Per-Core Undervolt:

Per-core undervolting lets you set a different voltage value for each CPU core. This is helpful because every core has its own silicon quality. Some cores are stronger and can handle a bigger undervolt, while weaker cores need a smaller one. By tuning each core separately, you can lower temperatures, improve boost clocks, and get better overall performance.

Example per-core settings:

• Core 0: –12 mV
  
• Core 1: –18 mV
  
• Core 2: –20 mV
  
• Core 3: –25 mV

To find the right values, test each core with heavy workloads like gaming, Cinebench, or stress-testing tools. If a core crashes or shows errors, reduce the undervolt a little. Keep adjusting until all cores stay fully stable under load.

Common Undervolting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them:

Don’t make these undervolting mistakes:

• Dropping voltage too fast
  
• Skipping stress tests
  
• Ignoring temperature monitoring
  
• Using an outdated BIOS
  
• Applying same settings to every CPU model
  
• Changing multiple settings at once

Always work slowly and test carefully.

FAQs:

Conclusion:

Knowing how to undervolt CPU helps you reduce heat, lower fan noise, and improve overall performance. Undervolting works on both Intel and AMD processors and can even extend your CPU’s lifespan. Follow each step carefully, stress-test your system, and adjust slowly to keep everything stable. This simple tweak makes your PC cooler, faster, and more efficient.