But you have to realize the purpose of what he is using the CPU for, this is not for any CPU intensive program. This is for a HTPC, which is GPU/memory first, network/HDD transfer rate next, then CPU at the end. The purpose of the HTPC is quiet/cool machines, it is very common for people buy slightly beefier CPUs for HTPCs and underclock them to create quieter/cooler results.

Negative, undervolting/overclocking does not void any warranty. It is like tuning a car, you do not void the warranty but if you go to far and fry the chip (i.e. blow the engine) then yes you are SOL.

Again, nothing personal, but what is your field? Saying you've worked on computers for 12 years means nothing to me lol. Anyone in their 20's could say that really.

To be fair, Ive been building them since I was 8 years old (Im 26 now). I mainly self-taught everything I knew including some basic programming languages until high school when I formally took 2 years of programming. I then enlisted in the military with an official job of Computer Programmer, and have 5.5 years of that under my belt. My new area of expertise however, is network security (yes, its a very broad term, but I cant say much more than that).

Im not trying to flex the e-peen here - I guess I'm just trying to prove a point: if you say you know a lot about something, but you make the most generic statements out there, you better back it up with a lot of hardcore experience and proof of knowledge lol.

So yes that is voiding the warranty if you fry the chip it is your fault. Also if you take a tuned car into the shop and something is wrong they are going to see the mods and tare going to tell you the warranty is voided. As speed said you can under clock it but it will still void the warranty because you are ignoring the recommended and required voltage regulations for that chip. But I am done, agree to disagree or what not.

Back to the subject, yes 7 is much more stable than vista and runs smoother as well.

Not at all.

If a CPU has a stock voltage of 2.5V and you can successfully run it under load at 2.0V then it will run at the same speed with exactly the same performance. Over volting it to 2.8V is the same thing, the CPU will run with identical performance (given that you don't change the bus speed), the only change is heat output.

That cool same here built my first at age 7, self taught by reading maximum pc, pc world and so on. Also bugging any computer tech that I came accost in school. Been working building and repairing them for 12 years. Now I am in school for Computer Science and Networking. I have already tested out of 2 classes and the one I am in now is pretty easy as well.

As I have already said what I had to say. I am not going to continue to hijack this thread further.

No, what you are saying is that if you under/overvolt it is voided, that is incorrect. If you properly change the voltage without frying the card your warranty is safe, just as easily you can take a tuned car back to a stock tune you can easily return a CPU back to stock voltage.

Many Mobo's, especially AMD ones, can automatically undervolt the CPU anyway to be more "green" (lawl) and quiet.

Exactly, I know a few people at AMD working with MSI and a few other motherboard manufacturers who work in the "HTPC" division. I say this because it basically has become that for the low end CPUs, and they are helping build motherboards that underclock when the CPU is below a certain usage. Also, they are helping these motherboard manufacturers build boards that are more HTPC friendly, built in HDMI (already there), proper audio outputs, and even talks of onboard storage to run OS/video playback programs.

A persistent Linux install on a thumb drive is always somewhat viable, but something that can read/write faster (USB3.0 wru?!) would be optimal...

Exactly, but a Linux distro might be a bit "confusing" or "difficult" for the average user who just wants to plug in a HTPC and be able to watch movies. I think the idea they are working towards is something along the lines where basically buy a HTPC and are 100% ready to go, ability to play all movies/music. This way the OS stays clean but can be used as a computer as well, but everything will be stored on a normal hard drive as the motherboard setup will not be writeable (other than Windows update). This idea is a ways away as it will take all sides in on it.

I got the upgrade media last night and quickly swapped out the slow as molasses hard drive in the Lenovo U330. I did the clean install followed by upgrade install from within Windows before activating the key online. It worked like a charm! :tup: The laptop is so much more responsive like a typical desktop.

Ah, I finally had time to dig into Win7 and work on some optimizations. Win7 memory management is definitely much nicer than before. I had SuperFetch disabled in Vista because it kept grinding the hard drive. I did the same with my laptop as well and I've never had any issues. It is also one of the optimization suggestions for users with SSDs.

You can't quite compare airflow and electron flow. The transistor design and construction on various classes of processors are no different. The silicon parts are speed tested, graded, and binned. For example, a 2GHz and a 3GHz CPU can technically be the same design on the same silicon and wafer. The 2GHz part may have been graded to run optimal at its specified clock and voltages. If there is a shortage of 2GHz parts, a 3GHz part can be down clocked (and specify lower operating voltage) and be sold as a 2GHz part.

I never heard of undervolting a processor voiding warranty or starving the processor. Desktop and mobile processors have the ability to change clock speed and voltage requirements on the fly depending on processor load.

True, you can starve the CPU by not feeding enough juice and render the system unstable. Well, that's because that piece of silicon wasn't one of the lucky ones.

DIGI, you are spot-on. BTW, I haven't been keeping up with bus speed lately, what are the latest specs for the front-side bus on the Intel platform? Sorry, too lazy to google, lol, gotta run out.