While overclocking the CPU used to be an unsaid rule in the past, at least for gamers, it's not nearly as popular anymore. Most PC users are fine with running their CPU at the default settings, not bothering about tweaking clock speeds, voltages, and power. However, there is a lot to gain by going in the other direction. Undervolting your CPU not only promises significantly lower thermals, but these gains often come without any performance penalty. In fact, the additional thermal headroom can even improve the performance, especially in gaming. As always, your mileage may vary, but always undervolting your new CPU isn't an uncommon recommendation these days.

Stock settings aren't bad, but your CPU is capable of a lot more

Peak performance isn't everything

Modern CPUs are known to run pretty close to their potential out of the box. Manufacturers are increasingly allowing processors to utilize their entire thermal headroom, providing maximum performance with minimal user intervention. Automated boost algorithms on both AMD and Intel CPUs ensure optimal performance in every scenario. Most people can keep their CPU cool even with a budget air cooler, no fancy AIOs required. Overclocking your CPU will likely force you to upgrade your cooler in exchange for only minor performance gains. This is why overclocking isn't as relevant as it used to be.

The stock CPU behavior is more than enough for most users, whether they're running gaming or productivity workloads. The former leans more on the GPU anyway, and the latter is probably running on a high-end chip in the first place. Since PC building went mainstream, tweaks like overclocking have become a niche hobby, more so than before. The majority of users today expect their CPU to "just work" out of the box, and why shouldn't they? Messing around with the voltage and frequency settings isn't something that manufacturers should expect them to do. That said, your CPU is capable of significantly lower temperatures if you consider undervolting. Unlike overclocking, the benefits here are worthwhile, and the process is neither complicated nor lengthy.

You should undervolt your CPU to get the most out of it

It's a free boost for doing almost nothing

In case you didn't know, your CPU is capable of running much cooler without taking a performance hit. All you need to do is use a few sliders to undervolt it, and you'll see reduced idle as well as load temperatures. AMD owners can use Ryzen Master, whereas Intel users have the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) at their disposal. In a nutshell, the undervolting process involves lowering the core voltage in small steps and testing the system stability after each modification to see how low you can go. Once you determine the lowest stable voltage for your CPU, the drop in operating temperature can be quite significant. Just remember that stress testing an undervolt involves more than running a game without crashing; you should use tools like Prime95 and OCCT.

Undervolting not only allows your CPU to provide virtually the same performance as before, but also results in a quieter PC. Since your fans don't have to spin as fast to keep temperatures in control, you get a free drop in the noise levels. Your CPU is also likely to enjoy a longer lifespan compared to a chip with overclocked or stock settings. The best part about undervolting is that, in many cases, the performance can actually increase compared to stock settings. Since the CPU has more thermal headroom, it can sustain boost clocks for longer, improving the average FPS in games. Even if the peak performance doesn't improve radically, you'll almost certainly get a more consistent experience due to the improved 1% and 0.1% lows.

Compared to overclocking, undervolting is more practical and simpler. Users can not only gain lower temperatures and noise levels, but also a longer lifespan for their chips. Most people are either not aware of undervolting or avoid it because of concerns or misinformation. Everyone should try undervolting their new CPU to determine the extent of benefits. If it isn't worth the potential drop in system stability, you can always revert to stock settings.

The silicon lottery matters

As with all things in life, YMMV

Just like in overclocking, your mileage in undervolting will vary, depending on your silicon. You might have a golden chip that can undervolt much lower than an unlucky one that only handles a slight undervolt. Due to a myriad of factors, no two CPUs of the same model behave similarly, whether you're overclocking or undervolting them. That's why you can't just copy a random user's undervolt settings from Reddit, and expect the same results on your CPU. You need to go about it systematically, reducing the core voltage by 5mv or 10mv, and going further only if the undervolt is stable. Fortunately, you won't damage your CPU by reducing the voltage too much. It'll simply refuse to boot or show clear signs of instability. You can easily dial in a less extreme undervolt, or revert to stock settings entirely.

Your stock CPU is good, but it can be great

Undervolting can unlock lower temperatures than you ever thought possible on your CPU. The objective is to extract the same level of performance while reducing the voltage being supplied to your chip. A few lucky ones will even earn some performance by undervolting. The reduced operating temperature will ensure lower fan noise and a longer CPU lifespan, benefiting you in more ways than pure performance. Every user should consider undervolting their new CPU as soon as they set up a new PC.