Whats the deal with PC Voltages?

[m6tzg6r]

So my CPU can use about 1.09v at most, seems each of my video cards use 1.2volts? But my DDR3 RAM uses 1.5v, so umm why does RAM use more volts if its just simple RAM, meanwhile a complex GPU pumping 4K gaming is only using 1.2volt. It seems odd how the higher performing hardware requires less voltages. But i guess they use more watts, so hmm i guess watts and voltages are different....

 

[Jetster]

There is much more goin on here. Both your GPU and CPU run on 12v. Your talking about vcore

And when you put a load to that CPU the vcore will increase

 

[R-T-B]

Watts are overall power. You could be shocked by 10,000 volts and not even be bothered by it if it didn't have any amperage (static electricity comes to mind).

Watts = Amps * Volts

 

[kn00tcn]

Watts are overall power. You could be shocked by 10,000 volts and not even be bothered by it if it didn't have any amperage (static electricity comes to mind).

Watts = Amps * Volts

exactly

but i always wondered, if we keep seeing lower voltage devices, but the same wattage (such as 90watt cpu), doesnt that mean they're using more amps? is that a good idea?

was this the right analogy: volts = width of pipe, amps = amount per time?

 

[m6tzg6r]

HAHAHA i was just thinking of Jerry

 

[R-T-B]

exactly

but i always wondered, if we keep seeing lower voltage devices, but the same wattage (such as 90watt cpu), doesnt that mean they're using more amps? is that a good idea?

was this the right analogy: volts = width of pipe, amps = amount per time?

The reason we keep the volts so low in the core I imagine is because higher voltage electron streams have a tendency to jump more. This is why high voltage static electricity can jump to your finger. We certainly don't want them jumping to say, a different transistor, and it allows for less isolation and more density..

Yes, theoretically this does produce more heat. Our answer for that was heatsinks.

 

[Mussels]

voltage is used to bypass resistance, and usually results in less efficiency and more heat.

even if its the same wattage (say a 65W TDP) if more of that electricity goes to 'work', you'll have a more efficient design at the very least.

as others have said, the lower voltages are neccesary with more compact devices to reduce EMI and other interference as well.

 

[W1zzard]

In the early CMOS processor days, power consumption was proportional to the square of the supply voltage, so lowering voltage helped a lot to reduce heat/power.

Nowadays (with small process sizes and leakage) the relationship is linear, which is why we don't see such big jumps anymore.

Lower voltage means your in-chip circuits need to be engineered for that. Increasing voltage is a common trick in manufacturing to make chips able to run higher clocks.

 

[R-T-B]

In the early CMOS processor days, power consumption was proportional to the square of the supply voltage, so lowering voltage helped a lot to reduce heat/power.

Nowadays (with small process sizes and leakage) the relationship is linear, which is why we don't see such big jumps anymore.

Lower voltage means your in-chip circuits need to be engineered for that. Increasing voltage is a common trick in manufacturing to make chips able to run higher clocks.

W1zzard knows more about this than me, believe him.

 

[m6tzg6r]

well thanks for all the info, now i have a better understanding of my favorite hobby that is computers.