My motherboard is Asus P5B Deluxe
Whatever voltage I set in Bios, it appears lower in CPUZ
for example when I set 1.400V, it shows ~1.32V in CPU-Z or other software
which one is more accurate?
thanks
CPU-Z is more accurate since it shows the real-time voltage reading rather than what you have it set to. However, the readings won't be completely accurate, since they aren't read directly from the source. It's still about as good as it gets though, short of measuring the voltage directly off the traces with a DMM.
A .08V "droop" in voltage is not out of line. By design intel undervolts (droop) the cpus so that when big load changes occur and the voltage regulation circuity has to adjust for the increased current the voltage requlator does not "overshoot" the target voltage and produce a voltage spike that could damage the cpu. Use the CPU-Z voltage as Zero suggests. It is only when you get to very high voltages approaching the Intel Datasheet Absolute Max Vcore for your processor that you need to worry.
If you have a 45nm cpu you are getting there. 1.45 volts if I recall.
65nm cpus 1.55 volts.
Some people run them right up to and even above the Abs Max as read by CPU-z (reads even higher in bios.) , its your cpu, do what you want but I advise not going over the Abs max in the bios setting and living with whatever CPU-z tells you if you intend to keep the CPU for several years. If you going to upgrade every year, not so much.
Note to self:
patent circuitry/software that "soft starts" cpu intensive applications so that the above mentioned voltage spikes will not occur and thus allow cpus to run right on the edge of their maximum performance settings by eliminating the shortcomings in CPU voltage regulators. Sell idea to Intel. Take large wheelbarrow of money to bank.