Windows XP: AMD Ahtlon 64 and Cool n Quiet

Contributed by seamonkey420 August 29, 2004  
Tagged: Windows

This is a quick recipe explaining how to enable Cool n Quiet for AMD Athlon 64 processors and XP. Requirements: AMD Athlon 64 cpu, Motherboard with Cool n Quiet Support (i will use my board in this example, MSI K8T NEO-FSR).

Ok, so you’ve dished out about $300 for the new AMD Athlon 64 processor and motherboard. This recipe explains how to take advantage of and enable Cool n Quiet support in Windows XP (32-bit).

What is Cool n Quiet?
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_9487%5E10272,00.html
-This feature lets the processor slow the fan down and also its own clocking to keep your system as cool and quiet as possible without the performance loss. AMD claims that when requested, your processor will run at max performance. I’ve been playing Need for Speed Underground with the video set to the highest at 1024 x 762 with no lag whats so ever.

Some brief notes:
-to take advantage of this feature, you need to have a motherboard that has support for Cool n Quiet. If your motherboard supports this, you’ll see an option for it in the BIOS, most likely in the Advanced Features or Power management.
-some motherboards have issues with it not reporting the correct cpu temps, if possible, flash/update your bios to the newest version. Most manufacturers will have notes with the bios files.

Step 1. Enabling support in your bios

Power on your system.
Right after you see your start screen, hit the Del or F12 to enter Setup. Find the option and enable it.
Then Save and Exit from the bios setup screen.

Step 2. Installing the AMD 64 XP Driver with Cool n Quiet support

Go here to get the latest AMD 64 Driver for Windows XP.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/utilities/cpudriver.EXE

This AMD page has some nice tools also:
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html

Install the Drivers.

Reboot your system.

Step 3. Setting up Power Management for Cool n Quiet.

Go to the Control Panel > Display Properties > Screen Saver > Power
Then on the Power Schemes , choose the “Minimal Power Management” scheme and click Apply and then OK.

If your motherboard manufacturer has any utilities to monitor cool n quiet, i’d recommend installing them.
MSI has the Core Center. This shows you the system temps and fan speeds and also the frequency and multiplier setting.

You can see that its working by leaving your system idle and then go to Control Panel > System and you’ll notice your processor speed to be way below what your cpu is rated.. mine shows 1Ghz, its a AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (2.0 Ghz). Then load up a DVD and open a browser window and check again, it probably shows a higher frequency..