How to Check CPU Voltage

Has your laptop ever gone crazy? The cursor moving abruptly, applications lagging a
lot, and the system heating unusually? Well, a probable cause of all this disarray could
be nothing but a high voltage consumption by the CPU.

The first thing you would need to know in such circumstances is to check on the
CPU’s voltage usage. In this article, we’ll walk you through the various ways you can
do this. Also, we’ll tell you what to do in case your CPU’s voltage consumption is
unusually high or low.

What is Vcore or CPU Core Voltage?

Vcore (alternatively referred to as CPU core voltage) is a fancy name for the voltage
supplied by your device’s motherboard to the CPU. Generally, it is in the range
specified by your PC’s manufacturer.

However, Vcore can fluctuate from its normal value – sometimes dramatically – due to
a number of reasons. The general rule of thumb is that if there is less load on the
system (you are running light applications), the voltage consumption would be low.
And if the load is greater, so will be the voltage consumption.

There are a number of ways you can get the number of Volts your CPU is eating up.
Some are a bit technical, others being simple. We list all of them for your convenience.

Check CPU Voltage via BIOS

Checking CPU voltage using BIOS is not very difficult as it may sound. You need to
follow the following steps:
1. Open BIOS. For that you will have to press F1, del, esc, or enter key (depending
upon your PC) while turning the PC on. The usual BIOS interface will open up.
2. Look for something like “PC Health” or “Health Status”. Go over to it.
3. All of the different voltages will be right in front of you in the form of a table.
Voila! The number in front of the Vcore is the CPU Voltage.
Check CPU Voltage via Softwares
If opening BIOS every time to check your CPU’s voltage sounds too cumbersome, you
can simply install relevant hardware health softwares. They are really helpful in this
regard. We list three of the best softwares in use in this regard.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z is a freeware system information software that collects hardware-related
information and readings from different components of your PC on a single interface.
It’s a really apt choice if you often have to look at CPU voltage or other specifications
of your PC.

You can easily install CPU-Z from CPUID – their website – by following the instructions.
After installation, go to the CPU section. There you’ll find a box reading “Core Voltage”.
This is the required number.

HWinfo
HWinfo is a renowned system information software that allows you to access a large
amount of technical information under the same roof. It is an all encompassing tool
(pretty much like a Swiss Army Knife) especially for professionals.

If your sole purpose of installing a system information software is to check the voltage
of the CPU, HWinfo is not the best choice. It’s interface is a bit complicated and it
takes a bit more time to load. You can download it from the software’s official website.

AMD
AMD System Monitorin another popular software in this regard. Like CPU-Z and
HWinfo, you can get a holistic picture of your PC’s hardware. It is a bit old and under-
updated. You can download from AMD’s website.

AMD has introduced the Ryzen Master software using which you can save and use
manually set system voltage configurations. It is quite helpful for tackling overheating
due to overclocking especially if you use your PC for intense activities like gaming.
If Vcore and Manufacturer’s Voltage is Different
The valid question that arises out of all this discussion is: When do you need to worry
about your CPU’s core voltage? Well, if the voltage is either too low or high from the
manufacturer’s core voltage (you can look it up in the CPU’s specifications), you need
to worry.

An important thing that you should try doing in such a scenario is to cross-check the
voltage’s value using another software. It often happens that the system information
software that you’re using is giving faulty results due to some internal complications.

How to Increase or Decrease Core Voltage Value

PC’s have either a static or dynamic Vcore value. Static in the sense that it cannot be
changed manually. The PC's voltage distribution to the computer is controlled by a
VRM (Voltage Regulator Module). It decides on decreasing or increasing the voltage to
the CPU depending upon the load.

You can change the Vcore value from the BIOS settings as needed.

When would You Need to Lower CPU Voltage

Often it happens that PCs overheat, the cursor starts to move abruptly, the
applications lag, etc. Although there could be a number of reasons for this behavior,
one common cause is higher CPU voltage.

Especially, when you are overclocking (running your PC faster than its ability), this
phenomenon becomes prominent. In such cases you can tone down the max core
voltage value for better performance.

How to Lower CPU Voltage

An efficient way to reduce max CPU voltage is to do it incrementally. Decrease the
voltage in BIOS by 0.01 V each time and see how the PC responds. At one point, the
system will die. Increase the value from there and adjust it to a suitable point. That’s
how you can lower the CPU voltage.
If you’re not a technical person with a prior know-how of this stuff, we’ll advise you not
to do any of this by yourself. Beware because it can lead to great damage to your
system. We strongly recommend you to contact an expert in this regard if you observe
some discrepancy in the voltage values.

Last Words
In short, checking PC voltage is not a difficult business. You can easily check it on the
BIOS interface. If you prefere softwares, a lot of them are available in the market. In our
opinion, the most apt choice, given your sole purpose is to check Vcore, is CPU-Z. It is
easy to install and use.

Moreover, you can take the mentioned steps if the Vcore value is not right.