I have a ga-p35-ds3l f8b bios, q6600 (VID of 1.2125v). I noticed that when upping my core voltage for overclocking, it seemed to go in steps. For example setting the vcore in the bios to anywhere between 1.275-1.285 will produce a voltage of 1.232 (idle) and 1.200 (load) in windows (read in cpuz latest version). Is this normal, does the voltage set in the bios have any significance or is the only thing that matters the voltage read under load?

Thats Vdrop and VDroop.

VDrop is the initial from Bios to idle windows vcore voltage, VDroop is when its fully loaded it goes down further.

Loaded Voltage is most important because thats where stability is achieved!
However, the others come into play when excessive. As in, 780i boards have like .08 vdrop and droop combo! That means you need to idle at 1.5000 to get 1.42000 loaded. That is when they blow!

--Lupi

basically you need to set "extra" vcore in BIOS to offset those value to achieve what you want.

I know that, but my question is why anywhere between 1.275 and 1.285 will always produce an idle of 1.232 and a load of 1.200. Why doesn't it produce higher relative voltage when I set higher voltage in the bios. It appears to go in steps of 0.016v.

i guess the drop value is so tiny between the two that those monitor program just round them off.

GA-P35-DS3L rev 2 bios F8f E8400 @ 3.6
MIT 1.262
bios 1.236
cpuz 1.216
load 1.20