Anybody else downclock their 2D clocks below stock settings?

[Udgnim]

I'm not familiar with how aggressive the downclocks are for Nvidia cards, but for my reference 4870, they were not aggressive at all. going from 750/900 (GPU/MEM) clocks for 3D to 500/900 for 2D.

after not having success trying to edit a CCC profile (GPU downclocked but MEM stayed at 900) and failing to get RivaTuner to use 2D and 3D profiles automatically when starting or closing a game, I thought about loading in a new BIOS with lower 2D clocks for PowerPlay. luckily, I finally settled on ATI Tray Tools and used its "Auto Overclocking" function to switch 2D/3D clock profiles automatically.

anyways, I'm down to 245/200 clocks now which is a vast improvement compared to the stock 500/900 clocks. I could probably reduce the GPU clock further, but it's really the memory producing the heat and drawing the power in 2D mode.

so my final results are the following:

FROM: 500/900 clocks, 40% fan speed, 28A VDDC Current GPUZ, 48-49C idle
TO: 245/200 clocks, 26% fan speed, 9.5A VDDC Current GPUZ, 42C idle

Voltage is 1.263. ATI Tray Tools has options lower than 1.263, but GPUZ reports voltages staying at 1.263 so I probably can't change voltages with my reference 4870.

wish I got around to messing around with my card's 2D clocks a whole lot sooner and a little annoyed ATI chose such high 2D clocks.

 

[thilanliyan]

Actually you can change the voltage with reference 4870s with Tray Tools. I have mine at 370/300 at 1.08v for 2D (using Tray Tools) which gives something like 4.xx VDDC shown in Rivatuner. I can't go much lower with the clocks as it locks up.

 

[zagood]

Here's what I do in RivaTuner with my 8800GTS in Win7 x64, should be able to do the same with ATi if you don't like your current config.

- Launch RT at windows startup
- Set a launch schedule at RT startup to underclock (400/700)
- Set a launch schedule when hardware acceleration threshold > 0 to overclock (675/1000)
- Set a launch schedule when hardware acceleration < 1 to underclock
- Set a launch schedule at RT shutdown to default clocks (513/792)

Of course, none of this works with the new WHQL drivers so I'm still on 195.62.

 

[Qbah]

I had my HD4870 running 24/7 at 160/225 and 1.08V Since I wasn't gaming when it was running, I edited all 3 options - 2D, UVD and 3D clocks and flashed the card's BIOS with the new settings Worked like a charm. When I was selling the card, I just reflashed the stock BIOS.

 

[Marty502]

Yup.

I think my 4670's stock 2D mode was 500/750.

Took it down to 150/500 with a BIOS flash. It idles around 45&#186;C with the fan running at 20&#37;, and here it's summer so those numbers are fantastic.

 

[angry hampster]

That's a great idea..I should try this because I'm sick of how loud my computer is with my 4870 and ridiculous CPU cooler.

 

[HumblePie]

I did this a long time ago. I created my own BIOS profile for my 2D and 3D settings. 2D I have the fan at 20&#37;, 200/250 and as low as the voltage can go. For 3D I have it at 900/1000 and a higher voltage. I have the min fan speed for 3D at 55% so I start cooling a tiny bit before the temps start ramping up from 3D.

I've had my 4870x2 this way for about a year with no problems at all.

 

[thilanliyan]

All you guys flashing the BIOS, doesn't that void the warranty? Having a program like Tray Tools is almost the same isn't it...without voiding the warranty?

 

[nyker96]

I use my ATI tray tools to clock my hd4850 down: to 200/400, when gaming it auto boost to 700/1000. saves me about 10W in idling from the stock clocks of 625/800.

if you plan to try ATI tray tools in win7/64bit you need to turn on driver test mode to install it. but otherwise it works a lot better than ccc which I never use just the basic driver + ATT.

 

[fffblackmage]

I have my 4830 underclocked to 300/450. I can't change voltage via software, unfortunately. I love ATT for the auto 2D/3D clocks thing.

 

[crisium]

I use my ATI tray tools to clock my hd4850 down: to 200/400, when gaming it auto boost to 700/1000. saves me about 10W in idling from the stock clocks of 625/800.

My 4850 underclocks automatically when in 2D. No extra programs, I see it in CCC. It goes to 160/250. And I have overdrive enabled to go to 695/1090 for gaming. I can see the 4870 users complaining, but your 4850 shouldn't need tray tools. And lower it even more - try 160/250 .

Maybe Sapphire made their 4850s especially good at downclocking.