Is underclocking harmful to video card?

[UzairH]

The Sapphire X1950 XT comes with default 2D clocks of 500 core / 600 mem. To me this doesn't seem much lower than the default 3D clocks of 625 core / 900 mem on the core side. That's why, using ATI Tray Tools I've set the default 2D clocks to 350 / 450, since in 2D mode obviously there is no need for high performance. I'm not sure why the OEM/ATI set the 2D core clock so high... and if there is a drawback in terms of damage to the GPU by setting clocks much lower than the standard 3D clocks. Can somebody in the know enlighten me? Thank you.

 

[BFG10K]

I don't think you can damage the card through underclocking but I have seen system crashes if you go too low.

 

[josh6079]

I'm not sure why the OEM/ATI set the 2D core clock so high...

Nvidia counter parts (and even other ATi ones) are clocked higher in 2D. For as powerful of a card the X1950XT is, it's 2D clock is proabably the lowest of its breed. Heck, my X1900XT isn't even that low for 2D.

The clocks are determined by what is optimal for the GPU, not what is optimal for the programs the GPU is running. Every core has a certain range of homeostasis, and that range isn't determined by a utility but rather the architecture itself.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I set my X850Pro to 250/250, from 500/500. Seems to work fine, even for many 3D apps.
Temps are definately much lower. I did have some "wierdness" when I went lower than that though.