Ok I have a 8800GTS 640mb. I'm using Atitool. I want to underclock it.
I can underclock the core fine, but why cant I underclock the memory?The Core memory is the same in both 2D & 3D when I move the sliding bar.
This is what I have so far..
2D = 300/950
3DLow =400/950
3DHigh=600/950
Can anyone confirm that reducing core to less than 200 will save me a few watts, and is it worth it? I'm running Vista with Aero theme.
8800 GTS Noise Level?
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Setting the 2D/3D clock speeds through the BIOS seems to be by far the best way. 
With ATITool it works fine if you set a pair of profiles up (one called 2D/ one called 3D for example).
For Windows Vista Aero this is probably the best approach to bypass the forced 3D mode problem.
Have a look at this guide:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=86655
Step1: Create new profile called "2D".
Step 2: Move the 3D perf clock slider to your low settings "eg: 200mhz core/ 500mhz memory" and click "set clock".
Then click "Save"
Setting hotkey for your ATITool profile
Step 3: Click on "properties" and make sure both clock speeds and memory timings are ticked.
Set a hotkey too eg: by holding down the keys before pressing update eg: CTRL Z
Then click "Save" again
Step 4: Create a new profile called 3D and set your 3D clocks eg: "500mhz core / 800mhz memory"
Then click "Save" again.
Step 5: Click on "properties" and make sure both clock speeds and memory timings are ticked.
Set a hotkey too by holding down the keys before pressing update eg: CTRL X
Then click "Save" again.
You can now switch your clock speeds and memory speeds manually using the hotkeys. (so long as ATITool is running).
If you look at Mojo's posts in this thread he had better results reducing the memory speed to make the card run cooler:
viewtopic.php?t=40336
.
With ATITool it works fine if you set a pair of profiles up (one called 2D/ one called 3D for example).
For Windows Vista Aero this is probably the best approach to bypass the forced 3D mode problem.
Have a look at this guide:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=86655
Step1: Create new profile called "2D".
Step 2: Move the 3D perf clock slider to your low settings "eg: 200mhz core/ 500mhz memory" and click "set clock".
Then click "Save"
Setting hotkey for your ATITool profile
Step 3: Click on "properties" and make sure both clock speeds and memory timings are ticked.
Set a hotkey too eg: by holding down the keys before pressing update eg: CTRL Z
Then click "Save" again
Step 4: Create a new profile called 3D and set your 3D clocks eg: "500mhz core / 800mhz memory"
Then click "Save" again.
Step 5: Click on "properties" and make sure both clock speeds and memory timings are ticked.
Set a hotkey too by holding down the keys before pressing update eg: CTRL X
Then click "Save" again.
You can now switch your clock speeds and memory speeds manually using the hotkeys. (so long as ATITool is running).
If you look at Mojo's posts in this thread he had better results reducing the memory speed to make the card run cooler:
viewtopic.php?t=40336
.
Last edited by WR304 on Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You can automate the ATITool profiles a bit more to avoid quite so much manual switching.
To start ATITool at bootup and apply the lower 2D clocks:
Click on Settings- Select Startup from the Drop Down Menu and you can choose which profile is applied:
Set ATITool to run at Windows Startup
To set ATITool to automatically switch modes click on Settings- Select 3D-Detection from the Drop Down Menu:
Set ATITool to run when 3D application launches
I'm a bit concerned that the 3D application detection may not work too well with Windows Vista Aero running. Give it a try but don't be surprised if that part of ATITool doesn't work.
Have you got the newest beta as well? It may work better with Vista:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=725
.
To start ATITool at bootup and apply the lower 2D clocks:
Click on Settings- Select Startup from the Drop Down Menu and you can choose which profile is applied:
Set ATITool to run at Windows Startup
To set ATITool to automatically switch modes click on Settings- Select 3D-Detection from the Drop Down Menu:
Set ATITool to run when 3D application launches
I'm a bit concerned that the 3D application detection may not work too well with Windows Vista Aero running. Give it a try but don't be surprised if that part of ATITool doesn't work.
Have you got the newest beta as well? It may work better with Vista:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=725
.
Fantastic post, WR304. It works well on my system.
I have a simialr question about the CPU. From what I can tell, there does not seem to be a way of dynamically underclocking it. It's a Core 2 Quad. I have Speedstep enabled but it only goes down to 1.6GHz and 0.2V lower than my already undervolted 2.9V. The multiplier on this CPU is unlocked but only goes as low as 6, so the FSB would need to be adjusted somehow I think.
I have a simialr question about the CPU. From what I can tell, there does not seem to be a way of dynamically underclocking it. It's a Core 2 Quad. I have Speedstep enabled but it only goes down to 1.6GHz and 0.2V lower than my already undervolted 2.9V. The multiplier on this CPU is unlocked but only goes as low as 6, so the FSB would need to be adjusted somehow I think.
Intel Core 2 speedstep isn't as good as it could be. 
You're basically stuck at that minimum speed of 1.6ghz, 6*266mhz.
The new 333mhz Core 2 E6x50 processors are even worse as they're stuck at 1.998ghz 6*333.
For getting good overclocking performance whilst keeping the speedstep benefit you seem to need a Core 2 Extreme processor with the unlocked multiplier.
That's about as good as it gets as you can bump the multiplier without needing to touch the FSB speeds.
You're basically stuck at that minimum speed of 1.6ghz, 6*266mhz.
The new 333mhz Core 2 E6x50 processors are even worse as they're stuck at 1.998ghz 6*333.
For getting good overclocking performance whilst keeping the speedstep benefit you seem to need a Core 2 Extreme processor with the unlocked multiplier.
That's about as good as it gets as you can bump the multiplier without needing to touch the FSB speeds.
For anyone thinking of using an 8800 series card in the lower slot of a P35 motherboard to get more clearance for a Thermalright HR-03 Plus cooler:
From the manual of my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 rev 1.0 motherboard.
"Expansion Slots: 2x PCI Express x16 slots (The PCIE_16_1 slot supports x16; the PCIE_16_2 supports x4.)" Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 motherboard manual Page 10
About the best you can get with a P35 motherboard appears to be one that reconfigures to dual x8 for ATI crossfire mode.
Taken from a [H]ardOCP.com review of the Asus Blitz Formula P35 motherboard:
"The south bridge is located in front of the lower PCIe x16 slot and connects to the Crosslinx chip used for dynamically reconfiguring the PEG slots to function in a dual x8 configuration rather than the standard x16/x4 configuration seen on most P965 and P35 chipset based boards. The south bridge always ran cool thanks to the Fusion block. Another unique feature of the Blitz Formula is the Crosslinx feature. I mentioned it in passing earlier but what it does is allow the configuration of the two PCIe graphics slots (also known as PEG slots) to be changed from a standard x16/x4 configuration into a dual x8 configuration. This allows for more even bandwidth distribution of data between both cards. While there is no support for a dual x16 configuration (ostensibly due to the lack of PCIe lanes available on the P35 chipset) the need for that much bandwidth has been debated often in the community." Daniel Dobrowolski
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h ... VzaWFzdA==
I had a go at running 3D Mark 2006 with my 8800 GTS 640mb card in the lower PCI Express slot and then compared it to the upper PCI Express slot score of the motherboard.
Here are the results:
8800GTS 640mb Card 3D Mark 2006 Score in Upper PCI Express Slot of Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Motherboard
8800GTS 640mb Card 3D Mark 2006 Score in Lower PCI Express Slot of Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Motherboard
In 3D Mark 2006 the card had a frame rate getting on for twice as fast in the upper PCI Express slot. There was some noticeable stuttering with the card in the lower slot too.
It also didn't seem to work as well in Windows. It took me a few tries to open the Nvidia control panel when the card was in the lower slot.
With the Gigabyte motherboard you lose nearly all the SATA connectors when the card is in the lower PCI Express slot.
From the manual of my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 rev 1.0 motherboard.
"Expansion Slots: 2x PCI Express x16 slots (The PCIE_16_1 slot supports x16; the PCIE_16_2 supports x4.)" Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 motherboard manual Page 10
About the best you can get with a P35 motherboard appears to be one that reconfigures to dual x8 for ATI crossfire mode.
Taken from a [H]ardOCP.com review of the Asus Blitz Formula P35 motherboard:
"The south bridge is located in front of the lower PCIe x16 slot and connects to the Crosslinx chip used for dynamically reconfiguring the PEG slots to function in a dual x8 configuration rather than the standard x16/x4 configuration seen on most P965 and P35 chipset based boards. The south bridge always ran cool thanks to the Fusion block. Another unique feature of the Blitz Formula is the Crosslinx feature. I mentioned it in passing earlier but what it does is allow the configuration of the two PCIe graphics slots (also known as PEG slots) to be changed from a standard x16/x4 configuration into a dual x8 configuration. This allows for more even bandwidth distribution of data between both cards. While there is no support for a dual x16 configuration (ostensibly due to the lack of PCIe lanes available on the P35 chipset) the need for that much bandwidth has been debated often in the community." Daniel Dobrowolski
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h ... VzaWFzdA==
I had a go at running 3D Mark 2006 with my 8800 GTS 640mb card in the lower PCI Express slot and then compared it to the upper PCI Express slot score of the motherboard.
Here are the results:
8800GTS 640mb Card 3D Mark 2006 Score in Upper PCI Express Slot of Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Motherboard
8800GTS 640mb Card 3D Mark 2006 Score in Lower PCI Express Slot of Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Motherboard
In 3D Mark 2006 the card had a frame rate getting on for twice as fast in the upper PCI Express slot. There was some noticeable stuttering with the card in the lower slot too.
It also didn't seem to work as well in Windows. It took me a few tries to open the Nvidia control panel when the card was in the lower slot.
With the Gigabyte motherboard you lose nearly all the SATA connectors when the card is in the lower PCI Express slot.
I'm currently using the gigabyte 7600gt pipe, which is a really kickass card, noiseless and very cool.
But it's time to move on, and 8800gs 320mb is the best bang for the buck.
I had nothing but dissapointments with custom vga coolers in the past (tried the zalman and arctic ones).
I'd love to hear some of your experiences with the stock coolers, how noisy/quiet are they (and of course whose brand you got)
But it's time to move on, and 8800gs 320mb is the best bang for the buck.
I had nothing but dissapointments with custom vga coolers in the past (tried the zalman and arctic ones).
I'd love to hear some of your experiences with the stock coolers, how noisy/quiet are they (and of course whose brand you got)
Is that with a custom cooling or stock ?Max Slowik wrote:I have one of each of the 8800s and they're all less noisy than the idle noise of the (quiet) hard drives on my test bench. So very, very quiet.
You can knock off 5-10 degrees C by replacing the TIM on the heatsinks.
The 8600 cards I have are all as loud as the 7900s I used to have.
99% of the 8800GTS graphics card coolers on the market use the stock cooler. The only difference is the stickers.
Even the cards that use a different shroud (eg: Leadtek, EVGA ACS3 cards) have the same heatsink and fan underneath.
There's supposed to be a new version of the 8800GTS coming out in November. It could be worth waiting to see how good that is and what sort of price it is.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1227769
Even the cards that use a different shroud (eg: Leadtek, EVGA ACS3 cards) have the same heatsink and fan underneath.
There's supposed to be a new version of the 8800GTS coming out in November. It could be worth waiting to see how good that is and what sort of price it is.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1227769
Hi all. Thread resurrection. 
I have had a 8800GTX forever here and have always been bothered by its power draw. I've used nibitor to overclock it, but have been wary of adding a 2D clock setting until recently.
I'm running Vista and have managed to get the card to automatically drop to 2D clocks with a catch: the RAM clock will not change. If I set the RAM clock to something different than the 3D setting, clock speeds stay locked at full speed. So I currently have it set up to clock the core speeds down but leave RAM at full 900 MHz.
Has anyone else been trying to hack a G80 to get 2D clocks on Vista? It's unfortunate that the RAM won't cooperate.
I have had a 8800GTX forever here and have always been bothered by its power draw. I've used nibitor to overclock it, but have been wary of adding a 2D clock setting until recently.
I'm running Vista and have managed to get the card to automatically drop to 2D clocks with a catch: the RAM clock will not change. If I set the RAM clock to something different than the 3D setting, clock speeds stay locked at full speed. So I currently have it set up to clock the core speeds down but leave RAM at full 900 MHz.
Has anyone else been trying to hack a G80 to get 2D clocks on Vista? It's unfortunate that the RAM won't cooperate.
