MSI 4830 PowerPlay power consumption

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:07 pm

So I got the MSI R4830-T2D512; looked like they shipped the OC edition which is a whole 10mhz faster!

Anyway, it seems like PowerPlay isn't working, it stays at 585 core 900 memory. I can reduce it to 295 core and 450 memory with RivaTuner which cuts off about 5-7w or so from idle, but can I do any better? is there some way to reduce voltage or something?

I'm sitting at 87-88w idle which seems a bit high, I will take the 4830 out to see how much that drops the idle.

psiu · Post by **psiu** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:04 am

Could see what the BIOS settings are with GPU-Z (to get a copy of the BIOS) and RBE (to open it up and check speed/voltage settings). Up to you if you want to then tinker with the BIOS--make sure you read up on recovery procedures *ahead* of time.

It might not have the hardware to change voltages--but it should be able to do speed changing at least.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 7:12 am

How do I get a copy of the bios with GPU-Z?
---------------------
EDIT: nvm, figured it out.

Bios: Link

psiu · Post by **psiu** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:27 am

Looks like you can pick any voltage you like...as long as it's 1.258

.

You could start tinkering with speeds at least and see what you can save there. 00 is bootup, so just leave that alone and then tinker with 1 and 2 and see what happens.

I'm a big chicken and haven't flashed my 4670 at all so I don't know how well that works really. Plus it came with a good preset BIOS so I really don't feel the urge.

So good luck, and if you break it, someone else posted all this advice.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:43 pm

So, the put a fancy 4+1 power phase... whatever... but didn't bother to make the voltage adjustable; how nice of them.

Is there a program that can change the core and ram frequency more than RivaTuner? I seems like 295 core and 450 memory might be a little high for idle.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:26 pm

Holy crap... the 4830 increases my idle load by 34w

I took it out and im idling at 54w now...

silo · Post by **silo** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:14 pm

Ch0z3n, the 4830 msi card is an awesome solid card, and at that price @ performance you cant complain... ( temps? noise?)
i bet my leaky 4770 (3+1 power phase)consumes the same, if not more power at idle than yours. so no regrets, they are all pretty much the same. what other choice do you have? 4670 ? gts 250 ?

sampo · Post by **sampo** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:18 pm

You could try another bios.

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/inde ... &memSize=0

line · Post by **line** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:28 pm

psiu wrote:Up to you if you want to then tinker with the BIOS--make sure you read up on recovery procedures *ahead* of time.

Yep. It's a good idea to practice booting to DOS from a USB drive and have atiflash.exe ready on it.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:29 pm

pic

That is a sapphire 4830 stock I believe. Uses lower voltage and can adjust voltage and PowerPlay is actually set up...

I've got a 780g so I'd never have to do a blind flash anyway if the 4830 gets mucked up.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:19 am

So I just did some power testing and came up with some strange results. It appears that changing the GPU frequency in RivaTuner has a negligible impact on idle power consumption and the memory frequency reduces the consumption by 5w when cut from 900mhz to 450mhz.

Keep in mind the system pulls 54w from the wall at idle without the 4830.

Code: Select all

Idle: CPU .825v 5x233 (1.2ghz)

GPU/Mem      Watts
295/450   	88
575/450		88-89
650/450		88-89

295/900		93
575/900		93-94
650/900		93-94

Both RivaTuner and GPU-z were reporting the same frequencies, why wouldn't the idle power consumption go down? The GPU frequency makes some difference when running Folding@Home to load the card; though there is almost no difference between 575 and 650mhz core.

Code: Select all

F@H: CPU 1.225v 12x233 (2.8ghz)

GPU/Mem      Watts
295/450		140-142
575/450		154-156
650/450		155-157

295/900		145-146
575/900		158-159
650/900		159-162

I am so very lost, can anyone explain these results? I thought there would be a bigger difference in power consumption when changing the GPU and Memory frequencies.

psiu · Post by **psiu** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:33 am

Ch0z3n wrote:I am so very lost, can anyone explain these results? I thought there would be a bigger difference in power consumption when changing the GPU and Memory frequencies.

I think this is why most of us are pissed about not changing voltages--that's where the real savings come into play.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:43 am

That is really obnoxious. So what cards actually can under-volt? I have heard mixed reports that SOME 4670s can.

You got any thought on the Accelero Twin Turbo as a cooler for the 4830? I can't really find a decent price on the S1 rev 2 and I fear it may be too tall anyway since I plan on moving to a smaller case; probably DIY.

Klusu · Post by **Klusu** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:37 pm

Ch0z3n wrote:I thought there would be a bigger difference in power consumption ...

I thought, too
CPU's draw changes with frequency, GPU's does not.
Why? At idle, the GPU is mostly halted, there is some leekage current only (just my theory). At load? If the card does more, it must draw more...
Memory's draw - perhaps 10W at stock and 5W at half a freq - seems plausible.
Voltage is another thing. My 4670 can go down to 0.9V.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:43 pm

Too bad they don't have like a... reverse pencil mod. Some way to lower the voltage instead of increasing it.