Another little prog for power management

[IbmPad]

Hello,

I have been using a Thinkpad T42p for 5 years, and I have used the very good Notebook Hardware Control to undervolt the CPU, redefine the fan temperature thresholds and switch between low and high GPU power. But I find that NHC is too heavy, is .NET and consumes a lot of memory. So I decided to write my own program to suit my needs.

It is very far from having all the features that NHC offers ; it is just intended to be light and used on Thinkpad T4x systems. Seeing all the people here using a T4x and willing to undervolt, etc. I think my program might be useful to some of you...

Here is a screenshot : IBM_ECW.PNG (10kb)

The settings are explained in the .INI configuration file. The default settings are mine (my system is a Thinkpad T42p - Dothan 2.00Ghz (M755) - FireGL T2) except that I disabled all functions by setting the _Control variables to 0. Please review and adjust these settings to suit your needs and hardware before running the program.

If you want to try it, just copy the .INI file in your Windows folder and edit it. Copy the .EXE in the folder of your choice, along with the .SYS driver (the program will try to copy it to the System32\Drivers folder, but you can do it yourself if it doesn't work) and run it. The main window can be shown by double clicking on the tray icon or by issuing Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T.

Please note that I tried to make it the most stable (and using it for 2 months without any problem) but tried it on only 2 computers so you might encounter a freeze or BSOD, so please save your work before trying it.

A few remarks :
- When the driver starts, it tries to patch in memory the AcpiEC driver to prevent it from issuing warnings in the event log. My Windows version is a French XP SP3, I don't know if it will work on another versions.
- CPU freq/voltage control will only work properly on Pentium M processors, and automatic control doesn't work on Windows 2000 (because of the API used not being present)
- The formulae & access method used for GPU frequency control is only based on a few experimentation with *my* GPU (FireGL T2) so be cautious if using this feature.

Here is the download link : IBM_ECW.ZIP (11 kb)

If someone wants to try it, could you report whether it works or not. Thanks.

[RealBlackStuff]

To inspire anybody here to try your program, perhaps you should make an English version, or offer English as an option.
Also, there are not that many Thinkpads with FireGL T2 GPU.
Perhaps you can confirm if this also works on ATI 7500/9000/9600 graphics and integrated Intel graphics?

[Adda]

Yup this program looks like something I'd love to use, just needs to be in English, and I'd like hotkeys to switch between PowerPlay settings.

[IbmPad]

Sorry, there are some things I forgot to say :
Firstly, the screenshot is in French but the program should be in English if used on a non-French Windows version (but I cannot check whether it works or not since I don't have one). If it doesn't work, I will use another method.

Then some details about GPU Frequency control : I remember I found the method in a Linux module (perhaps Rovclock) : it reads and write on I/O ports Base+0x8 and Base+0xC. It works on my two computers : ThinkPad T42p (FireGL T2) and ThinkPad T30 (Mobility Radeon 7500) : for the latter I just had to set the Cristal constant to 1350 instead of 2700 for the memory clock only... I think it should work on 9600s also : in any case you can try it in read-only mode to see if it reports the frequencies correctly. However it will not work with Intel graphics.

To Adda : I added some hotkey settings in the INI file (I updated the ZIP on my first post). In any case, feel free to ask for new features or if the program doesn't work the way you want.

[Adda]

Sorry, there are some things I forgot to say :
Firstly, the screenshot is in French but the program should be in English if used on a non-French Windows version (but I cannot check whether it works or not since I don't have one). If it doesn't work, I will use another method.

Then some details about GPU Frequency control : I remember I found the method in a Linux module (perhaps Rovclock) : it reads and write on I/O ports Base+0x8 and Base+0xC. It works on my two computers : ThinkPad T42p (FireGL T2) and ThinkPad T30 (Mobility Radeon 7500) : for the latter I just had to set the Cristal constant to 1350 instead of 2700 for the memory clock only... I think it should work on 9600s also : in any case you can try it in read-only mode to see if it reports the frequencies correctly. However it will not work with Intel graphics.

To Adda : I added some hotkey settings in the INI file (I updated the ZIP on my first post). In any case, feel free to ask for new features or if the program doesn't work the way you want.

Well this all sounds very nice, I'll test out your nifty little program on my T43p, one of the following days and report my findings.
I'd like to test it out now but it's display went all whacky the other day (GPU is fine though) so I'm waiting for some parts to get it back on track.
I have actually missed having a program with the exact feature set of yours, I'll be able to get rid of ATi CCC, RMClock and TPFanControl and just run this single light weight app, very nice.

Oh, just a minor feature request, I'd like to see temp monitors for the PCI (northbridge) and BUS (southbridge) sensors as well.

[Adda]

Alright, I got impatient and mounted an XGA display on my T43p and got testing.

It seems this app don't work too well with CPU's with 533MHz bus, it reports the wrong CPU freq.
Min freq should be 800Mhz, IBM_ECW reports 600MHz.
Max freq should be 1866MHz, IBM_ECW reports 1600MHz.
So it seems the app doesn't take the high bus frequency in to account.

As for CPU voltages, at the minimum freq it works fine, it's set to 0.7v and that it what all my apps report.
At max freq it's set to 1.068v in IBM_ECW, but all my apps including IBM_ECW reports 1.148v.
I don't know how it does with intermediate freq's.

Config:

Code: Select all

[CPU]
Cpu_Control=1
Timer=200
Usage_Threshold=50
Min_Freq=800
Min_mV=700
Max_Freq=1866
Max_mV=1068

GPU control sort of works, I can enable or disable powerplay just fine, but IBM_ECW can't read the clock frequencies of my FGL V3200 GPU at all (blank space), could be because I haven't found the correct base I/O address, how do I find that exactly?

Config:

Code: Select all

[GPU]
GPU_Control=1
GPU_FactC=2700
GPU_FactM=2700
GPU_Base=0x3000 (I have tried different settings here from what I could find in devmgmt)
GPU_Manual_Sl=0
GPU_PowerPlay=1
GPU_CFreq0=10462
GPU_MFreq0=12150
GPU_CFreq1=20925
GPU_MFreq1=18225
GPU_CFreq2=40000
GPU_MFreq2=25000

Fan control seems to work as intended, except IBM_ECW finds two sensors called UBT1 and UBT2, which reports 128, so the fan just goes to max speed.
A simple fix would be to add a function for ignoring certain sensors.

Is there any way of uninstalling the driver IBM_ECW installs?

Anyway, I'd say this is a very good start, I like the neat layout of the config file and the good descriptions of what different settings do.

[IbmPad]

All the symptoms you describe seem to indicate that the program cannot read the INI file. As I said in the first post, the .INI file must be located in the Windows folder (C:\Winnt or C:\Windows). Perhaps it would be more convenient if the INI file were in the app folder, I will maybe change that later.
However, it currently switches only between the two CPU frequencies & voltages preset in the INI file.
I also added a button to uninstall the driver & automatic startup.

[Adda]

Oops, well gotta' read more carefully, the config file has now been put in the windows directory.

With the settings I posted above, starting IBM_ECW now crashes the system, just a basic freeze, no fancy colors or anything.
If I disable CPU control, the program can be started, it still reports clock frequencies as if the FSB was 400MHz rather then 533MHz, strangely, it only reports up to 1400MHz now.

Enabling or disabling PowerPlay, with the settings posted above, now crashes the system, again just a freeze.

Fan control works as intended.

Will just post this before tinkering more, brb crashes ahead

Edit: GPU frequencies are shown as 0MHz for the core and 27MHz for the memory, actual clocks are 105Mhz core and 122Mhz mem.

Edit2: maybe IBM_ECW doesn't like PCI-Express and the DDR2 architecture of the T43/R52?

Edit3: downloaded the new version of IBM_ECW, it seems I can enable and disable Powerplay without crashes now, must have been something else before.

[IbmPad]

You are right about the FSB, I completely forgot that. For the moment please download the new version and add the following line in the configuration file (I hope it will work). When I have time, I will try to make it detect the FSB automatically.

Code: Select all

[CPU]
Cpu_MultFact=133

I am more pessimistic about GPU frequencies, I will search infos about it...

[Adda]

For the sake of simplicity, you might want to consider leaving the FSB setting manual.
It doesn't matter to me as long as I can set it so that it works, people using this app have to configure it anyway.

If there is any info about the FGL V3200 I can provide, just tell me what you need, I'll see what I can do.

[Adda]

The 'Cpu_MultFact=133' setting works, IBM_ECW now reports the correct frequencies, and I can use my undervolted settings without crashes, good job!

[IbmPad]

Perhaps GPU frequency control might work, but the base address could be incorrect. To compare with my specs, could you tell me what are the I/O ranges of your GPU (in the Resources tab of devmgmt) ? I have 3000-30FF, 03B0-03BB and 03C0, 03DF.

[Adda]

I/O ranges are as follows:

2000-20FF
03B0-03BB
03C0-03DF

[IbmPad]

Perhaps you can try to set Gpu_Base=0x2000 (maybe you tried that already)

[Adda]

I set the I/O base address in the config file to 0x2000, the result is that IBM_ECW reads the GPU freq's as 418/243 (real clock is 105/122) with with PowerPlay in Max Battery mode, in Max Performance mode it reads 405/256 (close enough to default 400/250).

[Adda]

Ok if I set PowerPlay control to Manual in the config, the behavior changes, config is still as posted above otherwise.

Max Battery reads as 94/121 in IBM_ECW, actual clocks are 47/61
Balanced reads 202/175, actual clock is 101/88
Max Performance reads 391/243, actual clock is 196/122

Edit: Default clocks for the different PowerPlay modes are as follows (approx):

Max Battery 105/122
Balanced 209/182
Max Performance 405/257

[IbmPad]

I realize my app can be confusing and not well-designed... In fact the "Powerplay" button completely rely on Atipdlxx.dll that comes with the driver to set Powerplay to Max performance or to Max battery (when sunken). I wasn't aware of the Balanced mode (my GPU probably doesn't support it...)
The slider and frequency shown are unrelated to Powerplay, they adjust the frequency directly (those that are set in the configuration file). But when Powerplay is activated (in Max battery), the latter also changes the frequency and other things. In my case, the frequency shown in the program and set by the slider is the frequency as if Powerplay were disabled : I manually set the frequency to 54/54. When PP is to Max Perf other apps report 54/54 and when PP is to Max Battery (sunken button), other apps report 27/27 (in fact I don't know what the right real freq is).

Additionally you might have to set your Gpu_FactC & _M to 1350 instead of 2700...

[Adda]

That did the trick! it seems to work, will tinker some more and report back.

[Adda]

Ok, so IBM_ECW can enable or disable PowerPlay with the button marked, well 'PowerPlay', when PowerPlay is enabled in IBM_ECW it uses the ATi CCC PowerPlay setting, weather it be Max Performance, Max Battery or Balanced, am I right?

The slider in IBM_ECW only switches between custom clocks set in the IBM_ECW config file.

I had an R50p once, I don't think it had the Balanced PowerPlay setting either, it must be something that where introduced with the X300/X600/V3200.

Overclocking while PowerPlay is set to Balanced can give some real nice and cool running performance.

In Balanced mode, my V3200 is almost stable up to 500/285Mhz, to be completely stable I have to go all the way down to 360/285 though, max temp at that speed is in the early-mid 70'sC for the GPU.

It would be nice if IBM_ECW supported more PowerPlay options, so that you could set a custom clock for each PowerPlay setting, in my case 360/285 for Balanced, no change for Max Performance (HOT), donno how fast Max Battery can run.

[Adda]

By the way, to read GPU clocks, you can try GPUz.

[IbmPad]

Ok, I changed the behavior of Powerplay control : I replaced the button with a 3-position slider, so that you can choose between Max battery, Balanced (don't know if it works as my GPU does not support it) and Max Performance. I also added another behavior : if you set GPU_Control to 3 in the config file, the two sliders (frequencies and Powerplay) are tied together, so that you can assign a custom frequency for each Powerplay mode.

[Adda]

This sounds brilliant, I'll test it out this evening and let you know how it works out.

[Adda]

Ok, my initial finding is that the balanced PowerPlay setting doesn't work, Max Battery and Max Performance works fine.

I was a bit too quick.

It seems IBM_ECW doesn't switch between PowerPlay modes correctly, I can't read the GPU voltages so it's a bit tricky.

With PowerPlay set to Max Performance in IBM_ECW, the GPU clock readings doesn't change, but the actual GPU clock does.

Max Performance = 203/122
Max Battery = 51/122

Could have something to do with the custom clocks I have set in the config file, I haven't enabled the combined PowerPlay slider just yet.

Here is my current config for the GPU portion:

Code: Select all

[GPU]
GPU_Control=2
GPU_FactC=1350
GPU_FactM=2700
GPU_Base=0x2000
GPU_Manual_Sl=0
GPU_PowerPlay=1
GPU_CFreq0=10462
GPU_MFreq0=12150
GPU_CFreq1=20925
GPU_MFreq1=18225
GPU_CFreq2=36000
GPU_MFreq2=28500

With PowerPlay set to Max Performance and the frequency slider at the minimum frequency, clocks are 203/122 (IBM_ECW shows 101/121), if I step up the frequency slider to the middle position I get 419/182 (IBM_ECW shows 209/182), at the max position the system freezes with fancy colors.

With the PowerPlay slider at Max Battery and frequency slider at minimum clocks are 51/122 (IBM_ECW shows 101/121) if I put the frequency slider at the middle position clocks are 105/182 (IBM_ECW shows 209/182).
With the freq slider at max I get 179/284 (IBM_ECW reads 357/283).

As far as I can tell, PowerPlay settings in IBM_ECW do work, except the Balanced position does nothing.

If I set the PowerPlay mode to Balanced in ATi CCC the frequency slider in IBM_ECW sets the clocks in yet another way (101/61, 209/91, 258/142).
It seems IBM_ECW shows the clocks as they should have been, but in reality they are quite different.

Is it just me, or does it look like GPU frequencies are calculated differently depending on PowerPlay mode?

[RealBlackStuff]

Here is all the terminology you want for calculating, underclocking and overclocking: http://www.overclock.net/t/91/ultimate- ... king-guide
I don't understand half of it, but that's OK.

[Adda]

I have three 50% CPU overclocks with air cooling behind me, I have even volt modded a Radeon 9700 Pro once, then I got a ThinkPad A30...

I suspect that PowerPlay changes the GPU clocks using a multiplier rather then changing the base clock (effective clock = base clock X multiplier, fx 3x100=300MHz).
PowerPlay also changes the GPU voltage, Radeon 9600/FGL T2 have two PowerPlay settings, equating to two different voltages and clock frequencies.
X300, X600 and FGL V3200 has three voltages and clock frequencies.
But figuring out the inner workings of a GPU is not as easy as a CPU.

If IBM_ECW could set custom frequencies for each of the supported voltages, we could in effect undervolt the GPU, just like many of us do with out Pentium M's.
But since we have limited voltages to work with, we can't just undervolt the GPU as it would not be stable at default clocks at the next step down in voltage, so a custom clock frequency will have to be set.
Tools like ATi Tray Tools, can be used to find out how fast the GPU can run at a specific voltage (PowerPlay setting), I can run my V3200 at 360/285MHz at medium voltage (PowerPlay Balanced), default clock is 400/250MHz, but since it doesn't get hot while in Balanced mode, I might as well overclock the video memory a bit to compensate for the lower core frequency.
Overclocking basically doesn't harm hardware as long as it's not overvolted too much and kept from overheating.

[IbmPad]

Hi,

I corrected some bugs and updated the files :

• regarding GPU frequency control, I had forgotten to take in account a value to compute the frequencies, it should now work better and regardless of the active PowerPlay state (Adda, if you are reading this, I think you will have to set back both GPU_FactC & GPU_FactM to 2700) ;
• the PowerPlay "Balanced" state might work now (just tried another value but cannot test it) ;
• patching of the "acpiec" driver to avoid the eventlog issue should also work on Vista/7 now (cannot test it either) ;
• some minor changes in the driver and the program.

I hope it will work better now and that new bugs have not been introduced...

[Adda]

Hello again IbmPad good to see you are still at it

I'll test out your app tonight and let you know how it works.

[Adda]

This is GREAT you app is now ready to replace TPFanControl, ATi Tray Tools (Ok still use this for 3d settings, but no need to autorun), ATi CCC and RMClock.

All I'm missing is intermediate CPU frequencies and some more hotkey options, fx. I could assign a clock frequency and PowerPlay setting to one hot key, so I can load a PowerPlay profile and custom clock with one key combo.
In other words, a hotkey that loads PowerPlay "1" and GPU_M/CFreq "1", but also one for the same PowerPLay setting but GPU_M/CFreq "2", as I have no need for the Max Performance mode.

Edit: it would be neat if I could minimize IBM_ECW to the tray by clicking the tray icon.

Edit2: hotkeys that change both PowerPlay setting and clock, should probably have some delay function built in, to ensure that the right powerplay profile has been activated before the new clock is applied.

[Adda]

It would be really neat if IBM_ECW could replace quietHDD as well.

https://sites.google.com/site/quiethdd/

[Adda]

I better share some of my experiences with PowerPlay settings.

The different profiles change things as follows:
Max Performance is what it looks like, GPU and MEM on max speed and voltage.
Balanced, here the GPU is undervolted, but the memory remains at the same voltage, and can run at the same speeds as in Max Performance mode. The video memory seems to be undervolted as well.
Max Battery, here the GPU is undervolted to the same voltage as in Balanced mode, so the GPU can run at the same speeds.
The memory is undervolted as well, but performance at a given clock speed is lower then that of the Balanced or Max Performance profiles.
This makes me think the video memory is working at 64bit in Max Battery mode.

I donno how it works on the 9600/T2, it would be good if the Max Battery mode on these cards is the equivalent of Balanced on the X600/V3200.
To test this, find a GPU/MEM clock that is stable in both Max Battery and Max Performance mode, and compare how they perform.

Edit: To make the tray icon for IBM_ECW fit better with various themes, it would nice if it had a transparent "background", rather then a grey one.
Edit2: The highest memory clock in Max Performance mode is limited by operating temperature.