T41p GPU Underclocking when AC

[agarza]

I use NHC, but there's no way to make NHC control the Powerplay settings.
I've installed other drivers than the current drivers from IBM/Lenovo dated from 2005. Tried the Omega Drivers and the Modded 7500 Radeon driver around the forum.

But everytime I install those drivers, the screen on my T42p acts weirdely, it flickers, as if it the monitor refresh rate were 50Hz.

I can control Powerplay settings in NHC, but the flickering makes my eyes get tired.

Have anyone of you has experienced this behaviour?

Is there a fix to this, so that I could underclock the GPU when AC?

[Dead1nside]

I don't know an auto sensing way, but you can underclock your GPU with AtiTool.

[agarza]

I don't know an auto sensing way, but you can underclock your GPU with AtiTool.

Please give me more details on how to do it on AtiTool, last time I modified a value on that software, the screen started to spin like crazy and I couldn't see anything.

[Dead1nside]

Create a new profile say called Underclocked. Then set the sliders down to the appropriate levels and save them.

If this does not work, it is definitely something along those lines. Just fiddle with creating a new profile with lower clocked levels on both memory and core and then save it and run the profile.

You will now be running an underclocked GPU. You will have to do that everytime you want it underclocked.

Sorry this is the only solution that comes to mind.

[Bgradid]

I have a similar issue with my t42p , you have SXGA+ screen right?
This issue has nothing to do with the GPU frequency, but an improper detection of the screen by ati drivers, its an issue i've had to put up with time and again.

Sticking to official IBM drivers and/or using dhmod tools with the official ATI drivers is all that makes the flicker go away for me.

I just hope i don't have this issue when I move to vista, it makes it impossible for me to use linux because of this issue, ugh.

[agarza]

Create a new profile say called Underclocked. Then set the sliders down to the appropriate levels and save them.

If this does not work, it is definitely something along those lines. Just fiddle with creating a new profile with lower clocked levels on both memory and core and then save it and run the profile.

You will now be running an underclocked GPU. You will have to do that everytime you want it underclocked.

Sorry this is the only solution that comes to mind.

The thing is, how low should I set the values?

Default are Core 30.20 & Memory 19.27. What are the safe values to apply??

I have a similar issue with my t42p , you have SXGA+ screen right?
This issue has nothing to do with the GPU frequency, but an improper detection of the screen by ati drivers, its an issue i've had to put up with time and again.

Sticking to official IBM drivers and/or using dhmod tools with the official ATI drivers is all that makes the flicker go away for me.

I just hope i don't have this issue when I move to vista, it makes it impossible for me to use linux because of this issue, ugh.

Yes, I've a 1400x1050 pixels LCD. I get that error even using the DHtool mod with the newest ATI drivers.
So, how do you underclock your GPU?

[Bgradid]

Again it has nothing to do with the clock rate of the GPU, changing its frequency will do nothing to solve your problem.

Did you download the normal ATI radeon drivers when you tried the DHMod tool or did you use the firegl ones? You have to do it with the ATI Radeon drivers oddly enough, but, it works great

[agarza]

Again it has nothing to do with the clock rate of the GPU, changing its frequency will do nothing to solve your problem.

Did you download the normal ATI radeon drivers when you tried the DHMod tool or did you use the firegl ones? You have to do it with the ATI Radeon drivers oddly enough, but, it works great

Could you, if possible post the direct links to the versions of ATi drivers & DHMod Tool so that I could test your method??

[Dead1nside]

Again it has nothing to do with the clock rate of the GPU, changing its frequency will do nothing to solve your problem.

Did you download the normal ATI radeon drivers when you tried the DHMod tool or did you use the firegl ones? You have to do it with the ATI Radeon drivers oddly enough, but, it works great

I was answering his direct question not his problems, of course underclocking it won't let it be configured by powerplay. Just use the FireGL Mobility drivers from the site. I'm using IBM's driver, seems fine to me.

[agarza]

I'm using 2005 drivers from IBM/Lenovo for my FireGL T2. But again, I can get Powerplay to work with NHC, and neither I can set the Powerplay to reduce GPU performace in AC under the Adapter properties.

So, ultimately which driver should I install to run a cool laptop (as If I were in DC Mode)

[Dead1nside]

So can you enable powerplay in the graphics settings?

You just can't in NHC?

[Milos]

I'm using 2005 drivers from IBM/Lenovo for my FireGL T2. But again, I can get Powerplay to work with NHC, and neither I can set the Powerplay to reduce GPU performace in AC under the Adapter properties.

So, ultimately which driver should I install to run a cool laptop (as If I were in DC Mode)

@benottomex: I think I'm trying to do the same as you, except on my A31 with an ATI Radeon 7500/32MB. In used the modified Radeon driver done by troubadix (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=16480), and while I now (with this new driver) get the option to turn on Powerplay in NHC (the option was grayed out before with the standard IBM driver), I can't find the powerplay control panel options anywhere outside NHC.

And, even with NHC, I don't see the card clocking down (as reported by NHC-prerel-04), on AC or on battery.

Any thoughts?

Milos

[agarza]

@Milos: Yes, I've installed that driver, but my screen flickers as stated above.
Referring to the thing you say about not getting the Powerplay settings outside NHC, i must remind you to install the Control Panel in the other folder created when you extracted the zip.

I've noticed that intrinsically my laptop runs very hot, even when I'm running on battery (which means Powerplay gets activated). I was on a ventilated room, but the CPU temp was 46C (600MHz, 0.648V) and the GPU about 48. Then later it rose to 50C the GPU Temp.

I think it doesn't matter to much the GPU when underclocked, unless it is being used when gaming, where you could see temp drops (AT FULL LOAD).

[Milos]

@Milos: Yes, I've installed that driver, but my screen flickers as stated above.
Referring to the thing you say about not getting the Powerplay settings outside NHC, i must remind you to install the Control Panel in the other folder created when you extracted the zip.

Yep, I installed the control panel after the driver, as noted in the other thread (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=16480). The screenshot there shows Catalyst 5.10 panels which I definitely didn't have before, confirming that the control panel part (at least to some degree) did get installed (there were fewer panels in the control panel after installing the driver but before the control panel).

I've noticed that intrinsically my laptop runs very hot, even when I'm running on battery (which means Powerplay gets activated). I was on a ventilated room, but the CPU temp was 46C (600MHz, 0.648V) and the GPU about 48. Then later it rose to 50C the GPU Temp.

I think it doesn't matter to much the GPU when underclocked, unless it is being used when gaming, where you could see temp drops (AT FULL LOAD).

Now I'm confused. Is Powerplay useful for reducing power consumption of the GPU in normal use, or only for gaming and really demanding GPU use like 3D?? (a scenario that I don't care about that much). I thought that you could configure Powerplay to underclock and undervolt your GPU -- NHC lets me turn on Powerplay, but then doesn't seem to indicate any change in the ATI clock/memory frequency..

Milos