How to adjust clocks of Extra mode

oligo · *Last edited by oligo; 05-10-2009 at 05:31.*

I have HP HDX16T notebook with Nvidia 9600M GT DDR2 512mb videocard running vista x64 SP1 and DOX 185.68 drivers. I have been optimizing the card using rivatuner 2.24. I wish to do 3 thing:
1) Overclock the card when doing 3D work - CAD and Games
2) underclock the card when doing plain 2D work to save battery life
3) Allow the graphics card / Vista / powermizer to alternate between the various underclock, middle and overclock modes for optimum performance based on workload.

My card appears to have 4 modes: 2D, Low power 3D, Performance 3D, one other higher 3D mode similar to "Extra" when using Nibitor bios editor. The corresponding values are (core/shader/mem)2D: (169/338/100), Low power 3D: (275/550/250), Performance 3D: (400/800/400), (Extra: 500/1250/400).

I have found the minimum 2D clocks (128/256/90) and the max overclock (650/1550/562). I have set these custimised values in the registry via rivatuner. My problem is I can not adjust the "extra" mode clocks and whenever I run games / 3D apps the card reverts to the extra mode (500/1250/400) rather than the Perf 3D mode, which is of course slower than my overclock settings (650/1550/562) and defeats the purpose as these setting rarley get used.

Can this "extra" mode be set with riva tuner or Can I set the registry so that when ever the extra mode is called for it uses the Performance 3D clock settings ?
I have tried to edit the bois directly (as done on my desktop computer) but I can't extract the bios from the video card with either Nibitor v5.0 of Nvflash 4.72. I believe this is because the system bios and graphics card bios of HP notebooks are combined, so this elimates the possibilites of using nibitor to program the "extra" mode clocks.
I do not want to set the card to permantly run on performance 3D mode via rivatuner as I want to prolong battery life.
I'm sure there are guru's out there who have solved this problem, Please advise how this can be done.

oligo · 05-10-2009, 08:01 | posts: 3

Okay I've worked out how to do it for anyone else wanting to know.
First install Rivatuner 2.24 and use it to find your max overclock while using ATiTools and 3Dmark06 to check for stability, then instal Nvidia systemtools 6.03. In the nvidia control panel adjust the clocks to your tested overclock results from above (for me max was 650/1550/567) and press apply. This sets the clocks in the "extra" mode, so it is called upon when the computer need max 3D calculations. This is confirmed by using the hardware monitoring section in rivatuner whilst running 3DMark06.

Now go into rivatuner and set the 2D mode to the minimum testing clocks - the screen dosen't freeze and studder in 2D mode for me it was (128/256/90) for my card. Now if you wish adjust the low 3d, and performance 3d mode clock values and make them load at start up. Now you have full control of all 4 modes.
If you wish to utilize the max overclock settings all the time use powermizer switch application to turn off powermizer, or if you want to conserve battery power set powermizer to turn on when on battery and off when AC plugged in (Reccomended)
There you go best of all worlds - by underclocking in 2D and low 3D mode you are saving battery power, when you need the calculating power you have the overclocking setting available, and the system will still automatically downregulate the clocks if the card isn't used.
Hope this helps someone.
Good luck overclocking

_cTn_ · 05-17-2009, 22:14 | posts: 541

Hi oligo, can you explain little more how to monitor if my laptop has AC power plugged in? i would like to add some scheduler items for OC my gpu, but till i figure out how to create the battery/AC power switch is no go for me. Thank you

notabile · 05-19-2009, 23:27 | posts: 3

Oligo, it seems that I'm unlucky with your procedure. I also have a HP (Dv5) with 9600M GT DDR2 512mb and I have your same need: adjust clocks for the "extra" mode, but with every version of Forceware I have freezes installing Nvidia system tools. I hope you, or someone else, can find another workaround just using the great RivaTuner; thanks

oligo · 05-20-2009, 00:43 | posts: 3

Have you tried using the DOX drivers rather than Nvidia supplied ones ? I had driver issues with non DOX video card drivers. I also read on this forum that some people had more luck using the older systemtools versions. So far this is the only way I have found to set the extra clocks, no one has responded to my original email of how to do it in rivatuner yet, maybe one of the guru's can.
Looking through all the settings in the "power" tabs and clicking the help button, I could not see an extra mode setting.
There were however some settings to define defaults clocks and default memory settings in rivaturner\overclocking\current device - I did wonder if these would be the extra mode and if setting your overclock values here would work ? Haven't tried it yet. Also sounds more risky - if your systems doesn't boot and the computer reboot you may be left with a crashing system or blank screen.
Good Luck

notabile · 05-20-2009, 01:31 | posts: 3

I'm going crazy with every new test, DOX 185.68 and 185.85, Nvidia 185.85, 179.67, 179.28 and the HP's release 179.04...nothing! Just with 179.28 the installation did success but opening Nvidia Ctrl Panel gives a freeze; tried the system tools 6.01: same sad story. I've aborted any new test hoping that, as you have said, some "guru" will give us a solution restricted to RivaTuner application. Thanks for your attention

_cTn_ · 05-20-2009, 14:53 | posts: 541

Hi guys, so as i can see, there is no way to trigger OC of my GPU by AC/battery ? i know that mobile cards are not supported, i was just hoping, i could make my laptop "Faster" without completely disabling powermizer in AC power mode

notabile · 05-20-2009, 17:29 | posts: 3

Last attempt: "let's try the ss 6.03 english installer instead of the italian one", result: installation completed and nvidia ctrl panel working! Finally I can manage the "extra" mode thanks to your suggestions