2d vs 3d clocks 8800GT

[Version_3]

I see that ATITool has it, and I think the the bios allows for it as well. Let me try this and see if I'm right.

Does the 2d clocks apply to normal desktop rendering and 3d clocks to gaming/3d apps?

Lets say the 2d clocks are set at 625/1600/1800 (stock for my card) and 3d at 670/1620/1900 (my current clocks). Would I be lowering heat/power usage in 2d and auto-clocking up when I enter 3d?

 

[Nenu]

The 8800 series cards only have one speed setting so there are no 2D/3D clocks.
To see if it would make much difference when the card is idle at different speeds, I did some testing.

These are the results of my whole PCs power consumption at idle:
Stock clocks: 625 / 900, total power = 161W
Overclock 760 / 930, total power = 162W
Lowest clocks 315 / 450, total power = 156W

The lowest clock setting I used is too low for many games to run, they just exit unceremoniously so is here for educational purposes

So the absolute max benefit I will get is 5W from stock and 6W from overclocked.
If the clocks were to be lowered dynamically, they wouldnt be as low so the savings would probably be around 1/2 of the above.

I can see why NVidia werent too bothered about implementing separate 2D/3D clocks, or maybe they designed the cards to not use throttling to enhance reliability.

 

[Version_3]

Yeah, after seeing those numbers, I totally side with you on that. Thanks!