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Question Confused with GPU Wattage Draw

Jul 18, 2024
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Hello everyone! So i've build a new gaming pc and i tried to undervolt my gpu, i while i was playing Forza Horizon 5 with everything maxed out at 2k resolution noticed my GPU wattage draw it's kinda low 125-145w for some reason, not that it disturbs me but i was wondering maybe im doing something wrong and i might damage everything. So i will add the link with some pictures maybe someone can tell me if everything is alright with it and those are my pc specs.

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View: https://imgur.com/a/Tl7WXID

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PC SPECS:

Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX

Ryzen 7 7700 (Non-X) [Undervolt: 80 Lvl: 2 All Core, Negative, 20]

DDR5 G. Skill 2x16GB 6000MHz CL30 EXPO on

Gigabyte 4070ti Gaming OC
 
Note that your memory offset is in MHz, so you're looking at a +1.45GHz memory OC in your settings there.

Also, you're not undervolting, you're underclocking and overvolting with what you've got set. Stock curve was 2550MHz/850mV, you've got 2550Mhz/900mV. If you want to undervolt, your new curve should be ABOVE the stock curve. Easiest way to do this is with a positive value core clock offset (try +200-300MHz).

Other things to try:
  • I typically run my 3060Ti at 70% power limit. I lose about 100MHz off the top, but little/no FPS drop and saves 30-40W.
  • If you want to cap your frequency (in a saved profile), start with that +200-300MHz offset, then go into the freq/voltage curve and pull all the points that are above (say 2550MHz) back down to your desired cap. Doing this will save power, potentially more than what the power limit setting would, and will also maintain a consistent max frequency. Doing the power limit-ation as above would result in a fluctuating max frequency depending on GPU load.
 
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Well I see 144FPS exactly, so do you have V-Sync, FreeSync, or G-Sync on? GPU will use a lot less power if you have a frame rate limit in place.
This^
Don't use V-Sync with VRR enabled. I generally set a FPS limiter in the Nvidia driver settings to be 5ish FPS less than my monitor's max, so 140FPS in this case. That prevents stuttering.
 
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That was a great help guys thanks a lot for the tips, appreciate much! I will try then do some changings!
 
Honestly im a little bit confused, so i tried the other way, but im getting way higher temps around 80c and more wattage usage, except if i did something wrong. But while using 900mV 2550 Core Clock and 1400 Memory Clock everything works perfectly fine, super low wattage usage and low temps around 62-65 max. Will it be okay to leave it like that or it may cause issues in the future?
 
The GPU should target around 80C before throttling back. Did the FPS go above 144FPS?

I think you have a slight misunderstanding of undervolting. In your screenshot you weren't controlling power. It was still at 100%. So if allowed the GPU will run at that lower voltage up to its power limit and temperature limit. As long as the GPU is stable at the lower voltage, you are actually allowing it to run even faster.

You can certainly run a GPU slower than its capabilities, but at that point it is kind of wasted.

If you want to control temperature and power, and still want more performance than 144FPS, set a power limit.

I often run an 80% power limit on my 3080Ti. Still does about 90% of the performance for 70W less power consumption.
 
The GPU should target around 80C before throttling back. Did the FPS go above 144FPS?

I think you have a slight misunderstanding of undervolting. In your screenshot you weren't controlling power. It was still at 100%. So if allowed the GPU will run at that lower voltage up to its power limit and temperature limit. As long as the GPU is stable at the lower voltage, you are actually allowing it to run even faster.

You can certainly run a GPU slower than its capabilities, but at that point it is kind of wasted.

If you want to control temperature and power, and still want more performance than 144FPS, set a power limit.

I often run an 80% power limit on my 3080Ti. Still does about 90% of the performance for 70W less power consumption.
As i have it now, is it safe to set the Memory Clock at 1400-1500Mhz with Power Limit 100%? I know it's a waste but since i cap my FPS at 144 and im happy with the perfomance it provides in all the games i've tried everything maxed out.
 
You are safe to set the memory to whatever you want. Makes the card faster, but if you aren't letting it generate more frames or running a higher resolution or something, it will have no impact.

Might be better off at stock with the frame limit in place.
 
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Looks like the 4070Ti goes to 1.1V and will generally hit around 2900MHz at that voltage stock. Your modified curve was limiting to 0.9V and 2550MHz.

You were underclocking the GPU, not undervolting.

Look at it this way (this is how MSI afterburner presents it), a positive value frequency offset (say +200MHz) means that instead of 2900MHz @ 1.1V stock, you're looking to hit 3100MHz @ 1.1V. 1.1V is still going to be the voltage cutoff point either way. Same for power, at 100% power limit, you're at ~2900MHz, now at 100% power limit you're at 3100MHz. If you want to realize power savings, decrease the power limit, or flatten off the curve as you've done. But make sure to leave it offset above the stock curve for the points you're using.
 
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