Underclocking logical for retired gamer?

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InnocentNoobie

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
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Hey guys, I've always loved these forums and have enjoyed coming here for a long time.

I built a gaming machine a while ago, I can dig up the full details if requested, but here's the basics:
Radeon 4870 HD 512mb
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 4ghz
4GB Ram

I had a lot of fun gaming on this machine since I've built it over 2 years ago, but these days I have a full-time job, girlfriend, etc, etc, etc.... and I just started night classes! I have basically NO time! I'm feeling like I should sell... but I can't bring myself to do it, gonna wait at least 2 weeks to think it over.

In the meantime, all I use it for is work, email, web surfing, excel, and watching movies and listening to music. I'm wondering if it's logical to underclock the hardware, to save on energy and wear and tear? My computer puts out a shit load of heat, and even in winter it heats up my office at home (well I'm in Texas)
 
buy a 4350 for like 15 bux tops on ebay and take ur video card out put ur cpu at stock speed and let speed step do its job.. i dont see how ur pc runs very hot with those specs
 
Maybe it doesn't run hot relative to some of the machines that are commonly seen on these forums, but it runs hot in the sense that my office runs up to 10 degrees warmer than the nearly identical room next door if I am working in there all day.
 
Just enable the power-saving features for your CPU in your motherboard BIOS and leave everything as-is. Both the video card and CPU will automatically underclock in low-load situations, so there's no need for you to interfere.
 
That 4870 generates a shitload of heat. You could open up the catalyst control center, and enable overdrive, then dial down those 2 clock speeds all the way. That drops my GPU temps by over 10 deg C when I'm just web browsing and messing around not gaming.
 
Zero82z said:
Just enable the power-saving features for your CPU in your motherboard BIOS and leave everything as-is. Both the video card and CPU will automatically underclock in low-load situations, so there's no need for you to interfere.
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Same thing I was going to respond with.

I wouldn't bother trying to 'underclock' the system, just use the power saving feature and it will be good enough.
 
Honestly, when I read the title I was expecting more like "I'm 60 years old and I don't game any more"

Anyways, the 4870 idles a little high on the wattage side.
But other than changing that out, you'll be fine with how it is.

Also, bumping the E8400 back down to 3Ghz will help with the heat.
 
The main issue is likely the 4870, that generation does not have the same modern idle power savings features of the 5000/6000 series. A somewhat sidegrade to say a 5770 could do wonders in this regard. But I'm not sure if it would be worth the money (possibly depends on how much you can resell the 4870 for).

I assume you increased vcore on the e8400 for the overclock? Decrease your OC to the maximum allowed at stock voltage (if you still want to keep somewhat of an OC), vcore increases generally contribute more relatively to power/heat.

Also it is likely you have power savings features disabled for the overclock.

Another thing you can try is using "rmclock," it will allow you to decrease the multiplier value on your CPU in windows and locking it there until you change it if you want more control.
 
InnocentNoobie said:
Hey guys, I've always loved these forums and have enjoyed coming here for a long time.

I built a gaming machine a while ago, I can dig up the full details if requested, but here's the basics:
Radeon 4870 HD 512mb
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 4ghz
4GB Ram

I had a lot of fun gaming on this machine since I've built it over 2 years ago, but these days I have a full-time job, girlfriend, etc, etc, etc.... and I just started night classes! I have basically NO time! I'm feeling like I should sell... but I can't bring myself to do it, gonna wait at least 2 weeks to think it over.

In the meantime, all I use it for is work, email, web surfing, excel, and watching movies and listening to music. I'm wondering if it's logical to underclock the hardware, to save on energy and wear and tear? My computer puts out a shit load of heat, and even in winter it heats up my office at home (well I'm in Texas)
Click to expand...


1. you aren't retired you are in hibernation.
2. you'll be back
 
lol i agree with Dnottis, anyways im houston area or lows arn't that low in tempature, but you will still get cold due to the humidity, the 4xxx cards put out some heat my 5770 refrance cooler runs nice and cool and performs good i would sell it and buy a 5770 they have dropped in price by alot i think you can get one at $100 after a MIR ofcourse
ps sorry for the grammer mistakes its late here im tired lol going to bed now
 
Cmustang87 said:
That 4870 generates a shitload of heat. You could open up the catalyst control center, and enable overdrive, then dial down those 2 clock speeds all the way. That drops my GPU temps by over 10 deg C when I'm just web browsing and messing around not gaming.
Click to expand...

Ya I always thought this card was the main contributer to all of the heat
 
What I'm currently looking at is the Accelero Twin Turbo Pro, Koolertek has it for $39. I want to get another year out of my 4870, but the heat generation is intolerable, and at these temps it may not even last that long.
 
It depends on what your goal is, if you want to simply reduce the temp of card, then better cooling will help. But this will not change the heat dumped into your room, well not any conventional form of cooling anyways.

Though I'm wondering if you should consider selling that thing locally and seeing what you'd get new for the sell price + $39.
 
limitedaccess said:
It depends on what your goal is, if you want to simply reduce the temp of card, then better cooling will help. But this will not change the heat dumped into your room, well not any conventional form of cooling anyways.

Though I'm wondering if you should consider selling that thing locally and seeing what you'd get new for the sell price + $39.
Click to expand...

~ an AMD 5770, which is not much of an upgrade, it's a sidegrade + DX11
 
You also get the temperature benefits, and actual less heat output (not just the chip temperature), a slightly lower power bill maybe, new card (should last longer due to averages), will probably itself have better resell value for the same price, of course the slightly improved feature set (eg DX 11), so something to think about versus getting a new cooler.
 
If you really want to have some fun drop your vcore down to 0.65v and set your cpu up for 500mgz .
then start raseing the speed on the cpu and find out just how far you can go before it needs more vcore.
Find the sweet spot at the lowest vcore and if your lucky you wont even need a heat sink anymore and or it will need a heat sink that is barely deserving of the name. :cool:
 
You can flip your 4870 for a 5770 which will give you Eyefinity and DX11 while saving you power. It'll be a net $20-$30.
 
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