Difference between powerplay and overdrive?

With all the great work from posters like Xeven, Ziddy, et al. G73 users that choose to flash their vbios now have access to utilities not originally included in the stock vbios: namely Overdrive and Powerplay. I am a bit confused on the details regarding the differences between the two tools though.

As far as I understand, overdrive allows the user to set target GPU and GPU memory clocks which will be activated when 3D applications are used. When you close the 3D apps, clocks revert back to default.

1. But how does powerplay differ from overdrive?

2. Does powerplay set the default clocks that overdrive will shift back to for 2D?

3. If you use a powerplay profile to underclock the GPU for on-battery or movie usage (overdrive enabled), will your GPU still ramp up to the Overdrive target clocks for 3D apps?

Thanks in advance for the help!

DLM

 

Powerplay is for power savings (will downclock), overdrive is overclocking (will upclock).

Overdrive is generally disabled on notebooks, while powerplay is rather pointless on desktops.

 

Thanks DCx,

One more quick clarification: In the case that overdrive and powerplay conflict, which one takes precedence?

For example: If powerplay is set to a 200/500 clock for power saving and overdrive is set to a 800/1100 overclock which clock is used when entering a 3D app? Once leaving the application, which clock will be used?

Thanks,

DLM