ATi Powerplay

I was trying to change the settings for ATi Powerplay, using the Catalyst Control Center, to Optimal Battery Life from Optimal Performance when plugged in.
Then I would have it set to Optimal Battery Life when running on AC power and batteries, the reason being to reduce heat/noise, I figured that Powerplay would downclock the card so it'd produce less heat and so on and then when I wanted to play a demanding game I could change back.
However, I am unable to change it.
The slider is at Optimal Battery Life on both AC and batteries, but it says "preferred setting: Optimal Battery Life, current setting: Optimal performance"
Is there a reason it will not change?
I already rebooted to see if it made a difference, and it didn't.
Also searched AMD/ATi support and couldn't find anything
ATi Mobility X1600 (specs in sig) and Catalyst 6.10
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance

 

Do you have another program regulating ATi Powerplay, for example Notebook Hardware Control? In my case NHC has a higher priority, if I say enable Powerplay in CCC it is still disabled if I choose so in NHC.

Charlie

 

I don't have NHC, the only progam I have that may affect my graphics is ATT

 

Try turning that off before you start playing with Powerplay.

 

Have done, it made no difference

 

Maybe installing the newest drivers will help? Try Catalyst 6.11 with new CCC. Maybe it is a bug.

Good luck,

Charlie

 

You can follow our video card driver update guide here for help with that:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64910

 

I have followed your guide and have just installed the new drivers
However, the setting is still stuck at optimal performance, it just won't change
Do you think if I put the battery in it might let me change it? Because then I could run it from the battery and it wouldn't be changing the active profile or somethin......just an idea....

 

I would recommend putting in the battery; I don't know if PowerPlay actually looks for a battery or not, but if it does and can't find one, then that would probably be why you cannot change the settings.
Many ATI cards in notebooks downclock on battery regardless of whether PowerPlay is activated or not; mine does.

 

I've tried changing the settings with a battery in, but it still makes no difference
No matter what option I choose for when it's plugged in, it stays at optimal performance

 

I guess no one has any ideas then....could I underclock the graphics card manually to reduce heat and noise?
If so, what program do I need?

 

You can use ATI Tray Tools to underclock your video card.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/atitraytools/189/

 

Thanks, I did try that but I just realised I had disabled overclocking
I enabled it and I can now change the clock speed
Any recommendations on how far I can underclock, or do I need to find out for myself?
Thanks

 

That is generally something you have to find out for yourself. There's no real danger to underclocking. If you go too low, your system will freeze and restart.

How low does your video card underclock when PowerPlay is in use? If PowerPlay doesn't work on your system then try to find out from another X1600 owner; it's a good place to start. My X700 256MB goes down to something like 250 core: 190 memory, I don't clearly remember. I have successfully gotten it down to 100:100 and a few megahertz lower. In the end I found that PowerPlay works better than manual underclocking because it actually undervolts as well as underclocks the video card.

 

Powerplay doesn't work, so I'll try and find out from another X1600 owner
I did play around a bit with ATT, I made the display go all wobbly when I lowered the speeds below 100
I have it at 200/200 at the minute, I'll play around a bit more when I've got some time
I'll also try to find out other users' speeds
Thanks