Can an underclock save power?

[Drael646464]

I'm going to get built an offgrid PC (run on solar). So everything about it is low power. Custom built NUC. i5-7300U CPU, passively cooled, non-mechanical disks, low power display, a mere 10 watts for the amps for the speakers. It has ctdp down, so I can turn the whole system into mellow mode, and use probably very little.

So this particularly chipset has thunderbolt. And you can get pretty easy egpu in the form of that Lenovo jobbie (it's got a GTX 1050 inside). But 75+watts is a bit steep when I doubt the whole system so far will use more than that most of the time.

So I kinda wondered, if I halved the frequency would I still get some benefit over the intergrated GPU, and use half the power (when I actually use the thing, which would only be sometimes)

It might not be something I do, but it'll be new for me to have thunderbolt and I'll pretty much be mentally compelled to use it for something.

Thoughts?

 

[Golfdriver97]

In theory, yes. Underclocking can save power. However, NUCs use mobile CPUs anyway, which don't have a high power consumption use as it is.

I almost think this is going to be more trouble than it's worth. As you underclock, your performance will also decrease.

 

[Drael646464]

In theory, yes. Underclocking can save power. However, NUCs use mobile CPUs anyway, which don't have a high power consumption use as it is.

I almost think this is going to be more trouble than it's worth. As you underclock, your performance will also decrease.

No I wasn't going to underclock the NUC. That has a cTDP down setting anyway, should I need to save power I can just use the power setting to acheive that.

I was thinking of (if it's possible), underclocking the eGPU in the Lenovo dock which features a GTX 1050.

That eGPU is 75 watts which would likely be more that the entirety of the rest of my system, sound amp and 50 inch TV included, and I've heard that the 1050 can basically handle any game at 1080p which is probably more gaming boost than I need (most I play is some top down RPGs and maybe GTA V or a racing game).

If it's possible to underclock that eGPU and save power, then the option would exist for me to boost the NUCs intergrated graphics should I ever need it, without completely ruining the effeciency.

 

[Golfdriver97]

No I wasn't going to underclock the NUC. That has a cTDP down setting anyway, should I need to save power I can just use the power setting to acheive that.

I was thinking of (if it's possible), underclocking the eGPU in the Lenovo dock which features a GTX 1050.

That eGPU is 75 watts which would likely be more that the entirety of the rest of my system, sound amp and 50 inch TV included, and I've heard that the 1050 can basically handle any game at 1080p which is probably more gaming boost than I need (most I play is some top down RPGs and maybe GTA V or a racing game).

If it's possible to underclock that eGPU and save power, then the option would exist for me to boost the NUCs intergrated graphics should I ever need it, without completely ruining the effeciency.

Sorry I misunderstood. I'm honestly not sure what would happen if you cut the power even more. That is a pretty good GPU for it's power level as it is.

 

[Drael646464]

Sorry I misunderstood. I'm honestly not sure what would happen if you cut the power even more. That is a pretty good GPU for it's power level as it is.

Yeah 75 watts TDP is great for it's power.

It's just a bit high in an offgrid solar house. Sort of an usual circumstance.

I might just have to put up with the 620 intergrated. As I understand it, that can handle some light games. 400 bucks is a bit crazy to spend on something that might not even be able to be underclocked, or not work as intended. Either that or I use it at 75 watts, but only in the summer evenings lol.