Does powerplay make things quieter when idling in windows?

[pengwinzz]

Hi, I am looking at getting a 3870xt and I’m wondering if ATI’s powerplay tech will slow the fans on the graphics card when the gpu isn’t being stressed, making the machine less noisy? Or is it just a case of changing the clock speed of the gpu?

Are any of the 3870xt’s particularly noisy?

 

[Mattus]

Powerplay is only for laptops, but the fan on the desktop 3870 will automatically adjust its speed according to temperature. The 3870s are supposed to be pretty quiet even during games, so I imagine it'll be virtually silent in Windows.

 

[Monkeynut]

The 38xx series also adjust their voltage/clocks I believe, it's one of the things ATi did to counteract the press on the 2900 about heat/power stuff.

 

[Amonlym]

the hd38xx series have powerplay, the same as laptop parts. they run extremely quietly in 2d mode.

 

[pengwinzz]

thanks for the replies

do the fans actually turn off in 2d mode or do they just spin much more slowly?

 

[Phil2008]

Well my sapphire 3870 fan turns off at 37c and on at 43c or over, if your in 2d or 3d