Undervolt gpu: nvidia vs amd?

[Paul17]

I'm shopping for a gpu - I'll use Windows and Linux - mostly Windows - but, eventually, I want/plan to increase Linux use.

 

I've used Linux before - but, the software I'll be using - I will learn it in Windows just because it'll be easier - the Linux install/configuration is probably more complicated.

Anyway, I want to undervolt whatever gpu I get and I'm looking at getting either:   3090 / 3090 Ti or a 7900 XT/XTX.

 

I am hoping some ppl who have an nvidia gpu AND AMD gpu WILL READ and comment/reply.

 

At the moment, the options are pretty limited, I think - right?   For nvidia, there is nvidia-smi, Green With Envy *(GWE) and TuxClocker.

 

For AMD - I have no idea what works - Corectrl - supposedly works for RDNA 2 cards - but, not the RDNA 3 cards yet**(I'm not sure if this situation has been updated or not - but, I haven't read that it works yet).   I am not sure of any other programs or commands that would provide options for voltage regulation and fan curves.

 

*GWE - the developer has said he's switching to an AMD card/gpu - so support for that program will be probably slow down - and he's asking for new devs to take up the project.  That sounds pretty uncertain to me - so, I think the options for nvidia cards are probably going to be limited to nvidia-smi and TuxClocker.   Right?

 

So, which gpu should I get and what are the options for fan curves and voltage regulation/undervolting?  

 

I'm not too worried about the options in Windows - I'm sure there's programs for either Nvidia or AMD, right?

Nvidia - Afterburner, HW Info64, 

AMD - Adrenaline, 

 

I'll be using programs - Davinci Resolve (in Windows and Linux), Blender (both) - mostly these two.

Some gaming - so, I want to undervolt and might need fan curves - depending on the game/card 

 

I'm leaning towards an nvidia card for these reasons:   nvidia - more stable support for the programs; more options for undervolting/fan curves in Linux (unless, there is some news/new developments I haven't heard of yet - but, Corecrtl is the main program in Linux for undervolting/fan curves - and I'm not sure how good it is.   Many Linux users - or amd card users say that they wish there was an 'Adrenaline for Linux.' )   Still, the nvidia options aren't great in Linux.   

 

Any advice?   Are the steps to undervolt an Nvidia gpu in Linux, easier?   Ditto for setting fan curves?

[Eigenvektor]

12 minutes ago, Paul17 said:

For AMD - I have no idea what works - Corectrl - supposedly works for RDNA 2 cards

Can confirm that it works fine for my RX 6600, has essentially the same undervolting options as Adrenalin for Windows. Changelog seems to indicate some fixes for RX 7xxx.

[WereCat]

Not sure about NVIDIA OC/UV on Linux but I was able to fairly easily use CoreCTRL on my RX 6800 XT and it worked fine... except VRAM overclocking was completely broken, even adding or taking 1MHz would result in massive artifacting and eventual crash even just on desktop.

 

Regarding your use of Resolve and Blender... just stick with NVIDIA.

Resolve HW encoding does not work at all with AMD on Linux. Neither the MESA nor the Pro drivers will make the AMD Encoder work in Resolve on Linux... does not matter if you use free or paid version of Resolve.

You would be stuck to CPU encoding to some lossless format to not make the encode last eternity and then using different program like Handbrake or FFMPEG to re-encode with the HW encoder to your desired format. It's just a pain in the ass to deal with.

Even KDENLIVE does not work with the AMD HEVC encoder, it only has support for the crappy x264 encoder.

 

For Blender you apparently need to use the Pro drivers to get GPU rendering to work at all. And I have no experience with the Pro driver but the whole point of AMD on Linux is to use the FOSS drivers and if you're not going to use them, you may as well just use NVIDIA as both the Resolve and Blender work just fine from my experience (that was like 4-5y ago... my AMD experience is quite recent about 2months ago and I had these use cases and complained about it a lot). Just beware.

[Paul17]

42 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

Can confirm that it works fine for my RX 6600, has essentially the same undervolting options as Adrenalin for Windows. Changelog seems to indicate some fixes for RX 7xxx.

Right, I was aware it works on the 6000/RDNA 2 series.   As WereCat mentions, it sounds like I should stick to Nvidia for the main programs I'll be using, though.   The 6000 series - doesn't have the greatest performance in Blender (and DR, I think) - even with HIP-RT - if it works - so, I had the idea to save a bit more and consider a 7900 XT/X.   

 

26 minutes ago, WereCat said:

Not sure about NVIDIA OC/UV on Linux but I was able to fairly easily use CoreCTRL on my RX 6800 XT and it worked fine... except VRAM overclocking was completely broken, even adding or taking 1MHz would result in massive artifacting and eventual crash even just on desktop.

 

Regarding your use of Resolve and Blender... just stick with NVIDIA.

Resolve HW encoding does not work at all with AMD on Linux. Neither the MESA nor the Pro drivers will make the AMD Encoder work in Resolve on Linux... does not matter if you use free or paid version of Resolve.

You would be stuck to CPU encoding to some lossless format to not make the encode last eternity and then using different program like Handbrake or FFMPEG to re-encode with the HW encoder to your desired format. It's just a pain in the ass to deal with.

Even KDENLIVE does not work with the AMD HEVC encoder, it only has support for the crappy x264 encoder.

 

For Blender you apparently need to use the Pro drivers to get GPU rendering to work at all. And I have no experience with the Pro driver but the whole point of AMD on Linux is to use the FOSS drivers and if you're not going to use them, you may as well just use NVIDIA as both the Resolve and Blender work just fine from my experience (that was like 4-5y ago... my AMD experience is quite recent about 2months ago and I had these use cases and complained about it a lot). Just beware.

That sounds pretty bad.   I thought you just needed Studio?  Neither - encoding won't work regardless of which one you use?

 

It's exactly the point I have, too - I thought if I have to use the amdgpu pro drivers - the advantage of using an amd card to use the FOSS drivers - is lost.   

I don't plan on using Arch but this chart I found really confusing.

 

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/DaVinci_Resolve

 

https://nobaraproject.org/docs/davinci-resolve/configuring-davinci-resolve-with-amd-gpus/

"Please note that DaVinci Resolve not have the ability to encode video on AMD GPU hardware. The H264 and H265 encode options are only available on Nvidia hardware and only in the Studio version."

 

That confirms what you stated....so, I guess I should go with Nvidia - despite the proprietary stuff....oh well.    

Well, I was looking for any excuse to get an amd card but it looks like it's not worth the extra $ and poses some problems or the required configuration of the programs cancels out the advantages/benefits I was expecting/pursuing in the first place. 

 

Anything else to add?

Thanks to both for the replies, btw!    Cheers!!!   Appreciated!!! 

[WereCat]

12 minutes ago, Paul17 said:

Right, I was aware it works on the 6000/RDNA 2 series.   As WereCat mentions, it sounds like I should stick to Nvidia for the main programs I'll be using, though.   The 6000 series - doesn't have the greatest performance in Blender (and DR, I think) - even with HIP-RT - if it works - so, I had the idea to save a bit more and consider a 7900 XT/X.   

 

That sounds pretty bad.   I thought you just needed Studio?  Neither - encoding won't work regardless of which one you use?

 

It's exactly the point I have, too - I thought if I have to use the amdgpu pro drivers - the advantage of using an amd card to use the FOSS drivers - is lost.   

I don't plan on using Arch but this chart I found really confusing.

 

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/DaVinci_Resolve

 

https://nobaraproject.org/docs/davinci-resolve/configuring-davinci-resolve-with-amd-gpus/

"Please note that DaVinci Resolve not have the ability to encode video on AMD GPU hardware. The H264 and H265 encode options are only available on Nvidia hardware and only in the Studio version."

 

That confirms what you stated....so, I guess I should go with Nvidia - despite the proprietary stuff....oh well.    

Well, I was looking for any excuse to get an amd card but it looks like it's not worth the extra $ and poses some problems or the required configuration of the programs cancels out the advantages/benefits I was expecting/pursuing in the first place. 

 

Anything else to add?

Thanks to both for the replies, btw!    Cheers!!!   Appreciated!!! 

Yeah, I was quite disappointed with that too. People tend to say how great AMD is on Linux but don't mention how much stuff does not work. For gaming I found the MESA drivers to be really great and had no issues or complains. Also the way it updates along with the system and does not get in the way is great.

 

But for productivity... it just sucks. NVIDIA is further ahead in productivity on Linux than on Windows despite people complaining about it constantly. I'm sure there are some other issues related to NVIDIA which I did not encounter and it may be a huge pain in the ass to deal with them but for the particular use case you mentioned it should work just fine for the most part.

 

I think the Wiki link is more related to which card works with the application for decoding so that you can scrub trough the timeline and have GPU accelerated viewport.

 

Edit:

 

IDK now but in the past only Studio version of Resolve allowed me to work with x264 and HEVC files, the free version was complaining about codec licenses.

[WereCat]

@Paul17

Regarding AV1 encoding with 7000 series AMD card or 4000 series NVIDIA cards. That is a complete unknown territory for me. It's possible that AV1 encoding works or will work considering it's a license free codec. Whether or when it will be implemented... no idea.

[10leej]

I'm curious why you would want to reduce the performance of the GPU. Why not instead of doing that just buying a more efficient GPU for the performance you desire?

[Paul17]

1 hour ago, 10leej said:

I'm curious why you would want to reduce the performance of the GPU. Why not instead of doing that just buying a more efficient GPU for the performance you desire?

Why do you think undervolting 'reduces the performance?'   Everywhere I look, ppl are talking about how you can get increased performance - depending on what settings you pick - or at the very least, any fps lost is negligible.   That's for gaming - I doubt there's much performance lost with content creation tasks.

But, to answer why I don't just buy a 'more efficient gpu' - price/cost?   Also, the more efficient /newer gen cards often have less vram unless you buy the more expensive, higher-tier flagships - 4080 or 4090?   A 4090 is ideal but I don't have that budget atm, unfortunately.

In my country (CAD):   the typical prices are something like:

(used) 3090 / 3090 Ti - $700 ($650-$700 - cheapest range)

(used) 4070 Ti $1000 

(used) 4080 - $1400 

(used) 4090 - $2000

new prices:   4070 Ti - $1030 ; 4080 - $1420;  4090 - $2200 (then add 13% tax to all those prices)

[10leej]

On 10/30/2023 at 9:56 AM, Paul17 said:

Everywhere I look, ppl are talking about how you can get increased performance - depending on what settings you pick - or at the very least, any fps lost is negligible. 

In my headbrain that makes no logical sense from what little bit of physics I know. Unless at the standard voltage the chip is constantly overheating thus thermal throttling.