Power efficiency by underclocking the GPU?

Hi,

I'm trying to build the most power efficient system possible.

I've got a system with 7 hard drives and managed to disable auto mounting on a few of them upon boot up. Using the Fstab method (http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20060930150059172). This way the disks spin down after a minute or two. (I started to hate external hard drives because they are so messy, especially with all the power bricks)

Next to that I'm looking into getting a better power supply of around 400 watt probably a crossair or something. I bought a "techsolo" 730 watt power supply witch is porbably overrated but it's still overkill I think...

From what I understand the i7-860 cpu does a good job on managing its own power usage when it is not in use.

I was however wondering about the GPU. Since I am not a gamer and am just editing video, I don't need all the 3d stuff the 5770 card provides. Is it possible and wise to perhaps undervolt or underclock the card? It is an Asus 5770 (EAH5770/2DIS/1GD5/V2).

Also if anyone out there knows of a more power efficient card that still preforms well in 2d for editing and is compatible, hit me up about that!

Cheers!
K.

Yes it is possible , but you cant do that under OSX.
you need to go back to windows. There are a lot of programs that can up and down clock a videocard.
find a good one like aticofig lets you set gpu speed mem speed and voltage.
first up we have to soft mod the card . soft mod - is non permanent edit the stock settings of the card. its safe and easy and it does not brick your card if you go to far , its safe way to fiddle around and after reboot it will be gone.
Thats oke, once you have a good stable setting we have to put that in the real rom that's at your own risk this can brick/kill a videocard. be verry carefull with that stuff.
you can revert so back up you rom! be for you flash....make a back up!

A word of advice don't go to low on the settings.
because you will run in to trouble with playing movies and other stuff that need the GPU.
I'm running 5870M = 5770 with a down clock i'm running 200 gpu 500 on the mem 1.1v
and it is running great. but for your card its try and error to find your own sweet spot. there are plenty of forums explaining how to do it.. but its all done under windows......
mvg
candy

Hey, thanks for the info. I'm not sure if I'm gonna do it or not. I might just get a low end card of the current radeon line up. Like the ones that only need the power from the pci slot. But I'm not sure if final cut needs the gpu for anything else that would require a higher end card. I'm gonna find that out...

Thanks for the tips!

Are there no overclocking apps for hackintosh, wonder what the limitations are? I'm thinking about underclocking a GPU also for a mod I'm working on, any suggestions for working with a GT 910?

How did you get on with this?