Current coreclock should be default instead of Average
I would like to make a proposal and list my arguments for doing so. 4 months ago I've opened an issue #2747 (closed) that since kernel 6.4.7 the then default behavior to list Current coreclock was changed to Average clock. The result is that now all applications (mainly coreclock, mangohud) list the Average clock.
I'm making this thread as an continuation of 2747 and will list my arguments here:
- In my opinion many new linux users and even those very familiar with linux, will never figure out why applications spew fluctuating coreclocks (because of listing Average coreclock).
- Coreclock and Mangohud are used exclusively for GPU stability monitoring. Be it thermal throttling, utilization, overclock stability testing:
- With AMD cards on Linux I have found out that they might need to be undervolted in order to hit stable constant coreclock. A user that doesn't know that now Average coreclock is listed instead of Current will never be able to come to the same conclusion. Their GPU most probably will have fluctuating coreclock in reality, might have stutters in game.
- Such user now can't use coreclock to monitor if the GPU is throttling. I've found that despite GPU temps being around 60C, AMD cars on Linux start to drop coreclock when they reach 80C on the Junction (570, 580, 6600xt, 6800). Again, with the fluctuating Average coreclock users will not be able to come to the same conclusions while using tools to monitor the GPU.
- Setting power limits, FAN profile in order to stabilize the core at the advertised coreclock won't be possible because Average coreclock is being monitored and it's information is of no value for such a task!
- There is just no way you can overclock a card with Average coreclock. Had my 6600xt nicely clocked at a constant 2750MHz with an undervolt and my current 6800 at 2490MHz at ~960mV.Doing that required many stress-tests and constant monitoring of GPU coreclock.
We could argue that apps can instead list the values of pp_dpm_sclk but it is my strong opinion that the default coming from the driver should be Current instead of Average. I will repeat myself that having Average as a default gives users information that is of no value to them. I hope my suggestion is taken into consideration.