Adaptive profile sets GPU clocks based on load, which means in basic games your card might run at very low clocks.
Optimal performance profile will keep you GPU at base clocks, even if game doesn't need so much of power.
Prefer maximum performance profile will try to use maximum boost clocks, based on load.
For example, difference is very noticeable in Arma 2/3 multiplayer where games performance is very limited by the server. Setting "prefer maximum performance" gives you much smoother experience, while i couldn't see any difference in single player mode. For most games i use adaptive profile, since GPU clocks are set based on GPU usage and it saves power whenever it's possible.
PS, i literally just woke up, sorry if I'm not being clear.
Thanks, that seems sensible. Seeing as I am not too concerned about GPU power usage I can conclude from this that "prefer maximum performance" is the most certain way to get proper/max performance. However in many cases
adaptive will be just as good with the added benefit of saving power
.
My only reason for
keeping max power when gaming is, I'm not 100% sure if the adaptive setting is
quick enough to almost instantly ramp up the power everytime? Seems clear it is most of the time though. But if a sudden heavy action/visual screen comes in after sometime not moving much or being in a simple menu I prefer not to take the chance (at the cost of power). One other thing that solidified this opinion is that a small amount of very graphics demanding games already have the default setting on prefer maximum performance in the NVCP. This is certain for Doom 2016.
So I will continue what I've been doing. That is, IMO it's just that bit better (possibly in extreme cases) to set prefer max performance in games. Well, modern resource hogging games at least.
As for everything else I have my global setting to Optimal so only gaming likely uses full power. I've done this since optimal was introduced and had zero problems. I reckon if it ain't broke, no point messing with it.
P.S. Even though there have been helpful replies in this thread, I get the feeling that no one really knows,
or I should say agrees, on what exactly optimal is!
For me it's a non issue, but I sure wish NV would do a better job of passing on relevant info -
like GPU power settings, that's pretty relevant don't you think?
