Hacking GPU handheld mode overclock (soon) available

[taggen86]

JKs overlock mod is now released to the public in this thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/freebird-switch-clock-speed-control-sysmodule.530641/#post-8501530

The sysmodule/service allows you to use any GPU, CPU and/or ram clock speed he has found on the Switch using his interface.

Overclocking the switch GPU will increase handheld resolution in games with dynamic resolution scaling (see below) and reduce frame rate drops in other games at the cost of faster battery drain. Some games (e.g. Wolfenstein) with high max resolutions even benefit from the 768mhz GPU OC. After using it a week or so I really recommend it to get rid of blurriness in demanding games. You can also downclock the switch to reduce battery drain.

Original post:

M4xw have added a GPU overlock patch for atmosphere for his patreon supporters: https://www.patreon.com/user/posts?u=16304824

https://twitter.com/loleaguesin/status/1085226687741206537?s=20

Cant wait for the final release! Imagine running doom and wolfenstein in almost 720p on the go using the docked GPU frequency Should be totally safe (as long as you dont go over 768mhz) but will probably eat up a lot of battery power. However, many of us carry large powerbanks so it should totally be worth it!

Update 1: I have added posts comparing the resolution in wolfenstein in stock clocks, 460 mhz and 768 mhz OC in this thread. More tests will be conducted the following days.

Update 2: Jks clockmod to 768 mhz for atmosphere is available on the first page of this thread (scroll down). The update outputs a txt file so you can see if it is working for you. Read the txt file on your pc or download a vgedit from the homebrew store to read it on your switch.

Update 3: Here is a list of dynamic resolution games that benefit from the GPU overlock by increasing resolution (PM me if you want to add a game to this list).
-Doom (576p)
-Wolfenstein (432-362p)
-Skyrim (720p, 896x720 under load)
-Xenoblade (552p-368p)
-Fortnite (720p-360p)
-Arc: Survival Evolved (170p in come cases )

(common non-OC handheld resolutions according to digital foundry in parenthesis. The lower the resolution, the higher the potential benefit from GPU overclocking)

Some pictures from handheld mode:

460mhz:

768mhz

460

768

460

768

 

[Kubas_inko]

Imagine that heat and battery life...

 

[taggen86]

Except for the screen which may make it warmer, heat should not be much worse than docked. The dock does not contain a fan. Battery, on the other hand, is another thing

 

[m4xw]

Except for the screen which may make it warmer, heat should not be much worse than docked. The dock do not contain a fan. Battery, on the other hand, is another thing

460 MHz is plenty already, no need to go higher.

 

[taggen86]

460 MHz is plenty already, no need to go higher.

It is probably enough to get stable frame rates, but more juice is needed to raise resolution in games with dynamic res.

 

[m4xw]

It is probably enough to get stable frame rates, but more juice is needed to raise resolution in games with dynamic res.

U say that on what basis?
Did you mod games to increase internal resolution?

 

[ZachyCatGames]

It is probably enough to get stable frame rates, but more juice is needed to raise resolution in games with dynamic res.

Most games with a dynamic resolution have a resolution limit... like even if you ran Xenoblade 2 at 1ghz in handheld, it would still run at 540p or whatever

Edit: Also 460mhz seems to max out the dynamic resolution in most games

 

[stephrk398]

Memory OC too now.

@loleaguesin demonstrating my memory OC patch in the Lost Woods! pic.twitter.com/lkakQ7i8WW

— m4xw (@m4xwdev) January 16, 2019

 

[taggen86]

U say that on what basis?
Did you mod games to increase internal resolution?

Many games have dynamic resolution depending on gpu load and some have a rather high res celling only reachable using the docked frequency if i remember correctly (e.g. Doom, wolfenstein). That celling is around 720p in handheld, assuming the max res is the same in handheld and docked. Minimum res handheld is around 360p and using the stock frequency it tends to hover around 400-500p. Hence a significant overclock to docked frequency is needed to reach 720p. Check digital foundry analyses on them.

 

[ZachyCatGames]

Many games have dynamic resolution depending on gpu load and some have a rather high res celling only reachable using the docked frequency if i remember correctly (e.g. Doom, wolfenstein). That celling is around 720p in handheld, assuming the max res is the same in handheld and docked. Minimum res handheld is around 360p and using the stock frequency it tends to hover around 400-500p. Hence a significant overclock to docked frequency is needed to reach 720p. Check digital foundry analyses on them.

The max res of games is usually different in docked and handheld

 

[stewacide]

A way to trick it into running with the docked profile while handheld would be nice for games without dynamic rez / which cut settings aggressively handheld.

 

[taggen86]

The max res of games is usually different in docked and handheld

That would suck since it would mean that not even a tegra x2 switch pro would raise resolution to 720p in handheld without a patch. I really hope devs have future proofed their games by setting high cellings

 

[ZachyCatGames]

That would suck since it would mean that not even a tegra x2 switch pro would raise resolution to 720p in handheld without a patch. I really hope devs have future proofed their games by setting high cellings

shrug the max resolution of games in handheld seem to usually be either 720p or around 540p

 

[taggen86]

460 MHz is plenty already, no need to go higher.

By the way, some games already run in 384 mhz on the go, reducing the benefits of a 460mhz oc and suggesting that a higher oc should be added. If you add a higher oc to the patreon m4xw I can do some pixel counting and see if it is worth it all depends on the max dynamic res in handheld modes for these heavy games. Regardless, Thx for all your hard work on this and mupen64. You are amazing

https://www.google.se/amp/s/www.eur...-boosts-handheld-switch-clocks-by-25-per-cent

 

[ghjfdtg]

Higher memory clock i would do any time. The DRAM is designed for 1600 MHz and lowering that will not give more than a few minutes more on battery at best. This is a stupid decision from Nintendo imho.

Be careful with CPU/GPU clocks. I don't know the rating for this battery but it's possible you may draw more current than the battery can safely deliver continuously.

 

[JK_]

By the way, some games already run in 384 mhz on the go, reducing the benefits of a 460mhz oc and suggesting that a higher oc should be added. If you add a higher oc to the patreon m4xw I can do some pixel counting and see if it is worth it all depends on the max dynamic res in handheld modes for these heavy games. Regardless, Thx for all your hard work on this and mupen64. You are amazing

https://www.google.se/amp/s/www.eur...-boosts-handheld-switch-clocks-by-25-per-cent

If you're really interested in running docked GPU speed in handheld, you're more than welcome to give mine a shot. It's for Atmosphere. I'll attach it in a zip. Holding ZL and clicking down the left stick activates it. ZL + Right stick returns it to whatever it was before. If you want to be 100% sure it's working ZR + Left stick will output a file to sdmc:/clock.txt with what the system reports the clock speeds are. I don't have any games that seem to benefit from it a lot though, so I'm going by what the system reports.

Higher memory clock i would do any time. The DRAM is designed for 1600 MHz and lowering that will not give more than a few minutes more on battery at best. This is a stupid decision from Nintendo imho.

Be careful with CPU/GPU clocks. I don't know the rating for this battery but it's possible you may draw more current than the battery can safely deliver continuously.

I had to push both the CPU and GPU full blast before that happened. The Switch showed the battery warning and turned off. It was fine. Really warm, but fine.

 

[taggen86]

Just tried it in wolfenstein. as you can see in the pictures below, the difference is pretty insane. I will do some pixel counting when I come back from work later today (if it is possible given the aggressive TAA) and compare them to a 460 mhz overclock. But you can already see the difference between stocks and 768 mhz. Download all the pictures and compare them one to one/quickly toogle between them, and the substantial leap in resolution should be clear.

 

[ZachyCatGames]

Just tried it in wolfenstein. as you can see in the pictures below, the difference is pretty insane. I will do some pixel counting when I come back from work later today (if it is possible given the aggressive TAA) and compare them to a 460 mhz overclock. But you can already see the difference between stocks and 768 mhz. Download all the pictures and compare them one to one/quickly toogle between them, and the substantial leap in resolution should be clear.

Looks about the same as it does with 460mhz. Only additional thing you’ll get out of 768mhz is a destroyed battery

 

[CymraegAce]

Early morning question; Will we be able to patch this in to run under SXOS as apposed to atmosphere too.?

 

[gameboy]

viridian forest framerate is horrible