VR Features

Phases of power on the P5E3 Premium gets shut down whilst EPU is at work

 

 

 

Summary of modes in AI Gear 3+

• Maximum power saving: Kicks both FSB and multiplier down. Multiplier does not raise back to processor default on load. Recommended for applications/usage where it is not processor-intensive.

• Medium power saving: Kicks both FSB (not as low as maximum power saving mode) and multiplier down. Multiplier raises back to processor default on load. Processor speed is still slower than its rated speed even at its default multiplier because the FSB is lowered. This mode can be used if the user is willing to sacrifice some performance for power savings. If you do processor intensive work, yet wish to save power, this mode could be for you.

• Maximum performance: The default AI Gear 3+ setting. System behaves the same way as with or without AI Gear 3+ installed.

• Turbo: FSB is overclocked. Multiplier is kicked down on idle, but raises back to processor default on load. This mode results in the processor being overclocked. Does not save power on load.

• Auto: AI Gear 3+ automatically picks a mode depending on computer usage. This mode actually uses the Turbo setting when the processor is loaded.

One important point to note is that ASUS AI Suite does not work if C1E and EIST are disabled. If you attempt to load the AI Suite software, the process would start and then freeze up.

 

Conclusion

For the average user, we would still recommend leaving AI Gear 3+ to high performance mode (if you have ASUS AI Suite installed), or just leave the C1E and EIST settings in the BIOS enabled for power saving whenever it is possible.

If you're an avid gamer who plays games from the moment you power on the computer and you choose Auto mode, no doubt you get a performance boost from the slight overclocking, it also results in your system consuming more power. If you just use your computer to surf the Net, play music, then you would benefit by setting AI Gear 3+ to maximum performance saving mode. The processor runs at a lowered speed with less voltage since FSB is lowered and the multiplier is also lowered and locked. Surfing the Net does not require much processing power at all, so one would not notice any loss in performance under such circumstances.

The ASUS Energy Processing Unit is nevertheless an interesting development by ASUS. The EPU does help to conserve power on Auto mode when your PC in on idle only, and unless you're well-aware of your usage patterns and what your applications require, and choose the most suitable mode according to situations, you might just end up consuming more power than necessary instead, albeit with enhanced performance (with the slight overclocking) without compromising stability (we've got Rock Solid, Heart Touching remember? ;))

We've briefly heard about the second rendition of the EPU, which promises better power management and with MSI and Gigabyte also in the race to save more trees, we can only wait and see which company comes up with a better tree-saving mechanism with the help of their lovely Voltera and Intersil counterparts. :)