NG-SD-Plugins/PowerTools
NG-SD-Plugins/PowerTools
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Updated FAQ (markdown)

NGnius (Graham) 2022-09-01 00:09:50 +00:00
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FAQ.md

@ -5,9 +5,8 @@ PowerTools does not save any data by default; it reads and writes to the SteamOS
Since no data is saved, a reboot will reset all PowerTools settings back to default. Since no data is saved, a reboot will reset all PowerTools settings back to default.
## Why does PowerTools only let me select some values? ## Why does PowerTools only let me select some values?
There's a few reasons for this, depending on the values in question: There's a few reasons for this, depending on the values in question, but it all stems from limits imposed by (or to protect) the hardware.
- GPU PPT Wattage: The rest of the values can already be set from SteamOS's Performance settings in the QAM Most limits can be justified by the [specs of the Steam Deck](https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech) or the allowed values for a specific kernel API.
- Others: logical limits coming from the [specs of the Steam Deck](https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech)
## How do I reset to default settings? ## How do I reset to default settings?
Restart your Steam Deck. Nothing in PowerTools is persistent, unless you enable persistence (in which case: turn off the toggle, *then* restart your Deck). Restart your Steam Deck. Nothing in PowerTools is persistent, unless you enable persistence (in which case: turn off the toggle, *then* restart your Deck).
@ -16,13 +15,19 @@ Restart your Steam Deck. Nothing in PowerTools is persistent, unless you enable
I don't know, ask Valve. Most of the defaults are pretty logical, so none of them should be too objectionable. I don't know, ask Valve. Most of the defaults are pretty logical, so none of them should be too objectionable.
## What does disabling SMT do? ## What does disabling SMT do?
The SMT toggle in PowerTools doesn't actually disable SMT. Instead it disables every second CPU, since every group of two CPUs is one logical CPU core. The SMT toggle in PowerTools doesn't technically disable SMT.
Instead it disables every second CPU, since every group of two CPUs is one logical CPU core.
## Why does disabling SMT speed up some games?
I don't really know.
My theory, which is backed by exactly zero research and experiments, is that since SMT increases performance of a single core by less than 100% (usually it's closer to 30-50%), that 150% performance gets split between two threads, effectively reducing each thread's performance to 75% when both threads are under heavy load.
It would then follow that disabling one of those threads would restore the remaining thread to 100% performance.
# TLA (Three Letter Acronyms) # TLA (Three Letter Acronyms)
## AMD ## AMD
Advanced Micro Devices: the company that makes the processor in the Steam Deck Advanced Micro Devices: the company that makes the processor in the Steam Deck
## APU ## APU
"Accelerated" Processing Unit: the marketing term for a CPU with an integrated GPU "Accelerated" Processing Unit: the marketing term used by AMD for a CPU with an integrated GPU
## CPU ## CPU
Central Processing Unit: the main processor, the Steam Deck uses one with Zen2 architecture Central Processing Unit: the main processor, the Steam Deck uses one with Zen2 architecture
## GPU ## GPU