The Nvidia Power Management Tool
Searching for a fast graphics card that is also energy-efficient can be a challenge. The unofficial Nvidia Power Management (NVPMM) tool, developed by independent programmer simonmacer, could provide a solution. It allows advanced users to better manage the performance of their GeForce graphics card. However, as it is not an official Nvidia tool, caution should be exercised when using it.
Personal Energy Efficiency with NVPMM
NVPMM uses the Nvidia System Management Interface (SMI), a command-line tool for managing and monitoring GeForce, Quadro, Tesla, and GRID products. It provides a graphical user interface for those who do not want to work with the command line. While both the GeForce control panel and Windows 11 already offer options for power management and limiting frame rates, NVPMM goes one step further.
Powerful features for individual customization
NVPMM's main features include the ability to create custom power profiles, set performance limits per application, and adaptively control graphics card memory. Additionally, the tool has a basic performance state monitor. However, it's important to note that NVPMM cannot unlock performance limits for GeForce graphics cards, but rather adheres to the manufacturer's predetermined maximum and minimum ranges. Interestingly, the GeForce RTX 4090 offers slightly more leeway in this regard than other Ada Lovelace-based models.
Power Group Limit Management (PGLM)
A unique feature of NVPMM is the Power Group Limit Management (PGLM), which allows you to set performance limits for three groups (A, B, and C) and assign applications to these groups. For example, you can set a performance limit of 320W for Group A and assign the executable file of Cyberpunk 2077 to this group. Once NVPMM detects that Cyberpunk 2077 is running, the graphics card will be limited to 320W. After the game is closed, the settings will be automatically reset.
Performance limits and system restarts
Although you can customize the performance limits of your GeForce graphics card with NVPMM, all settings will be reset after a system restart. This is similar to manual overclocking, where programs like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1 must reapply settings after each restart. The same applies to NVPMM: the application must be installed and launched to activate the user-defined power limit profile when the system starts up.
Be cautious when using NVPMM
Some users have reported that antivirus programs like Norton and Windows Defender classify NVPMM as a Trojan. However, this could be a false positive caused by the software's functionality. While version 2.5 passed the Eset Antivirus test, three Virus Total providers classify the executable file as malicious. Therefore, caution is always advised when using NVPMM.
All in all, the Nvidia Power Management Tool offers advanced users interesting ways to individually control their GeForce graphics card. However, it's important to be aware of the risks and proceed with caution.
