Tegra 3 Performance Modes - TF700T, TF300T, TF-201 Performance Modes Power Saving, Balanced

I've seen this thread come up a few times on multiple forums and thought I'd provide a google findable explanation of the different ASUS "Performance Modes".  I'm going to add reference links and benchmarks as time progresses.  Overall the amount of work completed is about the same on the various modes, but if your not doing a clock for clock comparison (e.g. just checking email or watching a video vs benchmarks constantly cycling) the various modes do enjoy a delta of on screen time available, I would guess about 2 hours difference in idle screen time per mode. EDIT: I did some "research" and made a "graph." 




TF700T Benchmarked vs Performance Mode and Firmware

Power Saving Mode:

• Lower Contrast and Dynamic Brightness
• Much of GPU Disabled
• Tendency to use ninja core more
• Less urgency to ungate and utilize more cores
• Less tendency to run at top speed
• Graphics speed is limited to 33.5 Max FPS on "Ax Men" (knights) and "Spiral"
• Top Speed Limited to 1GHz on I believe the ASUS TF-300, TF-201, TF700t, Google Nexus

Balanced Mode:

• Some dynamic brightness and contrast utilized
• 2D Speed is about 5.1% less than Performance Mode on .30 and 40% faster than Power Saving Mode
• Will run to relatively high core speed across multiple cores:
• Still is hesitant to ungate cores and ramp up MHz which results in a race to idle lag vs performance mode
• Has a bit of lag but will then complete tasks quickly once cpu speed has ramped up
• Ninja Core sometimes utilized while user is present, perhaps switching from Ninja core to Samurai High Speed Core induces lag

Performance Mode:

• No dynamic brightness or Contrast, which results in better display quality (dynamic algorithms aim to reduce power consumption)
• 3D performance best in this mode (but not under 9.4.5.30 firmware)
• Will Achieve Highest Clock Speed (barring the use of Ez-Overclock) of any mode
• Is more aggressive at turning on cores and scaling speed
• Performance mode AnTuTu Benchmarks Differences
• RAM Speed is 6.7% faster than Balanced Mode and 36.7% faster than Power Saving on .30
• I/O Speed is 21.6% faster than Balanced Mode and 28.97% faster than Power Saving on .30
• CPU Speed is 6.1% faster than Balanced Mode and 62.98% faster than Power Saving on .30
• Web Browsing complex desktop sites is best in this mode
• This mode reduces "lag"
• I think Ninja Core is enabled only when screen off

TF700T Performance Mode AnTuTu Benchmark  2.9.2 Breakdown




While Performance Mode is overall faster it did not win in every category: Balanced composite GPU won by 6% and is mainly from 3D performance "Ax Men" Max FPS won by 24.5% but 2D "Spiral" Max FPS lost by 5.1% I think this might be an anomoly and I think Performance Mode will win in GPU in future updates or on different serial numbers.  All of this data is off of a fresh factory reset but with my normal programs installed, oh, did shit just get too real?  

More Observations from AnTuTu v2.9.2 results on 9.4.5.30

• Performance Mode RAM Speed is 6.7% faster than Balanced Mode and 36.7% faster than Power Saving on .30
• Performance Mode I/O Speed is 21.6% faster than Balanced Mode and 28.97% faster than Power Saving on .30
• Performance Mode CPU Speed is 6.1% faster than Balanced Mode and 62.98% faster than Power Saving on .30
• Only if you believe my math

Now of course all of this goes out the window if you utilize EzOverclocker to change the CPU frequency within the various modes.  However, the dynamic brightness/contrast and other powersaving features and characteristics of each mode are retained. 

A few updates: JB Official Performance: 13084, JB Balanced 12528.