How to make use of Graphics Chips Power Management features

Power Saving With A Framebuffer Console

In order to use the dynamic GPU clock-scaling similar to what X.org has, you need to use the radeonfb kernel module. You'll need to enable the CONFIG_FB_RADEON in your kernel configuration. If setup correctly you should see something like the following in your kernel log:

radeonfb: Dynamic Clock Power Management enabled

DynamicClocks in the Radeon Xorg driver

The xorg X server has support for a power saving feature from ATI called PowerPlay. Xorg calls this feature DynamicClocks. It can be enabled in the server by adding Option "DynamicClocks" "on" in the Device section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Device"
       Identifier  "Videocard0"
       Driver      "radeon"
       VendorName  "IBM Thinkpad"
       BoardName   "ATI Radeon Mobility M9"
       Option      "DynamicClocks" "on"
EndSection

With this option enabled, the X11 server should print (/var/log/Xorg.0.log):

(**) RADEON(0): Option "DynamicClocks" "on"
(II) RADEON(0): Dynamic Clock Scaling Enabled

http://www.ati.com/products/pdf/powerplaywp2.pdf

x.org on Debian

Because debian doesn't have X.org yet - Installing a non-intrusive X.org server on Debian. Update: X.org has made it into Debian. See: [1]