GPU overclock negative effects

games_maxed · Jul 28, 2013

Hey guys, I just got my computer a few days ago and thought I'd try to overclock a little for some better fps in some of my games. I overclocked my Gts 450~ 900mhz core (822 default) 1900 mhz mem (1804 default) and 1800 mhz shader (1645 default). As recommended by multiple online sources. I checked the performance difference before attemtipting to overclock my phenom 2 x6 1045t. Games never crashed and no artifacts showed up but my fps was lower. So I changed everything back. Still had a lower fps until I restarted my computer. What's up with that? Can I get an explanation? I am new at this. Thanks!

legokill101 · Jul 28, 2013

it means that your gpu was being pushed to hard so becuase it does not have the power or thermal headroom it needs it is throttling

bignastyid · Jul 28, 2013

Not all cards overclock the same. Just because others were able to get those speeds doesn't mean you will.

games_maxed · Jul 28, 2013

Okay. So my only hope for real improvement would be to just upgrade the card. Thanks.

legokill101 · Jul 28, 2013

no it would be to dial back the overclock slightly

games_maxed · Jul 28, 2013

legokill101 :

Yeah but this card is said to get little improvement from overclocking even at those speeds.

fil1p · Jul 29, 2013

games_maxed :

Still, go in small increments and test for stability in between. A higher clock doesn't necessarily mean better fps if its not stable. Also use a program like GPU-z to monitor your temperatures and make sure they are not too high. If you are not stable, dial it back a bit, test for stability and go from there. If you want a major performance increase then I suggest you upgrade to a new card, otherwise start from stock clocks and go up in small increments.

Hope this helps!

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

fil1p :

I've got my overclock almost to the same speed with no decrease in performance this time. Not sure if it actually helped either though. As I'm typing I have Borderlands 2 running and my gpu is at 86C and seems to still be climbing, slowly.

fil1p · Jul 29, 2013

games_maxed :

fil1p :

I've got my overclock almost to the same speed with no decrease in performance this time. Not sure if it actually helped either though. As I'm typing I have Borderlands 2 running and my gpu is at 86C and seems to still be climbing, slowly.

Be careful with those temps, they are on the hot side. I would increase your fan speed or lower the clock speeds a bit as you risk throttling or damage to your card if you go too high. If you want to see a large increase in fps I would suggest you upgrade your card.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

fil1p :

games_maxed :

Be careful with those temps, they are on the hot side. I would increase your fan speed or lower the clock speeds a bit as you risk throttling or damage to your card if you go too high. If you want to see a large increase in fps I would suggest you upgrade your card.

Agreed, those temps are pretty high... And the lower fps is prob the card throttling because of high temps/usage.
if you plan on overclocking the card, watch the temps and don't go crazy on it and risk damaging the card and/or the board.

As stated above, if you need better frames, save up for a new card or go sli

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

fil1p :

games_maxed :

Be careful with those temps, they are on the hot side. I would increase your fan speed or lower the clock speeds a bit as you risk throttling or damage to your card if you go too high. If you want to see a large increase in fps I would suggest you upgrade your card.

I quit the game because it wouldn't stop climbing. I can't get the fan speed up at all. I'm using Nvidia's control panel. There's a "cooling" setting that goes from 0% to 100%. But it won't let me change it at all. And I probably will upgrade to a GTX 760 next month or so. I've got an extra Ps3 to sell for around $170. How much do you think I could sell this GTS 450 for? I'm gonna have to come up with the money for the 760 with those two items and maybe something else if I have to.

fil1p · Jul 29, 2013

Take a look at my latest response to your CPU overclocking thread, I offer some suggestions on how to improve your system. I wouldn't overclock your components right now. I would leave your CPU running at stock, as it is powerful enough, and I would get a new graphics card as you yourself are already planning to do. The gtx760 is a very good value, and it would give you a nice boost in fps. For your GTS 450 you could probably get ~$45-85.

So overall I would leave your system as is, at stock until you upgrade. If you really want to keep trying with your GPU overclock, you could download MSI afterburner or Evga Precision X and then try setting a custom fan profile to increase your fan speed.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

What's your fan setup like in your case? Bad flow is a huge culprit for high temps

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

morgilroka :

Why I'm so glad you brought that up. I checked. I've got a total of 4 fans (one for in gpu and one for the cpu of course) But one of the other two fans isn't blowing. And its the larger one. Lol. Suppose I'll turn my computer off here in a minute and try hooking that one up. This computer was prebuilt and when I got it, I saw some unused connectors. I suppose the fan was one.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

you need to have good airflow in your case. Push/pull config is best (Intake on front, exaust on back/top). I know it sounds silly, but even your room's temperature can make a difference on your temps.
When all is set up, try restoring your card to default, then slowly overclocking it tiny amounts at a time untill you see the fps drops, When that happens it's most likely throttling/unstable. Like someone mentioned above, not all cards are the same so you have to experiment with it yourself and try not to follow other's recommendations.

Another thing is, make sure your CPU isn't bottlenecking it. Some games use alot of cpu resource and when it reaches cap, it will throttle down. Check youre cpu core speeds/usage/temps while ingame

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

morgilroka :

Yeah it's got good flow when everything is on! And I think I've found the right settings for the card. The temp is the only problem now! Also if my CPU is working properly (Surely it is), it would be the card bottlenecking the CPU. It's a Phenom 2 x6 1045t.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

Try lowering the voltages on the card closer to stock... See when it becomes unstable and keep it there. No use on wasting heat on excess voltage.

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

morgilroka :

Wouldn't I have to use the BIOS to do that? Because my BIOS is rather strange. Not very good for manually adjusting performance.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

Not sure about nvidia it's probs in the NVIDIA control panel.
With amd, you can lower and raise the power in the application itself. Take a look around

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

morgilroka :

Yeah man, they don't even mention power in Nvidi's control panel. I have a Biostar A780L3G mobo and I've already tinkered with the BIOS and had to reset the CMOS once. Lol

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

Lol, Well im not sure to be 100% honest, i have never tried overclocking or anything on a nvidia card.

AMD makes it easy

http://gyazo.com/158fd216c7d98192eb28ded3080d5357

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

morgilroka :

fil1p · Jul 29, 2013

If you want to lower the voltage on your card it should be possible using a software called MSI Afterburner.

games_maxed · Jul 29, 2013

fil1p :

I just plugged in the fourth fan. Still hit 85C under 100% then I quit. So who knows how high it would go. I'll try kicking the fans up a little and if that doesn't work then I'll try the voltage.

morgilroka · Jul 29, 2013

The fans wouldn't make that much of a difference when the temps are that high!! Try msi afterburner and see what you can do about the voltage! good idea fil1p!

GPU overclock negative effects

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