Overclocking my graphics card.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

Hey guys, I'm interested in learning how to OC, but I can't really find the information I'm looking for on the internet.

This is what Trixx looks like:

A. Why, on every guide I've seen, do they say nothing about voltage?
B. Do I have to increase voltage when I OC?
C. I hear 1200 MHz is pretty much the maximum stable OC for pitcairn chips. Confirm/deny?
D. Should my memory clock be proportional to my core clock? Or just stable?
E. Should I make the power limit unlimited?

Thanks!

RulesSpew · Feb 17, 2014

Hey

My honest opinion, but not what you wanted to hear!
To OC a graphics card will add few fps, not more, the performance increase will be 2 fps, max 3 if going super high.

Just do the OC in the overclocking software they give it to you with the GPU or buy a overclocked model that comes right from the box

saint19 · Feb 17, 2014

Hi and welcome to Tom's forum.

A: Because not always you need rise voltage and if you need it, you do it on your own risk.
B: Depends, if you want some high overclock maybe you have to but if you want something basic maybe the stock voltage could be enough.
C: What GPU do you have? That 1200MHz depends of many factors including GPU manufacturer.
D: Should be, but not lineal. Memory clock is the most important in this way but your core clock need to be in pair with that.
E: The power limit is used for extreme overclock, at the level that your want I think than that part isn't really important.

But 1st. What are the components of your rig? And no, 2 or 3 FPS isn't what you get at least that you overclock a very basic GPU.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

saint19 :

Ack sorry I forgot to list my specs.

i5-3570k (Currently @3.4 Ghz)
Sapphire HD7870 Ghz edition (Exact model: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1160&pid=1744&psn=&lid=1&leg=0)

Kingston hyperX 3k SSD
Corsair CX600 PSU
8GB DDR3-1600 RAM

saint19 · Feb 17, 2014

Yo have a very good model that already comes clocked to 1200MHz.

For now we need to test idle temp and max temp on your GPU, so, install 3DMark or Heaven or run some games for a few minutes and let us know the results. After that, download and install MSI Afterburner.

Let me know when you be ready.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

saint19 :

I've already run unigine heaven/valley and 3dmark 11 demo. Maximum temperate I saw was 72 degrees c in unigine heaven. The fans were only running at 64% when it hit 72, so I could've ramped them higher to cool it more.

Idle temp is usually 24-25 degrees c.

saint19 · Feb 17, 2014

Perfect, use MSI Afterburner for create a fan profile, with that you can reduce the temps a little more.

After that, start to rise the memory clock in little steps, around 20-30MHz and test for stability.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

So you're saying the only thing I should increase is my memory clock?

saint19 · Feb 17, 2014

Yes, but just for now. We need to find the stable clock for that memory and then overclock the core. If you rise both at the same time and something fails, you can't know if was memory clock or core clock.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

I bumped it up to 1400 and was stable on unigine heaven (I had one screen flicker, does that count?), but I crashed at 1450. I backed it down to 1380 for good measure.

saint19 · Feb 17, 2014

Test it with more things and not only Heaven. 3DMark and if you can the games that you normally play.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 17, 2014

Yep. 1380 is stable in everything else (WoT, Hl2, Portal 2, Cryengine 3 SDK).

Should I up the core clock now?

saint19 · Feb 18, 2014

Correct, now go ahead and rise the core clock.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 18, 2014

Seems my maximum stability (with a performance increase) was 1100/1350. 1125/1350 and 1150/1350 saw a performance drop.

but it really is turning out to be like the first response said. Only a 3-5 fps boost in my games, and some are even lower than that.

saint19 · Feb 18, 2014

You also need rise the CPU frequency.

BaddieMcBad · Feb 18, 2014

Ah, I see.

Well, that will have to wait because I'm still on the stock intel cooler. Can you recommend a good cooler for <$50?

BaddieMcBad · Feb 18, 2014

Also, Thank you very much for walking me through this! I appreciate it!

schmuckley · Feb 18, 2014

Overclocking your CPU to 4.3 or so will yield about as much FPS as overclocking your GPU.
OC core..test..find max.
OC RAM..test..find max..
then combine.

saint19 · Feb 19, 2014

Hyper 212 Evo, that's a very good cooler for the price.

Overclocking my graphics card.

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