CPU OC NOT improving GPU OC

masoumi

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So I bought a 30$ after market cooler and overclocked my CPU to a stable 3.78 GHz with my temps bellow 75' C. my ram is overclocked to 1440 MHz (it couldn't maintain stability with 1600 MHz !)
but when I ran Unigine Heaven benchmark maxed out, my previous GPU clocks had become unstable so I had to lower core clock by 4 and memory clock by 20 to get it to be stable again. and here's the funny part, the results were the same as before CPU OC . (exactly 37.5 frames per second)
so the most I achieved was getting the same gaming performance with lower GPU clocks ! whereas I was expecting the opposite; that I would be able to increase GPU OC and get better frame rates.
so what do you think is the problem?
and I know that I haven't lost anything and games like Watch Dogs will run more smoothly with better CPU performance, but still ....

here's some details about my system and bios settings.

main board P7P55D LE - ASUS (x16 PCI-express 2 for my GPU)
CPU core i5 760 intel 2.8 GHz OCed @ 3.78 GHz - evercool transformer 3 heat-sink and fan
GPU MSI Nvidia gtx 670 power edition OC
8 Gig ram (4 & 2 &2) corsair XMS3 1600 MHz
PSU 600W (newly bought and 80 Bronze certified)
windows 7 pro 64 bit

Bios setting for OC

BCLK clock 180 MHZ
CPU multiplier 21 (21*180= 3780 MHz)
DRAM frequency 1440 MHz(8*180)
Vcore 1.3000 Volts
IMC/Vtt voltage 1.8
DRAM voltage 1.66 (as specified by manufacturer)
PLL voltage 1.90
PCH Voltage 1.11

EDIT: to get 3.96 GHz I increased the Vcore by 0.2 but the GPU performance didn't change. so I kept using the 3.96 GHz.
 
Solution
When benching Unigine, this is what you look for as far as performance changes:

CPU Frequency: Compare minimum FPS.

RAM Frequency/timings: Compare minimum FPS.

GPU Core Frequency: Compare average FPS and score.

GPU VRAM Frequency: Compare average FPS and score, but also monitor real time FPS while you change frequency as often performance will start to decrease when VRAM is taken too far and cause errors instead of crashing or artifacting.

Tutorial worthy?

masoumi

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xmp mode automatically set's 1600 MHz and 1.65 volts for my ram and also sets the timings at 9-9-9-24
4GB : cmx4gx3m1a1600c11 4GB(1X4GB) 11-11-11-30 1.50V ( installed in first slot)
2X2GB: cmx4gx3m2a1600c9 4GB(2X2GB) 9-9-9-24 1.65V ( installed in 2nd and 4th slots)

In my current OC I've set the timings like the xmp which is 9-9-9-24 but at 1440 because it was unstable at 1600MHz !

I don't know the usage but my temps didn't get passed 65' C which I guess means the usage hadn't reached 100% .
 

masoumi

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Okay I ran heaven benchmark again and had to lower the clock by 4 and 20 , again. the frame rates were the same (actually increased by 0.4 frame). this time I kept an eye on speedfan software : the average usage was 20% and the average temperature was 60' C.

about the rams... I can exchange my cl11 4GB ram for a pair of cl9 2GB.(so my ram config would become 4X2GB 9-9-9-24
or
I can sell the whole bunch and get two 4GB corsair vengeance 1600MHz ram (instead of my current XMS3s)
given the fact that my main board is old and selling things is a drag, I'd like to do the exchange. what's your opinion?
 

masoumi

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why do you keep asking the same thing? "What temp and % usage is your cpu on while running Heaven?"
I answered you in my previous post. :)
 

masoumi

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NO I only did IBT . Which test do you recommend small, large or blend? and at least how long?
NO I don't have dual fans . I don't know how to find a fan exactly like the one supplied with the heatsink ! :(
by the way the PWM feature is not turned off.
 
When benching Unigine, this is what you look for as far as performance changes:

CPU Frequency: Compare minimum FPS.

RAM Frequency/timings: Compare minimum FPS.

GPU Core Frequency: Compare average FPS and score.

GPU VRAM Frequency: Compare average FPS and score, but also monitor real time FPS while you change frequency as often performance will start to decrease when VRAM is taken too far and cause errors instead of crashing or artifacting.

Tutorial worthy?
 
Solution

masoumi

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thank you so much for the answers but I still don't understand why did I have to lower my gpu clocks to make it stable after CPU OC.
 


What PSU model? It could be having a hard time regulating.

 

masoumi

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sorry about answering late again
there trade mark is green which I doubt anyone knows it. ( it's made in IRAN)
here is what it says
GP600A-HP.gif


 
That's an interesting PSU. I'm going to show this to my friend who knows more about the OEMs. Yours is actually made by High Power Electronic Co. LTD. They look legit, but only a proper torture test and autopsy will tell us if quality is good or bad.

 
Update: I knew there was something familiar about that unit.

Highpower is indeed the OEM, and they do make some really outstanding units including the Thortech Thunderbolt.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7243

But they are a relative newcomer, and not a lot of reviews are out there for the whole range of units just yet. So it's a gamble, but it looks pretty descent, and Highpower does know what goes in a high end PSU. The question is whether they put good effort into all of the units they build.
 

masoumi

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thank you so much for the effort
I entered 1.32 Vcore voltage and 3970 Mhz CPU clocks in EXTREME PSU CALCULATOR
which gave me 139 watts which is 44 watts higher than the CPU's stock wattage which it seems to be 95 watts !
now, I know these calculators don't say much but do you think it's possible that my psu can't handle it.
I mean even if we consider 40 ampers instead of 45 ampers on 12V rail, shouldn't it be more than enough for the current over-clock state?
I would really appreciate your answer cause it's a drag to sell this and buy a new one.
 
139W is less than 12A, so I think you have that covered as far as rail specs. Ripple suppression is the main concern when overclocking. Poor regulation will also make your components run like crap if you don't have quite 12v on the 12v rail. Perhaps you could check that with HWMonitor while under load.
 

masoumi

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Okay here's what I got using heaven benchmark for first and many runs after
please note that after-burner is forcing constant voltage on GPU core.
so is it poor? the regulation I mean.

Capture.PNG

Capture%202.PNG
 

masoumi

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such a shame. one last question... what do you think of these PSUs ? they're rather expensive but they have 62 month warranty
I'm thinking of getting the 750 W model...it's price is the same as Enermax REVOLUTION X’t 630W in my country
 

masoumi

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I don't think so ... anyways
as I said it's not cheap ... it's 10$ more expensive than for example "Corsair CS750M 80Plus Gold"