Do you recommend RIVATUNER?

[vois2]

Hi everyone. I'm about to make my first dabble into overclocking a video card. First I'm going to take some days to try and get a lock on what the "normal" temps are of components in my machine, using SpeedFan. (Including normal temps at 100% CPU usage, although I have yet to figure out how to trigger the machine to 100% usage, monitor it at 100%, or make it stay at a 100% CPU usage...)

After that, I'd like to try my hand at overclocking a 6800 GS PCI-e which is stock at 425/1000.

I was wondering what are your thoughts on RivaTuner for this purpose...

Are there better utilities you would mention?

Also, is there any GRAND WARNING you would give to me about nuiances in overclocking a video card? It can be technical or generic.

I appreciate your help. My specs are below.

Dell Dimension 8400 / 3.0 P-4 630 HT / 3G PC2-3200 (ddr2-400) RAM / 350W PSU / eVGA 6800 GS 256MB stock 425/1000 PCI-express

 

[luminaris]

I use Rivatuner and I love it. It made quite a difference with my 7800GT. The only thing that happened is after I installed it is I had to crank my card back down a little bit as my games would just freeze up. Once I got it back to a stable setting, it has worked flawlessly. I think the problem was it was getting too hot. I just installed a new graphics card fan on it and will crank it back up and see what happens. Other than that, no problems. Go for it and good luck

 

[harmonica]

maybe rivatuner works fine, but atitool certainly does. I used it on my ati x800xt with succes. I started a thread in this forum at "Home -> Hardware -> 3D Chips", I think the info in there should help you.

 

[margag_]

Riva tuner is a good tool but read the instructions carefully
it has advance tweak settings that can fry a vid card if you go too far.

Coolbits is a good tool too for a beginer.

Good luck play safe :!:

 

[Wapas]

where do you get the 'ati tool"???

 

[ak47is1337]

Rivatuner rox. Overclocking is easy with it. Depending on what games you can play, you can get different levels. HL2 based games are bitchy about video card settings. FEAR will run my 6800gt at 460/1250 lolz...
also, make sure you check/monitor video card temps on rivatuner with the monitor support then that little arrow > a chip with a magnifier over it (hardware monitor) if heat gets about 70c, its time for an aftermarket cooler. It should idle no higher than 50c also.

 

[handym3000]

go to omegadriver.net and i have these drivers and it resolves tons of problems w/ ati's driver that they put out every month.

it takes away about 10k in the cache and it runs alot better plus my edmark scores went up. if you have a sapphire card then this is the best bet for you