7900GT Memory Overclock

[TheRyuu]

I know that a lot of people are having trouble with the 7900GT especally the memory vmod (and how it could possible kill your card, have blanking, etc.) so I've decided to skip the memory vmod part on my second card (and get rid of it on my first).

Right now I'm stable at 800mhz (1600mhz effective) and I'm just wondering how I can get a better memory overclock at stock volts (2v). I've read (on the vmod tutorial) that wiping off the back of the card with a paper towel and some alcohol (on the paper towel) will help (a lot) when you wipe off the residue on the back of the card. Has anyone tried that? (and does it work?)

I tried it on mine, but it didn't help (still stuck at 800mhz). Maby I didn't get all the junk off the back of the card?

BTW, I have OCZ Copper BGA ramsinks on all the ram chips, and the core is water cooled. (and there is a fan next to the card), so I don't think heat will be a problem.

Now I had the card at 1920mhz before with the 2.2v vmod, but I didn't really like having it like that (paranioa) and I almost killed my card doing it. So when my second 7900GT comes for SLI (because it arrived DOA, and no I'm RMAing it) I won't do the vmod on that one.

Basically, I just want some pointers to try and get it higher on stock volts.
Thanks.

 

[TheRyuu]

Howcome whenever I start a thead with a legit question I never get an answer, but whenever there's some stupid thread on G80, or some flamebait thread, everybody is all over it?

Sigh, bump.

 

[TheRyuu]

Anyone?

 

[TheRyuu]

TTT

 

[nullpointerus]

Well, if you had ended your post with, "ATI sucks and all their cards are crap!" you would have had lots of replies.

Getting back to the topic, my 7900GT KO's memory is stable at 800MHz, and I've no intention of taking it further. (Automatic detection took it up to 882MHz, but my monitor lost sync occasionally at that setting.) I'm not really experienced enough to give you advice on going further, but I can't imagine why there'd be a significant film on the back of the card, nor do I understand why it would have any measurable effect on overclocking.

 

[Extelleron]

Generally about 800MHz/1600 effective is around what you get with your average 7900GT, though a bit low. XFX has their "XXX" edition clocked at 560/825, so I presume you might be able to squeeze a bit more out of it-but then again, XFX probably speed bins and gets the best 7900GT's for the XXX model. Overall, with no volt change, 800MHz on the memory is good. If you don't feel comfortable increasing the voltage, I would just be happy where you are now.

 

[TheRyuu]

Also, more memory bandwidth really won't increase speeds dramatically right? It's more the core speed that matters more.

I hope the increased core speed won't make it memory bandwidth limited.

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
Also, more memory bandwidth really won't increase speeds dramatically right? It's more the core speed that matters more.

I hope the increased core speed won't make it memory bandwidth limited.

They're both important. Which one makes more of a difference on performance depends on what card you're talking about, and what kind of settings/games you're playing.