AMD Overdrive

MrGrim999

Member
Jan 12, 2015
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I've been experimenting with overclocking my cpu and wondered if anyone using an AMD video card has used the AMD Overdrive option in the catalyst control center. Does it really make a difference or should i leave it alone?
 

tential

Diamond Member
May 13, 2008
7,348
642
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Do you mean you're trying to overclock your GPU?
I mean this is the AMD section so yes, at least one of us overclock =D.

Yes it makes a difference, I use it, so if you want to try why not?

Why not tell us your system specs and what games you're playing and what your goals are, etc. The more we know, the more we can tell you.
 

n0x1ous

Platinum Member
Sep 9, 2010
2,574
252
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If you mean overclock your Gpu yes Amd overdrive works fine for what it offers.

if you mean Cpu then thats a horrible idea and you should tune that in the BIOS
 

railven

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2010
6,604
561
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I've been experimenting with overclocking my cpu and wondered if anyone using an AMD video card has used the AMD Overdrive option in the catalyst control center. Does it really make a difference or should i leave it alone?

Until maybe 4 years ago, I only overclocked my AMD GPUs through overdrive. I never used programs like Afterburner (until I learned how to properly use the OSD options haha).

Just turn it on, agree to the disclaimer, and play with the sliders! Use it to even downclock.


Actually, I lied, in the historic past I use to love using a program called RAD Linker, which I think was the premise for Radeon Pro (I absolutely hated Radeon Pro). Them were good times. If AMD/ATI lets you set custom clocks for game profiles, that be a big plus. Some games I play don't even need to clock too high to maintain current resolution+60 FPS.
 

MrGrim999

Member
Jan 12, 2015
172
10
81
Do you mean you're trying to overclock your GPU?
I mean this is the AMD section so yes, at least one of us overclock =D.

Yes it makes a difference, I use it, so if you want to try why not?

Why not tell us your system specs and what games you're playing and what your goals are, etc. The more we know, the more we can tell you.


Yea I'm curious about overclocking my video card and have never done so before. I play all kinds of games like GTA V, Far Cry 4, Wolfenstein, Pillars of Eternity...

Here's what I got:

Intel i5-4690K w/ CM Hyper 212 Evo
XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB
MSI Z97 Gaming 3
16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws X series (2x8)
EVGA 750w 80+ Gold Fully Modular
Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD
Seagate Barracuda 2TB
Win 7 Pro 64

So you've been using this option for some time? I didn't know if most people used a different program and if the amd overdrive in ccc gave any issues.
 
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tential

Diamond Member
May 13, 2008
7,348
642
121
How about your case and cooling?
That's important as well. My hd7950 is oced to 1000 from my default of whatever ridiculous low number it was. But it hits 80c at that oc with 2 fans. From a review, adding 2 fans to my case would drop my Temps by 5c and give me additional headroom.

So what's your cooling, also I'd say you should try and check your Temps while gaming using afterburner or something too. Then people can give you a starting point on where to oc. I just set my 7950 to a 1000+ oc though without any checks. Worked for me but I don't recommend it and do recommend actually monitoring to see how it runs which is what I'm doing now and why I'm getting more case fans.
 

MrGrim999

Member
Jan 12, 2015
172
10
81
How about your case and cooling?
That's important as well. My hd7950 is oced to 1000 from my default of whatever ridiculous low number it was. But it hits 80c at that oc with 2 fans. From a review, adding 2 fans to my case would drop my Temps by 5c and give me additional headroom.

So what's your cooling, also I'd say you should try and check your Temps while gaming using afterburner or something too. Then people can give you a starting point on where to oc. I just set my 7950 to a 1000+ oc though without any checks. Worked for me but I don't recommend it and do recommend actually monitoring to see how it runs which is what I'm doing now and why I'm getting more case fans.


I should be ok as far as cooling. Here's my rig....

http://pcpartpicker.com/b/WPNNnQ
 

brandonmatic

Member
Jul 13, 2013
199
21
81
How about your case and cooling?
That's important as well. My hd7950 is oced to 1000 from my default of whatever ridiculous low number it was. But it hits 80c at that oc with 2 fans. From a review, adding 2 fans to my case would drop my Temps by 5c and give me additional headroom.

It was 850 stock for the boost edition. Yes, ridiculously low since the 7950/R9 280 can easily clock to 1100 with a little voltage.
 

MrGrim999

Member
Jan 12, 2015
172
10
81
How about your case and cooling?
That's important as well. My hd7950 is oced to 1000 from my default of whatever ridiculous low number it was. But it hits 80c at that oc with 2 fans. From a review, adding 2 fans to my case would drop my Temps by 5c and give me additional headroom.

So what's your cooling, also I'd say you should try and check your Temps while gaming using afterburner or something too. Then people can give you a starting point on where to oc. I just set my 7950 to a 1000+ oc though without any checks. Worked for me but I don't recommend it and do recommend actually monitoring to see how it runs which is what I'm doing now and why I'm getting more case fans.

Ok I was playing GTA V with high and very high settings and my gpu temp didn't go above 65C and core clock is at 1080.
 

tential

Diamond Member
May 13, 2008
7,348
642
121
I'm just going to start by saying I'm no OC expert this is just going off what I've found from searching for OCing my HD7950 without going for a MAX OC and just doing it in a basic way.

So I'd continue to raise your core clocks you don't go above 75 first.
You can probably also achieve a significant memory OC but start with core clock and see how high you can go. Set power limit to max (+20%).

If I'm not mistaken, the max operating temps are 85 degrees. I've been at 82-83 for awhile until I just opened my top vent tonight. Dropped my temps down to 75 C. So I'd just continue to go up until you're at uncomfortable temps (above 80). Of course you may run into game crashes before then and then you'll have to dial your OC back either way. For memory OC, I looked up average OCs for my card, and set it pretty far below that I'm too lazy though.

I'm sure someone can provide you somethign a lot more comprehensive, but this is just in the meantime so you can do some quick OCing and enjoy your card while playing GTA 5. I'm going to continue pushing my card in Witcher 2 now that I have better airflow. I'm going to be replacing all of my cooling this next week since my case now sits next to my bed rather than across the room behind the TV (cord to the projector screen wouldn't read if that was the case), so now gotta actually do some cooling upgrades lol.