Connect3d x800 GTO Overclocking

[WhipperSnapper]

A couple nights ago I flashed the BIOS and unlocked the extra four pipes and have begun to overclock my Connect3d x800 GTO using ATI Tool. One of the big problems that I had was that I didn't understand how the fan control worked, so it would get too hot. (I had to set the temperature monitoring to read every second.)

How do you guys overclock this card? What does the fan speed % profile look like on your ATI Tool? Does increasing the PCI-E/video card voltage in the BIOS help at all?

Here are my 3dMark05 results so far. Computer is an Opteron 148 (11 x 250) with 2 x 512 Corsair Value RAM (running near 200 Mhz with latency 2.5) on an Epox EP-9NPA+Ultra motherboard.

(cpu at 11 x 240) 12 pipes at stock speed = 4701
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at stock speed = 5333
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 500 core / 525 memory = 6170
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 510 core / 535 memory = 6303
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 525 core / 545 memory = 6443

(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 530 core / 545 memory = locked up
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 540 core / 540 memory = locked up
(cpu 11 x 250) 16 pipes at 540 core / 550 memory = locke dup

So, it looks like I can get up to x850xt speeds. This is all with the stock Connect3d HSF, btw. Here is my fan profile in ATI Tool (set to read temps and respond every second):

Dynamic (fan speed percentages) Based on GPU temperature:

Above 0 = 32 %
Above 40 = 40%
Above 50 = 50%
Above 60 = 75%
Above 65 = 80%
Above 70 = 85%
Above 75 = 90%
Above 80 = 100%

How does that look? What's a safe operating temperature for a GPU anyway? People talk about being up at 70C, which would be an awful temperature for a CPU.

Should I just have it set to "Above 50 = 100%"? Would that improve my overclocking performance? (Temps seem to stay around 65-70 with this current profile.) (When the stock fan dies, I suppose you just get an aftermarket solution.) What would be the best fan speed profile without it's being set to 100% full time?

I'm happy to have been able to transform it into an x850xt (520 / 540 ? ). What a kick-ass deal for a card that only cost $144 (soon to be $139 when I get my $5 price grabber rebate). To be safe, I'm going to run it as an x800xt most of the time (500/500 ? )

 

[Munky]

On my modded gto I was using the 70% fan setting. It seemed like a good compromise between cooling and noise, and the load temps were ~75C. If the temps are below 70, it's good, 70-80 is ok but not too good, and above 80 is asking for trouble. Anyway, I'm now using a zalman vf700 to keep the card cool and quiet even at 580/590, so I'd recommend an upgraded cooler if you plan on running it OC'd for a long time.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I still wonder, does increasing the voltage to the video card help you get a better overclock, and at what cost to the lifetime of the card?

I would consider getting a better cooler, but that kind of defeats the purpose of picking up the card for $144 ($139 if my $5 Pricegrabber rebate comes). I did like that photo of the Zalman cooler with the two heatpipes, too bad it isn't available yet.

 

[Munky]

Increasing the voltage would help the oc, but it would also increase the temperature even more, and it will shorten the lifespan of the card. In gneral, a card with a mild volt mod would still last a few years, but there's always greater risk of it dying early.