Could my new video card be underclocked from the factory?

[imported_smirk]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a new PNY Verto 9600 GT. On the box, it says it should run at 650 MHz core, 1625 MHz Shader, and 1800 MHz memory. However, on my system both GPU-Z and ATITool show it running at 600 MHz core, 1500 MHz shader, and 1800 MHz memory (well, it shows it at 900 but I think you're supposed to double it). So I boxed it up, brought it back to the store and exchanged it for another one. However, that card runs at the exact same speeds!

Is there something in my system that could be causing this card to run slightly slower? Could PNY have shipped a bad batch of cards? What else could cause this? This is with NVidia's latest driver, if that matters, 182.50.

Any ideas or info would be great. Thanks!

 

[vj8usa]

Did you check the clocks while the card was under load? It might have clocked itself down while idle to save power.

 

[imported_smirk]

Well, I'm checking it with ATITool, which spins that furry cube around to stress the card and generate heat. That should be a good stress test, don't you think?

 

[Rick James]

Just change the settings with Rivatuner. Who knows

 

[imported_smirk]

Yeah, that's what I did. I just thought that maybe a 9600 that came shipped at 650 could overclock higher than a 9600 that came shipped at 600. You know, wanted my money's worth. But it was a really good price so I'm happy either way.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: vj8usa
Did you check the clocks while the card was under load? It might have clocked itself down while idle to save power.

I don't think a normal 9600 GT clocks down. Also, the current cards that clock down go to 300MHz.

 

[lopri]

There are apparently 2 different SKUs. I learned about this while I was searching for a fanless card that runs without 6-pin connector.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/p...geforce_9600gt_us.html (click on 'Specification' tab)

96W version - 650MHz
59W version - 600MHz (<- this one does not require a 6-pin power)

Does your card have a 6-pin PCIe power connector?

 

[imported_smirk]

Yes, it does have a 6-pin connector. This is really odd. I found this card via Slickdeals, and others on there have also gotten underclocked cards. It seems to overclock up to the low 700s, but it's just a mystery why all these cards shipped "wrong".