getting the last life out of my 8800 gts (and my cpu..)

[Kindberg]

Greetings, been lurking this forum for some time but first getting around to post something now, I'm currently using a 8800 GTS (512mb). and just want it to last about a year longer before building myself a new computer. The build is 2 years old, the reason for the OC is I will be playing FF XIV and been beta testing it for a while, and my 8800 is getting it's chips handed to it big time, so OC time, been reading a bit on what people have got stable and such, but figured it was best to ask here before throwing myself into it, just in case what I'm looking for is a few more fps in a sorta safe way (no OC is save, I know that )

my build is: from sandra
Windows 7 64 bit home p.
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (would like some tips on a safe OC for it, but I feel ok about this one. the gfx is what "scares" me)

Gigabyte EP35-DS3R Award (Phoenix) F4 06/19/2009 (should most likely update..)

Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 333MHz (1.33GHz)
Memory Module(s) Memory Module : Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-22-6-3)
Memory Module : Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-22-6-3)


I was planing on using Rivatune for the G8800 GTS, but it's pretty outdated by now, any better people think I should give a try?

and if people think it's not worth trying at all because the 8800 GTS is a horrible overclocker, let me know so I save myself the headach

 

[Idontcare]

Welcome to the forums Kindberg!

Hopefully you'll get some helpful pointers on your OP :thumbsup:

 

[bryanW1995]

I used rivatuner for years, it's great and very easy to use. play around with it for a while and come back here if you have any questions.

for your cpu overclock we have a great thread here.

 

[Kindberg]

Thanks atm I'm toying a bit with my GFX, but everywhere I look they say a G8800 will run at a core speed of 500, but mine is 650 from stock, so makes it a bit confusing ^^; and thanks bryan for the guide! very good ^^

 

[ModestGamer]

2011 is around the corner and it looks like alot of pretty nice stuff is going to start showing up soon.

should be alot of deals for the money !

 

[toyota]

Thanks atm I'm toying a bit with my GFX, but everywhere I look they say a G8800 will run at a core speed of 500, but mine is 650 from stock, so makes it a bit confusing ^^; and thanks bryan for the guide! very good ^^

all 8800gts 512mb cards are g92 based and were 650mhz. the old g80 based 8800gts 320mb and 640mb cards were clocked at 500mhz.

rivatuner is far from simple to use for a noobie and has tons of crap you will never use. grab something simple like EVGA precision for overclocking your card.

 

[Kindberg]

I actually find rivatuner easy to get around in, been using it for a while to change fan speed on my gfx on different lvls and such, so I won't get lost in there (watch me jix the hell out of myself and get lost when I'm done running this stress test..) my aim is CPU FSB to 380 (maybe 400? dunno how easy that will be) and GFX from 650 core to 700 core. since I see many hit 730'ish on their gg8800s without touching the volt, not too happy about messing with volt so I rather push it as far as possible without having to touch the volt, and if I have to touch it, then only a tiny little bit ^^; yea I'm a chicken, I wait for my new build before trying to go all out on this build just to see what it could have reached

 

[Kindberg]

2011 is around the corner and it looks like alot of pretty nice stuff is going to start showing up soon.

should be alot of deals for the money !

yea, kinda saving up for a bulldozer 8 core and a nice 6xxx to pair with it that's why I rather push this build a bit the next year and wait with shopping till then

 

[RussianSensation]

You can always try selling the 8800GTS 512 for $50 and grab a $105 4870 off Newegg. The $55 will buy you a good 50% performance increase, probably more in FFIV since it runs a bit faster on ATI hardware.

 

[Kindberg]

problem is I'm from Denmark, and the second handed hardware market is pretty much crap. :/ newegg doesn't ship to DK sadly. but if I can just push 5 fps more out then it will be smooth enough for my eyes not to bleed. it's just about 17-20 fps when I'm not around too many people. when alone it goes up to 30ish. so I figured a minor overclock should get the game to feel more smooth. (and I know it's only a beta atm and therefor runs worse than the final release (I hope..))

 

[Kindberg]

got done with my first oc, *bleeds a little * joke aside. went from 3 ghx to 3.4 and from 650 to 700. the results where: (the FF XIV benchmark since FF XIV server is down atm...3 runs with each, taken the avg)
..................low-------- high
stock/stock 2966........1845
3.4/stock... 3163........1862
improvement 6,64% 0,92%

3.4 – 700
...................3235 ...1944
improvement 9,83% 5,36%

I hope this data can be useful for any future FF XIV players that wonder what limit them.

edit. ok I hate that it keeps moving my data around -_-...

 

[peonyu]

Your cpu can do 4 ghz without breaking a sweat, I have the E8500 version of it and it did 4ghz with just 0.25 more voltage from stock [1.225 to 1.250]. Above that and you need alot more. For your video card the others are spot on, rivatuner is a really great app. In the new FF game you are probably held back by your gpu.

I would keep trying to OC your card though since when I had mine I hit 750. A better app to test your GPU overclock is furmark...If you have issues from your gpu overclock, it will show up in minutes. It will heat your card up like crazy and also test it out...So if anything is not stable you will know in 5 minutes at the most.

 

[toyota]

I think 3.6(9x400) is a nice and simple oc for an E8400. even with his cpu at stock speed the 8800gts will be the limitation in nearly every case anyway.

 

[betasub]

Agree with toyota on this one: 9x400 is good target without having to add too much Vcore. As OP's benchmark figures show, extra CPU speed only helps at low settings. To improve at high settings more GPU power is required.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I think you're fighting a losing battle, but it never hurts to try for another 2-3 fps. There are no other companies that ship to DK?

 

[Kindberg]

not that you guys normally use, but I'm running at 18-30 fps. it will have to do till the 6xxx's come out, or the 5850 drops heavily in price. really trying to hold out upgrading so I can build myself a new rig next year with a bulldozer as the cpu. I did however get the 2-3 fps more, so not everything is lost I guess ^^; 5850 should be dropping soon thanks to the 6xxx info I hope..