Help overclocking this HD4870

[ghost recon88]

I obtained a Diamond HD4870 512MB via trade. Tried ocing to 815/925 so I could flash it to the Asus TOP BIOS. However the card doesn't want to run any higher then 800MHz without artifacting. Temps aren't bad, only 68c under load after putting Creamique on the core and the stock cooler fan at 40%.

I tried upping the vGPU in the BIOS and reflashing it, didn't seem to make a difference except raise the GPU load temps.

I was running the 8.11 RC1 drivers, then after it wouldn't overclock well I switched to the 8.10 finals. Still can't run past 800MHz without artifacting.

For testing, I'm using Overdrive to increase the clocks, GPU-Z to monitor the temps and fan speed, ATItool to scan for artifacts, and the OpenGL furry donut to put the GPU under load.

Any ideas at all? Is my card just a lemon?

 

[postmortemIA]

lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

 

[ghost recon88]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

I know that. But most HD4870 can overclock to 850MHz core easily. I'm just wondering if there's a better driver set for that, or a better BIOS to flash it to?

 

[Cheex]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

 

[ghost recon88]

Apparently both you guys are not familiar with the term "average overclock"...

Or the fact that since it artifacts when the temps aren't that high, and I'm not sure if I need to increase the voltage just yet or not.

 

[postmortemIA]

yeah, that is obviously voltage problem, or something else ATi put/engineered to prevent significant overclocks... let's say HD4970 will be based on same core, but with significantly higher clocks. Now if they could be reached by overclocking HD4870, it beats the purpose of new card.

Of course, ATi wants cards that are enthusiast friendly, but it doesn't mean they will go extra mile to make it very overclockable.

 

[aclim]

Lemon? You cant do that when the card works just fine the way it is intended.

 

[Tempered81]

more vgpu ghost! The TOP bios should give you some. but be prepared to blind flash if it doesnt.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

I know that. But most HD4870 can overclock to 850MHz core easily

Yeah? Where have you seen that? Only a hand full of 4870 around the web, are getting 850 mhz on core, with stock voltage. I've actually seen only one man getting there, but his card died after that. Most of them are hitting that speed, only after hard volt mods, topping at around 900 mhz.

I'd say 815 mhz is a good oc for this card on stock volts and with "only" 40% fan speed.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
lemon? it works per specs provided, which are 750/900. anything above that is a gamble.

I know that. But most HD4870 can overclock to 850MHz core easily. I'm just wondering if there's a better driver set for that, or a better BIOS to flash it to?

i think you are dreaming

Apparently both you guys are not familiar with the term "average overclock"...

apparently you aren't

825 is a stretch for many 4870s .. you evidently got an O/C'ing "lemon"
- go ahead and fry it with a massive overvolt; 4870 is cheap anyway..
.. OC'ing won't make much performance difference over 825, but extreme OC'ers think so in their endless search for an extra 1% performance increase
- i'd suggest you work on OC'ing your VRAM .. i got mine over 1150 .. 1165, i think

Why not buy an X2? Even the 1GB 4870 offers a real performance increase over a 512MB 4870

 

[Fattysharp]

I find that 8.8 gave me the best overclocking preformance. I was 825 stable with the asus top bios. Changed drivers, and it was no longer stable.

850 core is not a standard overclock at all. 800-820 seems to be the most reasonable overclocks that I have seen.

I run mine at 805mhz with 8.10 drivers and a asus TOP bios for the variable fan spped. This means i underclock the it from the 815 that is standard. While it runs at 815 without artifacting, it crashes after a few hours. symptons are 100% fan speed then crash.

 

[postmortemIA]

its not like there's game where you need to overclock your 4870 by 20% to make it run. also it beats the purpose: using older driver that has issues with never games..