How well does the stock EVGA 8800GTS 320MB overclock?

[Keysplayr]

I specifically did NOT go with the 320 GTS for my 22" LCD. @ 1680x1050 is where I will be gaming, regardless of the game, so I didn't want' to live with a card that was just on the cusp of making that res playable with candy all on. If you have a large res monitor, I would recommend 640 GTS. IMHO. I thought about this for quite a while now and finally just bought all my stuff today.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
I specifically did NOT go with the 320 GTS for my 22" LCD. @ 1680x1050 is where I will be gaming, regardless of the game, so I didn't want' to live with a card that was just on the cusp of making that res playable with candy all on. If you have a large res monitor, I would recommend 640 GTS. IMHO. I thought about this for quite a while now and finally just bought all my stuff today.

depends on if you can spare a extra 100 bucks really.

 

[imported_wutang]

can anyone else go beyond 308 meg video with riva tuner..?? maybe someone with the 640 meg version

 

[Cheex]

This review of the eVGA 8800GTS 320MB has me really smiling.

This proves that this card can run with the big boys and isn't hampered too much by the halved video memory but at the same time can even beat the stock 640MB when overclocked.

Great review (maybe a repost but I'd like to share it)!!

VR-Zone: EVGA 8800GTS 320MB Review

 

[LanEvoVII]

I only thing I'm playing right now that uses beyond 640MB of memory is oblivion with Qarl's Texture Mod 3. Now I see why GTX's run it so well.

 

[Cheex]

That may be true but the 320MB version still ain't no slouch, now is it?

 

[destrekor]

i have the 640mb version and it is overclocked to 620/2000mhz
temperatures are a big concern, however. make sure you have excellent case cooling. I was forced to buy a dual-slot PCI cooler to sit beneath my card. brought down temps however, and its relatively silent so no concern to me.

 

[SickBeast]

I have the 320mb Asus version, and I get 648 / 985.

 

[Cheex]

My personal target with mine (after running it stock for a little while) will be 600/2000. From what I understand, that should be easily attainable.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Cheex
My personal target with mine (after running it stock for a little while) will be 600/2000. From what I understand, that should be easily attainable.

The 2000 isn't. 600 is low. You should hit 625 no problem. I might even be able to hit 675 on mine; I haven't even tried to yet. It's always the memory that craps out on me. Even 990 (1980) craps out on me.

 

[Cheex]

I've heard that overclocking the memory too much can really shorten the life of the card (make it die sooner)....Any validity to these claims?

 

[Cheex]

Anyone?

 

[imported_wutang]

depends how hot it was running for all time being

 

[Cheex]

For the 8800GTS, what are the temperatures "supposed to be" at idle and load?

 

[imported_wutang]

getting 80 celsius idle... (stock cooling)
might put a frying pan on my geforce and start cooking

 

[lopri]

The memory dying symptom originates from the famous 7900 GT volt-mod using conductive ink. At default voltage, they will stay strong for quite a while. Besides, EVGA has the best warranty and tech support ever so even if a problem arise, you won't go through too much hassle. But what SickBeast says is true to my case, too. Memory is harder to OC than Core. I strongly suspect that it has more to do with PCB design and memory controller, as well as voltages supplied to the memory ICs.

Also keep in mind that there are clock speed plateaus with G80 cards. In the case of 8800 GTX / GTS / GTS 320 (Ultra apparently has a different clock generator), there are 3 plateaus past 600MHz: 621, 648, 675

And it works like this

6xx ~ 635 will get you 621 MHz
636 ~ 661 will get you 648 MHz
662 ~ 6?? will get you 675 MHz

For example, a card clocked @ 636 MHz and another @661 will give you the same performance. Therefore, the smart way of OC'ing is to set the lowest clockspeed that'll take you to the next performance level. My GTS 320 can clock up to 680 MHz but for the sake of sanity I run it @636 MHz.

A similar pattern applies to memory also but it varies by BIOS and the performance jump occurs in a much more granular fashion, so you might want to check it out yourself using RivaTuner monitoring. On my GTS 320, setting memory @986MHz got me actual speed of 999MHz.

Below are a couple of 3DMark runs. Note the actual clock speeds reported by Everest.

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mark05xz0.png
http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mark06yy7.png

P.S. Oh and my EVGA GTS 320 is the plain Jane version. (no supa dupa OC edition)

Edit: Ooops.. Actually my GTS 320 was a plain version but I flashed the BIOS to SC version, then overclocked to 636/986. (which gives me the actual performance of 648/999 as you can see). Looped 3DMark06 at 1600x1200/4AA/16AF for 8 Hours with no artifacts or lockups whatsoever. But I do have one of those PCI-slot exhaust fan running right underneath the card. Load temps are generally under 75C, and idle 55~60C.