Overclocked 9700 Pro performs WORSE! then at stock speeds!

[formulav8]

Hi, as the title says I overclocked a ATI Radeon 9700 PRO to 400mhz Core/746mhz Memory! So, when I run 3DMark 2003 and 3DMark 2005 the scores lower by up to 800-1200 points or even higher. The system is: Chaintech VNF3-250 mobo (with latest October bios), AMD A64 3400+ (newcastle) and 1GB ram.

At stock speeds scores around 5008 in 3DMark 2003. When overclocked it drops!! to like 2800!! or so. Why in the world would the scores drop? As soon as I set the video card back to stock speeds the scores go back up!

I left the core at stock and only overclocked the memory to 720mhz and the score rose to 5128!

So, it must have something with overclocking the core!.

The drivers are the latest from ATI's website. I even installed the latest beta drivers from OMEGA.

So can someone please help me and let me know what the problem is?? Does ATI have something built into the drivers that detects a overclocked core and kill performance or something??

PS: I just now ran 3DMark 2003 again and only overclocked the core to 360mhz to match the memory speeds, and the scores LOWERED! down to 4652!! So the higher the core is clocked, the lower the score is!.

Also, when I ran it on a Athlon XP @ 2600+ speeds on a 225mhz fsb the scores rose by 18%!! when overclocked the 9700 PRO. So, would it have something to do with the system?? The A64 should definitely be faster then the 2100+ oced to 2600+ even if it is on a 225mhz fsb.

Sorry for such a long post, but I would like some help. Thanks for any help


Jason

 

[ronnn]

That is a high memory over clock. I had the same problem (never ran a bench though), ran ATI tool and found my memory only overclocks safely to 345 or so. Lowered memory and things ran much better.

I rarely oc, as there are few games that make a diff. D3 and farcry both benefited, but usually I notice no difference.

 

[Gagabiji]

Maybe your card was overheating when you over clocked it so high and that's why your overall score lowered??

EDIT: N/m just read the above post.

 

[formulav8]

Hi, well he overclocked Radeon raised performance 18% when it was overclocked on a Athlon XP and it scored something like 2311 in 3DMark 2005. And I tried the same overclock on the Athlon 64 and it scores MUCH WORSE! I don't know why that would happen???


Jason

 

[BFG10K]

If the overclock is too agressive I have seen cards actually drop lower than stock for safety.

 

[formulav8]

But why would it do 400mhz perfectly with the XP system and increase performance 18% and not work on the A64 system and actually kill performance by 30% if it is clocked at 400mhz instead of the stock 324mhz. That is what I can't understand. Hmmmmmm


Jason

 

[ronnn]

more heat in one case than the other?

 

[df96817]

Originally posted by: ronnn
more heat in one case than the other?

Most likely the case. Although you may get something to run faster, it it is not properly cooled, it's not running efficiently.

 

[Marsumane]

The only way to stop it, is by flashing the card's bios.