Overclocking 6800 Ultra reference card

[DCypher]

I am trying to overclock my 6800 ultra reference card with stock heatsink, but if i crank up the memory or core any bit, my 3dmark01 drops down like 1500 points, HELP!!!

 

[fstime]

What are you using to overclock.

 

[DCypher]

Well......(don't ridicule me, hahaha), i think i installed coolbits 2. Not sure if it worked though. To overclock I have to go into my display settings and there is a tab for overclocking, i can choose auto manual, etc. I can choose 2d, 3d. Is that coolbits?

 

[Paktu]

That might be a heat problem, what are your temps?

 

[ScrewFace]

The GeForce 6800 Ultras as well as the Radeon X800XT PEs don't have very much (if any) headroom for overclocking. That's why people are saving money and getting GeForce 6800GT's and Radeon X800XTs so they can overclock them to Ultra and XT PE levels.

 

[Solutions]

Originally posted by: DCypher
I am trying to overclock my 6800 ultra reference card with stock heatsink, but if i crank up the memory or core any bit, my 3dmark01 drops down like 1500 points, HELP!!!

What version drivers are you using? If you are able to see and manipulate the Clock frequency then your Coolbits is definately working. Not sure why your scores go down when O/C'ing though... what speeds are you using for core/ram? I was only able to OC my PCIe 6800 Ultra to 450/1100 (only a 50MHz core increase) and that is water-cooled. Seems so weird to me because my AGP 6600GT clocks to something like 600/1185. Tell us more about your drivers, temps, etc and maybe someone can help u find the problem (other than "its an Ultra so it wont OC much").

 

[Fenuxx]

Yeah, it might be your temps, or you simply have a card that has no headroom. Also, I would try some other benchies besides 3DMark2001, as that it outdated, and may in fact just be weird with your overclocks. Try 3DMark03 and 3DMark05, and see if your scores still drop.

 

[DCypher]

okay, now temps. Not overclocked 37'C ambient 53'C GPU core....

How can i tell what those are load. Can I be in CS:Source, and then alt-tab and open up my temp reader?

3d Mark also drops, and my driver version is 6.14.10

Shouldn't I just be able to use the detect optimal frequencies button, but even when i try it lowers the clock.

 

[rise]

download "rthdribl" and/or ati tools ( i know, but it works for nvidia too)
it will test for artifacts and show your load temps.

the idle seems ok, higher than mine, but ok

you just may have a card that doesn't oc well, but who cares, it's a great card at stock.

 

[DCypher]

ok cool, any other opinions

 

[fstime]

Your overclocking under 3D right?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DCypher
ok cool, any other opinions

kinda curious, WHY you are overclocking an already o/c'd card
:roll:

 

[DCypher]

yes, i am using 3d.

Um...this is not the Ultra OC, it's just the Ultra.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DCypher


Um...this is not the Ultra OC, it's just the Ultra.

what i mean is, the 6800 core is running near MAX in your 6800u already . . . . probably the memory can be pushed further but the core speeds really seem to make the most practical difference in games.

the principle of o/c'ing is to take a dark horse card - like the 6800GT and push it's core and memory to Ultra speeds - if you are lucky.

All the most you can hope for istaking your Ultra to Ultra O/C speeds - probably at a PRICE - upping the voltage and shortening your card's life and voiding the warranty. And if you really LOOK at the benchmarks, the practical difference is only ~5% - something you can't even notice.

:roll:

EDIT: ANYWAY, do NOT use 3dMark01 to test your card . . . .
Use '03 or '05.