Overclocking the ATI x800 XL

[brikis98]

I have an ATI x800 XL running at stock speed with a stock HSF. I don't really have any need to OC at the moment, but was interested to see what this card can do. So, some questions:

1. How can I monitor the temperature of the card? Do I need special software, or an HSF that supports it or what?

2. How good is the stock HSF for overclocking? Can I get anything worthwhile from it w/o burning out my card, or would I need something better (like a Zalman)?

3. What software should I use? I heard a while ago PowerStrip was good, but don't know what's good today.

4. What kind of OC can I expect from this card?

 

[BFG10K]

As a general rule X800 XL cards do not overclock well.

 

[ender11122]

dont bother

 

[brikis98]

is it really that bad? can't get any gains at all?

 

[hans030390]

ATItool

 

[Powermoloch]

Don't expect too much on the XL, doesn't oc as well as you might think. If your interested on checking the temps and also clocking the device. Check your catalyst driver (program) and go to the menu that says "overdrive". I'm sure it will display the temps you might need to know

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: hans030390
ATItool

I just grabbed this, pretty nifty utility.

At stock settings (400/500), my temps are around under 47 idle and 74 under load for the GPU.

What's the maximum temp for this card that avoids damage?

 

[brikis98]

anyone?

 

[hans030390]

I wouldnt want to take it above 80 load...

ATItool has a feature that automatically OCs for you. What you do is hit "find max core clock" or something like that (haven't used it for a long time). Run that as long as possible (1 hour min), and then run the same thing for mem. It will lower your core clock, but its supposed to.

After both have run, lower the clocks on each (core/mem) down by 5. Do plenty of heavy gaming/benchmarking to test for artifacts. Keep decreasing if you find any. Once you don't find any artifacts, lower it 5mhz from the point in which it doesnt artifact for you.

Sure, its not an extreme OC, but its definitely a safer OC.

 

[brikis98]

thanks for the advice, i'll try exactly that.

what kind of OC can i expect? something small like 420/520 or bigger?

 

[fstime]

Just leave it alone.

Whatever you get wont be noticable.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Just leave it alone.

Whatever you get wont be noticable.

sigh. is that true of all Ati cards or just the x800 xl? and why is it such a weak OCer?

 

[BFG10K]

It's generally true of just the X800 XL because its 0.11 manufacturing process isn't very refined so it doesn't have much headroom. On the plus side it does make the card run cooler than competing solutions and the version I have is completely passively cooled.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
It's generally true of just the X800 XL because its 0.11 manufacturing process isn't very refined so it doesn't have much headroom. On the plus side it does make the card run cooler than competing solutions and the version I have is completely passively cooled.

wierd, i'd think a smaller manufacturing process + cooler card would allow for more OCing headroom.

oh well, i guess it works fine for now, i'll let it be.

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: BFG10K
It's generally true of just the X800 XL because its 0.11 manufacturing process isn't very refined so it doesn't have much headroom. On the plus side it does make the card run cooler than competing solutions and the version I have is completely passively cooled.

wierd, i'd think a smaller manufacturing process + cooler card would allow for more OCing headroom.

oh well, i guess it works fine for now, i'll let it be.

Your going to be ok . I really don't want to oc my x850xt either(cannot risk blowing up the card lol you know).

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: BFG10K
It's generally true of just the X800 XL because its 0.11 manufacturing process isn't very refined so it doesn't have much headroom. On the plus side it does make the card run cooler than competing solutions and the version I have is completely passively cooled.

wierd, i'd think a smaller manufacturing process + cooler card would allow for more OCing headroom.

oh well, i guess it works fine for now, i'll let it be.

not true on all ATI cards, yours happens to be on the .11nm proccess.

 

[BFG10K]

wierd, i'd think a smaller manufacturing process + cooler card would allow for more OCing headroom.

Usually yes but like I said the current process isn't very refined. At the moment apparently there's some leakage that hinders overclocking, among other things.

oh well, i guess it works fine for now, i'll let it be.

Most definitely. I used to a have a 6800U and a stock X800 XL compares very favourably to it and the best part is that mine is completely silent. I was just playing EF2 at 1856x1392 with 16xAF & 6xAA and it looks gorgeous plus it runs very well. Granted, the 6800U could do 1920x1440 with 16xAF & 4xAA quite comfortably but it sounded like a jet engine.