Question On Overclocking Video card

[SorryImLate]

Im using RivaTuner and ATI Tool to overclock and ive done alot of reading about it on the web.

I do have a question on overclocking the memory and how you guys personally do it.

Do you overclock the memory and then scan for artifacts with ati tool. Then if artifacts are found do you then back off the overclock until artifacts are gone?

OR

Do you overclock and then test it in a game for artifacts and then keep overclocking until you can visually see artifacts in a game?

Some sites say ATI Tool some say test in a game.

What i know is that i can overclock the memory pretty high (for what i got) in a game and i personally wont see any artifacts but then when i check for artifacts in ati tool it will show 1 artifact every "X" amount of seconds.


Thanks for educating a noob

 

[superbooga]

I'd overclock aggressively, test in a game, then back off until it passes. I've found Crysis to be most demanding (i.e it fails at the lowest clock speeds) and ATI Tool the second. Different games/tests will fail at different speeds, and it's quite surprising how large the spread can be. For example, on my 8800 GTS 512, using a low fan speed, the highest speeds I can run various games without crashes or artifacts are:

Crysis: ~770
ATI Tool: ~780
World In Conflict: ~800
3DMark 2006: ~815
RTHDRIBL: ~830
Older Games: ~830

Edit: Ok I didn't realize you were talking about memory clocks. That's a more tricky thing because upping your memory clocks can affect your maximum gpu clocks and lower your overall performance. I'd go for a combination of memory and gpu and test using Crysis and ATI Tool.

 

[Nathelion]

I usually run ATItool to overclock, note that (at least the last time I used it, may be a newer version around) it doesn't necessarily detect all errors on all GPUs. Anyway, I let it run and watch for obvious errors, once I run into errors I back off a little bit. Then I run the most graphically intensive games/apps I can find and look for additional problems and back up a bit more if I find any. I usually end up backing up a fair amount. Then I consider it stable (until I find an app that gives me errors again...)

 

[SorryImLate]

Originally posted by: Nathelion
I usually run ATItool to overclock, note that (at least the last time I used it, may be a newer version around) it doesn't necessarily detect all errors on all GPUs. Anyway, I let it run and watch for obvious errors, once I run into errors I back off a little bit. Then I run the most graphically intensive games/apps I can find and look for additional problems and back up a bit more if I find any. I usually end up backing up a fair amount. Then I consider it stable (until I find an app that gives me errors again...)

That pretty much what i was wondering if there a difference between a playable overclock and a stable overclock.

I see these reviews on overclocking graphic cards one the web and they seem to get high numbers but im wondering if there showing the highest playable overclock in game or the highest stable overclock using ati tool and such

 

[DaSinical1]

I'm a firm believer in overclocking but also being as stable as possible. My case (for example) I have an e6600 that is currently doing 3.6ghz (400 X 9) at 1.33v. My temps hover around 30-31c idle & 51c load. I have bumped my voltage up to 1.4-1.45 & can push the processor more... it even runs Orthos stable for a few hours but I still run 24/7 at only 3.6ghz. My 8800GT is currently doing 675/1950. My temps are around 31-32c idle & 39-40c load. I can push the core upwards of 710 & higher but I run 24/7 at only 675/1950. My reason for doing this is because I like to have the most stable setup year-round. When summer temps come along I wont have to remember to re-set & re-test my overclock settings just because my temps creep up a little from their current levels. Getting "free" performance from my equipment is always nice but not at a cost of stability.

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: superbooga
I'd overclock aggressively, test in a game, then back off until it passes. I've found Crysis to be most demanding (i.e it fails at the lowest clock speeds) and ATI Tool the second. Different games/tests will fail at different speeds, and it's quite surprising how large the spread can be. For example, on my 8800 GTS 512, using a low fan speed, the highest speeds I can run various games without crashes or artifacts are:

Crysis: ~770
ATI Tool: ~780
World In Conflict: ~800
3DMark 2006: ~815
RTHDRIBL: ~830
Older Games: ~830

Edit: Ok I didn't realize you were talking about memory clocks. That's a more tricky thing because upping your memory clocks can affect your maximum gpu clocks and lower your overall performance. I'd go for a combination of memory and gpu and test using Crysis and ATI Tool.

Anything over 780 with my 8800 GTS 512 craps out (3DMark06, UT3, etc.). I haven't really got into Crysis yet.

Anyway, once I find that crapping point, I back it off a certain amount. In this case I have my card currently at 750 for the core clock.