Sapphire X1800XT OC Results

[Rotax]

I dunno if I'm doing something wrong..but I'm getting very poor OC success with this card . .

I purchased a card and the Arctic Circle Accelero X2 cooler. I put the cooler on before even installing the card, so I'm not sure how it performed previously...

But my temps are actually not bad from what I have read. Nothing over 60c (I've read others saying they hit 70c+) . .

Anyway, default is spose to be 625 core / 750 mem . . But ATITool (.25 b14) sets the default to 600 (594) core / 700 (693) mem ??? I can run it at: 623.7 core / 747 mem OK w/o artifacts . . I think mem will run at 756 OK . . but much more and I get horrible artifacting. What gives??

I have both ATI services DISABLED (smart and hotkey) . . I have also used Overclocker.exe (ATI's own tool) with same results . .

I've never had such a poor clocking card. My 9700 Pro rocked and never gave such instabilities (reboots/lock ups) when trying to OC it . .

Is my OCZ ModStream 450W Power Supply holding me back??

Sys specs:

EPoX EP-9NPA3ULTRA (2/06 BIOS) (1080MHz HTT [x4])
Opty 165 {Denmark} @ 270 x 9 = 2430 [1.432-1.48v] {Prime stable for 20+ hrs}
512MB x 2 Kingston HyperX @ 202.6 (2-2-2-6) 1T [2.896-2.912v]
OCZ ModStream 450W
Sapphire Radeon X1800XT 256MB

 

[Elfear]

Check and make sure your core volts are set to 3D volts at least (1.3V?) and not the default of 1.175V. That might be why you can't oc much.

 

[Rotax]

VGPU (core voltage) is @ 1.275v per ATITool
MVDDC (memory voltage) is @ 2.097v
MVDDQ (mem output buffers voltage) is @ 2.097v

I'm assuming since I disabled the services (and atiptaxx.exe in startup) that ATITool is showing 3D "info"?

Also, I do NOT have the CCC tool installed . . only the driver.

 

[Elfear]

Which version of ATI Tool are you using?

 

[Rotax]

Sorry, was kinda hidden in my first post:

.25 Beta 14

Is there a newer one to try?

 

[Rotax]

Bump for any more info?

 

[Barkotron]

Originally posted by: Rotax
I dunno if I'm doing something wrong..but I'm getting very poor OC success with this card . .

I purchased a card and the Arctic Circle Accelero X2 cooler. I put the cooler on before even installing the card, so I'm not sure how it performed previously...

But my temps are actually not bad from what I have read. Nothing over 60c (I've read others saying they hit 70c+) . .

Anyway, default is spose to be 625 core / 750 mem . . But ATITool (.25 b14) sets the default to 600 (594) core / 700 (693) mem ??? I can run it at: 623.7 core / 747 mem OK w/o artifacts . . I think mem will run at 756 OK . . but much more and I get horrible artifacting. What gives??

I have both ATI services DISABLED (smart and hotkey) . . I have also used Overclocker.exe (ATI's own tool) with same results . .

I've never had such a poor clocking card. My 9700 Pro rocked and never gave such instabilities (reboots/lock ups) when trying to OC it . .

Is my OCZ ModStream 450W Power Supply holding me back??

Sys specs:

EPoX EP-9NPA3ULTRA (2/06 BIOS) (1080MHz HTT [x4])
Opty 165 {Denmark} @ 270 x 9 = 2430 [1.432-1.48v] {Prime stable for 20+ hrs}
512MB x 2 Kingston HyperX @ 202.6 (2-2-2-6) 1T [2.896-2.912v]
OCZ ModStream 450W
Sapphire Radeon X1800XT 256MB

I can't think it'd be the power supply, unless it's just a crappy power supply. I'm running a 4400+ X2 @2.53GHz and an X1900XT @670/790 (currently, it changes every day ) off of a Zalman 400W without any problems.

Do you get the artifacting purely on memory o/c if you leave the core clock alone, and vice versa, or does it crap out if you even slightly inch above those clocks? What's your memory temp?

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: Rotax
VGPU (core voltage) is @ 1.275v per ATITool
MVDDC (memory voltage) is @ 2.097v
MVDDQ (mem output buffers voltage) is @ 2.097v

I'm assuming since I disabled the services (and atiptaxx.exe in startup) that ATITool is showing 3D "info"?

Also, I do NOT have the CCC tool installed . . only the driver.

I thought 1.275 was stock 3D voltage also but actually it is 1.35 for your card. Try that or 1.400 and reduce your memory voltage(both settings) to 2.06 or less and see what that does. Watch your temps! If you can't afford to replace the card due to overvolting than stick to 1.35. Also the memory voltage is just trial and error to see what your specific card likes.(It may be more than stock or less than stock). Hope this helps.

 

[Munky]

When you disable the 2 ati services, the card stays in 2d mode. Usually the 2d voltage is about 1.175v, and 3d voltage is 1.3v or higher. Raise the voltage to 1.3v or 1.35v and see how far it overclcks. Also, do not change the clocks when the furry cube in Atitool is showing, because for me it causes a crash.

 

[Rotax]

Do you get the artifacting purely on memory o/c if you leave the core clock alone, and vice versa, or does it crap out if you even slightly inch above those clocks? What's your memory temp?

Yes and yes. =\ Even a slight OC is crashing/locking sys or instant artifacts (if not instant, 5 mins after playing game/running 3dmark).
Unsure of mem temp, the cooler covers the mem so I'm unable to do a 'touch test' . . and have no probe...unless its built in?? Oh, after looking, I'm guessing mem is one of the other 3 temps ATITool shows? Is it the top one? or bottom one? At idle (from top to bottom): 51c / 5.5A / 100% / 41C / 38C . . I know the 41C = GPU core . . I know what the 5.5A and 100% mean . . unsure of the other temps tho.

I thought 1.275 was stock 3D voltage also but actually it is 1.35 for your card. Try that or 1.400 and reduce your memory voltage(both settings) to 2.06 or less and see what that does. Watch your temps! If you can't afford to replace the card due to overvolting than stick to 1.35. Also the memory voltage is just trial and error to see what your specific card likes.(It may be more than stock or less than stock). Hope this helps.

I'll try 1.35v and backing off on mem volts . . Thanks for the info, most likely my issue . . as I don't think its reading/volting/setting default settings correctly...

When you disable the 2 ati services, the card stays in 2d mode. Usually the 2d voltage is about 1.175v, and 3d voltage is 1.3v or higher. Raise the voltage to 1.3v or 1.35v and see how far it overclcks. Also, do not change the clocks when the furry cube in Atitool is showing, because for me it causes a crash.

Yeah, that may be my issue w/ crashing, I've been changing clocks w/ the cube going..


[Thanks for all the info everyone, this should really help...I'll post results later. ]

 

[thilanliyan]

The 51C is the voltage regulator temps. The other temperature is the GPU environment temperature. I don't think there is a built in memory temp. sensor.

I think you should be able get much more with your card. I could get 675 core with the stock cooler at 1.25v and this is on an X1800XL but the temps skyrocketed so I went to watercooling. Too bad my memory doesn't overclock much.

 

[Elfear]

A few guys have been reporting higher mem and gpu clocks by lowering the mem voltage to ~1.9V or so. Might want to give it a shot.

 

[Golgatha]

I think it's hit and miss. I get artifacts around 650 core, but my memory is a champ running 800Mhz+ with ease. I finally just decided to set CCC to 635/800 and left it there ever since.

 

[Rotax]

Sounds good, will see how backing off mem works...or doesnt... I just figure this thing SHOULD do more than its absolute default settings.

Will play more later when I get home.

 

[Rotax]

Ok, getting much better results.

Trying to dial in at 1.375v core and 1.9v mem . .

Looks like I'll be very close to 640 core / 801 mem when I'm done . . temps getting into 76c loaded . . I feel comfy till I start seeing 80s . . Whats others take on "too high" temps?? I just saw a poll on this on another forum I believe...and most were saying the cards are 'built' for 85c range temps??

1.4v core got me to 640 / 810 .. anymore MHz on either and started artifacting/crashing . .

I must again, thank everyone, for all the help on this..

 

[tvdang7]

i dont undersatnd XT's almost all XL's get that high on only about 1.25 v why do XT's need so much to get that high.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: tvdang7
i dont undersatnd XT's almost all XL's get that high on only about 1.25 v why do XT's need so much to get that high.

Exactly, I'm wondering the same thing myself.

 

[Rotax]

are they the same core??

i dunno, but increasing gpu core allows for a LOT more memory ocing . . stabalized around 650 gpu / 801 mem . .

 

[tvdang7]

yes the same core. my xl did 650 mhz on only 1.225 v's if i rememeber correctly. im sure with the 1.35 XT's have i could get 700at least.

 

[mauri]

Originally posted by: Rotax
Ok, getting much better results.

To get this right, you got much better memory overclock results by decreasing memory voltage to 1.9V? Does anyone know if this works to X1900XTs also? My memory is terrible overclocker (I had a faulty cooler in my X1900XT and it was replaced with new card which unfortunately doesnt overclock stable past 650/750, not even XTX speeds ).

Is the better memory overclock due to lower temps, caused by lower voltage?

 

[Rotax]

Originally posted by: mauri

Originally posted by: Rotax
Ok, getting much better results.

To get this right, you got much better memory overclock results by decreasing memory voltage to 1.9V? Does anyone know if this works to X1900XTs also? My memory is terrible overclocker (I had a faulty cooler in my X1900XT and it was replaced with new card which unfortunately doesnt overclock stable past 650/750, not even XTX speeds ).

Is the better memory overclock due to lower temps, caused by lower voltage?

I'm not sure exactly if lower mem v helped, but I KNOW more gpu v helps, even on the mem clocks . . I can get 810-815 on mem w/ 1.4v core . . I opted to run cooler (1.375v) and take 10mhz off memory . . Mind you I didn't play "alot" with the memory voltage, I could maybe try giving it more tonite and see if its still stable, and/or OCs better.