Weird Clock Speeds for 8800 GT (Causing Crashing?)

ScubaV

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2008
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I assembled a new computer recently using Gigabyte's 8800 GT from newegg. I've been having random crash issues both while playing games and when just surfing the net or using windows explorer. After several attempts to fix it to no avail I swapped the card with my dad's Radeon 2900 (I think that's the right number). Anyway my computer worked fine and his had crashing issues so we knew it was either the card itself or the drivers.

I just remembered today that my 8800 GT came factory overclocked with a core clock speed of 700mhz. So we downloaded the Nvidia nTune program to scale back the clock speed. This is where the weird speed come in. nTune lists the factory settings at 450mhz for the core bus speed and 700mhz for the memory bus speed. What gives? I thought the core was supposed to be 700 and according to various sites (but not listed on Newegg's, Nvidia's, or Gigabyte's websites) the memory speed is supposed to be 1400+. Anyway, we scaled back the memory speed to 650 and ran the stress test. It passed now whereas it had failed earlier. I haven't yet tested the card's lower speed under gaming conditions, but I have a good feeling that my crashing problems lie with the clock speeds of the card.

So, does anyone know why nTune lists the speeds it does, even though that conflicts with specifications from online? What might good clock speeds be? Oh, and I don't think that the crashing problems stem from overheating or the power supply. The card is always room temperature or only slightly warm even after gaming. I have a 530W modular power supply and my dad has a 600W one. Not to mention I can run Crysis for an hour or two if I'm lucky before crashing.
 

Syntax Error

Senior member
Oct 29, 2007
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Sounds like a weird problem you got there, unfortunately I can't seem to explain the nTune's clock reports at 450MHz, if it helps you any, reference 8800GT clock speeds are 600MHz Core and 900MHz (1800MHz rated) memory clocks.
 

ja1484

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2007
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nTune is buggy and completely incorrect much of the time when it reports data. Do not use it.

RivaTuner, grasshopper.

As for your memory, 700Mhz would equate to a 1400Mhz effective speed as it is DDR memory. Most 8800GTs come with stock 900Mhz (1800Mhz) memory.


Start with stock clockspeeds, whatever the manufacturer says they are for your model, and work from there.
 

ScubaV

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2008
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Ok I installed Rivatuner and removed nTune. According to Rivatuner's graphics subsystem diagnostic report the core clock domain 1 is at 450mhz, core clock domain 2 is at 1188mhz, the memory clock is 702mhz (1404 effective), and the reference clock is 27mhz. This is consistent with nTune. When I go to the driver tab where I can adjust the clock speeds it lists the core clock at 700mhz, shader clock at 1700mhz, and memory clock at 950mhz. I wonder why it disagrees with itself. According to newegg's product specifications page the core clock is supposed to be at 700mhz, but I can't find a stock speed for the memory clock. Regardless of what the stock speeds are supposed to be, I know I'm going to have to change one or both either up or down because the out of the box settings are causing random crashing.

Since dropping the memory speed in nTune seemed to help, I may try reducing the memory speed in RivaTuner from 950 to 900 and see what happens. Any other thoughts?
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
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if downclocking it solves the problem then RMA it... you probably have the older, smaller, fan design, you will probably receive a newer, larger, fan instead.

Beware of the "factory overclocked" cards...
 

ScubaV

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2008
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GPU-Z reports 700mhz core clock, 950 memory, and 1700 shader. I believe those are the right numbers considering the specifications, but I'm curious as to why nTune and Rivatuner's diagnostics are reporting differently.

Taltamir: this particular card came with a Zalman cooler pre-installed in place of the stock fan, so I doubt it's a heating issue. As I said, the card itself never gets hot and a typical operating temp according to nTune was 45 C. I probably could return it, but I may have to pay shipping/restocking (not sure, I'd have to check) in addition to waiting for the new card, especially annoying considering they are out of stock at the moment. At this point, I'd rather just fine tune the card and keep it. I don't think even a 10-15% reduction will have much effect on performance. Returning the card is something I'd rather use as a last resort.

I'll try some downclocking today and see if it helps. I'm wondering if any other owners of this particular card are having this issue.
 

ja1484

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2007
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Originally posted by: ScubaV
I don't think even a 10-15% reduction will have much effect on performance. Returning the card is something I'd rather use as a last resort.


Up to you. I would never accept a product that did not perform as advertised, especially for a couple hundred bones.

FWIW, I had a vf700 AlCu on my 8800GT before I moved the 900 - I moved up because the 700 wasn't getting the job done. You say heat isn't your issue...well, I wouldn't expect it to be at those drastically reduced clocks.
 

dudikaz

Junior Member
Jan 28, 2008
3
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hello everybody, i'm new here... just wanted to tell u that i'm having exactly same issues with exactly same gigabyte card... tried to contact gigabyte support - still no response... :/