X1800GTO2 Help and Overclocking Results

[MikeR397]

If anyone has any additional recomendations concerning voltages/clocks please let me know. I have tried several bios flashes, including the two Sapphire X1800XT 512MB bios and the XT OC bios off TechPowerUp, but all have corrupted my card and I was forced to flash back to original bios and simply overclock speeds/voltages. My current progress with the Sapphire X1800GTO2 (Newegg for $209 after MIR):

Core: 692 with 1.40v
Memory 662 with 2.097v
Idle Temps: 58c Load Temps: 70c
3dMark05 Score: 10,968 (Conroe E6600 processor @ 3.29Ghz)

I've read 1.40v for the core is about borderline and would like any input on this issue. Also, if anyone has any suggestions on how to get some better memory performance, please let me know . It is Samsung 1.26 memory and should be rated up to 800 mhz, but i cannot get over 675 regardless of voltage. (I think the memory timings are tighter on the original bios which could be the OC problem, but I do not know how to loosen the as of yet)

 

[dadach]

yes timings are definitely the problem...use rabit 2.1 to copy over the xt timings and you will be able to hit 750-800 no problem

 

[MikeR397]

Ok, I think it is also the memory timings. The default timings for the GTO2 are Cas 9 compared to CAS 12 for the XT. However, I edited my bios with Rabit 2.1 to reflect the Cas 12 timings and set the memory to 700. I left the rest of the settings alone, including memory voltage. I then used atiflash and flashed the card with the modded bios and almost within one minute of windows loading, my screen started artifacting and locked up. I restarted and immeadately lowered the memory frequency in atitool and then it was fine. I'm probably going to have to flash back to the stock bios if i can't figure something out.

Do you think I need more voltages? Also, how big of a difference will I get with memory at 775 vs 665 (core at 692). I'm already getting about 11,000 3dmark05 with 692/665. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[dadach]

you need to copy everthing over from 12 cas to the last value...voltages are fine...i did this as a part of my step in making masterless crossfire with xts

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1913071&enterthread=y

 

[MikeR397]

Oops, I wondered about the other timings and somehow missed the drop down list in rabit. However, I did change all the the timings correctly now and then flashed the card. It was stable this time in a 2D enviornment, but as soon as I tried 3dmark05 it almost immeadiatly locked up. I've tried giving the memory more voltage but still no success.

I think I may just leave the settings at 691/657 with the tighter timings as they seem to be rock stable and with 512mb of ram and an e6600, there isn't a single game i can't play so far on max settings (until dx10 at least). I appreciate the help though.

 

[MikeR397]

One more question... Is 1.40v too much for the core? The max temp I hit is 70c with 1.40v at 691mhz. The card does haev the 6 power regulators/mofsets (i think that is whta they are).

 

[dadach]

hmm...it should work at least at 600/700 @ 1.3 volts without problems if its the xt memory and with 6 mofsets...did you rememberr to set the voltage higher in bios? im running mine at 1.3v 600/700 without any problems at all...you should not run 1.4v all the time i think

 

[MikeR397]

I use atitool to only apply the 1.4v during 3d applications, and then switch back to the stock 1.175 volts as well as downclock to 500/500 in a 2d enviornment. I know the PE edition, which is the same PCB board with 6 mofsets actually uses a core of 1.475 during 3d which is pretty ricidulous. Anyway, I think i'll be safe for awile and since this card was fairly inexpensive I can afford to take a little risk.

Thanks for your help, I might try expirimenting more with it later to get the RAM speeds up by flashing, but i think i am going to try putting on some AS5 on the core and see what that does first (i know it won't help ram overclock but i'd like to get the temps down a bit).