Overclocking my Twin GTX 260's

[gear.h34d.2012]

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well.

I'm in the process of overclocking my twin 260's and I really, no matter how hard I try, cannot find a decent program to test for stability/artifacts. ATItool is a no go for me. My system won't have any of it. I'm using Furmark, but I'm a little in the dark about if it's really testing for stability. I know the process/methodology for overclocking, but all I need is a program to help me out. Google-Fu fails me, so that's why I'm here. You guys have never let me down! Anyways, thanks for any pointers/suggestions. Thanks guys.

~Cheers :beer:

[Brutal-Force]

Alls you have to do is play your favorite game, if it crashes or artifacts then you need to turn your OC back.

[tinymouse2]

Metro 2033 seems to be the only game I can play that causes my GPU to artifact like mad :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bXuUJQZMCc
^ usually indicates that your memory clock is way to high but since it was underclocked all the way then that's not a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apOR40L1Rk
^ usually indicates a very hot card.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZrWgOA3SsE
^ usually indicates the card is well and truely sploded :)

Basically if it doesn't artifact and your running it at temps your comfortable at then that's the only real limitation on the core. You can overvolt to get it stable if it's crashing but obviously this will increase the temps.

[pwnmachine]

Use ati tool, Its a great stress and thermal test. It will give you artifacts within 1 minute of a poor overclock.

For max stability I would run ati tool for about 30minutes.

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

[tinymouse2]

Use ati tool, Its a great stress and thermal test. It will give you artifacts within 1 minute of a poor overclock.

For max stability I would run ati tool for about 30minutes.

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

I would leave it running for about 2 hours.
With an old 7900gs (R.I.P) it would only start to artefact after about an hour and a half.
Of coarse if it's getting to hot then shut it down sharpish :P (max temp is either 85C or 105C depending on which version of the card you got)

[pwnmachine]

I would leave it running for about 2 hours.
With an old 7900gs (R.I.P) it would only start to artefact after about an hour and a half.
Of coarse if it's getting to hot then shut it down sharpish :P (max temp is either 85C or 105C depending on which version of the card you got)

True, each card is different though. However a simple but effective method of testing stability it actually playing games. As mentioned above metro 2033 with physx enabled is an awesome tool for testing stability of overclocks.

[jason4207]

I've used the Crysis benchmark a lot as well as ATI Tool to scan for artifacts. eVGA has a new artifact scanner program that may be the newest answer to this problem.

http://www.evga.com/articles/00530/

[gear.h34d.2012]

Metro 2033 seems to be the only game I can play that causes my GPU to artifact like mad :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bXuUJQZMCc
^ usually indicates that your memory clock is way to high but since it was underclocked all the way then that's not a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apOR40L1Rk
^ usually indicates a very hot card.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZrWgOA3SsE
^ usually indicates the card is well and truely sploded :)

Basically if it doesn't artifact and your running it at temps your comfortable at then that's the only real limitation on the core. You can overvolt to get it stable if it's crashing but obviously this will increase the temps.

Thanks for those links mouse. I'll check em out when I get home.

Use ati tool, Its a great stress and thermal test. It will give you artifacts within 1 minute of a poor overclock.

For max stability I would run ati tool for about 30minutes.

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

As I mentioned in the OP, ATItools is a no go pour moi, my system won't install it. :(

I've used the Crysis benchmark a lot as well as ATI Tool to scan for artifacts. eVGA has a new artifact scanner program that may be the newest answer to this problem.

http://www.evga.com/articles/00530/

To my knowledge Jason, that's strictly for the 470/480 unless I'm missing something. :shrug:

To all, the principle remains the same no matter the game aye? Like if I wanted to run BC2 to test, or better yet run the Just Cause 2 Benchmark?



One more thing guys, what's your personal preference: eVGA Precision or MSI Afterburner?

[tinymouse2]

One more thing guys, what's your personal preference: eVGA Precision or MSI Afterburner?

I've only ever used eVGA Precision so my vote is for that :thup:
Never had a problem with it except the fact that the auto fan control doesn't seem to work but that's not really a big problem. So I would recommend it to everyone I know :).

[gear.h34d.2012]

I've noticed that with Afterburner I have more core control, in that I can bump it like 3MHz at a time, whereas with Precision it jumps by about 10. I've also noticed that I have voltage control in Afterburner. :-|

[tinymouse2]

I've noticed that with Afterburner I have more core control, in that I can bump it like 3MHz at a time, whereas with Precision it jumps by about 10. I've also noticed that I have voltage control in Afterburner. :-|

I bump it up 1MHz at a time with Prec...
You do need the voltage tuning program but I don't like to change the voltage so I'm good with this :P

[pwnmachine]

I would go for either rivatuner or evga precision.

[tinymouse2]

I would go for either rivatuner or evga precision.

Why? Rivatuner doesn't work with the later drivers but EVGA hasn't let me down with overclocking ever.

[Brutal-Force]

Since Video cards are already notorious for failing with intense heat (See Video Card Baking thread). I would not over volt without after market cooling. That being said, I would stick with Precision, it has nice options as well as a simple GUI.

I don't really even overclock unless its for benchmarking. Otherwise I run stock, which can more than handle anything I throw at it. I think my best was like 700/1509

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_LM3ymtCqxvw/S1nlfKrDMiI/AAAAAAAAAb8/DrmQzgHjP5Y/s640/4.2-700-1509-3DMark06.PNG

[pwnmachine]

Why? Rivatuner doesn't work with the later drivers but EVGA hasn't let me down with overclocking ever.

Are you sure about that because it seems to be working fine for me. Plus riva tuner is definitely a better all round utility. I used to use precision, its definitely great for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. But to get best possible overclock rivatuner is the way to go.

[tinymouse2]

Are you sure about that because it seems to be working fine for me. Plus riva tuner is definitely a better all round utility. I used to use precision, its definitely great for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. But to get best possible overclock rivatuner is the way to go.

I don't push my GPUs to the limit. Just a small overclock and then I'll let it drop back 25-50MHz.

Even if I did want to push it I think it's a great program. Just never had a problem with it.

[EarthDog]

I bump it up 1MHz at a time with Prec...
You do need the voltage tuning program but I don't like to change the voltage so I'm good with this :PIts too bad the actual clocks dont go up by 1Mhz though.... Watch Precision and see the actual clocks next time. ;)

For the record (pwnmachine) I personally saw that I did not get any better overclocks on my GPU with Precision vs Riva Tuner. Maybe others have, but in my expereince with 8800GT, 8800GTS, GTX260 216, and GTX285, they were the same. It likely has something to do with the note above to tiny. The shaders only go up in XXMhz multiples, same with the core. SO changing it 1Mhz, unless its close to 'tippping' to the next highest multiple, wont change a thing.

[pwnmachine]

Its too bad the actual clocks dont go up by 1Mhz though.... Watch Precision and see the actual clocks next time. ;)

For the record (pwnmachine) I personally saw that I did not get any better overclocks on my GPU with Precision vs Riva Tuner. Maybe others have, but in my expereince with 8800GT, 8800GTS, GTX260 216, and GTX285, they were the same. It likely has something to do with the note above to tiny. The shaders only go up in XXMhz multiples, same with the core. SO changing it 1Mhz, unless its close to 'tippping' to the next highest multiple, wont change a thing.

For simple memory and core clock adjustments, they are completely identical. However I to a lot of voltage tuning so riva tuner accommodates that very well.

[EarthDog]

So do I and just use Precision. What does RT offer in the way of voltage modifications? You cant change or modify voltage with RT without a plug in at least, right?

[pwnmachine]

So do I and just use Precision. What does RT offer in the way of voltage modifications? You cant change or modify voltage with RT without a plug in at least, right?
Yeah I use the plugin, does precision allow for voltage mods as well?

[EarthDog]

EVGA has their voltage tuning program that is seperate for those cards that can use it....(not many, like 4). Its cut down and simple. How I like it...and used on the same ~4 cards. If you cant adjust the voltage in EVGA's app, you cant do it in RT AFAIK.

The only time I go to RT is when I bench to tweak some settings that Precision and teh NV control panel dont have.

All Im saying is you certainly dont need RT to get the 'best all around clocks'. Precision will handle that just fine along with the voltage tuning app from VGA.

[pwnmachine]

EVGA has their voltage tuning program that is seperate for those cards that can use it....(not many, like 4). Its cut down and simple. How I like it...and used on the same ~4 cards. If you cant adjust the voltage in EVGA's app, you cant do it in RT AFAIK.

The only time I go to RT is when I bench to tweak some settings that Precision and teh NV control panel dont have.

Hmm interesting I will have to check out the evga volt tuner.

[EarthDog]

Ok, its 3 cards (plus overclocked ones). It needs that Volterra voltage regulator is the common denominator.

http://www.evga.com/articles/00462/