is it bro? please define fail ....is it graphic corruption or system shut down...i've been thinking the same question too....why dont we just overclock it thru rivatuner or atioverdrive...

In my case, with default BIOS i manage to overclock to 875 and run crysis without any crash...however, it seems that i cannot overclock my VRAM any further than default coz the system will hang and shut off while i'm running crysis or CMR:Dirt for few minutes....but the weird thing is i manage to finish 3Dmark06 with overclocked VRAM @ 1200 setting ...any help?..i've just migrate from 8800gt to sapphire 3870 last saturday ....

that's the thing, i saw many of u guys manage to overclock the ram till 1200...but mine even 1150 will cause system hang or shut down for a few minutes of CMR and Crysis .... I'm using saphirre 3870 n overclock thru Ati overdrive...

however i've yet to flash it with any modded bios ...which method is preferable and safe? Atiflash tools thru bootdisk or Winflash in windows?

but bro if i just overclock the core and leave the ram untouch at 1126, i manage to run crysis and CMR without any problem at all....already tried all modded BIOS but the problem is still there ....my default BIOS version is VER010.073.000.000.027243....

wonder if :
a) i didnt remove the last nvidia driver properly i.e. didnt use driver sweeper
b) my mobo is the culprit MSI K9N Ultra
b) my PSU is not enough to power-up my whole overclocked system...currently using 600watt silverstone strider, 40amp 12v rail...previously when i'm using an overclocked 8800gt and overclock my F3 to 3.2gig, the graphic terribly slow during 3Dmark06..only stable if downclock the proc to 2.9gig...i did the same thing while using 3870 (875/1250) but i need to downclock the proc further to 2.5g then it will be stable...
c) i need to reinstall the games since the problem arise only if i'm running game...i can run full 3Dmark06 at 860/1200 without any problem...the load temperature never goes beyond 70c...
d) i need to fresh install the windows

appreciate any opinion

thanks for the feedback

i did run and finished the followings:

1) Full 3dMark06 Pro 1.1.0 benchies and score 10200
- Proc 3.2gig 1.3vcore
- HD3870 at 860/1200

2) SuperPI 1M done at 28 seconds
- Proc 3.2gig 1.3vcore
- HD3870 at 860/1200

3) Crysis and CMR no problem at all
- Proc 3.2gig 1.3vcore
- HD3870 at 860/1126

all the above application and test running without any problems....HOWEVER:

4) Crysis - stuck at very first nvidia and intel ads
CMR - crash either at menu screen or at the early stage of the race.
- Proc 3.2gig 1.3vcore
- HD3870 at 860/>1126

could be the reason i guess..currently running XP and using the latest CCC 7.12...
but dont really know bout the gamefix and window related hotfixes...

what's make me going mad is the symptom really weird one just increase the VRAM then it's crash in game
even myself at first felt so ashame to ask u guys

My 19' LCD only can max 1280x1024...3dmark06 demo? have to search it first la coz currently dont have...
For XP just using SP2....

besides that, just for info....if i run 3Dmark06 at 777/1126 the score is 99++...but if i overclock the card to 860/1200, only get extra 300 score ...

hehehehe tq2
never thought the demo come together with full version...my bad

good advice...i noticed the demo runs longer then the standard benchmark, mybe thats why it stress the card further...
finally i manage to solve the PROBLEM!! it's the CCC/Overdrive ....somehow if i overclock thru rivatuner the system manage to play crysis stable until 875/1300 and finish 3DMark06 up to 891/1300...and this was achieved thru the default BIOS supplied with the card...max temp 67c and of course fan at 100%

Even at 891/1300, with my F3 only can max till 10500 ...have yet to run the DEMO

ya, we appreciate if could do so ...my hands very itchy now to volt mod the card