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N00BIES' GUIDE FOR VGA OVERCLOCKING

This thread is specially dedicated for VGA overclocking since there are so many simple questions keep popping up in this section. Anything that is general about graphic card overclocking, be it nVidia, ATI or anything else.... please post and discuss here, unless you are talking about some extensive overclocking that involves VGA BIOS mods or stuff (n00bs don't do those at home without expert monitoring ).

Some tools that you will need (regular used):

RivaTuner
Latest version : v2.0 RC16
Supports : nVidia & ATI cards
Description : For tweaking your nVidia/ATI cards. Alter the GPU/memory clockspeed or unlock any extra pipelines.
Website link : http://www.nvworld.ru/

ATITool
Latest version : 0.0.25 beta 10
Supports : ATI cards (supports for nVidia is only available in certain functions)
Description : Overclock your ATI cards, scan for artifacts, automatic maximum clockspeed detection, temperature monitoring.
Website link : http://atitool.ocfaq.com/

ForceWare Coolbits
Latest version : 2.0
Supports : nVidia cards only
Description : An extra option in nVidia ForceWare properties that enables overclocking. Besides downloading the patch, you can enable this function by editing your Windows registry (please google for instructions on this).



* These tools are easily found on the net. For your extra convinience, you can just browse Guru3d.com's download section. Other tools may also be found on this website.


==================
Frequently Asked Questions
==================

1. How do I overclock my nVidia/ATI graphic card?
Use the tools as mentioned above.

2. After overclocking my graphic card, suddenly my PC freezes. What happened?
Excessive overclocking, most likely the GPU core clockspeed. Probably you just need to lower your overclock by a few megahertz. This might also be a sign of your card getting too hot. Spend for some good aftermarket cooling for your card if you need so.

3. Artifacts appearing during gaming/3D benchmarking. Why?
Excessive overclocking, most likely the graphic card memory clock. Reducing the clockspeed will help. Nothing much you can gain by installing RAM heatsink onto the RAM chips.

4. I use ATITools/RivaTuner to overclock my graphic card. But why every time I start my PC, the graphic card clocks will revert back to default setting?
Make sure you save and tick the option where the program can run the setting during Windows startup.

5. I want to go EXTREME! How?
Voltage mod. Different cards may have different circuit design, so don't ask here!



========
Useful Links
========
Overclocking your Graphics card (by ikanayam) - http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/fma/overclo...aphics_card.htm

This post has been edited by soulfly: Sep 19 2006, 11:13 AM

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/fma/overclo...aphics_card.htm

I wrote it a long time ago so some things like software versions are a bit outdated, but good technique never gets outdated. And it's number two if you google "overclocking graphics card", so a few ppl think it's useful.


EDIT: DON'T ASK ME ANYTHING AFTER READING THIS REALLY. I DON'T DO ANY HANDHOLDING.


This post has been edited by ikanayam: Dec 9 2008, 06:42 PM

im using rivatuner and i overclock till b4 the warning icon appear.
is it safe/good to push it higher?

You use what cooling for ur vga?

normal graphic card cooling hsf.
jus a geforce4..wanna push it further but saw some warning icon so i jus stop there.
just curious.

Can go more but need good cooling.

Hi, im using the sapphire x600 pro 256mb pci-e , Can i know does this card can set the pipe to 8 pipe? My current pipe is 4 only..and i dunno also what for this ..just hear some body say can setting to high mhz. My graphid tools does not have the function can set the 4pipe to 8 pipe.

hey,not all graphic cards can unlock la..you think so easy izit?

Friend..you don't talking like that lah...i ask only ma..lol.But i don't dare to try OC ..just ask only.

seen u r newb, go read reviews 1st then ask "q" here.

welcome to oc'ing... u wil find fun wen u r in oc

ok, im newbie on OC ..lol..if i simply set the OC mhz..will my graphid card spoil?

only increase the speed little by little and try to run benchmarking programs such as 3dmark to test whether it's stable.

u can set it at warning icon safely, it just way too high from RivaTuner's POV i think...as long as ur card is cool, no worry

that's mean u went to extreme overclocking/modding ler...requires voltmodding n etc...

btw...overclocking NVIDIA GPU is easy (7300GT user here )
using CoolBit, increase about 5MHz increment both GPU n Mem Clock, n each time run benchmark tools like 3DMark03/05/06 until graphical anomalies appeared - sign of instability...
ikanayam's guide provide good guide what...for basic knowledge

any different L shape ram with I shape ram?

edit: i mean in oc-ing

This post has been edited by tongyam: Jul 26 2006, 10:27 PM

No difference in general but its just to differentiate between moddable and non moddable cards like the Ati 9500 cards last time.

WHo noe how to find a software to test our system stability for overclocking.Curenty,i using Sapphire Radeon 9550 128bit 256Mb,and i oc the core to 400MHZ,then the memory to 230MHZ.It will be stable?Or can i overclock more?

Most important plz recormend a software to test my gc stability.

overclocking should be done at O/C United.

thread moved.

PLz help me in the stability of overclock.

nobody can tell how far you can go...just try an error...if artifacts shows up....tune it down...easy as tat...

Use ATI TOOL.It can help you test ur card when you oc it for stability.
you can get it from Guru3d.com.