X1800GTO keeps locking up when OCing.

[JC316]

My X1800 GTO is giving me a headache, it was running great at 600/600, but then it suddenly started locking up during 3d applications. I thought I was running out of power, but after throwing an Antec Smart Power 2.0 500W PD in, it is still doing this.


It's the core that keeps locking up after I go over 550, and the higher the voltage, the quicker it locks up. I have gotten it fairly stable at 1.175 with 1.90 I/O voltages, but it still locks up after about 5 minutes of a 3d App. The memory is just fine, I can go right up to 650 without issues. Does anyone have a clue as to what I can do about this? Thanks in advance.

[g12rxz]

what kind of cooling do you have on the card?

[RatusNatus]

If is locking with 1.175 to 1.90 it isnt so stable.

Raise it.

[JC316]

You don't understand, the higher that voltage, the quicker the lockup.

[lordaboveall]

That might mean that your cooling is insufficient whats your temps?

[g12rxz]

I suspect its cooling, i couldnt OC my 1800gto until i stuck a VF900 on it.

[savor_of_filth]

dont raise your GPU voltage with stock cooling....you'll fried it
use zalman's, like VF 700 or VF 900

[JC316]

My temps are around 58*C. In my book, thats well withen overclocking specs. I am using stock cooling. What is really stumping me is the fact that it was running stable for several weeks and then all of the sudden, nothing.

[g12rxz]

Well you asked the question, i was idling 61C with my 1800, and through experience of the 1800gto, 1800unlocked and the 1900's, you NEED to have aftermarket cooling to get those cards to oc stably, unless of course you get the ATI dual-slot designed coolers. oh, and the several weeks you could've been burning transistors up, until it finally started to actually affect the card.

[JC316]

The aftermarket cooling seems to be the best advice. I don't think I did any damage to the card though. There are people running 700/700 with the HIS cards with no problems. I have seen what happens to a card when the transistors burn up, and they don't play Oblivion at 550/650 for several hours. Something else has happened, I just can't figure out what.

[g12rxz]

Could be memory

[lordaboveall]

The aftermarket cooling seems to be the best advice. I don't think I did any damage to the card though. There are people running 700/700 with the HIS cards with no problems. I have seen what happens to a card when the transistors burn up, and they don't play Oblivion at 550/650 for several hours. Something else has happened, I just can't figure out what.

Maybe you've got lots of dust in the video card fan, dust is bad...

[JC316]

Could be memory

Nope, I left memory stock and it still does it.


"Maybe you've got lots of dust in the video card fan, dust is bad..."

Nope, I keep everything dusted.

[g12rxz]

Is it unlocked to 16p?

[JC316]

Is it unlocked to 16p?

No, I tried flashing it when I first got it, but it wouldn't unlock.

[g12rxz]

Interesting... who makes it? cause x1800gto's should be almost 100% successful