Blacktales
01-13-2007, 06:12 AM
Hello All !
I recently performed overclocking tests on my recently purchased ATI (Brand) X850 Pro Vivo AGP and i want to make sure everything is all right with my settings / temperatures / frequencies since this is the first mod i ever did.
When i first installed the card, the first thing i did is test whether or not i would be able to unlock to 16 pipes. Unfortunately the latest x850 from ATI seems to be lasercut, at least from what i could figure out from the fuses reading in ATITools and various informations i found online.
A bit frustrated by this i checked whether or not i could overclock it decently with stock cooling. Then again, not to avail. Again with ATITools, running at the default 500/500 frequencies, it used to idle around 45°C ( Memory aroud 31°C) and as soon as i launched an artifact test or a find max core/memory it would go up the roof to 70-75 sometimes around 80. No way i would perform any overclock with those temperatures !
So i purchased a Zalman VF700 (Pure Copper) silent Cooler, remove the old stock cooler (Which enabled me to see what piece of crap it really was) and mounted the Zalman today with ram heatsinks (Had to bend a few fins from one of them to make it fit under the mounting plate). I used the thermal paste provided with the cooler, being careful not to splash any around the chip, used only a paper-thin layer, and ensured the cooler base was in contact with the chip. All in all i was pretty satisfied from the job and the cooler looks great. Plugged the cooler using 12v (Max speed) which is still less noisy than the previous one.
Booting the machine i was very pleased to see the idle temperature had changed to 31(core) /27(Memory). That was immediately after cold start, now after all the testings and the machine on for the last 5 hours, those temperature are now 34/28.
I first changed some options in the ATITools program to ensure the security of my card :
- Clock safety range 495-600 both core and memory (No intention to go further up / No one i read about on forums went any higher anyway)
- Heatup phases 60/60/120% with old scanning method / no Screensaver / Slider to Max artifacts detected (Left)
and then ran a first stress test (Scan for artifacts) :
After 40 mn the temperatures were : 53/32
Determined to go further i first test a find max core : 520 before first artifact which was a bit disappointing. But more later since now it goes higher.
Then max memory : No artifact up to 600 (Stopped at the safety maximum so no artifact at all).I was pretty surprised because i didn't see such big overclocks on the websites/forums i read before attempting overclock.
I then tested a first 1h Scan for artifacts using 520/540 frequencies (XT frequencies) and it reported no artifacts at all and the temperature after 1h were 55/35.
Then another 1h test with 540/560 (XT PE frequencies) sliding the artifact detection threshold slider one bit to the right (Read maximum left could be caused by the driver.. ? ) which is still a one step higher detection threshold than the default threshold of the software. Then again no artifacts and temperatures : 56/36
Surprised to see the core so cooperative, i tested again at the same frequencies with the slider back to the maximum left and switched to new scanning method ! : No artifacts, same temperatures
With my settings and the slider back to the left, i felt secure enough to attempt 540/600 with a 1h20 scan : No artifacts at all, temperatures : 58-59/38-39
Created 3 profiles using this data :
520/540
540/560
540/600
to be used for further testing and Oblivion benchmark :-)
Now back to 500/500 for the time being : 34/28 as i type this message.
Now the questions :
- I have no intention to go higher up than 540/600 (Using these profiles only during 3D games) so are these frequencies / temperatures secure enough not to damage the card ?
- Should i perform longer / others / different settings / old-new scanning engine tests or is what i did pretty much was i should have done. Do you have any other suggestions ? I really favor security/card lifetime over gaining 20 MHz just for the sake of it. But i want to card to perform to its real abilities. A nice trade-off...
- I know pretty much the core can withstand temperatures around 70 under load but it's better to keep it under 60 but what about the memory temps which i know nothing about limitations ?
- Is it normal that i detect NOT ONE artifacts during all these tests ?
- How come the program limited the core at 520 but remains stable at 540 afterwards using both scanning methods/slider positions ?
- Could i test it for 560 and if yes what maximum temperature should i remain under ?
Thanks IA for your time and answers !
Blacktales
I recently performed overclocking tests on my recently purchased ATI (Brand) X850 Pro Vivo AGP and i want to make sure everything is all right with my settings / temperatures / frequencies since this is the first mod i ever did.
When i first installed the card, the first thing i did is test whether or not i would be able to unlock to 16 pipes. Unfortunately the latest x850 from ATI seems to be lasercut, at least from what i could figure out from the fuses reading in ATITools and various informations i found online.
A bit frustrated by this i checked whether or not i could overclock it decently with stock cooling. Then again, not to avail. Again with ATITools, running at the default 500/500 frequencies, it used to idle around 45°C ( Memory aroud 31°C) and as soon as i launched an artifact test or a find max core/memory it would go up the roof to 70-75 sometimes around 80. No way i would perform any overclock with those temperatures !
So i purchased a Zalman VF700 (Pure Copper) silent Cooler, remove the old stock cooler (Which enabled me to see what piece of crap it really was) and mounted the Zalman today with ram heatsinks (Had to bend a few fins from one of them to make it fit under the mounting plate). I used the thermal paste provided with the cooler, being careful not to splash any around the chip, used only a paper-thin layer, and ensured the cooler base was in contact with the chip. All in all i was pretty satisfied from the job and the cooler looks great. Plugged the cooler using 12v (Max speed) which is still less noisy than the previous one.
Booting the machine i was very pleased to see the idle temperature had changed to 31(core) /27(Memory). That was immediately after cold start, now after all the testings and the machine on for the last 5 hours, those temperature are now 34/28.
I first changed some options in the ATITools program to ensure the security of my card :
- Clock safety range 495-600 both core and memory (No intention to go further up / No one i read about on forums went any higher anyway)
- Heatup phases 60/60/120% with old scanning method / no Screensaver / Slider to Max artifacts detected (Left)
and then ran a first stress test (Scan for artifacts) :
After 40 mn the temperatures were : 53/32
Determined to go further i first test a find max core : 520 before first artifact which was a bit disappointing. But more later since now it goes higher.
Then max memory : No artifact up to 600 (Stopped at the safety maximum so no artifact at all).I was pretty surprised because i didn't see such big overclocks on the websites/forums i read before attempting overclock.
I then tested a first 1h Scan for artifacts using 520/540 frequencies (XT frequencies) and it reported no artifacts at all and the temperature after 1h were 55/35.
Then another 1h test with 540/560 (XT PE frequencies) sliding the artifact detection threshold slider one bit to the right (Read maximum left could be caused by the driver.. ? ) which is still a one step higher detection threshold than the default threshold of the software. Then again no artifacts and temperatures : 56/36
Surprised to see the core so cooperative, i tested again at the same frequencies with the slider back to the maximum left and switched to new scanning method ! : No artifacts, same temperatures
With my settings and the slider back to the left, i felt secure enough to attempt 540/600 with a 1h20 scan : No artifacts at all, temperatures : 58-59/38-39
Created 3 profiles using this data :
520/540
540/560
540/600
to be used for further testing and Oblivion benchmark :-)
Now back to 500/500 for the time being : 34/28 as i type this message.
Now the questions :
- I have no intention to go higher up than 540/600 (Using these profiles only during 3D games) so are these frequencies / temperatures secure enough not to damage the card ?
- Should i perform longer / others / different settings / old-new scanning engine tests or is what i did pretty much was i should have done. Do you have any other suggestions ? I really favor security/card lifetime over gaining 20 MHz just for the sake of it. But i want to card to perform to its real abilities. A nice trade-off...
- I know pretty much the core can withstand temperatures around 70 under load but it's better to keep it under 60 but what about the memory temps which i know nothing about limitations ?
- Is it normal that i detect NOT ONE artifacts during all these tests ?
- How come the program limited the core at 520 but remains stable at 540 afterwards using both scanning methods/slider positions ?
- Could i test it for 560 and if yes what maximum temperature should i remain under ?
Thanks IA for your time and answers !
Blacktales