Can overclocking a card make it MORE stable??

[Biglunn]

In my case I think so!!

I play a bit of UT3, and ever since getting a my new motherboard with my 2x4850 in crossfire, I was ALWAYS getting frozen/hard lock whilst playing UT3 - sometimes by 1 minute, sometimes 10, and pretty much always by 30mins. Computer otherwise 100% stable (Prime95, Memtest), and everything else very stable including Crysis. Tried everything - editing ini files for UT3, various patches, but always the same. Even adjusting PCIe frequency.

Now, I just decided to overclock both cards using overdrive - 665/1070, and presto, I can play UT3 for hours! Is there some kind of explaination for this?

 

[TheCenturion]

could be that the cards were just not fast enough to scale ut3 at the settings you played at?

 

[J.D]

Overclock = increased stability = .

Don't question it, enjoy it .

Seriously, it's a weird situation tbh.

 

[Dutch Guy]

Is there some kind of explaination for this?

It's magic

All I can think of is that by overclocking the bottleneck in your system is changed and what is currently the bottlenceck is more stable (if that makes sense to you)

 

[Ice Rich]

Now, I just decided to overclock both cards using overdrive - 665/1070, and presto, I can play UT3 for hours! Is there some kind of explaination for this?

I think i'm right in saying CCC automatically increases the volts when you overclock. Therefore, more volts = more stable system.

 

[FreeStream]

I think i'm right in saying CCC automatically increases the volts when you overclock. Therefore, more volts = more stable system.

No I don't think it does.

It does change it from 2D/3D clocks but im pretty sure 3D voltages are constant.

Well that was the case with my X1900XT, X1900XTX and a mates 3870

 

[Ice Rich]

No I don't think it does.

It does change it from 2D/3D clocks but im pretty sure 3D voltages are constant.

Well that was the case with my X1900XT, X1900XTX and a mates 3870

You could be right, i'm sure I read something about it somewhere though?

 

[Greebo]

You could be right, i'm sure I read something about it somewhere though?

Yeah pretty sure that is the case as well with the 4 series. I'll try and find the links/proof or check it tonight.

It's only a very small voltage increase but that might be enough between instability and stability.

 

[Biglunn]

It really doesnt make sense. And to be sure, Ive had a couple of friends round, adjusted the clock frequencies, and hey presto - I can make it crash again.

Oh...BTW, this only happens in the 8.8 drivers in XP. I never managed to get UT3 stable in either 8.7 or 8.6.

Thinking about it.... I think the way 8.8 drivers work (as far as clock timings) is fundamentally different to the other drivers. Remember the situation with Furmark? The 8.8 drivers actually reduce the performance of Furmark to make it more stable. I notice I can actually overclock WAY more with these 8.8 drivers, and perhaps increasing the overclock actually slackens some memory/interface timings and/or voltage increase?, hence for me the card actually being more stable when overclocked??

I dont know how I get to sleep sometimes!!