Sapphire 5850 noob overclocking guide?

Retromatic · 29 Jan 2010 at 15:19

I wanted to squeeze a bit more performance out of the 5850, had a look around found a guide on another site http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/overclocking-the-radeon-hd-5850/

Mentions using AMD GPU Clock tool to first find the stable memory speed and to start it at 1150. When I do this and click okay, the program just shuts down and when restarted it is back to 1000?

Is there a Bios file I can just flash - preferably one that doesn't affect the voltage, I'm too scared.

Orangey · 29 Jan 2010 at 15:54

I've read that guide, it's a tad out of date now.

http://www.overclock.net/ati/641299-guide-enabling-unofficial-overclocking-msi-afterburner.html

Retromatic · 29 Jan 2010 at 17:57

Thanks for this, I just had a read and downloaded MSI Afterburner and changed the .cfg file. Before I start I just wondered if anyone already had some values for it with the Sapphire 5850? And do I need to flash the Bios of the card as well?

OLDPHART · 29 Jan 2010 at 18:05

Open Catalyst Control Center Advanced / click on graphics top left / click on ATI overdrive at bottom / tick box to enable it / click on padlock to unlock it .

Once open you will see your 5850 STOCK SETTINGS = GPU clock - 725 / Memory - 1000MHz.

To overclock put cursoir arrow on slide arrow and drag it to what ever setting you want or use right and left keys to adjust, thats what l used for along time never had any probs.

you can also test the overclock with the test option if pass / click accept/ apply/ ok - done.

EGuitarStar · 29 Jan 2010 at 18:09

You do not need to flash the BIOS using Afterburner and AMD GPU clock.

I do believe people used to flash their BIOS using the ASUS one because they could then use the ASUS tool to overclock voltage. I am not sure if MSI AfterBurner and AMD GPU clock allow voltage to be increased. I get my 5850 tomorrow, will know then.

Retromatic · 29 Jan 2010 at 19:16

OLDPHART said:
Open Catalyst Control Center Advanced / click on graphics top left / click on ATI overdrive at bottom / tick box to enable it / click on padlock to unlock it .

Once open you will see your 5850 STOCK SETTINGS = GPU clock - 725 / Memory - 1000MHz.

To overclock put cursoir arrow on slide arrow and drag it to what ever setting you want or use right and left keys to adjust, thats what l used for along time never had any probs.

you can also test the overclock with the test option if pass / click accept/ apply/ ok - done.

Thanks for the responses people, I did use the CCC before to overclock but didn't notice any difference in performance - I'll absolutely give it another go though. I take it that is the maximum you can go without changing voltages? In which case if performance doesn't increase I guess I'd need to look into changing those also. EGuitarStar, not sure about AMD GPU but the MSI AfterBurner does allow the voltage to be increased (got it open at the moment).

OLDPHART · 30 Jan 2010 at 15:32

Have used CCC - ATI Overdrive on 4850/4890/5870 with no probs.

el Kuarlos · 31 Jan 2010 at 12:31

I wouldnt bother for now, when you need it maybe, but I did the same with mine and all it seemed to do was make some parts of games a tad jerky and my card hotter and louder, maybe I will when I actually need the power.