BFG 7800GT OC

[dokko]

BFG 7800GT OC (overclocking it)

Hi again.

Just wondering if anyone here has got the card and OC'ed it?

I've got this card, and loving it, but am intrigued in what extra i can get from it.

Thing is, its got a stock cooler for now, and more than likely in the future it will have an Axelerro X1 (however you spell it).

I let it detect it for itself and it gave a decent jump up, but did not allow it to set it as i wanted to check here first.

It went from:

Core 425 to 490

Mem 1.05 to 1.18

Do i need to tick run fan always?

The temp read 38c at stock, but with the increase it ran at 39c.

This is just it sitting in windows though, haven't put it through a game just yet.

So what do you reckon, let it sit at that or not?

 

[dokko]

Ok, so it did it, and here are the results.

I went from;

Core 425 to 485

Mem 1.05 to 1.117

I let it optimise itself, and this time cam in at a shade lower, don't know why, but there you go.

I've just finished running 3Dmark 03 (as i don't like 05, and can't be bothered with 06) and the results are as followed.

@ stock = 14600

@ OC = 16120

So quite a big increase really.

The GPU temp went up to 44C from 38-39C after running this test, so is that safe and will it increase more if i was playing for an hour or so?

 

[Angilion]

It would probably increase a bit more, but that is a very low temp for a G70 GPU. nVidia say they're OK up to 115C. I wouldn't like to have one running that hot, but that's the temperature at which cards using them (i.e. 7800GT and 7800GTX) are supposed to automatically slow the core down, so 115C is what nVidia considers safely within the heat tolerance of the chip. From what I've seen, people tend to consider much over 70C as a problem.

So yeah, 44C is safe.

I suspect that your card's fan is not reducing in speed. If it was working as it should, you wouldn't be getting 44C under load. It's a fairly common problem, but if the noise level doesn't bother you then it isn't a problem for you. The fan is supposed to spin at 100% during boot, then drop to around 25% when running 2D software and about 43% when running 3D software, to maintain a good balance between cooling and noise. If the noise doesn't bother you, no worries. You have a very cool-running card, which is always a good thing if the noise isn't annoying to you.

 

[dokko]

It would probably increase a bit more, but that is a very low temp for a G70 GPU. nVidia say they're OK up to 115C. I wouldn't like to have one running that hot, but that's the temperature at which cards using them (i.e. 7800GT and 7800GTX) are supposed to automatically slow the core down, so 115C is what nVidia considers safely within the heat tolerance of the chip. From what I've seen, people tend to consider much over 70C as a problem.

So yeah, 44C is safe.

I suspect that your card's fan is not reducing in speed. If it was working as it should, you wouldn't be getting 44C under load. It's a fairly common problem, but if the noise level doesn't bother you then it isn't a problem for you. The fan is supposed to spin at 100% during boot, then drop to around 25% when running 2D software and about 43% when running 3D software, to maintain a good balance between cooling and noise. If the noise doesn't bother you, no worries. You have a very cool-running card, which is always a good thing if the noise isn't annoying to you.

Yeah it has a limiter or a warning at 115C, but i thought that was either set wrong or, well, set wrong!

But thanks for that info.

Ok, so i'll let it auto back up to it then and see how it play's games, and keeps its temp.

I reckon after a 1hour or so of COD:2 it will be running a little hotter.

 

[Legless]

44c seems really low for a loaded gfx card, my 7800GTX hits 70c under full load playing CoD2... So you are safe to overclock your 7800GT...

 

[dokko]

44c seems really low for a loaded gfx card, my 7800GTX hits 70c under full load playing CoD2... So you are safe to overclock your 7800GT...

Well its load for 5-10mins, not an hour or so, need to check it out really to make my mind up about that.

The temp thing couldn't possibly be wrong could it?

 

[Legless]

You probably haven't fully loaded it yet, give it an hour on CoD2 and that should raise the temp...

 

[dokko]

Something i've just noticed, and got no idea why it would effect this, but in system info in 3Dmarks where it says maximum for CPU, thats now blank, it did say 3Ghz, so i don't know why that has changed.

 

[Legless]

No idea what that problem may be...

 

[dokko]

It would probably increase a bit more, but that is a very low temp for a G70 GPU. nVidia say they're OK up to 115C. I wouldn't like to have one running that hot, but that's the temperature at which cards using them (i.e. 7800GT and 7800GTX) are supposed to automatically slow the core down, so 115C is what nVidia considers safely within the heat tolerance of the chip. From what I've seen, people tend to consider much over 70C as a problem.

So yeah, 44C is safe.

I suspect that your card's fan is not reducing in speed. If it was working as it should, you wouldn't be getting 44C under load. It's a fairly common problem, but if the noise level doesn't bother you then it isn't a problem for you. The fan is supposed to spin at 100% during boot, then drop to around 25% when running 2D software and about 43% when running 3D software, to maintain a good balance between cooling and noise. If the noise doesn't bother you, no worries. You have a very cool-running card, which is always a good thing if the noise isn't annoying to you.

Like i said, its at 490 & 1.18 now

But how far do you think i should go?

And is this raising the volts that are going in it at all?

Also is there another 3d tool that will push and monitor?

Actually, the whole computer runs quite cool, a bit noisy mind. The CPU runs at 35C under load, which seem to be low again. Its not Oc'ed but still at stock it seems low. The case itself is freezing to touch, the comupter is next to a drafty window, and i honestly think this helps.

 

[dokko]

No idea what that problem may be...

Well, i ran an updated version of NTune today, let it go through, and it reset my computer, but i selected no to keep testing.

Really wanted to let it OC my machine and not have to go through all this OC stuff, but its back to stock, well am guessing it never changed, only in test. It got to 2900Mhz, but crash as the FSB kept increasing.

But since then i ran 3dmarks, and that was still there.

 

[dokko]

You probably haven't fully loaded it yet, give it an hour on CoD2 and that should raise the temp...

Well ran COD;2 for about 30mins online, came out with a 42C temp, so lower than when 3dmarks03 was pushing it! Weird.

Ran 3dmarks05 there, and it was the same temp 42C.

 

[Legless]

Looks like you've got a nice cool card, try and overclock it some more if the temps are so good...

 

[dokko]

Looks like you've got a nice cool card, try and overclock it some more if the temps are so good...

Oooo no.

Too much of a wuss to go any further.

Happy with the extra 11% GFX performance am getting out of it, that will do nicely.

Do you think i've just got a good fan, because i want to replace it with an excellerro X1 when it comes out, it might increase the temp, or will it lower it more and be more quiet, which is what i want it for?

 

[Angilion]

Like i said, its at 490 & 1.18 now

But how far do you think i should go?

And is this raising the volts that are going in it at all?

Also is there another 3d tool that will push and monitor?

Actually, the whole computer runs quite cool, a bit noisy mind. The CPU runs at 35C under load, which seem to be low again. Its not Oc'ed but still at stock it seems low. The case itself is freezing to touch, the comupter is next to a drafty window, and i honestly think this helps.

I doubt if you could get much higher. 400/"1000" is the stock spec, so you already have a monster overclock for a graphics card. It's not going to overheat, but I think you'll probably hit trouble soon from causes other than temp. You could try it a little at a time and you're unlikely to do any damage that way (increase a few MHz, test, increase again if you aren't getting artefacts, test, etc), but I think the only benefit would be a slightly high benchmark score. I could be wrong - you might have lucked onto a 7800GT that can do 550 core. Who knows? I haven't heard of one, but there might be one out there.

No, it is not raising the input voltage. That's set in the card's BIOS - to increase that, you'd have to modify the BIOS. Which is easy with nbitor, but increasing the voltage to the card has a big EXTREMELY RISKY popup warning on nbitor for a very good reason - you can fry it.

35C under load is very low for a CPU. Mine hits 43C...but that's with the CPU cooler fan speed at 1200rpm, which makes it difficult to hear at all even if I take the side panel off and lie on the floor next to the PC.

 

[dokko]

I doubt if you could get much higher. 400/"1000" is the stock spec, so you already have a monster overclock for a graphics card. It's not going to overheat, but I think you'll probably hit trouble soon from causes other than temp. You could try it a little at a time and you're unlikely to do any damage that way (increase a few MHz, test, increase again if you aren't getting artefacts, test, etc), but I think the only benefit would be a slightly high benchmark score. I could be wrong - you might have lucked onto a 7800GT that can do 550 core. Who knows? I haven't heard of one, but there might be one out there.

No, it is not raising the input voltage. That's set in the card's BIOS - to increase that, you'd have to modify the BIOS. Which is easy with nbitor, but increasing the voltage to the card has a big EXTREMELY RISKY popup warning on nbitor for a very good reason - you can fry it.

35C under load is very low for a CPU. Mine hits 43C...but that's with the CPU cooler fan speed at 1200rpm, which makes it difficult to hear at all even if I take the side panel off and lie on the floor next to the PC.

Taking on board.

But whats an artefact? Take its a glitch, just so i can watch out for it happening.

So if its not raising any temp, i can't do any permanent damage? It might crash etc..but it will eventually work again, or am i wrong there?

Even after the 10% increase, i still get a slight ripple when playing games.

Had it from the off. More so on Doom III, very noticable. I'm wondering if its my monitor than the GFX card, hope so.

Can't explain it more than that though, it ripples when i move, not all the time, and its not when its always being challenged.

 

[Angilion]

An artefact (in this context) is a flaw in the display caused by the card. So yes, a glitch. Usually a small piece of the image shown as a black block instead of whatever it should be. I've read that you can also get a sparkling effect, but I haven't seen that one myself. I've also read that the blocks usually indicate that the GPU is running a little above its limit and the sparklies usually indicate that the graphics card memory is running a little above its limit.

You can cause permanent damage to the card even if it doesn't overheat, so it isn't risk-free even with the remarkably low temperatures you are getting.

I'm not sure on the rippling. It isn't something I've come across. If you can borrow another monitor, you could test your idea, but that's the only suggestion I can offer.

 

[dokko]

An artefact (in this context) is a flaw in the display caused by the card. So yes, a glitch. Usually a small piece of the image shown as a black block instead of whatever it should be. I've read that you can also get a sparkling effect, but I haven't seen that one myself. I've also read that the blocks usually indicate that the GPU is running a little above its limit and the sparklies usually indicate that the graphics card memory is running a little above its limit.

You can cause permanent damage to the card even if it doesn't overheat, so it isn't risk-free even with the remarkably low temperatures you are getting.

I'm not sure on the rippling. It isn't something I've come across. If you can borrow another monitor, you could test your idea, but that's the only suggestion I can offer.

Right you've convinced me, am leaving it as it is as long as i have no problems, that's way enough for me.

I'm lucky to have what i have, even at stock, greed doesn't pay, well not for me anyway, and am more than happy with the scores now.

Still want a new cooler on it, as well as CPU cooler, & NB if possible.

But don't think i'll touch the GFX anymore, thats what it reccomends, that's what its going to do.

Just need to learn how to OC a CPU, now that's confusing, i wish Ntune wasn't such a lame programme.

 

[Raikiri]

You have the EP-9NPAJ and a 3700 san diego... Dont use ntune!
The motherboard is brilliant, and the cpus are good clockers too.

Try these settings:
RAM @ 166mhz
HTT @ 4X
Multiplyer @ 11x
Memory voltage @ 2.7
CPU voltage @ 1.5v

Then slowly raise the FSB, I reckon you should hit 250FSB with those settings (I did with the same mobo and ram) stability and temp test as you go.
If it does go to 250 it will be 2750mhz, a good OC of 550mhz
One last thing, if the temps get a bit high, lower the FSB and voltage and buy a new cooler. Arctic freezer is best value for money, zalman 9500 and the thermalright SI-120 are both excellent coolers if a little pricey. Once you have it fitted back up to 2750mhz

 

[dokko]

You have the EP-9NPAJ and a 3700 san diego... Dont use ntune!
The motherboard is brilliant, and the cpus are good clockers too.

Try these settings:
RAM @ 166mhz
HTT @ 4X
Multiplyer @ 11x
Memory voltage @ 2.7
CPU voltage @ 1.5v

Then slowly raise the FSB, I reckon you should hit 250FSB with those settings (I did with the same mobo and ram) stability and temp test as you go.
If it does go to 250 it will be 2750mhz, a good OC of 550mhz
One last thing, if the temps get a bit high, lower the FSB and voltage and buy a new cooler. Arctic freezer is best value for money, zalman 9500 and the thermalright SI-120 are both excellent coolers if a little pricey. Once you have it fitted back up to 2750mhz

Thanks for that, needed a reference point off someone who knew my equipment.

Yeah, am looking at the Artic Freezer pro 64, but am getting sidetracked by the Alphacool kit.

Alphacool Entry Set 360 Rev. 2 with 7800 block & NB block that would fit under my GFX card, about £165.

I cannot afford it, but if i get fans, i'll end up spending about £60 for CPU, GPU, NB & case fan.

I need to just buy the fans, and forget about WC, but you know what its like.

I only started out to buy a ASUS DUAL SATA II & a 3000 64, and ended up blowing £800 @ OC!!! (everything in my sig)