Could faulty RAM be causing limited overclocking on my 7950?

[NinetyOne]

I can only manage 1150 on the core and 1400 on the mem before it starts crashing and artifacting. From what I can tell most people are able to overclock much further than this.

The specific card I have is the Gigabyte Windforce 3. It isn't voltage locked and I have to go all the way up to 1.3 for it to be stable at the above clocks.

 

[xMarkie]

Have you tried running any hardware diagnostics? memtest?

 

[DTWD]

When you say RAM, do you mean system memory RAM, or VRAM?

The former, as xMarkie suggests, memtest. The latter something like OCCT can check VRAM...I think.

 

[NinetyOne]

Have you tried running any hardware diagnostics? memtest?

Yeah it comes up clean.

 

[NinetyOne]

When you say RAM, do you mean system memory RAM, or VRAM?

The former, as xMarkie suggests, memtest. The latter something like OCCT can check VRAM...I think.

Yeah physical RAM. It comes up fine on tests but I seem to get a lot of computer hanging when coming out of sleep mode and browser crashes and unstable overclocks etc.

 

[DTWD]

How long have you run memtest? I have seen it take days before it through an error, then it wouldn't stop.

Do you have latest mobo bios on? Have you checked your ram is compatible with your board?

 

[ALXAndy]

1150? haha you're lucky. I could only get 1100 out of my XFX 7970.

 

[antonusklesk]

Indeed, think yourself lucky, my sapphire 7950 is one of the ones with a ceiling of 1050mhz, no amount of voltage or cooling will get it above that without artifacts

 

[tribz]

How does it work at stock? If ok then its not faulty, just the luck of the silicon lottery.

 

[rolypolyman]

1150 core isn't terrible, my GB WF7950 hit 1250 core @ 1.25v when I benched it, been at stock since, still see no need to overclock my 7950 yet even though I'm playing Crysis 3, great card and plenty more to come.