MSI: *Offical* N460GTX Hawk 1GB OC Edition thread

[mikeo]

Results of some initial testing @ stock

Idle 28C ... my 260 GTX was around 43C
Kombuster after 5mins 53C. Fan @ 63%
OCCT after 10 mins 56C. Fan @ 67% ... 260 GTX hit 85C ! No errors of course (be pretty annoid if there were at stock).
3DmarkVantage P16,590 ... this is up approx. 50% from my 260GTX

Quite pleased so far.

Though can't help but think that the fan profile on Auto setting looks a little aggressive. Mind you, I can't hear it at all over my Zalman 9500 spinning at 2,000 RPM (and that's not loud).

Obviously when I come to stress test an OC, I will run OCCT for longer. I think 30 minutes is what most people seem to think.

Picture of card fitted in PC.

Now comes for the interesting bit. OC the beast.

 

[Delbert]

Mikeo... interested in what real world increases you are seeing over your GTX260, and if you are seeing any signs of CPU bottleneck. ( notes you have an earlier quad like mine ).

 

[MSI-Guru]

Hi. I don't think the PM system is enabled on this forum. Think you would need to get your TRUST enabled by OCuk, this is as far as I know, the only way to send a message on the forum.

Though I think you might be able to click the trust button on one of my posts and send me an Email address that I can contact you on.

PM'd (I think) through the trust button.


Some Reviews for anyone wanting a read:

Tweaktown.com: *Editors Choice:
“The fastest GTX 460 and the best valued video card we've tested to date”
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3...60_hawk_1gb_video_card_overclocked/index.html
“…a friggen’ HUGE ASS OC!!”


Techpowerup: Grade: 9.4
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_460_HAWK/32.html
“MSI's GeForce GTX 460 HAWK is rock solid version of a factory overclocked GTX 460”


Guru3d: Tweaker’s Essential award:
http://guru3d.com/article/msi-geforce-gtx-460-hawk-review/21
“The sheer design and quality components alone make this an awesome product which you'll like very much, and is something that the more tweaking and enthusiast crowd will like very much.”

 

[mikeo]

Mikeo... interested in what real world increases you are seeing over your GTX260, and if you are seeing any signs of CPU bottleneck. ( notes you have an earlier quad like mine ).

Hi... not had anywhere near enough time to really get a feel for it yet.

 

[mikeo]

PM'd (I think) through the trust button.

”[/I]

Yep... I'll fire off a reply in a minute. Thanks...

I've tried a couple of OC's. 820 on the core and 1,000 on the memory appears stable at stock volts.

But... just a little confused about the core voltage adjustment on Afterburner.

Stock volts at 2D appear to be 0.875. On 3D it looks like 1.025.

But if I drag the voltage adjustment to +10 in Afterburner and click apply, run a 3D application (EG. Kombuster) GPU-Z still seems to report a VDDC of 1.025. I was expecting this would have gone up to reflect the change I made in Afterburner!? or am I missing something?

 

[MSI-Guru]

Yep... I'll fire off a reply in a minute. Thanks...

I've tried a couple of OC's. 820 on the core and 1,000 on the memory appears stable at stock volts.

But... just a little confused about the core voltage adjustment on Afterburner.

Stock volts at 2D appear to be 0.875. On 3D it looks like 1.025.

But if I drag the voltage adjustment to +10 in Afterburner and click apply, run a 3D application (EG. Kombuster) GPU-Z still seems to report a VDDC of 1.025. I was expecting this would have gone up to reflect the change I made in Afterburner!? or am I missing something?

What ver?

 

[judmann]

Has anyone got these in SLI side by side on motherboard because i would really like to know what temps the cards are getting.

 

[mikeo]

What ver?

Afterburner version 2.0.0 compiled 30/8/10 @ 16:45:53
And the GPU voltage adjustment goes from +1 to +100

The interface does not appear to be quite the same as the version used in this review of the HAWK http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-geforce-gtx-460-hawk-review/20 Though this does look to be a beta version.
The main difference is that the core voltage appears as an absolute number and not as an offset!

I thought that I had also seen screen shots of this going to +200 ?
Found this article http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3...60_hawk_1gb_video_card_overclocked/index.html that appears to allow +200mv.

Also... GPU voltages in the following article don't agree with mine (fair enough... maybe reading them in a different way) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_460_HAWK/31.html They show a 3D load voltage of 1.14v, this seems a little high to me for a default voltage, considering mine looks to be 1.025! Assuming GPUz is reading it right.

Definitely does not appear to be doing anything! if I try and adjust the GPU voltage in the version of Afterburner that I have (downloaded off MSI's WEB site).

I've tried 850 on the core but not OCCT stable (IE. starts showing errors), so I assume it needs a bit more voltage (which I can't seem to do at the moment with this version of Afterburner).

O'hum...

Off for tea and a pint now. Be back later.

21:16 Back....

Tried uninstalling the version of afterburner that I picked up from MSI WEB site and downloaded and installed what claims to be the latest version off GURU3D and that looks to be the same. While the README says +200mv adjustment available on the core for the MSI 460 HAWK... only 100mv actually would appear to be available and from what I can see, that doesn't even work (IE. it does not apply the voltage change). Unless I'm either doing something daft, or mad. Any ideas?!?

After a promising start. Without the ability to adjust the voltage I'm not going to be able to get this card to OC much more than 820 on the core. A bit disappointed at the moment.

Friday 10/9 @ 11:50

Also noticed that Afterbruner supposedly supports voltage monitoring. But if I set this option in the settings and restart Afterburner, nothing appears on the monitoring panel. Either the voltage adjustment / monitoring is broken in the card, or something is up with Afterburner, or I'm doing something wrong (quite possible I suppose).

 

[mikeo]

Emmm.

Just read on the Afterburner forum on Guru3D the following comment from a moderator:

" uP6262 used to control voltage on 460 HAWK series doesn't support voltage feedback and software monitoring."

If I'm reading this right, then there is no way (short of using a multi-meter) to check the GPU voltage!!!!

Got to be totally honest... As this card is sold on the "overclocking ticket" that this is a bit of a let down. How many people out there are going to start attaching a multi-meter to their graphics card every time they want to play around with the OC?!?!

 

[Martini1991]

If the VDDC reports X value originally it must be reading it?

 

[MSI-Guru]

Emmm.

" uP6262 used to control voltage on 460 HAWK series doesn't support voltage feedback and software monitoring."

tbh, thats news to me if in indeed is the case. However regarding....

" How many people out there are going to start attaching a multi-meter to their graphics card every time they want to play around with the OC?!?!

For the top overclockers that's the only way This is a card targeted at them, and to this end has V-check points and multimeter clips included with the card.

For the less demanding OCer, simply using the voltage supplied in Afterburner should be accurate enough. I can't really see a major issue.

 

[mikeo]

If the VDDC reports X value originally it must be reading it?

Good point. I had sort of wondered that myself. Can't say I have an answer for you here!

 

[mikeo]

tbh, thats news to me if in indeed is the case.

Any chance you could chase this up. As I'm sure this question will crop up again.

However regarding....


For the top overclockers that's the only way This is a card targeted at them, and to this end has V-check points and multimeter clips included with the card.

For the less demanding OCer, simply using the voltage supplied in Afterburner should be accurate enough. I can't really see a major issue.

Fair comment. But I would still have liked to see an absolute value when changing the GPU voltage in Afterburner, rather than an offset.

While accepting that here will be hardcore OC's out there using a multi-meter trying to push this card to the limit. There will be a lot more (like me I expect) who just want a decent stable OC.

Having said all that.

I tried 853/1706/2003x2 with + 50 mV

and this appears OCCT stable (well over a 10 minute run). Will try 30 mins when I have the time.
And this will do for me at the moment. I'll wait for some more hardcore OC's to publish their results.

Max temp hit was 65C and fan hit 75% (starting to get audible at this speed but not too intrusive). Though I expect OCCT push a graphics card harder than any application or game would/will.

So reasonable happy at the moment (though would still like to be able to use software monitoring for the GPU voltage).

 

[Martini1991]

Good point. I had sort of wondered that myself. Can't say I have an answer for you here!

Create a profile with +100mv.
Set it to F12, set your "default" settings to a profile at F11.

Run GPUZ and have it "refresh in the background"
Run Furmark for a few seconds.

Go back and look at the VDDC maximum.

Then Press F12 which should set the +100mv .

Run Furmark for a few seconds, then look at the VDDC maximum.

I was having issues with the voltage when I added the 5870 V2 regulators, to resolve it I have my 2D clocks activated by F11 and my 3D clocks activated by F12. Testing and found working to set me from 1.2v to 1.3v.

 

[mikeo]

Create a profile with +100mv.
Set it to F12, set your "default" settings to a profile at F11.

Run GPUZ and have it "refresh in the background"
Run Furmark for a few seconds.

Go back and look at the VDDC maximum.

Then Press F12 which should set the +100mv .

Run Furmark for a few seconds, then look at the VDDC maximum.

I was having issues with the voltage when I added the 5870 V2 regulators, to resolve it I have my 2D clocks activated by F11 and my 3D clocks activated by F12. Testing and found working to set me from 1.2v to 1.3v.

Tried this and it doesn't make a difference. VDDC still reads at 1.025 and should now read (I assume) 1.025 + 50mV = 1.075

I'm assuming Afterburner is correctly applying the voltage offset, as the OC now appears to be stable in OCCT. It's just that, short of using a multi-meter, I can't read it!

 

[Martini1991]

Wow, that's mental that it doesn't show it lol.
I has a multimetre .

 

[mikeo]

Wow, that's mental that it doesn't show it lol.
I has a multimetre .

Agreed and so do I. It's just a bit of a hassle / fiddle to connect it up. A software readout would be much easier.

Damn.... OCCT over 30 mins came up with 1 error. So that's not stable in my book. Will try bumping voltage by 60mV.

To be honest, if it takes this voltage to get it 100% stable at 853 MHz, then I think the magic 1GHz is going to be a struggle for anyone! Unless they have a much better GPU core than me.
Though I suppose it could be a memory issue! Unlikely I suspect, as these memory chips are supposed to be rated by Samsung to run at 1,000MHz.

Though I still like the card and will keep it.

 

[555BUK]

Results so far seem to indicate that HAWK's provide no real performance gains over the MSI/Gigabyte/ASUS alternatives which are available for quite a bit less money. I have two "inexpensive" 460's that will each do 900core / 1100mem on 1.087v. One will even bench at 930core but not stable (crashes Heaven after a few mins).

 

[mikeo]

Results so far seem to indicate that HAWK's provide no real performance gains over the MSI/Gigabyte/ASUS alternatives which are available for quite a bit less money. I have two "inexpensive" 460's that will each do 900core / 1100mem on 1.087v. One will even bench at 930core but not stable (crashes Heaven after a few mins).

Question... Are they 30 min OCCT stable at those speeds?

And I tend to agree with you in principle regarding your value for money comment. Though I would add the comment that I've just made in another thread... That the stock / base voltage of the GPU appears higher than in the more standard cards, mine is 1.025V. So adding the full 100mv adjustment would give me 1.125V, a bit higher than the 1.087V that I've seen quoted as a max by a fair few people. So in theory I should be able to hit higher stable OC's.

Mind you... at 850/4000 I hit 67C and 75% fan (starting to get audible here! but still not bad) in OCCT after 30 mins. So not sure I would want to get the chip much hotter than that.

To be totally honest. The only way I could see anyone hitting 1GHz on this card (or any 460!) would be on open bench, or at least open case testing. And even then, I bet you are only talking Furmark / Kombuster stable. Happy to be proved wrong though.

I'm happy though with what I bought (eyes open and all that). Though I think over the next few weeks / months, the price needs to ease a bit on these special editions. Otherwise I just can't see them selling that well. Only my opinion of course and not knocking the product at all. It's a nice bit of kit but so is the Cyclone and the Gigabyte 460.

Come on folks. There must be someone other than me that's bought one. Gibbo said a few few went out of the door on day one. Lets get another owners comment/s.

PS. I suppose there are the two other voltage adjustments that you can do. But in the end, this wont increase the ability of the actual chip to clock higher (I would think).

 

[mikeo]

I've had my multi-meter out today. First job was extend those silly little cables that they supply. As they are certainly no good if the card is in a case! and then plug them in without bending the connector on the graphics card!

Must admit to being a little surprised at the voltages I'm seeing. I have every reason to believe that my meter is accurate (it certainly cost enough!).

On stock settings (IE. 780MHz)

Idle 0.875V / 3D load (Kombuster) 1.108V

At 850MHz on core and 1,000MHz on memory with a 60mV bump in Afterburner.

Idle 0.936V / 3D load (Kombuster) 1.188V

So first observation is that the while the stock idle voltage is what I expected, they appear to have given the load voltage a fair bump from the standard card! I'm surprised that I could not get the card 100% stable (that's OCCT and not Kombuster) at stock voltage!

Second observation is that the load voltage is more like +80mV at 850MHz under load! I wonder if that is because the voltage bump you apply increases as the load on the card does (maybe not putting that very well).

1.188 under load looks to be a fair bit above what I've seen people quote for a stock card. I rather hope the card is good for this sort of voltage!?

Obviously these voltages are taken from the measuring points on the card and not read by software (as per other 460's), not sure what if any difference there is here.

The following picture tells the story.

Would MSI-Guru be able to confirm that the load voltage at stock is supposed to be the sort of figure that I'm getting! Certainly don't want to end up blowing my card up!

Though even with +60mV bump the temps are below 60C in Kombuster.

PS. I've had it confirmed at Guru3D that you can't read the voltages via any form of software on these cards, the only way is with a multi-meter.