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Overclocking 260gtx

arc@css

arc@css

arc@css

Caporegime
Joined
8 Nov 2008
Posts
29,714
Hi,

I have this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-004-OE&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

As I am quite new to using on of these 200 series cards I was wondering what overclocks would be classed as 'good' and also is it specifically the memory overclock that would help get more fps in games.

At factory 'overclocked stock' it runs very well and I must say how delighted I am with it. (Almost wished I had gone for for the Gigabyte super clocked one but hey, never mind).

My current core clock is 671 and the shader is 1447. The memory is 1170. I think there is quite a bit left on the core and shader but I am not sure about the memory.

Can't believe how quiet this thing is. :D

Cheers.
 
The shader clock works in steps on various dividers... so 1447 is probably either running 1440 or 1458. On average most cards will hit 1458 and work fine but once you go high enough to hit the next divider at 1512 it will often artifact... good cards will get 1440+, very good cards just over 1500. A few will get into the mid 1500s, very few will get beyond 1600.

Careful with the core clock, it can't be higher than half the shader clock - but sometimes backing it down a couple of MHz can be enough to get the shader clock up one divider which gives better performance.

A good memory overclock is around 1250MHz... most will do around 1152MHz +/- 100MHz. The memory is rated for 1333MHz I think but is run at tighter timings than rated so not running high enough voltage to get there.

EDIT: Keep a couple of things in mind when overclocking these... some core/shader clock combinations when unlinked actually result in worse performance than stock - so keep a record of stock benchmark results to compare against... the best performance/overclocking comes from keeping the core clock fairly low and pushing the max out the shader - going for 700+MHz core usually will drop 100MHz off your max shader clock.
 
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Oh and you prolly should have gone for the gigabyte IMO...

http://aten-hosted.com/images/soc1.jpg (1620 shader clock actual - but I didn't realise at the time) mine came with 1500 shader clocks in the BIOS (not 1466 as sold) and clock like crazy on just air no extra cooling or volt mods.

Even the reviewers got ~1570 out the shaders and they were mostly noobs and overclocked with linked clocks maxing out the ROP before the shaders topped out.
 
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I also have a sparkle 260 card thats pretty similiar to the palit and it does 702/1458/1200 fine and a BFG 260 MAXCORE OC that does 729/1458/1152.
 
I'll post what stable results I get. Will have a go on some css now and see what happens.


706 core
1522 shader
1201 memory

So far so good. :)
 
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Just thought I'd add an update.

I am using the EVGA precision software atm. I figured that I must either be doing something wrong or have been exceptionally lucky with the overclocks I am getting. Not that this made much difference to Stalker Clear Sky (optimised for ATI), the fps didn't improve much at all but the card hasn't refused the overclock and nothing has materialised via the desktop indicating any performance or other issues.

Will add what clocks I have got when I get home but these must easily be up there with the Gigabyte super clocked card. Or could I be doing something incorrectly?

Rroff...where are you? :)

Should just add that I haven't tested that many games yet but will try a couple more out this evening.
 
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HI Guys
Currently running an EVGA GTX 260 SSC at:-
Bought from OCUK

745 Core, 1620 Shader, 1165 Mem, no errors on GPU Tool stability test.
I think these cards must be volt modded at factory!!

Any way, couple of questions
1, I can get shader to 1635 without errors but anything below 1640 is stuck at 1620 divider anyway so am i correct in thinking that the extra 15 wont matter.

2, Although no visual errors, the computer will sometimes BSOD. under load. Temps seem ok at 85C., 90% fan
I am of the opinion that PSU might be struggling as +12V drops to 11.65 under load whilst stability testing.
PSU is Enermax Liberty 500w with combined 12V rails of 44A

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
 
volt mods usually result in a lower attainable clock with 200 series cards...

I've seen a lot of the recent overclocked 200 series models hit ~1600 shader clock. The performance will be that for the shader clock divider - not what you've specified.

BSOD underload is often a sign of the PSU struggling... the shader clock being too high usually results in either scrambled image, hard lock or crashing to desktop.

Thats a nice overclock - I can get 1620 shaders - but can't get the core above 729 unless I drop the shaders back one divider.
 
Thanks
Seems to perform well in games but as stated, BSOD on GPU Tool after a period of time but with no visual errors reported.
I unlinked the core/shaders as a 750 core brings instant death and I def can't get the next shader divider which kicks in at approx 1640.
Mem seems very tight and I can't get past 1165.

For ref: card comes std at 675, 1151, 1453 so well over std to start with.

looking at maybe upgrading PSU to Corsair HX 850w (modular)

Will this stabilise the +12V reading.
Idles at +12.22 but under load dips to 11.65 as recorded.

Thanks
 
Interesting info, I'm going to have a go when my new case comes. Not going to bother in this heat box, only to have to do it again.
 
Rroff what is the memory in the GTX280 rated at? I've had it at 2700 without problems but backed it off to 2600 anyway. Just out of curiosity like.

Also my card doesn't like shaders above 1500, maybe the core being over 720 has something to do with it? Might have a tinker.
 
So do you think current PSU is ok.
Will do a sig asap but also running a Q6600 at 3.2 on stock volts.

If 11.65 is considered normal, may have to consider that the GPU overclock is unstable although seems ok in games which I guess is the acid test.

In reality, nothing seems to stress it like the GPU tool stability test.

Thanks
 
A lot of 260 cards top out around 1458-1512 on the shader... its only really the recent few that seem to hit the 1600 shader clocks.

Off the top of my head the RAM is rated for 1333MHz but at loser timings and slightly more voltage than whats usually used on the 260 cards.
 
So far I have found that no game seems to crash when I keep increasing the clocks yet the few I have tried don't seem to run any better.

I stopped at almost 800 on the core / 1700 + on the shader and over 1300 on the memory. I don't get it?? So when I boot up a game..e.g. SOC.. nothing crahes and the temps are the same as when not overclocked??

I am still using EVGA precision.
 
Sounds weird... have you fired up GPU-Z to check the clocks are actually set?

I found certain combinations of core/shader didn't produce good performance but most work fine.
 
Haven't checked GPU-Z yet so good idea, I'll try that. Yep, when I set the clocks last I checked EVGA precision then had a look at the nvidia control panel and the figures exactly matched.
Anyway, will report back when I open up GPU-Z, might be tomorrow now.

Ta.:)
 
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