question about 'OC' versions of GPU's

[ojgbrown]

I am going to be upgrading my GPU soon as my 5770 is fried. I have wondered for some time about the notion of OC versions of graphics cards. Now take for example say, a 560 ti- now you can get a standard 560ti ie a reference version or you can get a factory overclocked version, however the OC version will cost you more. This goes for pretty much every modern GPU that I have seen.

I overclocked my 5770 using CCC. All I had to do was download the free program and then OC it, testing for stability etc. With the OC versions of GPU's, are you simply paying for somebody to do this for you? Or is there something I am missing.

I read reviews of graphics card and they say things like " well it does cost £30 more than the reference card but we think its worth it for the extra performance etc" but is that extra performance something you can merely obtain yourself by home overclocking? Or does a factory overclocked GPU mean that the overclocking limit of the card goes beyond what a reference version would.


This may be a dumb question but the best way to learn is to ask.

I am currently leaning towards the 6950 twin frozr III as my GPU by the way.

Appreciate the assistance.

 

[Cleeecooo]

It's not a dumb question
The factory overclocked cards just have the work cut out and are GUARANTEED to et those clocks. Eg a 6950 with a 5ghz core clock (yeah yeah, I know - but it's just an analogy!) that comes preoverclocked to that means you are guaranteed the 5ghz out of the box but buying the normal version does not guarantee the 5ghz speed and you have to overclock it yourself.

The reason most people buy them is If they don't want the hassle of overclocking or if they want the guaranteed 5ghz core as there is no certainty that you will get it by yourself if you get a standard card but it is a certainty if you buy the overclocked one.

Really, it's completely up to you OP

 

[ojgbrown]

so, as I said I was looking at the twin frozr III 6950. Whilst obviously it has superior cooling which in theory should aid overclocking, in theory you could achieve the same performance with a cheaper card if you were wiling and able to OC it to the same point?

 

[Lunawolfy]

They are excellent cards, and you can over-overclock them!

I have a gtx560 SOC @1GHz

Although they are 99% of the time non-reference cards, so watercooling ain't happening

 

[Flashheart]

For me buying the msi frozr 6950 is all about the cooler. I don't buy cards because they are pre overclocked, I buy them for the cooler. It's this that will enable you to overclock them much further.
Reaching pre-overclocked cards levels is really easy with afterburner, but its the coolers on the cards that enable you to go much higher.
Forget what clocks they ship at, get the card with the best cooler. The msi frozr cooler on the 6950 will get you very far. Your warranty will stll stand with any overclock you put onto the card, as long as you don't alter the card physically.