Scanning for artifacts when overclocking GTX 470

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 14:49

Just fitted a VF3000F, and overclocked my card to 850.

Temp stays around 70 on furmark @ 1.05 volts. I can't see any funky dots or lines appearing, but when I run ATI tool, I keep getting errors (yellow dots)

Is this software trustworthy, or do the majority of people just judge an overclock stability on if furmark / vantage runs without crashing for 15 mins or so?

Or am I being completely stupid in running an ATI program on an Nvidia card?

Rroff · 27 Nov 2010 at 14:57

I don't think ATI Tool has been tested with the latest 400 series cards... tho 850 is on the upper end of what most 470s manage with 1.087 volts so I'd imagine on balance its probably not stable.

I find EVGA's artifact scanner pretty accurate - but you need an EVGA account to get it (officially).

Skyrocket · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:00

All of these testing programs are not that reliable.
Load up tropic v1.3 benchmark and loop that baby 3-5 times.

Occt has a nice gfx tester in there too.

Nocky24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:02

When I oc'd my 480 I just ran heaven for an hour iirc, occasionally checking for artifacts. Seemed to do the trick as I haven't had any issues whilst gaming.

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:03

More info - @ 850 after 10 mins the card clocks itself down to 400MHz for some reason, don't understand because temp doesn't go above 70C

Skyrocket · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:05

Michaeljcox24 said:
More info - @ 850 after 10 mins the card clocks itself down to 400MHz for some reason, don't understand because temp doesn't go above 70C

In what???

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:06

MSI Afterburner. I'm running furmark in one window and watching the graphs in the other.

Rroff · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:07

If your using the adaptive power profile in the nVidia control panel the card will clock down to 400MHz if it doesn't think the 3D load is significant, it will also do this on the desktop and even drop down to 50MHz when idle when working properly (tho things like multi monitor can stop it dropping to idle clocks sometimes).

Rroff · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:08

Not a fan of furmarks myself - ok for short tests - but it put an abnormal load on the cards under the best circumstances that can potentially shorten the lifespan or damage the hardware.

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:08

I don't understand how it wouldn't think 99% usage running furmark is insignificant load.

Rroff · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:09

Yah it shouldn't drop down like that in furmarks unless the core temp exceed 105C (or there abouts).

Skyrocket · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:10

Michaeljcox24 said:
MSI Afterburner. I'm running furmark in one window and watching the graphs in the other.

It entered the power state 2.
Wouldn't recommend running furmark. Shortens life of a card dramatically and nothing in real life games will load it gpu that much. You shouldn't run it window mode anyway.

Trust me load up tropic demo v1.3 unigine. Run it dx11 max res and let it loop 30 min. If it doesn't artefact or crash ur stable.

Having owned and overclocked 580 470/SLI and 5870...

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:14

Ok, I'll try tropic demo, see what that does.

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:09

Just ran tropics for 45 mins, like you said, 850 core, 1.087v, no crashes or artifacts.

Sean_UK · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:48

So far I've found Ati Tool and OCCT to be pretty accurate.

MSI Kombuster on the other hand is utterly useless imo, what it deems stable fails loop Crysis bench stable.

Greebo · 27 Nov 2010 at 18:41

Try evga scanner. I can loop tropic at 840 till the cows come home but evga scanner maxes at 780.

Skyrocket · 27 Nov 2010 at 20:07

Michaeljcox24 said:
Just ran tropics for 45 mins, like you said, 850 core, 1.087v, no crashes or artifacts.

I would say that ur system is fine.
Now go and play some games and enjoy it!

Video cards are not system crucial component like CPU or memory.
You could always test it more by using Occt evga scanner but those programs pick up even minute errors. Something that u might not even see and might not even occur in normal gaming.
Therefore if u can replicate it in games it becomes next to useless.

I had 580 @ 900mhz that scanned on evga but failed at Occt.
At the end of the day no program is 100%

Locky · 27 Nov 2010 at 20:13

Skyrocket said:
Occt has a nice gfx tester in there too.

not reliable with 400 series cards.

Michaeljcox24 · 27 Nov 2010 at 20:31

Ran heaven benchmark, there was only 40pts between 800 and 850mhz overclocks, hardly worth coughing about really.

P.S Skyrocket, you 'had' a 580? What have you upgraded to in the space of two weeks lol?

After todays shinnanigans I'm tempted to get a 580

Skyrocket · 27 Nov 2010 at 20:51

Michaeljcox24 said:
Ran heaven benchmark, there was only 40pts between 800 and 850mhz overclocks, hardly worth coughing about really.

P.S Skyrocket, you 'had' a 580? What have you upgraded to in the space of two weeks lol?

After todays shinnanigans I'm tempted to get a 580

I think ur CPU is holding u slightly back.
Yes I had a 580 gtx played with it for 5 days and returned it. Now I have Msi twin frorz II 470 in SLI which cost me 360£ and spank 900-2350mhz 580gtx for less money and less noise.
Still playing with final clocks but at 800mhz it butchers the 580 aka 485 gtx.