Dr.Doom
01-03-2004, 10:39 AM
Ever wanted to overclock your video card, but was afraid to?
I was afriad until I came across Powerstrip (http://www.entechtaiwan.net/ps.htm) . It makes it so easy, and simple. If you have Maxium PC magazine the article is on pg 30. Please read up before doing anything. There's information at the website of powerstrip. They say some older cards may have problems. Make sure that you card is not in that range. They recommend moving the clock in 5MHz increments. Then play a very intensive game. Like KOTAR, and Max Payne, something that you know will have a lot of things going on at once.
They say to watch the screen for any artifacts, static, or deformed polygons. They say once you know your card is stable to bump the core clock another 5MHz. Keep repeating this, and testing it. They say that you will know you reached the boards’ limit when you see visual artifacts while testing. When that happens, exit the game immediately and drop the core clock back down 5MHz.
Once you've tested your core clocks, it's time to get started on the memory. They say don't expect to push your video card's memory as far as you can the core clock. Again increase in small increments and test a stressful game. They don't say how much to increment by.
I have an ATI Radeon 9600 XT and have had success with this.
I was safely able to set the core clock to 604.13MHz from 526.50 MHz, and the memory clock to 313.50 from 297.00 MHz.
My ATI card has some form of protection turned on. I actually sent me back to the desktop, when the video stopped responding. You can create profiles for different settings changes made. Make sure to have you video card set to default before starting. The program records that information to make the default profile. I made the changes and created a new profile. When I play a game I switch to that configuration profile, then I switch it back to default when I'm done. I think this will help the life of the video card.
Do this at your on risk. I'm not going to be liable for you having to buy a new video card, because you burned yours out. I'm only giving the information. It's up to you to make sure that it safe to work on your video card.
I was afriad until I came across Powerstrip (http://www.entechtaiwan.net/ps.htm) . It makes it so easy, and simple. If you have Maxium PC magazine the article is on pg 30. Please read up before doing anything. There's information at the website of powerstrip. They say some older cards may have problems. Make sure that you card is not in that range. They recommend moving the clock in 5MHz increments. Then play a very intensive game. Like KOTAR, and Max Payne, something that you know will have a lot of things going on at once.
They say to watch the screen for any artifacts, static, or deformed polygons. They say once you know your card is stable to bump the core clock another 5MHz. Keep repeating this, and testing it. They say that you will know you reached the boards’ limit when you see visual artifacts while testing. When that happens, exit the game immediately and drop the core clock back down 5MHz.
Once you've tested your core clocks, it's time to get started on the memory. They say don't expect to push your video card's memory as far as you can the core clock. Again increase in small increments and test a stressful game. They don't say how much to increment by.
I have an ATI Radeon 9600 XT and have had success with this.
I was safely able to set the core clock to 604.13MHz from 526.50 MHz, and the memory clock to 313.50 from 297.00 MHz.
My ATI card has some form of protection turned on. I actually sent me back to the desktop, when the video stopped responding. You can create profiles for different settings changes made. Make sure to have you video card set to default before starting. The program records that information to make the default profile. I made the changes and created a new profile. When I play a game I switch to that configuration profile, then I switch it back to default when I'm done. I think this will help the life of the video card.
Do this at your on risk. I'm not going to be liable for you having to buy a new video card, because you burned yours out. I'm only giving the information. It's up to you to make sure that it safe to work on your video card.