Can't achieve desired overclock on GTX 970 SLI

[SouthOfHere]

I am trying to overclock my 970s, the best I can get is +100 on the core and +200 on the memory. I am trying to aim more for +175 on the core and +300/350 on the moemory (and hopefully even a little more). If I try running on +175 and +350 it'll run ok for 10 mins then the game crashes and it also says the NVidia driver has stopped working. I'm running 4K and even a little OC on the cards makes games noticably smoother for me.

These are the exact cards I have (model 04G-P4-1972-KR): http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-1972-KR

I have read up somewhere that these cards have some sort of a TDP wall and that you can somewhat get around using a custom BIOS? Power isn't a problem as I'm using an EVGA G2 1000W PSU. Would using custom BIOS possibly be the answer, or is there anything else I can do to help achieve higher clock speeds? I also haven't tried adjust voltage?

 

[mstenholm]

I am trying to overclock my 970s, the best I can get is +100 on the core and +200 on the memory. I am trying to aim more for +175 on the core and +300/350 on the moemory (and hopefully even a little more). If I try running on +175 and +350 it'll run ok for 10 mins then the game crashes and it also says the NVidia driver has stopped working. I'm running 4K and even a little OC on the cards makes games noticably smoother for me.

These are the exact cards I have (model 04G-P4-1972-KR): http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-1972-KR

I have read up somewhere that these cards have some sort of a TDP wall and that you can somewhat get around using a custom BIOS? Power isn't a problem as I'm using an EVGA G2 1000W PSU. Would using custom BIOS possibly be the answer, or is there anything else I can do to help achieve higher clock speeds? I also haven't tried adjust voltage?

Not all 970s will do 1500 MHz......
Add the extra mAs and try again without the memory OC.

Edit: this GPU don't have a dual bios. I can't wait to see a post asking for help after a failed bios flash. Don't go down that road before you know what you are doing.

 

[trog100]

100 on the core and 200 on the memory isnt bad.. why your assume you can get more puzzles me a bit..

at 4 K you could also have not enough vram issues as well..

the stock bios has several boost throttles built in.. tempts.. power.. voltage they all have limits which cut the cards boost speed.. flashing a custom bios is risky and may burn out your cards..

trog

 

[cadaveca]

I am trying to overclock my 970s, the best I can get is +100 on the core and +200 on the memory. I am trying to aim more for +175 on the core and +300/350 on the moemory (and hopefully even a little more). If I try running on +175 and +350 it'll run ok for 10 mins then the game crashes and it also says the NVidia driver has stopped working. I'm running 4K and even a little OC on the cards makes games noticably smoother for me.

These are the exact cards I have (model 04G-P4-1972-KR): http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-1972-KR

I have read up somewhere that these cards have some sort of a TDP wall and that you can somewhat get around using a custom BIOS? Power isn't a problem as I'm using an EVGA G2 1000W PSU. Would using custom BIOS possibly be the answer, or is there anything else I can do to help achieve higher clock speeds? I also haven't tried adjust voltage?

You can find modded BIOSes on overclock.net. You'll find official BIOSes in our database here.

Flash at your own risk... as minor as I see it to be. If you flash cards, you need to disable SLI and remove one card from the system first, and flash each while installed individually in your system. Then you can try EVGA precision for boost TDP value and adjusting voltage.


But... raising TDP isn't all that likely to fix your issue unless you are seeing throttling (which can be both reduced clocks as well as voltage; both or either one can be throttled).

 

[trog100]

i could be wrong but i think if pushed they all end up throttling to some extend or other.. one limit or other gets hit and the boost gets reduced.. with sli the card that hits its whatever limit first throttles down and other one goes down with it.. the weaker card governs it all..

with mine its a heat problem.. they sit too close together and top card runs 20 C hotter than the bottom card..

SLI does limit clocking options compared to using just the one card.. in the end i personally dont think an extra 5 or so percent performance gain from extreme clocking is worth the effort or hassle..

if frame rates are the problem that extra 5 percent turns 40 fps into 42 fps.. the real answer is to lower resolution or settings or bite the bullet and buy some cards that will produce acceptable frame rates at 4K.. not many will

or forget 4k which makes the most sense.. he he

i have a 75 C target tempt set on my top card.. the boost starts off at 1442 with my clocks.. watching it go down as the top card nears 75 C is interesting.. even if i raise the base clocks the boost will go down to the same (whatever limits gets hit first) levels.. base clocks are one thing and boost speeds another thing..

water cooling my top card would help me but its a lot of money and hassle for very little real gain..

i currently have around £1800 quid invested in a pair of graphics cards and a gaming monitor and i still aint ready for real 4K gaming yet.. he he..

trog

 

[Jack1n]

I have the ACX 2.0 version of that card and i can only get +90 on the core, so +100 is not bad.