How to overclock GPU but still keeping producer's guarantee

[denduo999]

Hi everyone,

I know we have some ways to overclocking the gpu such as
1) Use tools as MSI afterburner, ...
2) Flash new rom for bios using atiflash

For first way, we just can change some basic clockrates such as core clock, memory clock, ..., but unclocking the bios
For second way, we can change deeply in bios's parameters but we must unclock the bios, it's risk because the producer won't gurantee this VGA if any problem happen.

I just hear that we have other way to overclock VGA to 100% performance by using other specific tools supplied by producer together with VGA, for this, overclocked VGA is still guranteed by producer.

Have you ever known about this way? If having, please share with me.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[silkstone]

Most manufacturers have a tool that can be used with their video cards, as well as competitors. Just like MSI afterburner.
Using them will not invalidate your warranty

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I just hear that we have other way to overclock VGA to 100% performance by using other specific tools supplied by producer together with VGA, for this, overclocked VGA is still guranteed by producer.

Have you ever known about this way? If having, please share with me.

Thanks,
Dennis

I believe what you are referring to is a BIOs flash, where for example, you can take a regular EVGA GTX 1080 and install the BIOs for an EVGA GTX 1080 SC and the card will by default run the higher clock speeds of the SC card. Not worth it in my opinion unless there are issues with the card the flash could fix. If not done right, a BIOs flash can kill the card, which would not be covered under warranty.

 

[Komshija]

Besides MSI Afterburner, there is Sapphire TRIXX and a few more programs, but these two are the most common. Overclocking with TRIXX is very easy and straightforward.

The most important thing is to stay within reasonable limits; ie. don't push your GPU too far.

 

[Vario]

I think he wants to run at the maximum boost clock, should be doable with any of the tools mentioned above.

 

[denduo999]

Most manufacturers have a tool that can be used with their video cards, as well as competitors. Just like MSI afterburner.
Using them will not invalidate your warranty

Can you tell my which one ? For example, I would like to overclock the VGA "Saphire RX 470 8G", which tools of AMD I should use.

I believe what you are referring to is a BIOs flash, where for example, you can take a regular EVGA GTX 1080 and install the BIOs for an EVGA GTX 1080 SC and the card will by default run the higher clock speeds of the SC card. Not worth it in my opinion unless there are issues with the card the flash could fix. If not done right, a BIOs flash can kill the card, which would not be covered under warranty.

Yes, BarbariSoul, I think so, but I hear some VGA dealers tell that they will overclock VGA to 100% performance before giving it to me, but I shouldn't overclock it later. This card is just guaranteed by overclocking with specific tools of producer.
And the dealers have this, not me.

I think he wants to run at the maximum boost clock, should be doable with any of the tools mentioned above.

Hi Vario, you're right, using tools is one of the ways for overclocking VGA, but I think flashing new rom for bios is the best way for boosting to the best performance we need. So, it's the reason why a lot of people in my field do that. And I believe tools will limit something with existing in bios' parameters, and changing bios rom will allow us to change them. But for my way, using atiflash must unlock VGA and I think the card won't be guaranteed since now.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Yes, BarbariSoul, I think so, but I hear some VGA dealers tell that they will overclock VGA to 100% performance before giving it to me, but I shouldn't overclock it later. This card is just guaranteed by overclocking with specific tools of producer.
And the dealers have this, not me.

OC it to 100% performance? Your VGA dealers can not do this without installing the card in the system it's to be used in and perform OC'ing, voltage tweaking, and stability testing. Each video card OC's differently, even cards that are the same make and model. I can OC my EVGA GTX 780ti SC ACX to as high as 1.3 GHz, but I've heard of other EVGA GTX 780ti SC ACX cards that couldn't OC that high. And I have heard of cards that could OC even higher. A BIOs flash will not OC the card to it's maximum performance levels. Only manual OC'ing can as each card has a different achievable maximum performance level.

 

[eidairaman1]

Using a software tool is safer, doing a bios flash will guarantee a warranty loss, just don't do it.

See my signature

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Overclocking gpu waste of time in my opinion - if you going to use MSI Afterburner

 

[eidairaman1]

Overclocking gpu waste of time in my opinion - if you going to use MSI Afterburner

 

[SnakeDoctor]

For what i mean is .The average life span of a gpu is not that grate especially overclocking and stability .Its is most probably time anyway you need to upgrade anyway .Like cpu's seem to last forever and outlast the gpu over and over
Worth the risks?

 

[Kursah]

Think that depends on a lot of factors, plus where's the fun in not OC-ing? That's one of the things this forum used to be known for was OC tools for GPU's...at least ATI ones iirc.

I'd stick to software as @eidairaman1 suggested. BIOS isn't the best way to go, especially if you want to maintain warranty.

Make sure you monitor temps, and adjust fan speed profiles accordingly. All that can be done within the same piece of software, so why not use software to OC as well?

 

[eidairaman1]

For what i mean is .The average life span of a gpu is not that grate especially overclocking and stability .Its is most probably time anyway you need to upgrade anyway .Like cpu's seem to last forever and outlast the gpu over and over
Worth the risks?

depends on how hard you push them with voltage, some parts can handle moar voltage than others

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Overclocking gpu waste of time in my opinion - if you going to use MSI Afterburner

For what i mean is .The average life span of a gpu is not that grate especially overclocking and stability .Its is most probably time anyway you need to upgrade anyway .Like cpu's seem to last forever and outlast the gpu over and over
Worth the risks?

My GTX 780ti, which is factory OC'ed to 1 GHz from 876 MHz, has been running OC'ed to 1.3 GHz since 2013. I wouldn't say a approximate 50% OC, giving me GTX 980 performance, is a waste of time. And it definitely doesn't seem to have affected my GPU's lifespan so far. BTW, I use EVGA Precision to OC my 780 ti.

 

[denduo999]

Hi everyone,

So grateful for your discussion.
Generally, I know we can overclock VGA with 2 main ways by specific tools or flashing new bios, and we just keep the producer's guarantee by using specific tools because this way doesn't unclock vga and change original bios.
I still believe that flashing bios will be unlimitted something as specific tools, and it's the best way for overclocking VGA, but together with the high risk for dead VGA and losing guarantee.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[infrared]

Overclocking gpu waste of time in my opinion.

For what i mean is .The average life span of a gpu is not that grate especially overclocking and stability .Its is most probably time anyway you need to upgrade anyway .Like cpu's seem to last forever and outlast the gpu over and over
Worth the risks?

Thats an interesting opinion lol.

x800xl - physical and bios mods to unlock 4 pixel pipelines (33% improvement) + Physical volt mods with trimmer pots, It had an aftermarket air cooler. That card never died dispite abusing it hard. Outlived it usefulness and i think is still kicking around somewhere.
8800GTX - De-lidded (G80 had a heatspreader), aftermarket cooler, i don't remember voltmodding that one. But still overclocked as hard as software would allow. Again didn't die.
GTX280 - more or less kept stock physically, again overclocked as far as software-set voltages would allow. Didn't die
GTX580 - same.
GTX Titan 6GB x2 - currently both have waterblocks, bios mods and voltage turned wayyy up. Stock limit in afterburner is 1.16v, i'm frequently using 1.25v and 875mhz stock to 1200mhz. They have been running folding@home 24/7 when i'm not gaming so they have never been let up on!!

Never killed a cpu either, given some of those a fairly hard time too. I've killed a few sticks of RAM and some motherboards though.

 

[therealmeep]

Software overclocking - More worth it than anything else GPU wise, I have used both software and BIOS mods, software is by far easier, and probably will be less likely to do any damage to your card long term or otherwise. BIOS wise, i have used bios mods on my 970 and 980, and with both I pretty much exclusively increased max drawable power through 6/8 pin connectors (through the slot is most likely a bad idea), and some overclocks (50Mhz into the 980 and a LOT into the 970 ~200Mhz). I only recommend BIOS mods if your card has a dual BIOS and you are hitting the limit of what you can do with your oc software.

 

[erocker]

I still believe that flashing bios will be unlimitted something as specific tools, and it's the best way for overclocking VGA

No it isn't. That's ridiculous.

 

[eidairaman1]

Hi everyone,

So grateful for your discussion.
Generally, I know we can overclock VGA with 2 main ways by specific tools or flashing new bios, and we just keep the producer's guarantee by using specific tools because this way doesn't unclock vga and change original bios.
I still believe that flashing bios will be unlimitted something as specific tools, and it's the best way for overclocking VGA, but together with the high risk for dead VGA and losing guarantee.

Thanks,
Dennis

Dude a bios flash guarantees loss of warranty, you have been told numerous times to not do it, do not do it or you will face the wrath of the community for being ignorant. This is your final warning

 

[Vya Domus]

You only start touching the BIOS if you are 100% aware that you can fuck up the card. Now if you fuck it up and the thing dies completely , you may still be able to RMA it if they don't dig to deep to find out it was you who messed with it. If you fuck it up partially and can't flash it back to stock you are kinda screwed.

Most cards today , especially Nvidia ones are very hard to kill , even with modifying the BIOS. The only thing that can completely unlock voltages and power draw limiters are physical modifications to card. At that point you are 100% sure to void your warranty.

So it all comes down to wether or not you are willing to take the risk , I don't recommend it since you will gain almost nothing.

For what i mean is .The average life span of a gpu is not that grate especially overclocking and stability .Its is most probably time anyway you need to upgrade anyway .Like cpu's seem to last forever and outlast the gpu over and over
Worth the risks?

You are wrong though , GPU's last just as much as CPU's. You failed to take into consideration that a GPU is attached to a quite large piece PCB with many other things on it that can go bad. Most dead cards simply have bad VRM/Caps/IC's or the solder for the GPU die went bad due to too much heat or being of poor quality to begin with.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

" You failed to take into consideration that a GPU is attached to a quite large piece PCB with many other things on it that can go bad. Most dead cards simply have bad VRM/Caps/IC's or the solder for the GPU die went bad due to too much heat or being of poor quality to begin with.

Im just talking about the die,Agree my last two cards(gtx560 baked extensively) have both failed just past warranty year apart ,not even overclocked. Just weak solder joints could be in the die also as many apple laptops are know for
Just saying I don't like to overclock gpu's ,So much Hate .You overclock the card yes 30% but only achieve +-10-15fps(+-6%) improvement in fps .

Just adding input which seems wasn't needed

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Im just talking about the die,Agree my last two cards(gtx560 baked extensively) have both failed just past warranty year apart ,not even overclocked. Just weak solder joints could be in the die also as many apple laptops are know for
Just saying I don't like to overclock gpu's ,So much Hate .You overclock the card yes 30% but only achieve +-10-15fps(+-6%) improvement in fps .

Just adding input which seems wasn't needed

Ok, OC'ing GPUs is not worth it in your opinion. But to say it's a waste of time? That's why people (myself included) responded the way we did. Like I exampled in my post, I have a GTX 780ti that has a factory OC. Without the factory OC, My 780ti is more or less equal to a GTX 970. With the factory OC (from 876 to 1006 MHz), my card is more or less equal to the 290X/390/GTX 980 levels. Now add the additional 300 MHz I'm able to OC it to, and that should have me in the R9 390X performance levels, well between the GTX 980 and GTX 980ti. Compared to today's generation of video cards, my GTX 780ti with it's OC's is performing somewhere around the levels of a OC'ed GTX 1060. This is from a card that is 4 years old.

 

[denduo999]

Dude a bios flash guarantees loss of warranty, you have been told numerous times to not do it, do not do it or you will face the wrath of the community for being ignorant. This is your final warning

Great, I know. I make sure that I'm responsible for this, I'm willing to face with losing warranty.

 

[denduo999]

No it isn't. That's ridiculous.

Why you think it's ridiculous, do you know that memory timings is not able to be changed by tools such as msi afterburner ?

 

[Vya Domus]

Im just talking about the die,Agree my last two cards(gtx560 baked extensively) have both failed just past warranty year apart ,not even overclocked. Just weak solder joints could be in the die also as many apple laptops are know for
Just saying I don't like to overclock gpu's ,So much Hate .You overclock the card yes 30% but only achieve +-10-15fps(+-6%) improvement in fps .

Just adding input which seems wasn't needed

There is no hate , it's just that overclocking has never been easier and safer nowadays. Nvidia cards literally overclock themselves weather you like it or not , GPU boost is so limited you crank up those stats and the card will always fallback whenever it gets anywhere close to danger.

If you do not overclock you are throwing away free performance that comes with almost no risk. And there is no problem if you still chose to not do it. It's just that in my opinion you should't try to justify your decision based on things that aren't really true.