My XFX 4870 and Overclocking...

[MoonPig]

Hey,

So, today i decided to try overclocking my 4870 as i finally found software that'll allow me to (Rivatuner. CCC stops at 790MHz and every other i've tried fails to load).

I started at 800MHz and 1000MHz and bumped it up by 10MHz a time. I stressed with Furmark on 'Xtreme' mode for 5 mins, then moved to the next clock. Plan was to find the limit and drop it by 10MHz then stress for 30mins.

I got to 862MHz and 1150MHz without a single artifact or crash. However, i looked on HWBot and decided to drop the clocks to 952MHz and 1125MHz and try some games. I played Fallout 3 (1920x1080, Ultra and x4 + x15) for about 30mins and had no issues (Game looks damn good with them settings).

I then decided to up the stress and try the Clear Sky benchmark. It ran the first section fine, then part way into the second one it came up with a Bug Report.

Now, i've just finished running Furmark on 'Xtreme' mode for 30mins:

And here is the GPU-z:

Now, does the Furmark run mean this clock is stable? Or is there a way to get a definite?

Also, i love watercooling for these temps

 

[MetalRacer]

I almost fell out of my chair when I read you were runninig 952MHz and 1125MHz but GPU-Z is showing 852MHz and 1125MHz which is about the max for mine.

I have found that 100% stability for me in all my games and benchmarks is 830MHz and 1000MHz.

 

[LittleLizard]

first of all, congrats, you bumped your 4870 into 4890 territory.

second, run 3dmark, then a DX10 game like crysis that pushes your system. If it passes 3dmark and crysis, then its fine.

also keep in mind that clear sky is just like the original stalker when it comes tu bugs. ITS FILLED WITH THEM

 

[CDdude55]

Im in the same boat, what program did you use to OC?

CCC stops me at 790(core) and 1100(mem).

Also did you have to up the voltage to get those clocks?

Edit: Found this here on TPU.http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1128/AMD_GPU_Clock_Tool_v0.9.8.html

 

[Clouds4brains]

Nice clocks there dude.
i can do 840/1130 uber stable, i can play games at 850/1150 but there will be crashes ect here and there, anything above 880 is instant crash.
This is on a generic xfx 4870 at 750/900,
Best way to tell if your stable is to set it till you get vpu error, that will give you what you could get maximum and then back off by about 40-50mhz and test

 

[Sir_Real]

You written 952/1125 yet gpu-z & furmark say 852/1125 typing error yeah ? Still nice to get the most out ya gpu.

Check out the speeds i run your old gainward hd4850 at:

Proved totally stable so i've edited them speeds into the bios.

.

 

[CDdude55]

You written 952/1125 yet gpu-z & furmark say 852/1125 typing error yeah ? Still nice to get the most out ya gpu.

Check out the speeds i run your old gainward hd4850 at:

http://i37.tinypic.com/33063wj.jpg

Proved totally stable so i've edited them speeds into the bios.

.

What'd you use to OC the card?

 

[Sir_Real]

Well first i edited the bios core voltages (3D speeds only) to the max 1.158v. Also increased the fan speed. Then flashed that in & used rivatuner to overclock. I found i could wined the speeds right up with still keeping it stable.

750/1120 has run stable for weeks now. It might even go higher as yet thats the highest i've taken it.

I've now edited this HD4850 bios to them core/mem speeds. Dont need to av rivatuner installed now.

 

[MoonPig]

Right, sorry i was away.

I've corrected the typo.

I'll download a Crysis Benchmark now. Whats the best settings to run it on for stress? DX10 and absolute max? or setting i'd use ingame?

Edit, do i need Crysis to run this benchmark?

Edit 2, Just run the ClearSky benchmark on DX10.1 mode and 1920x1080 (high):

 

[MoonPig]

I carried on with this clocking today. Managed to get:

Core: 890MHz
Memory: 1125MHz

It runs 30mins in Furmark fine and everything on and DX10.1 on the ClearSky demo it completes. But, i was playing Killing Floor and it closed the game and said it had to reload the VGA Driver...?

What other tests can i use to stress? I dont own Crysis or and Codes for 3DMark.

 

[Sir_Real]

Try backing off the core a bit. Also i reckon you'll get more out the mem so try 870/1160

i now run your old gainward HD4850 @ 743/1165 24/7 stable.

 

[MoonPig]

Got 879/1125 atm, been playing KF for like an hour and no one hickup.

If this holds, then i'll push the mem to 1150.

 

[MoonPig]

Right, I need some help... again...

Didn't notice this before, but i don't seem to have any 2D clocks... Here's a GPUz shot. This was monitoring whilst i was typing this post.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Thats wierd. Have a Sapphire 4870 and CCC goes past 800 (not sure of my limit I'll have to look)

 

[rewindlabs]

In case the OP comes back to this thread...unless you are renaming Furmark and bypassing CCC's "furmark security" you are not even stressing the card with Furmark

Just in case you didn't know why it was crashing...

 

[Zubasa]

Im in the same boat, what program did you use to OC?

CCC stops me at 790(core) and 1100(mem).

Also did you have to up the voltage to get those clocks?

Edit: Found this here on TPU.http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1128/AMD_GPU_Clock_Tool_v0.9.8.html

The best way to do it is edit the bios signature of your card and use MSI Afterburner for OC.
This way it allows your card to downclock properly, because AMD GPU Clock Tool will just force the clocks in and your card will be stuck in 3D mode.

 

[Sir_Real]

Right, I need some help... again...

Didn't notice this before, but i don't seem to have any 2D clocks... Here's a GPUz shot. This was monitoring whilst i was typing this post.

http://img.techpowerup.org/091105/clocks.png

Your using Rivatuna to oc i take it ? If so the GPU is locked at what ever you set it all the time.

I wouldnt wurrie bout it ! So what if it uses a few more pence in leccy a week

 

[MoonPig]

Ok, can someone help on the 2D clocks thing?

And, Furmark does stress... temps rise and GPU Usage goes to 100%. I've downloaded MSI AfterBurner and OCCT, stressing now.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

What is this CCC "furmark security" exactly?

 

[Zubasa]

In case the OP comes back to this thread...unless you are renaming Furmark and bypassing CCC's "furmark security" you are not even stressing the card with Furmark

Just in case you didn't know why it was crashing...

Nope, the newer versions of Furmark is already "renamed" by default.
Which fixes the problem of CCC trying to stop Furmark from stressing the card.

Edit: Cat 9.8 and 9.9 seems to be anti-Furmark again, but not sure if the newer Furmark 1.7 fixes that yet.
Edit2: I just did a test with my 4850 and shutting down Catalyst AI causes it to heat uo to 90C and it simply freezes in furmark.

Ok, can someone help on the 2D clocks thing?

And, Furmark does stress... temps rise and GPU Usage goes to 100%. I've downloaded MSI AfterBurner and OCCT, stressing now.

The thing is, you need to use driver level instead of low level OCing to get your 3D clocks back.
As I mentioned before, edit your Bios with RBE and change the Bios signature to allow higher OC in CCC/MSI AfterBurner.
This way your card will down clock properly.

 

[Sir_Real]

Nope, the newer versions of Furmark is already "renamed" by default.
Which fixes the problem of CCC trying to stop Furmark from stressing the card.


The thing is, you need to use driver level instead of low level OCing to get your 3D clocks back.
As I mentioned before, edit your Bios with RBE and change the Bios signature to allow higher OC in CCC/MSI AfterBurner.
This way your card will down clock properly.

Or edit the 3D core/mem speeds in the bios & uninstall CCC / overclocking software. There not really needed unless your running crossfire.

 

[Zubasa]

Or edit the 3D core/mem speeds in the bios & uninstall CCC / overclocking software. There not really needed unless your running crossfire.

Either way, you are stuck with editing the Bios.
Might as well just keep CCC and go driver level OC.

 

[rewindlabs]

Ok, can someone help on the 2D clocks thing?

And, Furmark does stress... temps rise and GPU Usage goes to 100%. I've downloaded MSI AfterBurner and OCCT, stressing now.

Uhhh that means nothing....CCC still limits it unless you have used a bypass or your using an older release of CCC

Trust me i did the same thing and of course the temps rise and it reads as 100% gpu usage but CCC is still limiting the app

My card would crash under BF2 or similar games whilst being able to last more than an hour in Furmark

 

[Zubasa]

Uhhh that means nothing....CCC still limits it unless you have used a bypass or your using an older release of CCC

Trust me i did the same thing and of course the temps rise and it reads as 100% gpu usage but CCC is still limiting the app

My card would crash under BF2 or similar games whilst being able to last more than an hour in Furmark

My 4850 crashes in BF2 and BF2142 @stock for that matter, there seems to be some wierd bugs with that engine. :shadedshu
On the other hand, I can run my 5870 and 4850 @max OC in games while they crashes in Furmark.
You should always try OCCT stress test along with furmark anyways.

 

[rewindlabs]

My 4850 crashes in BF2 and BF2142 @stock for that matter, there seems to be some wierd bugs with that engine. :shadedshu
On the other hand, I can run my 5870 and 4850 @max OC in games while they crashes in Furmark.
You should always try OCCT stress test along with furmark anyways.

Ahh i just found your reply quite a bit up thje page so thanks for clearing that up

Blah its so much back and fourth with the Furmark/ccc crap...