OC'ing 260

[Chimera6586]

When OC’ing my Geforce GTX 260, how do I know when to stop?

This is currently what I do.

-Put fans at 100% (I don’t mind the noise).
-Raise core clock 5mhz at a time. Each time running ATI tool “scan for artifacts” for 15mins.
-If no artifacts, raise another 5mhz.
-As soon as I hit an artifact, I back down 10mhz.
-I then proceed to do the same with the memory.

So my question is this:

Do I only need to worry about the artifacts? Do I just keep pushing until I get artifacts and then call it good?

Where does heat come into play? How do I know what is too hot?

Thanks

 

[Silus]

Do I only need to worry about the artifacts? Do I just keep pushing until I get artifacts and then call it good?

Basically yes, but you don't need to be so cautions by doing it in a 5 Mhz bump at a time. Try higher increments such as 20 Mhz. You can also "guesstimate" a target frequency and try it out. For example, with stock 600 Mhz, you can try 650 Mhz. If it works, you can try 675 Mhz and so on, until there are visible artifacts.

Where does heat come into play? How do I know what is too hot?

Anything above 90º C is already too hot, though the threshold usually is slightly above 100º C. But do try to keep the GPU at a temp lower than 90º C. If you're getting higher temps than 90ºC after overclocking your card, you should get a better cooler for it.

 

[Brahmzy]

Just try this for giggles. 675/1425/1200 At worst you'll get some artifacting. Also, watch the shader clocks - they're the limiting factor on the card.

I'm currently at 725/1450/1250 on my vanilla eVGA 260. If it was me I'd start by trying 700/1425/1200.

FWIW...

 

[Chimera6586]

So then why do people get VGA after market coolers?

I mean, won't people start hitting artifacts before they start to overheat?

Isn't artifacts a bigger problem then heat?

 

[Zero82z]

So then why do people get VGA after market coolers?

I mean, won't people start hitting artifacts before they start to overheat?

Isn't artifacts a bigger problem then heat?

Artifacts are often caused by heat. Better cooling can result in better overclocking. Also, aftermarket coolers are almost always quieter than their stock counterparts.

 

[NoNRG]

I wouldnt start by just raising each setting by 5MHz, then running ATi Tool for 15 mins. That would take a really long time. Instead, start a little high, or with similar clocks other people with GTX 260's have reached (such as the ones Brahmzy suggested).

The fact that you said you are only changing the core and memory clocks tells me that your shader and core are still linked. You will want to unlink them and change clocks separately as the shader cant go as high as the core can when you run them linked.


Side note...Is anyone having trouble with the core clock coming out of power saving mode when running ATi Tool Artifact scan? Mine does not increase to full when I have the core overclocked. This is using drivers 177.79, the ones that supposedly fix the clock problem.

 

[Silus]

So then why do people get VGA after market coolers?

Because after market coolers are often better than stock ones. Though NVIDIA's dual slot coolers, ever since the 7800 GTX 512, have been very good.

I mean, won't people start hitting artifacts before they start to overheat?

Well, artifacts are usually a byproduct of overheating or an unstable overclock. By overclocking your card, you're increasing your card's temps and that's why increasing your cooler fan speed or getting a better cooler, to keep your temps down, is the way to go.

Isn't artifacts a bigger problem then heat?

As I said, they can be related, so by controlling one, you'll probably be avoiding the other one.

 

[Chimera6586]

So, I have experienced what I always have when OCing.

I currently have my GTX 260 @ 684/1472/1107

My temp at this setting is 66 degrees Celsius under load. So my temp is very very low, BUT when I run ATi Tool and "scan for artifacts" I start to see artifacts right away if I go any higher.

How come I am seeing artifacts when my temps are still so low?

How can I get around this?