Does running the GPU at overclocked settings for a short time impact its performance?
Does running the GPU at overclocked settings for a short time impact its performance?
I have an ASUS Dual GTX 1660 Ti, and I increased the core clock by +135 and memory clock by +1100 with power and temperature limits set to maximum. After running the Heaven benchmark without any issues, I continued using the overclock. While playing Fortnite for a few hours, the game crashed when the D3D device disappeared. This might be related to my GPU and could indicate instability, so I reverted to the stock settings. My main concern is whether the overclocking has affected my GPU performance or caused any damage. The highest temperature reached was around 75 degrees during benchmarking, not while playing Fortnite. I’m worried that using the overclock for several hours might have slowed down my stock speed or even damaged it. I haven’t changed the voltage and want to know if this will impact normal operation.
Don't stress about it
Unless you altered the voltage settings from a custom BIOS, your 1660ti should be okay. Modern GPUs come with many built-in safety measures that make it hard to bypass without a custom BIOS. Even the voltage adjustment in MSI Afterburner is more of a visual trick.
To cause lasting harm to your GPU you'll need to push it to much higher temperatures for extended periods. Just slightly lowering your core clock might be enough to keep things safe.