High performance graphics card setup on an RTX 2060S
High performance graphics card setup on an RTX 2060S
Good evening Techy and thanks,
We’re going through the fine details, I suppose. It’s not entirely clear what or how the overclocking was done. I’m trying to keep things safe.
What I mean by it is Silicon Scan. This wasn’t mentioned by the original poster. It’s a useful feature, though. I’d like it to apply to memory as well. The only issue is that it doesn’t adapt to changing conditions—it doesn’t consider the surrounding environment (the temperature will affect this). It’s just an algorithm, not some magical process.
That’s accurate. But “any environment” should actually be defined in the specifications. I received a piece of carrier-class cellular network gear back as a replacement (about 8 years ago), which was mounted with PK screws on a tree by technicians in [location], during [weather condition]. And honestly, it worked for three months… Specification limits exist for good reasons.
I have one observation:
Adjusting the slider changes the frequency and locks it in without checking if you’re still within the same voltage levels (both normal and boost). This gives you the flexibility to set a higher frequency or voltage than before. I doubt you could achieve 300Mhz above the original clock using the same voltage. You can verify this with monitoring tools. I suggest trying MSI Afterburner for a look.
Moreover, if the fixed base equals the boost clock is set, the entire curve flattens out:
You had pronounced short-term peaks above the base clock when boosting—similar to Intel CPUs—so that cooling components could handle those hot spikes. In the adjusted state, the voltage, current draw, and heat output all peak together.
The overclocking potential really depends on the card design and the actual parts used. This also applies to motherboards (they share a similar VRM setup and have a silicon chip in the socket).
In most cases, after the initial release with the original design, manufacturers like EVGA create their own boards and offer custom “editions” with their own VRM, cooling solutions, and board layouts. These differ widely, and I’ve seen many variations—some excellent, others not so much.
I believe
NVidia only offers cores and development kits.
Edit: I also overclock. Before starting, I inspect the components and calculate the limits (checking MOSFET types, quantities, specifications, cooling design, etc.). My 2080 reached just over 2.0GHz, but I know it will need a pre-heater after some time with this setting, so it’s back to its proper place. If I need more power, I’ll have to invest more and accept the cost 🙃
By as many watts as it raises, all that power turns into heat. A GPU running at 100W would act like a 100-watt heater.
Phaaaze, are you seeking a specific range? Generally, it hinges on factors like ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure, component thermal conductivity, and load conditions. The actual value can vary widely—potentially from 0°C up to a failure point. It's challenging to predict exactly how this will affect your setup. If cooling and power limits are tight, the temperature might remain stable. However, if heat dissipation is insufficient, the temperature will continue to climb until it stops. My soldering iron operates at 60W and can reach 300°C in under 15 seconds. Most parts include thermal shutdown protection. Frequent thermal shutdowns can eventually cause a failed IC. If @TechyInAZ has thermal imaging data, they could provide precise figures for the voltage spikes area.
We have our agreements and disagreements here.
@vov4ik_il
I've conducted extensive research on GPU Boost 3.0, listened to Nvidia's presentations, and talked to engineers explaining it. Let's put this thread aside for now. Over the past five years of overclocking, I've never seen anyone damage their GPU from pushing it too hard. Nvidia intentionally prevents overvoltage on Turing, so overclocking essentially offers little real benefit.
A 300mhz offset above stock clocks is definitely achievable on non-factory overclocked cards—most don’t reach that, but some might. For me, overclocking GTX 1060s, GTX 1080s, and RTX 2060 supers only increases the core clock offset without changing the frequency curve. This won’t produce more voltage or alter its shape. It simply lets you run a higher clock speed at the same voltage, which is perfectly safe.