I want to boost the performance of my GTX 970 using overclocking techniques.
I want to boost the performance of my GTX 970 using overclocking techniques.
I'm just starting out with OC and I already have MSI After Burner installed, so what should I do? My CPU is an i5-4670k.
Heyo jeffreyhjkgf1
For beginners it's wise to proceed slowly at first. Begin by boosting the core speed by around 20Mhz. If no issues appear during stress testing with that overclock, you're ready to move on. Next, try increasing it to 40Mhz. Continue this process until you encounter a driver crash or visible artifacts on your monitor. At that stage, you've likely exceeded the safe limit. Now, push further by adjusting the Core voltage slider to its maximum. This should add roughly 0.1v to the core speed, which may stabilize the overclock but isn't guaranteed.
Hey there, newcomer. It's wise to proceed gently at first. Begin by boosting the core speed by around 20Mhz. If no artifacts appear during stress testing with that overclock, you're likely ready to move on. Next, try raising it to 40Mhz. Continue this process until you hit a point where your Nvidia driver fails or you notice any issues on the monitor. That signals you've pushed too far. Now, add a bit more power—since it's an MSI afterburner, you probably haven't exceeded the default settings. You should be able to push the core voltage slider to its maximum, which should bring in about 0.1v and likely stabilize the OC. This method usually works, though it isn't guaranteed.
Once you've achieved a stable core setting, it's time to tackle the memory OC. Follow the same steps as with the core, but you can increase it by roughly 50-100Mhz each time. My 980ti managed a 450mhz+ boost on memory, and most other cards I've used have exceeded 300Mhz easily.
Keep in mind: if you start seeing artifacts on the screen, it means you've overdone the OC again—you'll need to reduce it slightly. This is essentially the approach for fine-tuning your 970.
For a quick summary:
- Core clock: Adjust in 10-20Mhz increments; max out at 100mv (0.1v) if unstable.
- Memory clock: Increase in 50-100Mhz increments until instability appears.
I would recommend watching some "how to" videos on You Tube. Here is an example.
This one uses afterburner and Valley to stress the graphics card, but there are many videos out there. Watch a few, and ten give it a try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUEMS-B1Siw
There are various stress tests and benchmarks that perform well and are free. Furmark is effective since it runs quickly. However, it doesn't appear to challenge the graphics card as strongly as some alternatives do.