Is this a suitable overclock for the ASUS STRIX GTX 970 with GPU Tweak II?
Is this a suitable overclock for the ASUS STRIX GTX 970 with GPU Tweak II?
Hey everyone, this is my initial attempt at lightly overclocking a GPU.
GPU Boost Clock: 1400 (reaches 1489 under stress)
Max GPU Voltage: Stock 1175 (reaches 1212 under stress)
Memory Clock: 7600 (reaches 7604 under stress)
Power Target: 110% (reaches 113-115% under stress, mostly stays below 110%)
GPU Temp Target (Celcius): Stock 79 (stays around 68-70 under stress)
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Compared to the stock "Gaming" settings:
+~8fps .... Sniper Elite V2 Benchmarks
+141 score (total 1541), +5.6fps, +14.2 max fps, -1.2 min fps? .... Heaven 4.0 Benchmark [8x AA]
+233 score (total 2681), +5.6fps, +14.5 max fps, +2.1 min fps .... Valley 1.0 Benchmark [2x AA]
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These numbers seem acceptable. Regarding the card's lifespan, would you notice a clear improvement?
I think my next move would be to keep pushing the clock speeds until the system starts acting unstable. My aim is to hit the highest possible stock voltage for optimal longevity, though I might hold back for now.
Appears to be correct.
Just a reminder, you won't have any control over the voltage on that card unless you modify it yourself. Therefore, you can only rely on the built-in voltage. Almost every Maxwell card has a default maximum voltage of 1.212V (my 980 is the same), though the actual value is typically slightly lower. The exact difference remains unclear unless you measure it with a DMM.
Your main concern will be heat. Keep an eye on it; so far your temperatures look fine.
If you haven't already set up a custom fan profile, consider exploring that option.
Overclocking is best approached by identifying the highest overclock for each clock separately. The core clock usually offers the greatest gain per MHz. Set Power Limit to 125%.
It seems correct overall. Just a reminder, you won't be able to adjust the voltage on that card unless you modify it yourself. You'll only be limited by the standard voltage provided. Most Maxwell cards come with a default maximum of 1.212V (my 980 is the same), though the actual value tends to be slightly lower. The exact difference remains unclear unless you measure it with a multimeter.
Your main concern will be heat management. Monitor the temperatures closely; so far they appear manageable. If you haven't already, consider implementing a custom fan profile.
Regarding overclocking, it's better to determine the highest possible overclock for each clock individually. Typically, the core clock offers the greatest performance gain per MHz. Set the Power Limit to 125%, which is the upper boundary. Begin by increasing your core clock alongside the memory clock at its default setting. Test regularly using tools like 3DMark or Unigine. Continue adjusting until you notice any instability. The card may automatically reduce its clock speed to stay within power and temperature limits. If you observe throttling, you've reached the hardware's ceiling. This can occur even without noticeable instability.
nVidia tends to be quite cautious with PowerTune.
After identifying your peak core clock, record the frequency and revert it to its default setting. Then proceed with adjusting your memory clock. The same steps apply. You'll likely reach a stage where further increases in memory clock cause issues like crashes, freezes, or unresponsive drivers. Once you hit this point, return everything to the default values.
Putting it all together, it's unlikely you can simply push both clocks to their absolute limits. Prioritize the core clock first—set it to your maximum finding, then adjust the memory clock around 66-75% of that overclock. Test incrementally. If stability is maintained, gradually increase the memory clock until you start encountering problems. PowerTune may begin reducing the core clock if it detects power or temperature limits. This is undesirable, so aim just below that threshold for the memory clock.
This should provide a clearer understanding.
It's great to hear the detailed information is useful. The main thing to consider is if a high power limit will work with your system, given your 550w PSU and the fact you've already optimized your 6600k to 4.2GHz.
The power limit simply informs the driver about the maximum power the card can use (TDP). The rated TDP for a 970 is 145W, so setting it to 125% means PowerTune will allow it to use around 181W, which is less than 40W more. The actual situation depends on the quality of your power supply and how much load the CPU and GPU are experiencing at any moment. Most games don<|pad|>'s not force all cores to 100%, so it's uncommon.
Based on typical gaming setups, I used a PSU calculator and it suggests a 495W supply would be suitable with your current overclocks. That gives some flexibility. Still, it's unlikely you'll be drawing the 445W maximum as stated.
The only advice I can offer is to test it out. I can't provide certain conclusions. It would be helpful to have a bit more margin, but that doesn't mean it won't work. If gaming is your main purpose, you might get better results by overclocking the GPU more than the CPU. You won't be CPU-bound in most games on the default clock of the 6700K, and this should remain true for years.
Yes, using a power meter to gauge the system's power consumption during a stress test like Heaven could provide accurate insights into your headroom.
It'll be quite close. Your PSU isn't fully efficient, meaning some power is lost in the conversion that isn't reaching the computer parts. This loss isn't included in your system's total draw, but it will show up at the wall. For example, if you're measuring 350W at the outlet, you might actually be using around 312W from your PSU's capacity.
The benchmark is excellent at stressing your GPU but barely affects the CPU. Running something like Prime 95 (non-AVX) alongside it could give a more realistic picture. Gaming won't consume as much power when these are run together. You'll be amazed at how little energy is being used. I've tested it myself using my UPS software.
Oh yeah, I almost missed mentioning that it's not 100% efficient—it could have led to some confusion! In the end, I think I'll go with the power meter method (they're also quite affordable). I'm hoping to achieve a solid overclock. Thanks for all the helpful information!
Ndeavour :
Hey, yeah, I almost missed mentioning that it's not 100% efficient. That could have led to some confusion!
Looking at the bigger picture, I think I'll go with the power meter method (they're also quite affordable). I'm hoping to achieve a decent overclock.
Thanks for all the useful tips.
No worries at all. I'm sure you'll be amazed at how little power your system uses when pushed that hard.
I used to expect 400–500W, but it actually dropped below 300W while running Prime95 with AVX and either Heaven or Valley.
My setup is a 4770K and a GTX980.
Just one thing to note: the meter and my UPC are slow, so the readings are averaged. They don't capture instantaneous power spikes, which the meter might miss.