OC issues/crashing (GTX 980)
OC issues/crashing (GTX 980)
Hi everyone. I just got my first PC and am still getting the hang of things. Until now, I haven’t done an overclock because I was satisfied with how it performed. I usually play at 1440p, but the new Rise of the Tomb Raider version is causing my frame rates to fluctuate a lot.
I suspect this might be related to a port problem, especially since it’s just released. When I do an OC, my performance improves to around 60 with fewer dips, compared to the unstable FPS drops without an OC. However, after playing for an hour, my whole screen starts to show artifacts and crashes, forcing me to restart my PC. I also experience crashes when opening and closing the start menu.
Honestly, I’m not sure what I’m doing with the OC process. I’ve tried following tutorials but kept getting crashes. Eventually, I switched to MSI Afterburner and did a minimal overclock boost, but the issues persist.
Here’s my current PC setup:
- GTX-980 (4GB)
- i7-4790K CPU @ 4.0GHz
- 16 GB RAM
- 1 TB EVO SSD
This is my first time building a PC, and I just assembled this configuration recently.
My MSI Afterburner settings are:
- Core Voltage (mv): 0 (not using)
- Power Limit (%) : 105
- Core Clock (MHz): +100
- Memory Clock (MHz): +250
- Fan Speed: AUTO
My GPU is Gigabtyte Windforce, and its default speeds are:
178 MHz / BOOST: 1279 MHz
Could anyone review what I shared and help identify the problem? I’m really unsure if my OC settings are too extreme. If possible, could you let me know which parameters to adjust?
Just wanted to ask if someone can check my post and point out what’s going wrong. I’m assuming I’m doing it very wrong, and I’d really appreciate any advice.
Also, I’d like to apologize in advance if this isn’t the right place or if the information is too basic. It’s been a bit overwhelming since I’m not very tech-savvy—I had to learn how to build a PC from scratch.
Thanks a lot for your time and help!
Ellie_Freckles shared insights on overclocking techniques and their effects.
Core Voltage (mv) 0 (not using this)
This method works because it allows you to push the speed and voltage until the graphics card remains steady at that level. The increased voltage helps stabilize the overclocked GPU but also generates more heat. That's why keeping an eye on temperatures is essential during overclocking.
Higher voltage leads to greater heat production, which can reduce the card's lifespan. This trade-off is intentional—overclocking often means accepting a shorter life for better performance.
JimF_35:
"This is how you overclock. You increase the speed and voltage until the card runs smoothly at that speed. The higher the voltage, the more heat it generates and the shorter its lifespan becomes. This is why you need to keep an eye on your temperatures during overclocking. More voltage means more heat and a reduced card life. The goal is to trade off some longevity for better performance."
The video may remain applicable for your card and simplifies all concepts clearly.
Ellie_Freckles :
JimF_35 shared some tips about overclocking. They explained that increasing the speed and voltage until stability is reached is a common method, but it also generates more heat and can reduce the card's lifespan. Monitoring temperatures is essential during this process. Higher voltages lead to more heat and potentially shorter card life, which is why overclocking requires careful management of performance versus longevity.
They mentioned that unlocking Core Voltage on MSI caused immediate crashes upon startup, but fewer crashes occurred after turning it off. This suggests a lack of understanding about the process.
Based on the settings they shared and their specifications, they asked for advice on appropriate voltage levels or whether certain values are clearly wrong. They admitted the topic is complex due to various factors like game performance.
They also inquired about matching voltage with other settings and whether there’s a standard method. They described overclocking as an art form, noting that voltages that work for one system may not work for another. They recommended gradually increasing the voltage until stability is achieved.
They asked about the maximum safe voltage, mentioning that most cards have governors to prevent exceeding a certain level unless BIOS is modified. They also noted possible limitations from the power supply or hardware quality.
Ellie suggested listing their PSU details and advised starting with a modest increase—like 15-20—before adjusting further.