Overclocking XFX R9 270X - 2GB
Overclocking XFX R9 270X - 2GB
Good evening,
I hope you're doing well.
I'm planning to attempt an overclock for my GPU and want to make sure I'm on the right track. Could you please review my setup and offer any suggestions?
System details:
- Processor: i5 4670K
- Motherboard: Asus Z87-K
- Graphics: Corsair CX600W
- GPU: XFX R9 270X (2GB)
- Current speeds: 1050 / 1400
- Temperatures: Stable after initial attempts (1100 / 1500 → 1150 / 1530)
- Tools used: MSI Afterburner, FurMark
I started with 1100 / 1500 and got temperatures around 73 - 75. Once I increased to 1150 / 1530, the temps stayed the same. I'm considering reverting to factory settings now.
Do I need to adjust the power limits?
How should I configure the fan settings? I'm currently on auto—does that work?
What would be a safe overclock target?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
AMD Afterburner? Are you referring to MSI Afterburner or AMD overdrive? I'm not really familiar with AMD Afterburner. When checking for stability, it's best to go beyond just furmark tests (like Unigine Heaven or other games). I suggest setting the power target or limit to 120% (the maximum allowed) and making a custom fan curve to maintain lower temperatures. These temperatures aren't bad for these GPUs, but they're not ideal. I don't mind the noise; my card usually stays cool but a bit loud. Try experimenting and see what works best for you. Once you've let those programs run or played games for about 30 minutes (at least furmark), keep increasing your core clock until you're comfortable or stable. If it's still not stable, check if...
AMD Afterburner? Are you referring to MSI Afterburner or AMD Overdrive? I'm not really familiar with AMD Afterburner. When checking stability, it's best to go beyond just furmark tests (like Unigine Heaven or other games). I suggest setting the power target or limit to 120% (the maximum allowed) and making a custom fan curve to maintain lower temperatures. These temperatures aren't bad for these GPUs, but they're not ideal. I don’t mind the noise; my card usually stays cool but a bit loud. Try experimenting and see what works best for you. After running or playing games for about 30 minutes (at least furmark), gradually increase your core clock until you feel comfortable or reach stability. If it's still unstable, try raising the voltage slightly. Check if that helps. Repeat this process for your memory frequency as well. For a 270X, 1150 stable is a great overclock, though pushing it even further could be beneficial. It seems safe to overclock now—aim for around 1120-1200 GPU and 1400-1550 RAM, but if you can, go higher.
Thanks for the update. I'm currently at 1180 / 1460 with a temp between 70-75*. I think I can push the Core Clock higher tomorrow, though I might go over it. The memory clock is capped at 480, so I'm lowering it to be safer. I've tried tweaking the fan settings; at 70* I get up to 80% performance. It's noisy but stable.
My PC is sitting on the carpet under my desk right now. I'm planning to clean it out and find a wooden surface to place it on, which might help.
I just finished playing Dragon Age Inquisition for about an hour. It gave me a good performance boost. I might delay upgrading my card for a while longer.
Thanks again.
460? do you mean 1460? 1180 is a great spot and if it stays stable there, I'd just leave it as is, unless you're looking to increase the voltage and try to reach around 1200. That's a solid overclock for any GCN card. Don't forget to download and run unigine heaven benchmark when checking stability.
I meant yes. I just installed 3x Aerocool DS Edition 120mm Case Fans—two on the sides and one at the top. They're so quiet, I'm hoping they improve cooling. I wasn't completely sure about the setup. I connected a PSU peripheral cable and piggy backed the leads. I'm hoping that's the correct method. This has been a big learning experience for me.