RX 460 2GB overclocking issue
RX 460 2GB overclocking issue
Hello, I'm just starting out with GPU overclocking. I own a GIGABYTE RX460 WINDFORCE OC 2G graphics card without the 6-pin connector, and it performs well for my current requirements. However, I wanted to extract more performance from it, so I decided to push its limits. I followed a tutorial by JayzTwoCents on YouTube about overclocking graphics cards. Here’s what I achieved (MSI Afterburner was used for the process):
Core Voltage: +0mv
Power Limit: +50%
Core Clock: +70mhz
Memory Clock: +100mhz
I tested the card's stability using the Valley benchmark for about two hours. It didn’t crash, and temperatures stayed around 68°C. Still, I noticed that power limits on pinless cards should be respected—since the PCI-E slot can only handle up to 75W, increasing it might risk damaging it. I saw reports suggesting the card was drawing no more than 65.1W, but I’m not sure if that’s accurate. Can I rely on it, or is there a chance it could fry my PCI-E slot? (My motherboard is an MSI B350M Gaming Pro.)
You can opt for alternative methods instead of raising the power limit. Switching to manual voltage controls is one option. The automatic adjustments built into the GPU usually fall short by roughly 50mV at each frequency. Although this difference might seem minor, the energy savings become substantial when you reduce the voltage even slightly. I favor AMD's WattMan tool, which is already integrated into their driver software—no need for a separate third-party program like Afterburner. Navigate to AMD Settings → Global Settings → Global WattMan (tab). Below the graph, adjust the "Frequency" and "Voltage" settings to "Dynamic" and "Manual" respectively, and you're ready to go.
Alternative options include adjusting manual voltage controls instead of raising the power ceiling. The automatic adjustments built into the GPU usually don’t reach the full potential by roughly 50mV at each frequency. This small difference still leads to noticeable energy savings when the voltage is reduced.
I favor AMD's WattMan tool, which is already integrated into their driver suite (no need for extra third-party software like Afterburner). Navigate to AMD Settings → Global Settings → Global WattMan (tab). Below the graph, you’ll find a switch next to "Frequency" and "Voltage"; toggle them to "Dynamic" and "Manual" respectively. You’re ready to proceed.
Your goal is to experiment with a consistent voltage for the highest frequency (State 7). Then adjust States 6 and 7 to match State 5, fine-tuning the voltage for that frequency. This approach helps you create a graph (such as in Excel) of your frequency/voltage relationship, allowing you to estimate other states efficiently—saving time compared to manual testing of every setting.
The 14nm process at GloFo reaches around 950mV. Expect any states above this threshold to show a more pronounced voltage drop than those below.
If you provide the frequency for each state, I can give a rough voltage estimate.
Your VRAM voltage (scroll down slightly) determines the minimum core voltage (except during idle). The lowest stable value is challenging to verify, but aim for the core to receive ample voltage so instability is avoided. I haven’t performed extensive tests to pinpoint the absolute minimum, though I’ve observed around 900mV at 2000MHz. Thus, any state with a core voltage below that will likely drop to 900mV regardless of manual settings.
Manual power limits shouldn’t be needed here; you’re essentially allowing the GPU to auto-adjust itself. When switching to manual voltages, this feature is disabled, so stability depends on your chosen setting—either stable performance with sufficient voltage or crashes due to insufficient it.
Once you’ve selected a profile, click "Save Profile" in the top-right corner. I have three saved profiles: OC, undervolt @ stock, and underclocked+undervolted. They’re easy to load. After saving, you can create game-specific profiles (AMD Settings → Gaming Homepage → Click desired game icon → Profile WattMan tab) for tailored settings.