Secure GPU base/memory timing specs for GTX 970
Secure GPU base/memory timing specs for GTX 970
GIGABYTE GTX 970 WINDFORCE 3X OC 4GB i5 4690K
16 GB CORSAIR VENGEANCE 1600 MHZ RAM (2 X 8)
HYPER 212 EVO cooler
KEEP-OUT 700W FX 700MU PSU
Windows 7 64-bit
1080p 60 Hz resolution
TEMPS: CPU up to 55 degrees under load / GPU up to 60 degrees under load.
TEST GAME: GTA 5
I have the OC Guru program and would appreciate your thoughts on overclocking my GPU. I achieved a base clock of 1450 MHz and memory clock of 7360 MHz, yet gaming performance showed only slight improvements—just a minor boost of 2 to 4 frames per second. I kept the voltage unchanged and raised the power setting from 100 % to 112 %. After testing briefly, I observed the PSU’s fan accelerating and producing more noise. Feeling uneasy, I reset everything to default settings.
My questions are:
1) Is the increased noise from the PSU concerning? Could overclocking pose risks for that unit?
2) What would be the highest safe values for both base and memory clock settings without harming the GPU?
By the way, the PSU performs well and delivers accurate voltage distribution to each component, even though it isn’t a widely recognized brand. So, don’t jump to hasty judgments. 😛
Thank you for your time.
Jayhayjay shares his experience with the system. He mentions that 700 watts is sufficient for a single 970 system and won't cause any damage. For overclocking, he advises testing how far it can go, noting that different GPUs handle it differently—his GPU reaches around 1554 MHz, while others are closer to 1600 MHz. He suggests increasing the core clock by about +50 each time and running a program like Firestrike. If the system hangs or shows purple flickering squares during testing, he recommends reducing the core clock by ~10 at a time. He warns that memory clocks should remain unchanged as they don't affect performance. He also warns that GTA V doesn't handle overclocking well and may cause crashes or driver issues. Thanks for the advice.
700 watts works well for a single 970 system, won’t cause any damage. For the overclock, only you need to see how far it goes—GPUs don’t all handle it the same. My setup reaches about 1554 MHz, while my friends’ close to 1600 MHz. Just boost the core clock by roughly 50 each time and run something like Firestrike. If it freezes or shows purple flickering squares, back off by around 10 MHz at a time. You’ll definitely hit over 1450 MHz, but memory clocks shouldn’t matter—just keep testing until you’re stable. Note that GTA V tends to dislike OCs, and some games may crash or cause driver issues even if you manage the frequency.
Arronleeds shares his experience with a single 970 system running at 700 watts, noting it won’t cause any damage. He mentions that overclocking requires personal testing, as different GPUs handle it differently—his system reaches around 1554 MHz, while friends achieve closer to 1600 MHz. He suggests gradually increasing the core clock by about 50 MHz each time and running a program like Firestrike. If the system hangs or shows purple flickering squares during testing, he advises reducing the clock by roughly 10 MHz at a time. He expects more than 1450 MHz with this approach, and he points out that memory clocks shouldn’t be adjusted since they don’t affect performance. He also mentions that GTA V doesn’t tolerate overclocking well, as it can cause crashes and driver issues. He notes that most modern cards include a restore control that resets clocks to defaults if problems arise. He wonders if this is true and jokes about reaching 1800 MHz. Regarding the PSU, he finds the increased noise concerning because the fan is spinning much faster than usual.
Jayhayjay shares his experience with overclocking a 970 system. He confirms that 700 watts is sufficient and won’t damage the hardware, though overclocking requires careful testing to avoid issues. He suggests gradually increasing the core clock by about 50 MHz each step and running games like Firestrike. If the system hangs or shows purple flickering, reduce the clock by 10 MHz at a time. For memory clocks, he advises leaving them unchanged as they don’t affect performance. He mentions that most modern cards have a restore control to reset clocks if problems arise. He also notes that PSU noise is normal and warns against pushing the system beyond 1800 MHz due to potential driver crashes. The fan speed increases under load, so avoid setting it too high. He hopes this helps and thanks the responder for the advice.