The GTX 960 doesn't perform overclocking properly.
The GTX 960 doesn't perform overclocking properly.
Hello.
I recently acquired a new Zotac GTX 960 Amp Edition to replace my previous GTX 750. I noticed noticeable gains in my gaming performance. However, according to the reviews, I’m unable to push this card beyond its stated limits. I’ve managed to reach the memory clock around +150-200MHz, but the core clock stays capped at +50MHz. Despite maximizing temperature and power settings, and adjusting priorities, benchmarks consistently fail. The 3DMark Fire Strike test often crashes during the second graphics round, and Batman: Arkham Knight only ran for about 15 minutes before failing. Temperatures remain under 66°C in Fire Strike and 72°C in Batman. There seems to be a possibility of improving clock speed, as reviews suggest it could reach up to 1500MHz, but my card tops out at 1418MHz. I’m hesitant to increase voltage due to the risk of damage. My current specs are:
CPU: Intel i5-4440 @ 3.10GHz
RAM: Kingston HyperX 8GB @ 1600MHz
PSU: Corsair 450 Watt (model not recalled)
Windows 10
and I’m running MSI afterburner v4.2.0 with nVidia 368.69 drivers.
High power usage causes instability. My card reaches 1563 during boosts. You shouldn't exceed 1500 MHz, but monitor performance while gaming. Avoid overclocking memory first, then the core. Use only one overclocking tool. I own a Gigabyte G1 GTX960 with 4GB RAM and had to remove the Gigabyte program entirely for Afterburner to work properly. This might assist.
I understand the constraints you're facing. The GPU doesn't exceed 1418Hz during boost, and adjusting the temperature limit to 90°C with increased voltage seems risky.
As long as your temps are stable, it's fine.
My card handles maximum overclock under 60c.
Are you using MSI afterburner?
1418 is a bit too low for the GTX960, but honestly this card would benefit from a solid memory overclock to perform well.
I added more details in my last post.
Attempted to raise voltage by 25mV. The system failed to stabilize within 2 seconds of beginning the test.
In the end, I managed to set a 1449MHz GPU Boost frequency, which was listed in-game as 1524MHz by GPU-Z.