What are the optimal Wattman adjustments for an OC'd XFX RX470?
What are the optimal Wattman adjustments for an OC'd XFX RX470?
Hello everyone,
I just completed a build using an FX8320 and an RX470, and I’m planning to overclock them later. When trying to run Minecraft with shaders, the performance was stuck around the mid-30s frames per second. After checking out Wattman, I thought it would be best to ask for guidance here. The main question is: what are the optimal Wattman configurations to achieve the highest stable performance from an XFX 470?
I'm not familiar with what wattman is, but this card should easily handle Minecraft. If you're genuinely keen on customizing your CPU and GPU, go ahead.
1. Check the guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1348623/amd-b...otherboard. The menu is simple to navigate. If you're new to OC'ing, it's wise to seek assistance from someone you trust. Doing it yourself can be manageable once you follow the steps carefully. Small adjustments like gradually increasing CPU voltage and testing stability are key, as they require patience.
2. Others may recommend different tools, but I've personally used MSI Afterburner for GPU OC'ing with minimal problems.
3. A practical approach is to verify benchmarks from others whose systems are stable, aiming to keep your changes within average performance ranges. Remember, some upgrades boost performance only during specific tasks—not always for daily use.
I'm not familiar with Wattman, but this card should easily handle Minecraft. If you're genuinely keen on customizing your CPU and GPU, proceed.
For those new to OC'ing, the guide is quite simple. If you're doing it for the first time, consider seeking advice from someone you trust, almost like a tutor. Running the steps as outlined shouldn't be overly complicated. The main challenges often come from making minor adjustments, such as gradually increasing CPU voltage and checking stability, which can be time-consuming.
Others may recommend different tools, but I've personally used MSI Afterburner for GPU OC'ing with minimal problems.
A practical approach is to benchmark other users' setups to maintain stability, as some hardware performs exceptionally well while others don't. Don't aim for the absolute highest possible settings unless you're certain about reliability. Wattman comes with new Radeon cards and is a good choice if you're comfortable with its interface.
JCMsergox:
Codygriffy:
I don't understand what wattman is, but this card should easily handle Minecraft. If you're genuinely keen on improving your CPU and GPU performance, go for it.
Firstly, check the guide at the link provided: http://www.overclock.net/t/1348623/amd-b...otherboard. It looks quite simple. If you're new to OC'ing, I'd recommend seeking advice from someone you know in person—almost like a tutor would be ideal. If you decide to try it yourself, following this guide should be manageable. The tricky part often comes from making small adjustments, such as gradually increasing CPU voltage and then testing stability, which can be time-consuming.
2. Others might propose different tools, but I've personally used MSI Afterburner for GPU overclocking for some time without many problems.
3. A practical tip is to stay within benchmark scores that others have achieved with their hardware. Keep your overclock within those averages; some systems perform exceptionally well while others don't. Don't aim for the highest possible value found online, as it's often more about showcasing than reliable daily use.
Wattman is the Overclocking software that comes with new Radeon cards. I prefer using it for overclocking since I'm comfortable with its interface.
Understood. I'll wait for someone else to respond because I'm not familiar with wattman.
Hey JCM, I’m using the XFX RX 470 in my current build. It’s puzzling that no one has replied to my question. I’ll include a screenshot of my overclock profile in WattMan for the GPU section so you can see how I’ve configured it. My card isn’t liquid cooled, and my case is fairly open to airflow with three 120mm fans (two intakes and one exhaust). When gaming, the fans can get quite loud, especially under load. The dual fan setup on the card itself can also become noisy, but I have a 5.1 surround sound system connected to my PC. If the fans are too loud (which usually isn’t the case since I’m good at ignoring them), I just increase the volume and shake the walls instead.
A few points about overclocking:
Ensure your case has enough ventilation. Removing a GPU’s factory limits means more heat is generated, which can cause performance drops or instability if temperatures rise too high. The key is to keep temperatures low—always. Overclocking carries risks, so avoid making changes without understanding them. In the past, incorrect settings could fry your PC instantly, but nowadays it usually just shuts down before damage occurs and factory settings reset. Hardcore enthusiasts often suggest using software like OC Genie for manual adjustments. I used an MSI board to bump my FX-8300 from 3.1 GHz to 4.2 GHz with their OC Genie tool—perfectly fine for me. Avoid stock CPU heat sinks if you’re overclocking; a cheap $20 tower hybrid keeps my GPU cool, usually around 29°C idle and 50°C under load. You don’t need expensive coolers for decent temperatures.
Regarding GPU overclocking in general: start small and progress gradually if you’re unsure of your card’s limits. Begin by setting the Power Limit to its maximum. Adjust fan settings if you tolerate extra noise, but if fans are too loud at load, revert to factory defaults. Work through the core clock and CPU core clock settings in 0.5 MHz steps, observing for instability. Let the card run under each step for a few minutes to detect any issues. Once stable, lower the core clock slightly and repeat with memory settings in the same increments. Keep the game running during this process to simulate real-world conditions. If you see no crashes or artifacts, your overclock is stable!
Here’s my WattMan profile:
The GPU acts as the "core clock," typically not exceeding factory limits without risking instability. The Memory section handles data storage and can be raised higher, though with limits. On this model, I aimed for 1.9 GHz but couldn’t reach it. My HD 7850 managed to jump from around 780 MHz to 1 GHz easily.
I manually disabled the fan when needed—it’s a nice touch from XFX, as the GPU remains silent under low load. I let it run at full speed when necessary. The card adapts its cooling automatically; leaving it on Automatic didn’t provide enough cooling for the target speeds. XFX likely limited noise to improve user experience, so I bypassed those settings.
Setting the minimum acoustic limit to its highest allowed helped reduce fan noise, though I could still adjust it down if needed. If fans become too loud, lowering the RPM helps, but it might not keep the card cool enough. In that case, reverting both clocks is a good way to stabilize things.
Temperature control is crucial. If it gets too high, the system resets to defaults or shuts down entirely. In automatic mode, it tries to maintain 70°C at all times, but I found those targets unrealistic—my GPU started behaving oddly around 70°C. I settled on maintaining 60°C for stability.
For AMD GPUs, increasing the Power Limit unlocks extra power, enabling higher clock speeds. But without sufficient cooling, this won’t help much.
Chill is a new feature. Some games benefit from it, but not all. You can check online for a list of supported titles. If you play any that use it, it’s worth trying based on independent tests.
Hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if you need more details. I’m not an expert, but I’ve got practical experience. Enjoy gaming!