5870m running at 405/1000

So I was actually here for my sound issues, but a quick watch of the vids in Dallers' sig had me tempted to try my hand at overclocking (albeit noob style).

I flashed the 213 BIOS and Chastity's own OD vBIOS, but hwinfo reports that the GPU clock is at 405MHz. I can set it to 700 using the OD feature built into CCC, where it changes but after hitting "apply" after the test remains for a second-ish, then reverts back to 405. Confirmed using logging. Oh, and use of the actual separate downloaded AMD OD tool causes an instant BSOD (I knew it did before I flashed the OD vBIOS, but tried it again just now and lost most of this post for my troubles).

I opened Chastity's vBIOS using the RBE tool and noticed that under Clock info 01 on the "Clock settings" tab the core has 405MHz listed. Pic attached. Noticed voltage is lower too.

This is a new install of windows so I haven't any games to see if they raise it to 700, and I seem to have downloaded PCmark7 instead of 11 due to an incorrectly listed mirror. Shouldn't it be at 700 idle anyway?

 

Blimey how did you manage to go from having sounds problems to overclocking lol!

405 is the idle clock for the core, the issue with the Vbios on the JH is that it does not downclock properly and only a few have been able to fix that. You will notice the Core clock downclocks and upclocks correctly for instance 405 at idle, 500 while using media player etc and whatever you have performance mode set to in overdrive for when you are running software/games that require the full GPU output. The memory clock does not downclock automatically and this is the reason why you get the screen jolt and line when it changes. I believe there is another VBIOS version on Chastity's driver page that sorts out the screen jolt issue.

At Idle stock it will show 405/1000 and if you overclock to 800/1100 at idle it will show 405/1100. Only when you utilise the GPU will it upclock to 800/1100 for instance.

In regards to flashing your VBIOS further as mentioned in my movie I cannot advise you on that I stay away from flashing personally I flash only when I need to and not having a working downclock does not bother me when I could otherwise have a $1000 paperweight.

 

I blame your sig

Been meaning to get around to OCing for a while, but it always felt a bit like plunging in at the deep end so I shall +1 for your vids the only other thing I've been meaning to do is take this thing apart to access that damn last RAM slot...scary stuff.

So back OT, it the GPU will upclock to the 700 'standard' when being used properly? Or 800, say, if I had it set at 800? Also you mention performance mode for overdrive...I have no different modes for it >_< this may have been because I clicked something on some dialog box or another during install...but I see no way of getting them via the CCC menus. Blast this piece of crap!

I feel I should probably tell you that I live in London too, and ask what're you still doing up


edit: oh yes, and any info on the AMD OD tool that's not part of CCC? I don't strictly need it, but if it's making me BSOD I'm always interested to know why.

 

If you are planning to head for the underside RAM slot you might as well look into repasting at the same time plenty of links about it just do your research and you will be fine I will be uploading a video of repasting shortly once my new processor arrives and I get my HD camera back off my thieving brother.

Ignore any performance modes etc.. Overdrive is what I was referring to the downclock only takes effect for the core and when its idling will it drop to 405 if you set your core clock to 800 in overdrive when you run a program or game it will run at that I assure you. Use a GPU gadget and this will show you when it changes if you need to make sure.

Overclocking is pretty nifty and if you can get your clocks to 800/1100 like most of us then you will have a bit of extra oompf, as per my vid just make sure its nice and stable and stress the hell out of it to make sure. The drivers and control panel of ATI may not be the best and it may not work properly but we are still using a GPU that came out in Jan 2010 and Nvidia are only just about to overtake our power 18 months after its release

 

That's all a feature of PowerPlay. If you want to run full speed all the time, disable PowerPlay in CCC. Else it runs at the idle clocks, and ramps up to full on enabling 3D mode.

 

Jakey I am also running the OD VBIOS ;what version of AMD clock tool are you running? 0.9.26.0 works fine for me to change clock (No BSOD), but I cannot change to voltage, it always goes to 1.15, even though it is set to .95 in the VBIOS.

 

Ah damn it, how'd you know the other thing I was hoping to avoid doing. But I've read a few posts recently where people have reduced their temps by 20 deg at idle and max load so I'm prepared to give it a go...after the video is up as I literally have no idea what I'm doing in that department. Feel free to shoot me a PM once the vid is done

Ahh okay, thanks Chastity.

I downloaded this, which is confusingly named the same as the GPU overclocking tool...I assume it BSODs me because I have an Intel CPU & mobo.


In other news need to do some stability testing now, max my 5870m can handle and "pass" the AMD OD test is 855/1115 but naturally it's not stable and causes a system lock up doing anything intensive (I tried to run a WEI). So what has the greatest effect on performance increase, OCing the core or the memory? And what leads to more instability?

 

Blackluc's Dissassembly video is very straight forward and covers the process to conduct a repaste, once you reach the motherboard you have two choices to either remove it or flip it over, personally I remove it and tear everything apart so if it's your first time and want to get to work try following his and see how you go, but take your time researching get the right tools and get a good TIM for instance ICD7 before thinking about going ahead with it.

I cover all of this in my video that although overdrive may show that it can handle the clocks it is only a test and it will not push GPU load anywhere near what a game will you need to stress test using Furmark to make sure it is stable and does not artifact and you can conduct a burn in test to make sure at 100% load under full stress that it is stable.

I dont understand why people need to use ATI GPU clock tool because Overdrive does exactly the same thing, does not effect the voltages sticking at 1.15v and offers an artifact tester. If you want to use an external overclocking tool I highly recommend MSI Afterburner which does not have any issues with the voltage and allows you to set specific profiles as well.

 

Yeah I know, I did watch it gonna give furmark a go for a few hours with 800/1100 tonight.

Another question, how are these settings 'saved'? Straight into vBIOS? As I don't have CCC starting up by default with Windows, just checking the settings will still apply if it's not running?

 

I updated my above post shortly after posting to add about Blackluc's video you might like to take a look if you are looking to repaste asap.

Overdrive does not rewrite the vBIOS it stores the information within windows and although it survives a restart it will not survive a reinstall or driver change you will notice the clocks change to what you have set them too when you enter windows, CCC driver will be running even if you dont have the tray icon open.

 

So watching that video I still have no idea as to where you apply the paste, or really how much. Remove the old paste, apply on top and around the edge of the chip? Disassembly videos with voice are a lot more helpful the disassembly I have the BTO vid for, but I'll wait for yours for repasting. I'm not really in that much of a hurry.

Where do you buy yours from? None on Amazon, Overclockers UK are out, and "specialtech" charge £8 for shipping so screw them. Is ICD 24 'better'? Might get some of that.

 

For ICD7 on the GPU, you apply a 3mm pea ball in the center, and then mount the heatsink straight down on it. Then tighten the screws in numerical order.

 

This much as Chastity says 3mm a small round blob the heatsink will do the rest.

ICD comes in two size amounts 7 and 24 1.5grams and 4.5grams you only need 7 because you could repaste about 6 chips with the 3mm method.

Ebay sells it

 

3mm diameter not radius I'm guessing (physicist here, gotta make sure)

And OH I got the complete wrong end of the stick with the 7 and 24 thing, thanks.

If the screws get tightened in numerical order does that mean they should be undone in reverse numerical order? And what about removing the stock paste, how is that done (if it is)?

 

From edge to edge 3mm not the circumpherence.

It does not really matter how the heatsink comes off officially yes 4-3-2-1 but your going to wipe the old paste off and wipe it with an alcoholic swab etc.., applying the heatsink 1-2-3-4 means that the thermal compound is spread evenly across the chip corner to corner.

 

Clean off the bulk of the old paste with 90% isopropyl alcohol with Q-Tips, and finish it with using a lint-free cloth + alcohol. I use a coffee filter for this.

If you use another solvent to take off some stubborn paste, make sure you use alcohol as a last step to make sure all residues are gone.

 

Thanks guys.

Now sorry to go a bit off topic (onto CPU OCing from GPU, didn't want to start multiple threads), but is how high an OC you can do basically pot luck? At the moment Prime95 is causing me to BSOD after a minute or two at 165 PLL, which is mighty discouraging considering Dallers' comfortable OC is 171 and max is 185-190...I mean I know he said his was higher than normal, but that much? Am I missing something, or did I lose in the CPU draw?

 

My chip was forged in one of the power plants in Chernobyl do not expect to hit my PLL. If you hit above the 153 mark then your chip is perfectly normal and has been 'binned' correctly to be put into the G73 model.

Every chip is different its pot luck as we cannot adjust the voltages.

 

Chernobyl's primary function was to produce weapons grade plutonium, power was only created as a by product fun fact!

Your chip is insane wanna swap 720QM's? We have exactly the same processor after all What's your CPU WEI score running at 180+, just out of interest?

 

The whole reason im struggling to justify upgrading it because the power it produces through overclock. When I do I will list it on here probably as its an OEM model. No swappsy's im afraid.

At 190PLL its Cpu 7.1 Ram 7.5. Only a 0.1 difference but through HWINFO benchmarking it destroys the 840QM at stock.

 

Invest in some Arcticlean to get all the old thermal paste off. Best thing out there and will last a long time.

 

At 164PLL I get CPU 7.1 and RAM 7.6 not using the stock SODIMMs though, are you? Well seeing as you live in London, if you do decide to upgrade I'll be nice and willing to grease your palms for it...I hope it's your particular CPU that makes the difference anyway, could it not be the mobo?

How much does that effect your 3DMark scores? I'm getting 2700+

 

Im using 8Gb of 1333 DDR3 and 0.1 from a W7 experience score means little when you can hit these clocks 7.1/7.5 is with 171PLL it doesnt like W7 experience at 190PLL which is not suprising 185PLL is stable at 7.2/7.6.

 

I have come to the logical conclusion that either you or your processor is a wizard.

But what about your 3DMark11 score? Why so low? did you do it with the GPU at stock? I got...2423 at stock.

 

That is with my 171PLL + 800/1100 at the native performance resolution of 1280x720 I haven't got round to testing with 190PLL dunno how your getting so high with that CPU overclock I guess it depends what GPU overclock you have list the link for the 3DMark11 score not just a screenshot.

 

Yeah I did have a look at your stats vs. mine, the weird thing is you have your core and memory speeds both higher than me! Seems my GPU does better somehow...not really sure how...I'd like to see what it could do if I could get it up to CrappyAlloy's speeds The link is now in my sig

 

Link your 3Dmark11 result page you have only shown a screenshot above I dont believe you have achieved higher than me with lower settings there will be something different.

 

I said it was in my sig! But here it is again!

 

Pretty strange the only major difference is that you have an SSD and as per your sig you are running Hyperx memory which will give you faster clock speeds and I have a standard HDD and stock RAM but I will run a test later at my max and see what it produces.

 

Oh no, that's not an SSD...I wish to god it was. My lappy didn't come with a second HDD, so I stole the 160GB 5400rpm from my Acer Aspire One (and in turn put my old Xbox 20GB HDD in that). Second HDD is safely secured in place with some sellotape

edit: HyperX could make it faster if it's using enough of the shared system memory? But I wouldn't have thought by that much, it's pretty odd.