Overclocking and Stability Testing Guide

I am a newbie in forums and I am not sure I have even understood well how things are done here - orderly. A similar Inspiron to yours I will receive from Dell in a week's time - same video card. Can you please write to me at my email address- [email protected] I have some questions regarding the video card.
Thanks
Alexander

 

How can I understand if there's something wrong?
How 3d mark 2006 make me understand there's something too much overclocked?
Which is a normal-perfect temperature for a laptop?
For the 9500m gs I have these frequencies utilized by the guy who posted this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bxeFdaKUoE

561/1122/451 and the normal frequencies are 475/950/400

Can I use them without testing?
Are they too much?

And doing this the notebook can last to me at least five years or am I making his life shorter?
440

 

No, you have to test before you use. Every card, even in the same model, is different.

 

Instead using Rivatuner and 3d Mark 06 can I use N-TUNE for my NVIDIA 9500m gs and its "Stability test"?
And what about temperature? What can I do if the gpu is too hot?
Will the overclock void the guaranty? If something get broken (maybe for other resaons) how do they understand I've overclocked the gpu?

Thanks a lot!

440

 

3dmarks06 is recommended because it is a dedicated benchmarking utility.
If your GPU gets too hot you can either get a laptop cooler or turn the clocks down to more acceptable levers.
Overclocking does void the warranty, but only if you are caught (a scorched card is a good indicator of overclocking).

 

Brkhobowriter is right. Every card has a different potential... doesn't matter if they're of the same model and even made by the same manufacturer, the results might and probably WILL vary!

Take my own vga for example, its GPU OC'ing is very limited only reaching 520MHz tops (which means if I set it to 521MHz it'd get instable)!!! However, the memory can go higher than 800MHz if I want to (as I've already tested), although I'd rather leave it at 750HMz for safety measures...

SO, read carefully this OC'ing guide here or even check my own guide (the link is at my sign) for more info.


GL.

 

My memory clock set at default was 702 (8600m GT DDR3)

The default after I clicked reboot to find settings was 475/950/702

should they be that high by default?

 

if i do all this stability stuff do i have to worry about over heating?

btw i have a laptop

 

if i do this d i have to worry about over heating

i ahve alaptop btw

 

Just a few questions....sorry for my noob-ness.

Umm....what kind of abnormalities are you referring to?

Also, what are artifacts?

Lastly can I save my overclocking profile so I can choose when I want it overclocked and when I don't?

 

I bench with oblivion highest everything and play intil it crashs or lag to a halt but So nothing.

 

Does overclocking an 8600M DDR3 in my XPS1530 void my dell warranty? Thanks!

I searched "warranty" in this thread and didn't find anything.

 

you overclocking voids warranty allright

 

Nope, overclocking doesn't void your warranty. But any damage caused by it voids your warranty. Follow my guide carefully and you won't cause any damage.

 

Im new to OC'ing, I would like to ask what does slight graphical abnormalies mean? From OP

I want to know so I know what to expect if I over clocked it too much, I dont wanna keep adding 10mhz and dont know when to stop..

Thanks

 

First you need to keep a close eye on the temps, making sure it doesnt exceed 80c at all

Second you have to watch out for graphical abnormalities (eg. Models freaking out, pictures not displaying correctly, psychadelic colors, things missing). Anything out of the usual needs to be noted.

 

I see, i just didnt want to keep adding 10Mhz and not knowing i have already gone too far..

I guess i will watch out for the graphical abnormalies lol..

 

I also suggest using other peoples OC settings as reference (same gpu/ram type). So you have a rough idea of which combination settings are possible

 

I see, so it will be easier/faster to OC my own XPS.. Im going to have a T9300 with 4GB of RAM and 250GB HDD, and a 256MB of 8600M GT GDDR3

 

What are the best drivers to OC with on a Dell 1520 running XP SP3?

 

The most recent nvidia drivers have not been allowing me to mess with my clocks I think, they revert right back to default in revatuner right away.
Can anyone recommend what drivers and where to get them? This is annoying as I had messed with a nice stable overclock a while back and wanted to do it again, but found I couldn't.
Actually, I haven't changed my sig since then, thats what it was.

 

i clocked the 8600M in my M1530 to 615/825 and in cod4 i still dont play fluently on medium/high settings is this normal (+/-25-30fps when it gets crowded)? acyually i dont noticed any big frame diffrence with the stnd clocks

 

yeh, I use to oc my 8600 gt to about 600/850 and I didnt see a big performance jump while playing COD4, I was playing at high with about 20-25 fps. And then I changed my forcerware version to 175.75 and OCed my clocks to 640/895, which runs stably, Im now playing extra high with 30 fps, shadows and specular map off.

See which driver fits your gpu the best and mess around with the graphic options in game. aI lways turn off shadows since it gives about a 3-5 fps deficit. And specular map doesnt change visuals much anyways, its a waste of gpu processing power.

 

Superb Guide and really has helped OC noobs like myself to understand how to do this process.

Just wanted to add another n00b question to this thread but what do I use to monitor my GPU temperature? Does Rivatuner have this facility or do I need to download another program. Also, do I need to keep a look out for the CPU temperature? Also, what GPU temperature is acceptable.......around 80 - 85 degrees? If CPU temperature does matter, what temperature should I not go above.

And oh yeh, am I right in saying that the main limiting factors on OC'ing are temperatures and strange happenings in 3dmark's video tests?

Regards, jam.

EDIT: Just got the answer to my first question. Seems like you can use Rivatuner to keep track of both temperature and framerates.

 

I still don't suggest using 3dmark for a stability test. Gaming is the best way to test stability. I can always run 3dmark06 for hours on a high clock, but try to game @ that same clock and nope.

 

Yeh it makes sense that you should use a game as well since 3dmark isn't all that accurate. Is it just me or does it take a lot of effort to OC your graphics card successfully? I mean, first you have to download the ideal driver in which I think there is loads to choose from, then try different OC'ing matches and then finally see if the OC'ing has worked by playing a game or running 3dmark!!

Ah well, at leasts its worth it in the end .

 

if u are using alienware area 51-m, no point, it doesnt allow you

 

Why does the GPU downclock to lower 3d performance settings when you OC too high? Is there a mechanic to turn this off?

 

Its in the gpus bios. Its to prevent from overheating and sustaining damage. You can edit your gpu's bios but you could potentially mess up big time.

 

Exactly... Rivatuner can modify the BIOS if you really want to.

 

Use ATITool's artifact test to test the stability of your OC. I had huge OC's by just running benchmarks, but when I did the artifact test, it was almost completely yellow, my memory was way too high. You'll fry your GPU's by just doing visual tests.

 

will the GPU get much more heated up , if we overclock it???

plus is it safe to do it??

never overclocked before!!

 

anybody.. plz answer the above question!! really qurious!!

 

uhh yes the gpu will jump +10 C depending on how much you overclock. Without a cooling pad its safe to do some overclocking like +75/75 core/memory speeds, but it'll nevertheless 'shorten' the lifespan of your gpu. If you're planning to use the laptop for more than 4 years i dont suggest overclocking.

 

Do these temps seem safe?
Laptop Gateway m-6862
Running t5750 x12@ 1.0500V and ati 2600HD(500/600) at 570/700

 

one question ... why is my rivatuner not recognising my actual clock speeds??

 

I have the same problem on my new laptop riva says 400 800 400 when i'm running at 550 1375 400 according to gpu Z. And when i oc with riva tuner it doesnt change anything at all.
I hear that riva wasnt compatible with the newest moible cards, and ntune wont even start on my comp ntune is very bad so i'm not too sad).
Btw oc is safe as long as you dont over do it. Increase core clock by adding 10, shaders by adding 30 and memory by adding 20 and then test and check temp. As soon as you temp is around 10-20°C more than usual temp your starting to oc a bit too much and either get a cooler or just keep the clocks you got atm.

 

Yep the "current" temperatures are fine. I would stop overclocking further when your gpu goes over 80C. I would say @max, you want temperatures lower than 82C in a gaming session.

I never take care about shaders......I just use the "link" core and shader feature in Rivatuner. About OC'ing, both Ntune and Rivatuner should work - try changing driver since some drivers have OC'ing disabled. And oh, you've started to OC too much when your temps hit 80C OR you begin to see graphic errors (artifacts) in games on benchmark tests. If none of those options apply on specfic clock, then your safe to increase by 10Hz (5Hz if you wanna be extra safe......and have the time ) to whatever clock your experimenting with.

 

hello there thanks for awesome guide i just wanna ask why people with the same laptop are reaching heigher limits with stability while when i reach the limit they get i get a lot of poblems and BSOD anything u know that i should do

 

Just wondering, is nTune's stability test considered reliable? Or should I just stick with 3dmark06 and Atitool?

 

I have just overclocked my nvidia 8600m gt 512mb gddr2 to 528 core clock, 1154 shader clock, and 451 memory clock. I noticed about 14~ fps more in games, a big difference in Unreal tournament 3 after playing 20 min temperature of gpu is about 92 C, I will do some tests tomorrow but now I have 7574 3dmark05 points, before had 6627 points. What do you think? should i overclock some more? or stick with these and lower values? (I'm not using cooling pad)

 

your crazy to not use a cooling pad and you overclock IMO.

 

But the temp is not raising more, so why should I buy cooling pad

 

92C is quite high dude - you're taking quite a risk..........

 

When using normal clocks, gpu gets to 90~ 89 C. I don't think thats a very difference between 92C. What is the stable temps then?

 

Well you're normal temperatures are way to high as well. I had the same problem with my vaio but a cleanup inside and new thermal paste dropped my temperatures by a massive 20C.
I'd say stay under a maximum of 85C, if not 80C.

 

just cleaned laptop cooler, and lowered clocks a little so know it's kind'a stable, I have about 7100~ 3d05 points and temps not rising more than 87~C. I think Cleaning did the job

 

not rising yet. like everyone else suggested, try using a cooling pad. they are not expensive either and in the long run might save your laptop

 

I cooling pad would be a true dissaster to carry to my friend when we are doing lan partys

 

Less costly than a new graphics card if you are able to replace it even