GeForce GTX 275 Overclock guide

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The overclocking 101

 

The overclocking 101

So here's what we need to do, download these two files.

Download:

Step 1:
After downloading, install Furmark. Furmark is very handy to use to define an overclock. With that application running in a window and Rivatuner next to it, you can gradually increase clock and memory frequency real-time and on the fly, while stressing the GPU fairly significant. 

Some people prefer other software, OCCT GPU stress, Running 3DMark or a game each time after a frequency change. Everybody has his/her own preferences. Just use an application that is hard on the graphcis card. For ease of use we recommend Furmark.

Step 2:
Install the latest available Rivatuner (link above at download chapter). Rivatuner will support the GTX 275 right out of the box. Startup Rivatuner .. and we are good to go.

Starting to overclock / procedure:

First startup FurMark, disable full screen, , select stability test, select 640x480, hit GO. This will stress the GPU 100%, leave it running.

GeForce GTX 275 overclocking guide

Startup Rivatuner, select monitoring (you want to monitor GPU temperatures). The icon with the chip and magnifying glass

GeForce GTX 275 overclocking guide

Now click the little graphics card button at the lower 'customize' section. We can start the actual overclocking of GPU core and memory.

  • Select 'Enable driver-level hardware overclocking' followed by 'detect now'. You'll now open up the three domains we are tweaking today.
  • Unflag 'link clocks'

We now start to overclock the core clock first, then the shaders and lastly the memory. In Rivatuner increase GPU Core clock in 10 MHz increments. If you see artifacts either stop Furmark immediately or restart.

If you system locks up, restart, repeat procedure and drop down ~25 MHz. Keep monitoring that temperature. Above 90 Degrees C is not okay. The next on in line is the shader domain, we can gain a lot of performance here. Again, increase the clock frequency in small steps, after each incremental clock frequency increase, hit apply.

GeForce GTX 275 overclocking guideThis is roughly what you should have in your screen during the overclocking session.

Once that is done we need to seek the maximum for the memory, increase the clock frequency, typically one the memory frequency hits its maximum you'll spot little dots or small artifacts on your furmark screen. Once you hit that spot or have a system lockdown, drop back 25 to 50 MHz, we recommend dropping back 50 MHz.

Don't be to afraid about a few system lockups and restarts, really, it's part of the process. If you are afraid of that ..  don't overclock. It's not for you my man. It is needed to find the maximum threshold of what you can achieve.

Also bare in mind that overclocking CAN damage your graphics card. You do this all at your own risk. But if you handle it delicately like shown above, the risk is not big.

Our final and stable overclock results:
 

  • Core Clock: 743MHz vs. 632MHz standard
  • Shader Clock: 1605MHz vs. 1404MHz standard
  • Memory Data Rate: 1282MHz (2564 effective) vs. 1134MHz standard

Obviously results can differ per card, per brand and sure .. you need to have  bit of luck as well. But fair enough, this is a pretty significant overclock.

Other tips to improve overclocking:

  • Improve cooling, in Rivatuner often you can control the RPM fans speed of the graphics card. Increase RPM, increase airflow, get better cooling results.
  • Remove cooler, apply good thermal compound and or new cooler.
  • Create  decent airflow inside your PC.
  • Look around for voltage tweak utilities and increase GPU voltage (though this is fairly dangerous).

Right we, have the card clocked higher yet stable at 743 MHz on the core and 2564 MHz on the memory. Let's check out the results.

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