The overclocking 101
The overclocking 101
So here's what we need to do, please download the following utility:
Download:
Before you start -- if using the standard air-cooled GTX 480 version, please make sure you have a properly ventilated chassis -- create cold air airflow as overclocking with a voltage tweak means increased GPU temperatures. Please know and understand what you are doing -- otherwise please stay away from overclocking whatsoever.
Please install install Kombustor as well. Kombustor (GPU stress test) comes optional in the install package of AfterBurner, it is based on Furmark and is tied into AfterBurner. Press the K button within AfterBurner, and the application will start completely pre-configured.
Step 1:After proper driver installation please start-up AfterBurner.
Step 2:
Using the software increase the voltage on the GPU core to 1.125V. Don't worry, the card can perfectly handle this voltage and it remains quite save.
Now if you are NOT working with a custom cooled GTX 480 graphics card (liquid cooling) really, please increase the fan speed to 100% and yes, that will make a horrible noise, but that is not the point of this article.
With MSI's AfterBurner sitting next to it, you can gradually increase clock and memory frequency real-time and on the fly, while stressing the GPU harsh.
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 your graphics card. Yet for ease of use we recommend Furmark or Kombustor as it will get the GPU down on it's knees.
Step 3:
We are now ready to start overclocking. Slowly increase the Shader clock frequency until your card starts showing artefacts or crashes (with Kombustor activated !).
Starting an overclock / Voltage Tweak
Your graphics card will now slowly heat up. Increase the core frequency, you want to monitor GPU temperatures as the GPUs can rise to 95 Degrees C now. Increase GPU Core clock in 25 MHz increments. After each incremental clock frequency increase, hit apply. Keep an eye out on temperatures. 95¬100 Degrees C really is your limit.
If you see artefacts either stop Kombustor immediately or restart. If you system locks up, restart, repeat procedure and drop down at least 25 MHZ, preferably 50 MHz. Keep monitoring that temperature. Above 100 Degrees C is not okay at all.
Don't be to afraid about a few system lockups and restarts, really. If you are afraid to do so, please don't overclock. It's not for you my man. It is needed to find the maximum threshold of what you can achieve.
Our end results:
| Original | Overclocked + VTweak 1.125v |
| Core Clock: 700MHz | Core Clock: 857MHz |
| Shader Clock: 1400MHz | Shader Clock: 1713MHz |
| Memory Clock: 3696MHz | Memory Clock: 4512MHz |
With a little added voltage the card becomes very tweakable. Keep an eye on your GPU temperature as it is now reaching 90 C with 100% fan RPM. Bare in mind that we breached the 250W TDP now and we are hovering at roughly 300 Watt power consumption on the GTX 480.
Note -- neither the ODM or Guru3D is responsible for a damaged card. Mind you that we've never been able to break a card with an overclock, that doesn't mean it can not happen. You are driving the graphics card closer to it's maximum limit. As such do it wise, do it careful .. but most of all you do it at your own risk.
