Overclocking Gainward

[LordofEchoSide]

I was thinking of getting this card for a new build because I heard it was easy for overclocking, but I know nothing about OCing so is there anything I should read for it?

[skeeter]

Sometimes the cards come with an overclocking program. My Leadtek did. Just go slow. Take it up 10mhz at a time and stop when your image starts to degrade. What you get will depend on how well the graphics processor and memory are cooled. Some cards are cooled better than others.

[Alienware_Dude]

Gainward cards ship with EXPERTool, which allows you to overclock the core and memory. Look at my sig, I'm playing it safe although my Gainward has ramsinks and I have a blowhole blowing right toward the AGP slot. I'm putting a Vantec Tornado 80mm in the blowhole later, and clocking my memory up a lot higher, to see if I can hit 13k in 3DMark. Be careful overclocking, I tweak the core/memory up about 7-10MHz, then run 3DMark. Watch carefully for artifacts, etc. That way, you can get a good idea of how your overclocking is helping your 3D performance.

[LordofEchoSide]

so basically all I have to do is set it higher and higher until I get it right or don't need to go higher?

[skeeter]

Just don't get greedy. Video cards don't overclock like processors. I am running my GF4 4400 at 290/290 from the 275/275 tha it came set at. I really didn't get a BIGG improvement. Upped my 3DMark 2000se from 10095 to 10340. Not a real big gain. I won't go much higher. In fact if I get to 300/300 I will be real happy and I have HUGH heatsinks and dual fans on this card. (leadtek winfast 250 Ti4400)

[Jeradln82]

Just don't get greedy. Video cards don't overclock like processors. I am running my GF4 4400 at 290/290 from the 275/275 tha it came set at. I really didn't get a BIGG improvement. Upped my 3DMark 2000se from 10095 to 10340. Not a real big gain. I won't go much higher. In fact if I get to 300/300 I will be real happy and I have HUGH heatsinks and dual fans on this card.

You can always invest in a nice water cooling system...lol. They not only work well but look cool too

[LordofEchoSide]

I never seen one myself, but that leads to a question. is the main concern for OCing the temperature?

[Alaron]

Originally posted by LordofEchoSide is the main concern for OCing the temperature?

Yes, temperature is the main concern with overclocking. Telling the card to run at higher speeds does nothing to the card damage wise. It is the fact that those higher speeds make the GPU and the RAM chips heat up that can do damage. It is heat that creates the "artifacts" that show up when you clock to high and it is heat that can possibly kill the card, but that would be setting it extremely high.

As long as your careful when overclocking, check for artifacts and have good cooling in your computer case, you wont do any harm.

[skeeter]

I am now running my Leadtek Ti4400 @ 300/600. If you have or are planning to get the gainward ti4400 it should do the same. Some of the better 4200s will do as well or better but then you are at the 4400s price as well. As I don't want to add additional cooling such as water or install a fan blowing on video card I will quit at just stay where I am. Might try a slot cooler as I have one somewhere (if I can find it)

[Lord Prism]

The Gainward card comes with the software to make oc'ing REALLY easy. I have the Ti4600 and I can choose between the Safe Mode Setting, that’s the default clock speeds of 300/650 MHz core/memory, and Enhanced Mode Setting, 310/670 MHz core/memory - with the single click of the mouse!
http://www.mikhailtech.com/articles/...600/etperf.jpg
http://www.mikhailtech.com/articles/...00/etperfe.jpg
"Or you can just manually adjust the clock speeds between 300 and 350 MHz for the core and between 650 and 710 MHz for memory. The overclocking tab integrated in the drivers, which can be activated by the so-called CoolBits, allows for a wider range of values. You can even underclock the card if you feel like it runs too fast for you ;-) "

oc'ing gives me a little boost but I don't believe it to be a significant jump - I just like to do it because I can!

COOLING is a very important facet to consider when your going to oc. How is your air flow through the case?

Good luck,