X1800XL Overclocking

Rawr · May 10, 2006, 06:12 AM

Hey all I've got a problem...

I have been trying to get a stable clock on my X1800XL for a while now but I haven't been happy with the results.

I've cranked the core voltage to 1.3v and mem voltage to 2.2v and I've set the clocks to 625 / 700. I thought everything was ok. There was no visible corruption on screen and my temps were fine (about 42C idle). So I decided to play F.E.A.R and see how my FPS was.

I played F.E.A.R through the entrance video and my temps were running at 54C. The next thing I knew F.E.A.R. froze and my monitor went black. I could still hear the noise from the game but couldn't see anything.

Could someone give me some tips / advice on how to get a decent and stable overclock? The OC really helps with performance all around and I really want to keep it at those speeds if I'm able too.

My system specs are in my sig.

Edit: Forgot to mention I am using ATi Tool 0.25 Beta 14 to overclock and set voltages / fan speeds.

Rawr · May 10, 2006, 03:36 PM

Maybe the afternoon crowd can help me out!

mike2h · May 10, 2006, 04:06 PM

i could not get much out of my wifes either till i added an accelerox2

SSXeon · May 10, 2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

i could not get much out of my wifes either till i added an accelerox2

Yeah, mine did fine @ 650/1300 for a wile, but then it started getting hotter then before. IMHO for that card alone, the cooler cant handle it well. Get a ZALMAN VF900, they are a bit pricey ($45) but they do wonders for ppl, and very very quiet.

nm then

Rawr · May 10, 2006, 05:37 PM

Well the thing is I have an Accelero X2 already on the card..

The temps seem to be fine but my real problem is that when I have the card overclocked I can be in the middle of a game and all of a sudden the game locks up and my screen goes black. I'm not quite sure how to fix this other then not overclocking and I don't really want to do that, lol.

mike2h · May 10, 2006, 05:53 PM

try turning it don a little- like 2-3mhz increments. start with the gpu. if it has not helped after 2- changes then try mem. keep alternating until yuo get it stable.
might want to turn your core mem volt down a notch 1st and see if that helps.

SSXeon · May 10, 2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawr

Well the thing is I have an Accelero X2 already on the card..

The temps seem to be fine but my real problem is that when I have the card overclocked I can be in the middle of a game and all of a sudden the game locks up and my screen goes black. I'm not quite sure how to fix this other then not overclocking and I don't really want to do that, lol.

Another thing, 2.2v is too much for the memory. My memory ran @ 2.1 @ 1300Mhz, anything higher isnt nessasary. The buildup of heat could be causing the issues. Your card should be able to run 575/1100Mhz @ stock volts, as mine did. Id say for 625/1200 run 1.25-1.275/2.1v.

Rawr · May 10, 2006, 10:29 PM

Thanks for the advice SS. I'm going to try out 625 / 650 @ 1.275v / 2.1v and let you know how it goes. Hopefully my gfx card stops crashing my system!

Also one last (maybe) question; should MVDDC and MVDDQ be @ the same voltage?

SSXeon · May 11, 2006, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawr

Thanks for the advice SS. I'm going to try out 625 / 650 @ 1.275v / 2.1v and let you know how it goes. Hopefully my gfx card stops crashing my system!

Also one last (maybe) question; should MVDDC and MVDDQ be @ the same voltage?

For some reason i dont like using ATi Tool to add volts. I use the ATi Overclocking Utility ....

http://hax0red.net/~dracolich/ATI/

The I/O Should be .05 higher then the Memory voltage (2nd core Voltage). ATi tool is better for overclocking and checking temps, only on X1800s tho. I can only use CCC and the Ocing tool, but im more then happy at these speeds.

v4npro · May 12, 2006, 12:19 PM

I got that same graphic's card and when I try thoughs settings, when I load up a game, looks fine for 1-2 seconds then locks up and crashes my computer.

mike2h · May 12, 2006, 12:30 PM

it is luck of the draw as far as oc potential goes

Rawr · May 14, 2006, 09:56 PM

Well I haven't had much luck with OCing this card (bummer) which makes me want to just buy another (x1900xtx) but that can wait. Thanks for the help that's why I love DH.

Edit:
Ok forget what I just said. I tinkered with the card a bit and got my first stable run of 3dmark05! I OC'd the card to 600 / 650 @ 1.225v / 2.1v / 2.004v. I got through the benches without a blackscreen or any graphical errors at all!
I'd love to squeeze out about 25 more mhz on the GPU but beggars can't be choosy.

dzhang50 · May 15, 2006, 10:01 PM

Try measuring the temps at different parts of the card. You may be putting too much voltage through the mosfets, for example.

Rawr · May 15, 2006, 10:51 PM

Well I think I had to many volts running through the GPU (1.3v at one point) and even 1.275 was to high. I might be able to go alittle higher but I'm pretty content with my OC at this point. Plus everything is running stable..so far.

Right now at 600 / 650 my temps are

44C @ voltage regulator
42C @ GPU
38C @ Temp. Chip

All that being read by ATI Tool .25 beta 14.

Also my Max GPU temp was 57.4C and GPU Environment at 48C.

That's from tonight's session.

SSXeon · May 16, 2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawr

Well I think I had to many volts running through the GPU (1.3v at one point) and even 1.275 was to high. I might be able to go alittle higher but I'm pretty content with my OC at this point. Plus everything is running stable..so far.

Right now at 600 / 650 my temps are

44C @ voltage regulator
42C @ GPU
38C @ Temp. Chip

All that being read by ATI Tool .25 beta 14.

Also my Max GPU temp was 57.4C and GPU Environment at 48C.

That's from tonight's session.

57*C!!!!!!!!! Mine ran @ 90* like my X1900XT does.

Still man not a bad oc at all, but yeah after going from a XL to my card its almost a 2x speed boost. Farcry 6xAA+HDR and Oblivion 6xAA+HDR are smooth as silk. But its really those 2 games that I really saw a speed boost. Hopefully your running 1600x rez? Defently a limitation for these cards just to run 1280, even with 6xAA (cept oblivion and farcry that is). Another thing you could do is add some AC5, but 600/1300 is still a damned good oc.

Rawr · May 16, 2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSXeon

57*C!!!!!!!!! Mine ran @ 90* like my X1900XT does.

Still man not a bad oc at all, but yeah after going from a XL to my card its almost a 2x speed boost. Farcry 6xAA+HDR and Oblivion 6xAA+HDR are smooth as silk. But its really those 2 games that I really saw a speed boost. Hopefully your running 1600x rez? Defently a limitation for these cards just to run 1280, even with 6xAA (cept oblivion and farcry that is). Another thing you could do is add some AC5, but 600/1300 is still a damned good oc.

Unfortunately my LCD monitor prevents me from going any higher than a 1280 desktop resolution. Also it is VGA and not DVI (I know I know kill me haha) however my dad's monitor is DVI and I'm thinking of asking him to switch out with me ha.. Mine is a Philips and his is a Sceptre 19" monitors. I really want a x1900xt! Maybe sometime down the road

SSXeon · May 16, 2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawr

Unfortunately my LCD monitor prevents me from going any higher than a 1280 desktop resolution. Also it is VGA and not DVI (I know I know kill me haha) however my dad's monitor is DVI and I'm thinking of asking him to switch out with me ha.. Mine is a Philips and his is a Sceptre 19" monitors. I really want a x1900xt! Maybe sometime down the road

Yeah VGA here too.

IMHO I would wait for the new X1900XTXs, with GDDR4 (~750/2500Mhz clocks). Im also looking into a bigger monitor, but oblivion and farcry wont run well with 6xAA @ 1600+, so ill enjoy it for now.