Overdrive on a built by ATI Radeon 9800XT, and something strange...

Mazuko · Nov 8, 2003, 11:09 AM

Alright I am noticing something strange...overdrive is supposed to be an overclocking utility right?

Well for some reason it underclocks my card...

Without Overdrive disabled these are my rates:

Core: 411.75
Memory: 364.5

With Overdrive enabled these are my rates:

Core: 209.25
Memory: 364.5

Any idea why overdrive would underclock my card so freaking much?

~~craig588~~ · Nov 8, 2003, 11:09 AM

Is that in windows or in a 3d app? It might be underclocking it in windows to help cool it down a bit more.

Mazuko · Nov 8, 2003, 11:10 AM

That is just looking at the clock rate tab in the advanced display properties (after installing radclocker).

I will go fire up a 3d application and take a look at it right now.

Mazuko · Nov 8, 2003, 11:14 AM

It has the same rate with a 3d application running also, and that was running Halo.

Under Aida32 it shows the same clock rate differences, strange as hell in my opinion, and I have no idea why it is doing that.

Skull · Nov 8, 2003, 11:30 AM

Well my personal view is that I would rather manually overclock a card anyway. Ok in theory the overdrive is a good idea moving up and down with speeds, but I still prefer to use a utility like powerstrip or one of the many others to find the cards maximum safe level and leave it there. I guess for people who dont want to bother manually overclocking the overdrive is a good feature, perhaps maybe its still a new product and wont be ironed out until later driver sets, you arent the only one having problems with it.

Dyre Straits · Nov 8, 2003, 11:50 AM

Is it possible that it's somehow misstating the core speed by not calculating the 2x multiplier?

209.25 x 2 would actually be a little faster if it is.

Do you notice any performance difference?

Mazuko · Nov 8, 2003, 11:57 AM

I notice no change in performance whatsoever.

DeviLduck · Nov 10, 2003, 10:31 PM

As you know, only the Core is mildly OC'd in the current ATI 3.8/3.9 drivers. (e.g. Sharkyextreme found in 3DMark03 only 4888 vs. 4950 without/with Overdrive enabled, in 32bit 1280X1024 sys.) Supposedly, future driver versions or future boards may enable mem OC & more exacting OC scenerios & this new feature is to be used on future ATI boards. That's very small potatoes!

Radclocker misreports the numbers you're referring to (when using Overdrive feature) & it will probably never be fixed (author no longer updating Radclocker). The board cannot be underclocked when using Overdrive, except in that small range below back to the default speeds. Other anomalies exist as well trying to use the Overdrive feature & Radclocker as the verifier. (Yes, I have an XT & have checked out the very same observations you mention.)

At this point, forget Overdrive until the driver supports something truly useful. Radclocker still works for OCing, just turn off Overdrive when doing so. I've found using Radclocker or Powerstrip & a small progy artifact tester to be quite sufficient to discover safe OC levels.

Download Artifact tester: http://www.newpc4u.com/download.php?op=MostPopular

Mazuko · Nov 11, 2003, 12:24 AM

Thanks for the input I will go and run artifact tester now, I am still surprised it shows the same clock rates in aida32 as it does in radclocker though.

Once I get my new PSU installed when it gets here I will re-bench. Thank's again for the input!