1800xt overclock hell

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by ccarroll321

A few days ago before thing's went to hell, the stock was at 621/747. Now, catalyst apparently does not want to set the card higher then the underclocked 693/594. I determined catalyst didn't want to because after clocking it with ATI tool, I set the values higher to 654/846. When I closed ATI tool, catalyst said my card was back to the underclocked 693/594 (with the requested speed at 621/747) which catalyst "refused" to apply. Upon reopening ATI tool, it set the values back up higher.

Ok. Catalyst overdrive reads my clocks at 594/693. Even though I requested it run at 621/747 (stock). I am now assuming it is blown and unable to reach the stock speed anymore.

Sounds like your card might be throttling the speed back on the desktop in 2D mode. Try running something like rthdribl and see if your card's speeds jump back up to 750 MHz in the CCC.

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by ccarroll321

A few days ago before thing's went to hell, the stock was at 621/747. Now, catalyst apparently does not want to set the card higher then the underclocked 693/594. I determined catalyst didn't want to because after clocking it with ATI tool, I set the values higher to 654/846. When I closed ATI tool, catalyst said my card was back to the underclocked 693/594 (with the requested speed at 621/747) which catalyst "refused" to apply. Upon reopening ATI tool, it set the values back up higher.

Ok. Catalyst overdrive reads my clocks at 594/693. Even though I requested it run at 621/747 (stock). I am now assuming it is blown and unable to reach the stock speed anymore.

(Upon testing with HL2 secret village--whatever that extra level is haha, I now score higher then I did when the card was overclocked SURPRISE SURPRISE.) 3dmark is lower however....

C

If you fry a card during OCing, it's unethical to RMA.

The reason the card is reading at 594/693, is because that is 2dmode default clocks. X1800 switch clocks to generate less heat. In 3dmode the card switches clocks to what you have the OC speed set to in CCC.

And CCC only allows a max clock of 690core\800memory.(IIRC, because I use X1900 now)

[sbohdan]

Originally Posted by Panda Man

What's the surprise? 3Dmark is just a synthetic benchmark, it has no impact on real-world performance, which is all that matters.

I wouldn't say no impact...

as for the card: did you even change from the stock cooling to something better, before you OC'd it? heat is #1 enemy of computer components and VGA is no exception. also: when I get a new card, I always check and reapply the thermal compound under the cooler (both CPU and mem.) because I seen on many occasions when either there was no TIM whatsoever (they made a booboo in the factory) or was a dried up, not contacting properly etc. also, the TIM used by the manufacturer is often some cheap, goey, that doesn't have very good heat transferring ability. just by this simple check, many users could save themselves trouble. second, before actually OC'ing, you should usually change the stock cooler, which is many times not adequate for even stock speeds and certainly not made for OC. you have to also know the exact temperatures of your card, so if your card has no temperature sensor (the 1800xt does), then install a $3 temperature monitoring probe near the GPU core, so you know how your temps are. In my experience as long as the temps are ok, the cards can take a long-time OC without any damage. over-volting is another matter, but there you need to read up on other people's experience with the particular card.

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by sbohdan

I wouldn't say no impact...

as for the card: did you even change from the stock cooling to something better, before you OC'd it? heat is #1 enemy of computer components and VGA is no exception. also: when I get a new card, I always check and reapply the thermal compound under the cooler (both CPU and mem.) because I seen on many occasions when either there was no TIM whatsoever (they made a booboo in the factory) or was a dried up, not contacting properly etc. also, the TIM used by the manufacturer is often some cheap, goey, that doesn't have very good heat transferring ability. just by this simple check, many users could save themselves trouble. second, before actually OC'ing, you should usually change the stock cooler, which is many times not adequate for even stock speeds and certainly not made for OC. you have to also know the exact temperatures of your card, so if your card has no temperature sensor (the 1800xt does), then install a $3 temperature monitoring probe near the GPU core, so you know how your temps are. In my experience as long as the temps are ok, the cards can take a long-time OC without any damage. over-volting is another matter, but there you need to read up on other people's experience with the particular card.

X1800XT can run upwards of 100C, I have seen it done and cards last at least a year at such temps. I overvolted a X1800XL, OCed the crap out of it and the cards memory was damaged permanently, and I'm no novice. Some cards just can't take the volts/ When it comes to overvolting, I say no more than 10%. The processors are made to run within a certain spec.

[ccarroll321]

It had no problem going 654/846. Now it cannot get anywhere near that. Is it safe to assume it's partly roasted?

C

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by ccarroll321

It had no problem going 654/846. Now it cannot get anywhere near that. Is it safe to assume it's partly roasted?

C

There's probably more to it than it being "partly roasted". I've heard of people complaining that once stable CPU overclocks were no longer stable. I suppose the same thing could happen with a GPU, but I'm not entirely sure of the cause. Overclocking can be risky business. Especially with video cards (like Capper mentioned), because they are already very near their limits when you buy it unlike CPUs that are all made to run many different speeds from the same basic core architecture.

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by ccarroll321

It had no problem going 654/846. Now it cannot get anywhere near that. Is it safe to assume it's partly roasted?

C

Without going into CCC and changing the clock speeds, does the card preform ok in 3dmark or games? Like no artifacts?

[ccarroll321]

CCC will not change the clockspeeds anymore. It has the current speed, and the requested. The current always stays the same, won't change.

C

[polobunny]

Remove ATITool from system startup and DO NOT run it. Be sure both ATI services in My Computer->Manage->Services are running. Play a game and ATL+TAB out of it. Open CCC and check your frequency.
Even after this, it can well be a driver problem so you might need to uninstall and re-install completly your drivers.

Besides, you cannot RMA a card you roasted by overclocking. Whether or not they accept it, it's rather unethical to do so. If it still works at default clock speeds then so be it. ;)

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by ccarroll321

CCC will not change the clockspeeds anymore. It has the current speed, and the requested. The current always stays the same, won't change.

C

Think you're missing the point, it only goes to requested when in a 3D window.