My prefered way of stress testing a Radeon OC...

[BenStark]

Just thought I'd give this topic its own thread even though I just mentioned it in another...

I found a really nice way of stress testing a Radeon overclock for stablity.

There's two tools you need:
#1: rthdribl at http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/
#2: 3DMARK03 at http://www.futuremark.com

Here's the steps to my stress testing:
Use Rage3DTweak to set your Radeon to default (non overclocked) speeds.

Load up rthdribl.
Rthdribl stresses the Radeon's core more than any other program I've seen.
It is a 3D tech demo of sorts, but...
It also makes it VERY obvious when there's artifacts. If you see large white dots flashing around, or if the circling "orbs" start flashing bright light your Radeon's core is set too high!
Make sure your memory is at stock speed through this process. Once you get a core clock speed that doesnt show artifacts in rthdribl then close up rthdribl. You now figured out your stable core clock speed. Write it down.

Set your core back to default. Its time to overclock the memory.

Load up 3DMARK03. Run the "Nature" Game Test in a loop. 3DMARK03 Nature stresses the memory of the Radeon. If you see white spots appearing, then you set your memory clock too high! Lower it until you no longer see white spots/artifacts through the whole game test.

Now you have your memory at its highest stable clock, set. Now bump up the core clock to the speed that was found with rthdribl. You now have what should be your Radeon's stable memory and core overclock settings. Run rthdribl and 3DMARK03 Nature with the settings, and fine tune if needed.

All done.

Works a hell of a lot better than ATITool and gives a much more realistic/true stable setting.

Hope this helps.

-BenStark

[T07N]

rthdribl is a more sensitive than 3dmark03, and that's what I use to search for artifacts. I would make the image stand still when I'm searching for artifacts though. Also upping the multisample to 16x helps as well and make it fullscreen.

Hands down rthdribl is the most sensitive 3d testing program out there. Atitool is crap.

[311Sam]

in my experience, the water in far cry is the best for testing

[T07N]

Originally posted by 311Sam
in my experience, the water in far cry is the best for testing

psh, nah. I rather use the water in 3dmark03.

[311Sam]

Originally posted by T07N
psh, nah. I rather use the water in 3dmark03.

yea but you cant choose to only run that test in 3dmark right? So you got to sit and watch all the other crap till it gets to that one test right?

[T07N]

Originally posted by 311Sam
yea but you cant choose to only run that test in 3dmark right? So you got to sit and watch all the other crap till it gets to that one test right?

Get a cd key and select mother nature test only. =)

[snookums]

FarCry!!! i had to lower my OC in FarCry from my rhtbliighhtks setting.