X1800 XL Overclocking Whoas....

[Ristogod]

So I have this Sapphire X1800 XL video card. I'm pretty happy with it.

I've been trying to see how it handles overclocking. I was just using the overdrive tools built into the CCC drivers.

I was able to OC the core up to 575MHz, the highest overdrive allows. However, when running this, I consistently get lower benchmark scores?

Also, If I set memory speeds to anything other than default, the whole system reboots. Doesn't matter how little I increase. It always reboots.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this also.

[DnL]

CPU limited?

[Ristogod]

Originally Posted by DnL

CPU limited?

OK, lets go with that theory. If I were to go and buy an X1800 XT which is clocked 125MHz faster on the core, would my scores go down then also because of my limited CPU? Somehow I doubt it. But then again, an X1800 XT does have higher clocked memory.

[HybridHB]

In the past ive found that overclocking the gpu beyond stability would cause lower scores. It may not be apparent at first that it is not stable, but it will eventually lock up or artifact. Or maybe i was smoking crack at the time, i dunno.

[eurodj101]

Ok heres the deal i had exactly the smae problem even formatted thinking it would help, big mistake now i regrt that one..for some reason overdrive is just screwed up with my card so i just dont bother download the OC tool in driverheaven search the forum for it and use that i do 580/650 stock voltage with mine i ramp up to 1.2/1.95 and can do 600/700 no problems and temps stay pretty much as stock and i get 8300 3dm05 points from my ocd to 2.2 3200+ which isnt so bad consideringits not a major oc as my fsb is 220 so do that and enjoy it is a hell of a card btw i dont oc it cause i dont need to plays everything great at stocks speeds but i had to try just to know i could....

[TROLL131313]

Sounds like you might have a power problem. Check your voltage rails when your under a full load and see if they drop. It could also be a bad regulator on the video card as well. There is a tool that got leaked from ATI to over clock the X1800 series that gives you readings of the power levels of the card. You may want to try this and see if they drop when you OC.

[nunyabiz]

Originally Posted by ristogod

So I have this Sapphire X1800 XL video card. I'm pretty happy with it.

I've been trying to see how it handles overclocking. I was just using the overdrive tools built into the CCC drivers.

I was able to OC the core up to 575MHz, the highest overdrive allows. However, when running this, I consistently get lower benchmark scores?

Also, If I set memory speeds to anything other than default, the whole system reboots. Doesn't matter how little I increase. It always reboots.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this also.

My XL did the same thing, get the overdrive tool from driverheaven and set the GPU core to 1.15 and your all set

[spajdr]

Originally Posted by ristogod

So I have this Sapphire X1800 XL video card. I'm pretty happy with it.

I've been trying to see how it handles overclocking. I was just using the overdrive tools built into the CCC drivers.

I was able to OC the core up to 575MHz, the highest overdrive allows. However, when running this, I consistently get lower benchmark scores?

Also, If I set memory speeds to anything other than default, the whole system reboots. Doesn't matter how little I increase. It always reboots.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this also.

That reboots is catalyst 5.11 bug, with 5.10a it worked fine, so use overclocker utility until ATI fix it. You shouldnt have lower scores, unless your gpu is maxed, which i doubt is 575Mhz, score decreases when your gpu is overheating or you pushing too much voltage in it.

[ErrorS]

forget it, ATi overdrive is broken in the 5.11s...

I can do 650/800 just fine with the ATi OCing tool and my scores are insane.. but if I try to OC with overdrive, even 1mhz, I get a bluescreen.

the ati ocing utility isn't that great either.. One third of the time it will restart my PC when I try to change fan speed, something that is a must with this cooler and those speeds. I'm not going to bother OCing until someone releases a decent utility or until ATi gets their act together with their drivers.

price we pay for having cutting edge, I guess besides the stupidly high prices and of course having to watch as our $400 cards become $300 cards, then $200 cards and finally $100 cards within a matter of months.

[Gun5]

Originally Posted by ErrorS

forget it, ATi overdrive is broken in the 5.11s...

I can do 650/800 just fine with the ATi OCing tool and my scores are insane.. but if I try to OC with overdrive, even 1mhz, I get a bluescreen.

the ati ocing utility isn't that great either.. One third of the time it will restart my PC when I try to change fan speed, something that is a must with this cooler and those speeds. I'm not going to bother OCing until someone releases a decent utility or until ATi gets their act together with their drivers.

price we pay for having cutting edge, I guess besides the stupidly high prices and of course having to watch as our $400 cards become $300 cards, then $200 cards and finally $100 cards within a matter of months.

What utility is that bro? im getting a X1800 XL soon here

[DaJMasta]

The one for the x1000 series cards which ATI put out. Called OverClocker or something, I know you can download from tech power up at least.

[Ristogod]

Originally Posted by TROLL131313

Sounds like you might have a power problem. Check your voltage rails when your under a full load and see if they drop. It could also be a bad regulator on the video card as well. There is a tool that got leaked from ATI to over clock the X1800 series that gives you readings of the power levels of the card. You may want to try this and see if they drop when you OC.

No, it's not a power problem. I fine tuned the rails to right on spec when I put this system together. My power supply has adjustable rails.

I've checked under full CPU and GPU load to see if the rails fluctuate or drop, but they hold steady, so I'm pretty sure it's not a power issue.

But from what everyone else saying, it's because Overdrive is broke for this in 5.11. So I will have to get the OCing tool and try that instead.

[Ristogod]

I can't seem to find the overclocking tool at driverheaven?

Edit: Nevermind, I found it.

When you set the clock speeds, are they maintained when rebooting, or do you have to set them everytime?

[Ristogod]

OK, after using the OC tool a couple of times. I've been able to change the GPU clock speed and test for stability. However, I haven't yet checked to see if there is a peformance increase when doing so.

But I get the same exact scenario when trying to change the Memory clock. I thought the memory was supposed to be clocked at 500MHz, but mine always reads 495MHz. If I change the memory clock to anything other than it's default setting, it reboots my computer. It does this in both the OC tool and Overdrive. It does this with even a 1MHz increase.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

[ErrorS]

http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...rclocking+tool

here it is for anyone who doesn't know about it. Rage3D should make a sticky for it in the tweaking/modding/benching forum.

[Ristogod]

OK, I finally found out how to get my memory clocks to change. If I only adjust the clocks by a small amount, the system reboots. If I jump up to 600MHz right away, everything is fine.

Currently I'm testing stability at 625MHz GPU @ 1.2v and 1400MHz memory @ 1.95v. I've had some wishy washy results so far that can be attributed to other things interfering with my testing. So hopefully when I get home tonight after work, my system is still running stable at those speeds.

I can't wait for PowerStrip to support this card so I can maintain my overclocks at boot. Also, they need to release a good aftermarket cooler for this. An AC Silencer for this card would be great. Has anyone tried any other after market cooling solutions on their X1800 XL yet, like the Zalman coolers? Do they fit?

Edit: Actually just answer the questions about the Zalman cooler here. http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33835887

[ErrorS]

There are a couple people on these boards using the Zalman coolers on their X1800XLs.. it looks nice but I think I'd rather have the X1800XT stock cooler or something similer, exhaust outside of the case seems really nice.

This card has raised my case temp more than a few degrees, it's like running a second CPU.

[Schaden]

I must have the worst x1800xl I've seen.

Anything above around 600-605 on the core and 3dmark05 freezes before finishing. And my memory doesn't like to go above 680. It can go up to 710-720 range but it locks up after playing a game for 10-15 minutes. I'm using 1.2v on the core and 1.9v on the memory but more volts doesn't seem to help at all.

Would an aftermarket cooler make that big of difference to my max overclocks, or do I just have a weak card ?

[SSXeon]

Originally Posted by Schaden

I must have the worst x1800xl I've seen.

Anything above around 600-605 on the core and 3dmark05 freezes before finishing. And my memory doesn't like to go above 680. It can go up to 710-720 range but it locks up after playing a game for 10-15 minutes. I'm using 1.2v on the core and 1.9v on the memory but more volts doesn't seem to help at all.

Would an aftermarket cooler make that big of difference to my max overclocks, or do I just have a weak card ?

Run the voltage higher, just remember to check temps. try 1.25 on the core, and 2.0-2.1 on the mem.


SSXeon

[Schaden]

Yeah I tried 1.25v on the core and 2.0v on the memory
and bumped the clocks up to 615/700 and it ran 3dmark for around 2 minutes and then crashed and I got a VPU recovery and my clocks were back to default values. Temp in the CCC was like 65 after the crash, but it could have cooled down a lot in 20 seconds since the fan is on max.

I guess this card is just a bad one. I probably couldn't even tell the differene in a game between those settings and what it does safely.
I mainly wanted to see if I could break 9k 3dmarks and I knew it was worse than what most of these cards were doing. It's a Sapphire oem I bought at the end of October. Oh well.

Maybe I'll try a better cooler sometime.

[pieman109]

I've been reading this thread today and I must admit, shoving the overclock slider on the memory (X1800XL) to 600mhz cured my probs. I had the same, anything over 500mhz and I got a restart. I've since upped me core voltage to 1.125v and the memory is at stock. Think I'll try upping both of these voltages. Whats a safe voltage for everyday useage?

[SSXeon]

Originally Posted by pieman109

I've been reading this thread today and I must admit, shoving the overclock slider on the memory (X1800XL) to 600mhz cured my probs. I had the same, anything over 500mhz and I got a restart. I've since upped me core voltage to 1.125v and the memory is at stock. Think I'll try upping both of these voltages. Whats a safe voltage for everyday useage?

Originally Posted by SSXeon

Run the voltage higher, just remember to check temps. try 1.25 on the core, and 2.0-2.1 on the mem.

Ive seen 1.3/2.2 and 1.4/2.2 on XTs, so i think 1.25/2.1 should be fine for regular use on a XL. If it gets too hot bump it down, ALWAYS check temps, and with a windowed game to see the max temps. Good luck


SSXeon

[pieman109]

Originally Posted by SSXeon

Ive seen 1.3/2.2 and 1.4/2.2 on XTs, so i think 1.25/2.1 should be fine for regular use on a XL. If it gets too hot bump it down, ALWAYS check temps, and with a windowed game to see the max temps. Good luck


SSXeon

Cheers for that mate, I'll give it go.