The GTX580 overclocking thread.

[newparad1gm]

Overclocking my GTX 480s from the stock to 800/2000 allows me to run 2XAA in 3D Vision Surround in Black Ops, when otherwise the framerate would be noticeably low. I can't wait to see what these GTX 580s are capable of when I get them.

[adamlau]

I posted a few Heaven 2.1 benchmarks under Linux x64 @ 850/1700/2100...
And one Lightsmark 2008 v2.0 benchmark under Linux x64 @ 850/1700/2100...

[Slytat]

Originally Posted by ragejg

I really didn't think you would be the type to say something like that.

I have so many examples that contradict that statement, but I'll just use a few, using personal experience.

• Overclocking a Geforce 6600 Non Ultra allows it to play Doom 3 @ 1280x1024 instead of 1024x768.
• Overclocking a Geforce 7800 GS allows the user to enjoy 2xAA in UT3 as opposed to 0x.
• Overclocking an HD 3850 gets rid of the too-low minimum framerates when things get really crazy in Lost Planet in DX 10.1 mode with fur on.
• Overclocking an HD 4850 allows you to either turn 2xAA on or turn shadows up to medium @ 1280x720 in Bad Company 2 with all other options at their highest, @ 4x AF, DX10 mode, HBAO on.
• Overclocking an HD 4870 allows for 4xAA, 16xAF in Bad Company 2.
• Overclocking an HD 5830 allows you to move up a whole IQ setting in Metro 2033.
• Overclocking the GTX 580 will most certainly allow me to use DOF with GPU physX on along with the Ultra High IQ setting in Metro 2033.

Overclocking is a lot of fun, it's a fun and sometimes competitive exercise, and yes, it definitely does make games playable when at stock settings they might not be.

Even though I did qualify my previous statement, I'll just make my point again. It doesn't make a difference in my case and that's because I'm running SLI 580s (and 480s before that).

A lot of the things you posted are highly subjective IMHO because as you said, it's personal experience, which is exactly what I said in my first post, my experiences with overclocking video cards never yield dramatic results although, I haven't used one card since SLI was introduced so I rarely experience scenarios that require any overclocking.

I just wanted to be clear that I am not dissing overclocking video cards or those who choose to do it

[Roadhog]

Originally Posted by slaWter

In my opinion, if a game is borderline not playable and overclocking makes a difference, you'll most certainly run into a situation in that game when it's back to unplayable again. Those usually <10 FPS you gain with overclocking are not enough to make the difference.

10 fps is pretty much the difference between the 480 and 580. Why waste money to buy a 580 when you can just overclock the 480?

[Roadhog]

Originally Posted by slaWter

Usually it's even less difference when overclocking, 10 FPS is pretty rare.

With overclocking, there is always the risk of annoying problems if you go too far. You don't have those issues buying the faster card right away. Plus you can always overclock that card as well

Sorry what?

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/32...ent/index.html

Doesn't look like 10fps is pretty rare to me. You might want to call 30fps rare.

Why is your cpu overclocked? You might want to buy a 990x instead.

[snowmanwithahat]

Originally Posted by ragejg

Stock speeds are for wussies.

I overclock my dishwasher.













BTW, stable at 1.138V, 929/4670.

I should downclock to 480 speeds and see how beneficial this speed is over that of a stock 480.

That'd be awesome actually.... Could you do a "GTX 580 revisited" article directly comparing it to the performance of a 480, similar clocks, just to show the scaling of the extra SP cores

[newparad1gm]

I gotta say, I think its pretty funny that the day comes where my SLI'd high end GPUs run cooler than my CPU. I got my GTX 580s at 75% fan, and they are running at 30C, while my CPU is at 35C.

[v3rninater]

In order to overclock, do you have to disable the power limiter on the 580's? Also, is there a way to find out how many watts your system is using?

[Ghost girl]

Originally Posted by v3rninater

In order to overclock, do you have to disable the power limiter on the 580's? Also, is there a way to find out how many watts your system is using?

The power limiter doesn't hinder overclocking. It also voids your warranty (Not that they can check.)

Regardless, I'd suggest against it.

[Ghost girl]

Misfire

[adamlau]

910/4200 stable @ 1.138v w/ idle temps @ 62C at an ambient of 65F...

[Ghost girl]

I've made a hilarious breakthrough.

Turns out that I was on stock voltage the whole time, this card actually overclocks like a monster. I'm at 950mhz stable at 1.3v. I certainly feel silly for messing up the voltage. Don't mind the voltage reading from nvidia inspector, it is incorrect.

If I had a bios mod and an aftermarket cooler, I bet I could hit 1ghz. I'm considering picking up either a Thermalright Spitfire, an Arctic Cooling Accelero Extreme Pro, or an Aquagrafx full copper waterblock.