Well, I’m finally able to enjoy the fruit of all my labor; testing the system out and playing games, tweaking settings, running benchmarking apps and getting a good, stable overclock. Which also means we get into the meat and potatoes of the NfB Tech Corner… namely, the tech! I’ll outline most of the steps I took and the final stable clocks I was able to achieve. So, lets get to it, shall we?
Before we get to the overclocking, we need to start from the beginning. I like to get some baseline readings so I have some measure to judge how effective my OC has been, even if the number might not be all that meaningful in the real world (as is often the case with “benchmarking” applications like 3dmark). While programs such as 3dmark might not give a true picture of how a system will perform in individual, real world games… it certainly offers a quantifiable number from which proceed, and it also provides a basic measure of system performance.
In addition to giving us a baseline measurement from which to proceed in our overclocking, benchmarking applications also provide an excellent test of system stability along with the tried and true Prime95. Let us not forget the games you play most… while often used as benchmarks, seldom are they mentioned as an excellent test of stability in the later stages of overclocking.
To begin, this OC is going to be just to the CPU and GPU, so I set my memory to the manufacturer suggested ratings (1.9v/1600mhz/7-7-7-18). I’m not really concerned with overclocking my memory as it’s overclocked from the factory already, with decently tight timings as well. Even if I were going to attempt to OC my memory further, I’d want to start with a stable foundation so I know any instability is purely as a result of the CPU and can be solved therein. If I were to OC both memory and CPU at the same time, I would basically left to guess what was causing a particular problem.
If you spend any amount of time overclocking, you’ll soon learn the primary talent to cultivate is patience. So, remember to take each piece of hardware you wish to overclock one by one. Once you achieve a stable OC on the CPU, for example, then you can move on to the GPU/memory or whatever else you’re planning to clock up. Otherwise you end up with mass confusion and don’t accomplish a thing.
First, and this is a step you can skip if you have an existing system and you know the memory is stable, I run Prime95 on “Blend” for a minimum of 30 minutes to test the stability of the memory (I did it for about 2 hours). If you can do a minimum of 30 minutes, preferably more, without an error in Prime95 Blend mode, it’s fairly safe to say your memory is stable. From there, I ran 3dmark06 and 3dmark Vantage to get a baseline reading from the system in stock form. Just as a refresher, here is the system configuration:
- Hardware
- CPU: Intel QX9650 3.0ghz (9×333) 1333mhz FSB (333mhz bus speed) 1.25v Core (actual) 1.1v CPU FSB
- MB: EVGA 790i FTW Digital PWM (E180-A1)
- MEM: 4GB G.Skill PC12800 DDR3 1600mhz 7-7-7-18 1.9v
- GPU: EVGA GTX 280 602mhz Core clock/1296mhz Shader clock/1007mhz Memory clock
- PSU: Corsair HX1000W 1000w Modular
- Cooling
- FluidXP+ HP UV Blue Coolant
- Swiftech MCP655 Pump
- TFC X-Changer 360mm Radiator
- Primochill PrimoFlex Pro LRT Clear 1/2″ Tubing
- Bitspower High Flow 1/2″ Compression Fittings/Danger Den Stubby High Flow 1/2″ Fittings
- CPU: DTEK Fuzion V2
- GPU: EK FC280 Nickel Front/EK FC280 Nickel Back
- NB: EK NB/SB 6
- SB: EK SB 790i
- Mosfet: Koolance MVR-40 w/ 107.5mm cold plate
- FANS: 5X 120mm Cooler Master Blue LED Dual Ball Bearing 110CFM (3 on Radiator, 1 inlet, 1 outlet on case)
- 3DMark numbers
- 3DMark06: 15,332
- Vantage: 13,644 – GPU: 11,219 – CPU: 38,811
I already had a goal of about 4.0ghz/1600mhz FSB, so I didn’t bother with seeing what lesser overclocks I could achieve. I would prefer to go a bit higher, both on the FSB and CPU clock… but I would need more cooling. As it is, I hit 70c+ on full load and I plan to add 3 more fans to the radiator to help it out. Also, my QX just doesn’t seem to like anything above 1600FSB, as it won’t even POST without large voltage increases… . I’m even considering adding a single 120mm TFC X-Changer radiator on my outlet fan, but at this point I’m probably not going to see major improvements without going to a 2 loop system.
I could possibly add another MCP655 pump into the existing loop, but it would likely make my case look cluttered. Anyway, after doing the usual trial and error of raising voltage until the clock I wanted was stable. Here are the final numbers.
- Overclock Numbers (CPU OC Only)
- CPU: Intel QX9650 4.0ghz (10×400) 1600mhz FSB (400mhz bus speed) 1.325v Core (BIOS setting) 1.475 CPU FSB
- GPU: EVGA GTX 280 602mhz Core clock/1296mhz Shader clock/1007 Memory clock
- 3DMark Numbers
- 3Dmark06: 18,453
- Vantage: 13,849 – GPU: 11,229 – CPU: 46,175
The CPU overclock had the most profound impact on the 3DMark06 score, while showing a decent improvement to the CPU score in Vantage (38,811 to 46,175)… the overall impact to the Vantage score is less than impressive. However, when the GPU is overclocked, the result is interesting.
- Overclock Numbers (CPU/GPU OC)
- CPU: Intel QX9650 4.0ghz (10×400) 1600mhz FSB (400mhz bus speed) 1.325v Core (BIOS setting) 1.475 CPU FSB
- GPU: EVGA GTX 280 691mhz Core clock/1458mhz Shader clock/1215 Memory clock
- 3DMark Numbers
- 3Dmark06: 19,347
- Vantage: 15,041 – GPU: 12,266 – CPU: 46,808
Now, that’s more like it! I decided to use clock settings from the EVGA GTX 280 Hydrocopper water cooled card and ended up keeping them as the clock for daily use. I do feel there is quite a bit more head room for overclocking in the GTX 280, especially with front and back water blocks as I have. Just for the fun of it, I clocked the GTX 280 up to 702mhz/1512mhz/1224mhz and ran Vantage again. The results being: 15,278 – GPU: 12,473 – CPU: 46,971. The GTX 280 was running a cool 44c and I’m sure I could go a good deal higher.
For the time being, I think I’ll focus on lowering my CPU temps and then consider overclocking my GTX 280 further. I want to either add another GTX 280 or perhaps a pair of GTX 295s would be better. Ah, it’s really never ending…
With the release of EVGA’s new GPU Voltage Tuner utility, I’ve been able to achieve enough improvement in my Vantage scores to warrant an update. I’m quite impressed with the overclock achievable with stock voltage on the 280; however, with a bit extra, it really starts to shine, giving me 800+ points higher than the last Vantage score in this article. I really can’t say enough about how well these Nvidia GPUs overclock, and also must commend EVGA for taking a leading role in supporting the overclocking community, and for making overclocking easier and more accessable to the average gamer (which I’m sure will prove to be an excellent business decision, as well). I already loved EVGA for their great customer service and excellent lifetime warranty, but add to that lovely overclocking/voltage control utilities for all their high end cards, and as far as I’m concerned, you really can forget any other brand of Nvidia video card exists. EVGA is making some fine mainboards, too. While I could hardly claim EVGA is the only brand worth remembering in the motherboard market, if they keep up their level of service, along with their quality and innovation, one day I may indeed be able to.
- Overclock Numbers (CPU/GPU OC)
- CPU: Intel QX9650 4.0ghz (10×400) 1600mhz FSB (400mhz bus speed) 1.33125v Core (BIOS setting) 1.475 CPU FSB
- GPU: EVGA GTX 280 738mhz Core clock/1566mhz Shader clock/1296 Memory clock (Increased voltage from 1188mV to 1225mV (1250mV is the highest I’ve used so far trying to complete 3DMark06, out of a 1350mV maximum))
- 3DMark Numbers
- Vantage: 16,107 – GPU: 13,167 – CPU: 48,807
- 3Dmark06: 19,650 (Note: This is only the highest 3DMark06 run I’ve submitted, not a run with the current 280 overclock, as for some reason, 3DMark06 fails on the last test. It gives a score, but freezes and glitches on some of the frames and kills the score, yet it runs Vantage and games smooth as silk. I’m still tweaking and playing with it, trying to break that magical 20,000.)