The Dangers of Overclocking??

[QUOTH]

I'm wondering why graphic card warranties are voidied by overclocking. Is it really likely to damage the card or are they just covering their backs?

I've just bought a XFX 8600GTS XXX. Overcloking it sounds neat but my PC is on all day everyday and im worried about it having trouble. I'm mainly using it for a 1080 display [maybe a second smaller display] and watching HD video.


Any suggestions or insights? Anyone had overclocking nightmares? Anyone overclocked and still managed to claim warranty?

Q

*EDIT*

I went with evga so I can add new cooler. Hurrah for open minded warrenty's.

FYI evga 8500gts 512mb with stock fan WILL fit Dell E521 with it's crazy btx moterboard. Who says you can't mod a dell

 

[Genx87]

They design the thermals for the card they ship. When you overclock it you are introducing variables they dont account for. Imagine if you ran your car above redline and blew the engine. You think the manufacturer will cover the costs of you driving the engine beyond its limits?

 

[Avalon]

It's very unlikely to damage the card if you know what you're doing, but there's a lot of people out there you don't hear about that have no clue and try it just because they've heard about it. It's just extra protection for the manufacturer, and I don't blame them.

 

[acityDweller]

permanent damage results in permanent pixelation or a non-usable card. Those are the risks.

 

[M0R0NI]

Now the real question is the advantages to doing it worth the risk?

 

[james1701]

Originally posted by: M0R0NI
Now the real question is the advantages to doing it worth the risk?

That depends on what you are doing with the card. A game like Crysis, yes the 8 or 10 fps you gain from OC'ing a card is worth it when it makes it playable. In other games and software, the stock settings work perfectly fine and the OC is not needed. It also makes benchmarks look better also. So in other words, if the software you are using works fine with stock clocks, then there is no reason to mess with it. If you like to benchmark, or play games like Crysis and need more fps to make it smooth enough to play at the detail settings you select, then try it. It a lot cheaper to OC a card than run out and buy a top of the line new card, just to play a new top of the line game. Just dont OC with a bios flash, use software to OC it. That way if it dies and you try to RMA, it will not look like an OC killed the card.

 

[Miklebud]

EVGA says I can, so by Golly, I'm going to do it!

 

[QUOTH]

I don't really need to play newest games at top specs, so I think I'm fine standard. But the topic is interesting.

So if you do overclock what precautions do you take? What do you have to look out for?
Everyone has to learn this stuff somewhere.

 

[tigersty1e]

Originally posted by: M0R0NI
Now the real question is the advantages to doing it worth the risk?

Forget the risk. All the cool kids are doing it.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: Miklebud
EVGA says I can, so by Golly, I'm going to do it!

Agreed! :thumbsup: And they even let you use 3rd party coolers too.

Anyway, Quoth...you should Google the card you're thinking of buying and compare the stock core/shader/mem clocks with what OCs people are getting with that card on the various forum sites. Check out AT (of course), hardforum, pcper, nforcershq, and overclocking.net. Rivatuner is a great program that allows you to OC and separately control a card's fan speeds at various temps, plus it's got a great monitoring platform so you can graph the temps and clocks during tests.

When OCing, do the core & shaders first, mem second. Use 3DMark05/06 between each small bump in core/mem to visually check for artifacts & snow which are indicative of pushing your card too far. Alternatively, you can use ATI Tool to help you OC too.

Don't worry too much about doing something wrong. The risks are overrated. Just be smart and use common sense (in other words, don't simply copy someone else's max clocks without taking the time to benchmark and test yourself).

 

[nubian1]

If you know what you are doing you will minimize the risks. Do lots of reading before attempting overclocking & proceed slowly & cautiously. I have both my cpu & video card overclocked and my system is on pretty much 24/7 with no issues at all.

 

[aldamon]

Hasn't this been asked repeatedly since about 1998?

 

[videogames101]

buy from evga and it isn't voided =)

rofl,

 

[QUOTH]

Originally posted by: nubian1
my system is on pretty much 24/7 with no issues at all.

Great to know that mid-high range cards don't complain if you keep the machine on 24/7. Hopefully I should be fine. If my motherboard is ok.

 

[2Dead]

XFX allows you to overclock and swap the cooler out under warranty.

 

[QUOTH]

Originally posted by: TrandM
XFX allows you to overclock and swap the cooler out under warranty.

This warranty offered by XFX to its Resellers is limited to the repair and/or replacement, at XFXs discretion, of defective or nonconforming Product, and XFX shall not be responsible for the failure of the Product to perform specified functions, or any other non- conformance caused by or attributable to: (a) any misapplication, modification or misuse of the Product; (b) failure of Customer to adhere to any of XFXs specifications or instructions; (c) neglect of, abuse of, or accident to, the Product; or (d) any associated or complementary equipment or software not furnished by XFX.

XFX Warrenty

I could be reading it wrong, but it looks like they don't like you dabbling.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Yeah, the ATI Catalyst software provides its own overclocking utility that quite resembles RivaTuner. So, no, I'm not worried about it at all.

Now, the 8600 card isn't a higher-end card, so it probably has a lot less headroom and is defined as such by NV. In that case, OCing is probably pointless.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: QUOTH

Originally posted by: TrandM
XFX allows you to overclock and swap the cooler out under warranty.

This warranty offered by XFX to its Resellers is limited to the repair and/or replacement, at XFXs discretion, of defective or nonconforming Product, and XFX shall not be responsible for the failure of the Product to perform specified functions, or any other non- conformance caused by or attributable to: (a) any misapplication, modification or misuse of the Product; (b) failure of Customer to adhere to any of XFXs specifications or instructions; (c) neglect of, abuse of, or accident to, the Product; or (d) any associated or complementary equipment or software not furnished by XFX.

XFX Warrenty

I could be reading it wrong, but it looks like they don't like you dabbling.

Motherboard warranty != Video Card Warranty.

Their warranty information pertaining to video cards:
http://www.xfxforce.com/web/su...uctGenerationId=730964

Which will allow you to swap coolers and overclock.

 

[QUOTH]

Thats just the US and canada. My link was for Europe

 

[Quiksilver]

Oh, then I guess Europe is SOL when it comes to XFX warranty unless it's just a site listing mistake.

 

[QUOTH]

This exclusive program is valid only to purchases made in North America (USA or Canada).

 

[Demoth]

For most gamers without a high degree of technical knowledge and seeking a quick overclock without a long tweaking process and constant maintenance I'd recommend the following.

Check reviews from web sites and actual buyers (neweggs for example) and see what the average stable OC achieved on air was (on stock cooling only if that is what you are using). Shoot for this range and disregard any extreme reported OCs. Keep going up 10% and monitor temps while stress testing. Be sure your frames do not drop in any given raised interval. Stop at any sign of instability. Should take all of 20 mins and you should be good to go.

This is for people with good airflow and hardware that is OC capable. Some hardware is more then just OC capable; simply a waste not to do it (Allendales, etc). Vid cards are a bit more dangerous to OC and you won't get the % increase in the risk vs reward that the newer CPUs will garner. If your current games are playing well on the settings you want, don't OC the vid card. If you need 5 more FPS on Crysis to play comfortably, then go for it...

However, people who use Compaq, Dell and other mass produced systems, you should absolutely not attempt any type of overclock. Unless it is a high end brand like Alienware, chances are you don't have the proper cooling or PSU to safely attempt even a small OC, that is provided the crap motherboards used would even allow the attempt. The fact most users own low quality $300 E-Machine equivalents is the reason most companies will void people for trying.

People with good airflow and overclock prudently probably have no statistical difference in failure rates of hardware then those that keep everything stock.

 

[QUOTH]

OK, after receiving advice here and being dissapointed with XFX's UK warranty I have had a change of heart.

I'm now looking at the EVGA 8600GTS 512mb. Also a new PSU [a Coolermaster IGreen 500W PSU - 85% Efficiency ATX12V v2.2 120mm Fan to keep it happy.

Questions are:

1) Erm, 4 pin molex needed? Do I have one? Adapters? I'm using a dual processor, 2 DVD drives and 2 HD's.

2) Is the card OK, is the 512 worth the extra money?

3) Should I get a 8800gt? would it run hotter than a 8600gts?

I won't be overclocking. I'm afraid of my system running hot...


Thanks in advance. I'm glad to say advice I have gotten so far has been pretty thorough and verry helpful.

Q

 

[QUOTH]

Good news! It was the graphics card!

Soo happy. Now I just need to know how to replace my heatsincs.


So what does one use to clean off the old thermal paste? isopropyl rubbing alcohol? Is the 60-70% stuff ok?

Any other suggestions?

And thankyou all for the help, So pleased I have brought the right stuff and everything is working.