GPU memory clock and memory clock data rate...

[im1knight]

What's the difference between them? I have a 8500GT(yea i know, it's pretty bad) and i think it came a bit underclocked. Since i saw the factory setting for 8500GT should be 500MHZ core and 800MHZ Memory... mine came at 475core and 475memory...

 

 

 

I tried to overclock it, but as soon as i overclock the memory clock, i get BSOD. I think i might be overclocking the memory..but people have been getting it up to 1000Mhz, and i only increased mine to 500....what's the problem here? I looked under nvidia control panel, and i noticed on the memory clock it reads " 475Mhz(950Mhz data rate)"

 

 

 

So which one is the real speed the 1000Mhz people are talking about? I know my card might not handle up to 1000, but i don't think 500 is out of the limit.... If it's the data rate they are talking about..then i might have exceeded the max limit..but if it's the 475Mhz, why i'm i getting BSOD?

 

 

 

 

 

Also what temperature should my GPU be running at? It was running at 68idle, and 73C while gaming before any overclocking, and when i push it to 500Mhz, the temperature goes up to 69idle, and 77C gaming. Is this normal on a prebuild desktop? And why i'm i not seeing temperature tab under Nvidia control panel? The temperatures are from speedfans

 

 

 

And is Q6600 running at 48C idle and 73C under full load normal? Is 73C really bad for the CPU?

[JoeDaStudd]

Cards of the same model like your can come in different cases/styles.

 

Some use better heatsinks (the bit which keeps the card cool), some different PCB and some different quality.

 

 

 

475 to 500 in the clocks speed is small and won't have too much of an effect.

 

475 on the memory is actually 950, its double data rate (DDR).

 

 

 

Don't overclock that card, just drop $50 or so and get a new one. It will save a lot of hassle.

[im1knight]

well....it's a prebuilt computer and i don't think changing the card is an option fore prebuilts..Plus i don't even think my PSU can handle a higher end card...Plus i think 8500 only come in 256MB or 512MB, and i believe my card is by ASUS

 

 

 

so what you meant by is that my memory clock is already at near it's maximum? If so that explains a lot...

 

So are my temperatures normal at all? I know nvidia card's limit are at 130C, and the highest i ever saw on my GPU was 78, i dunno about Q6600's temp limit, but highest i ever saw so far was 75 under 100% load for over 20 minutes.

 

 

 

I'm playing FSX nowdays and it's a very CPU dependent game, so my CPU is almost always at 100% load, the only reason i want to overclock my graphic card is so i can have a little better frame rate in dense auto-gen area. Going from 475 to 500 helped 1-3 frame rate, however i'm not sure if i should try going higher cuz of the temp...

[JoeDaStudd]

The temperature of the card seems ok, but the cpu temperature seems a bit too high for me.

 

 

 

The card is an add-on card so you can just replace it without much trouble.

[Jernlov]

Joe: Intel processors in general tend to run quite hot, at least, from my experience with them. I haven't used anything newer than a Pentium 4 HT though, so don't quote me on anything newer than that.

 

 

 

im1knight, the golden rule of overclocking is this: never overclock a prebuilt. A lot of prebuilt computers have limitations to prevent them being overclocked, and also, you're not familiar with the hardware if you buy a prebuilt computer. I'm not calling you stupid or anything, but it would be wise not to overclock a prebuilt computer.

 

 

 

I'm not an overclocking expert (I've never done it myself) but OldJoe seems to have some experience with overclocking and such. He would be a good person to ask if you're intent on overclocking. I still don't advocate it at all.

[im1knight]

i think there is no limitation on overclocking the graphic card, but it's indeed impossible to overclock the CPU on my prebuilt.

 

 

 

If there is a limit on the overclock, like my laptop, the manufacture will prevent me from downloading nvidia drivers, instead i must use HP drivers only even through it's nvidia card to prevent overclocking. However my laptop let me use the nvidia driver i downloaded, so i don't think there is anything on preventing it. Unless i overclock it too much...

 

 

 

I know i shouldn't be overclocking a prebuilt, but the graphic card is the bottle neck atm, and frame rates are extremely low on some games, not just FSX. i would buy a new card if my power supply can hold it.. since it's only 350W

[OldJoe]

You can't use Nvidia drivers on your stationary computer? My moms Packard Bell computer uses ATI graphics and have no problem at all to download and use the drivers from them.

 

Overclocking a graphic card is much more easy than a CPU. There are plenty of guides on different hardware sites, there are quite a few here who knows overclocking on various levels, so if any problems arise... Just ask.

 

You might be able to gain a few fps, but a new card would in order... Any card under 75w shouldn't be a problem with your psu, i think 9600GSO requiers a 6pin pci-e connector, but 9500GT and 4670 and under just draws power from the pci-e slot. GPU is your limiting factor.

[im1knight]

You can't use Nvidia drivers on your stationary computer? My moms Packard Bell computer uses ATI graphics and have no problem at all to download and use the drivers from them.

 

Overclocking a graphic card is much more easy than a CPU. There are plenty of guides on different hardware sites, there are quite a few here who knows overclocking on various levels, so if any problems arise... Just ask.

 

You might be able to gain a few fps, but a new card would in order... Any card under 75w shouldn't be a problem with your psu, i think 9600GSO requiers a 6pin pci-e connector, but 9500GT and 4670 and under just draws power from the pci-e slot. GPU is your limiting factor.

 

 

 

 

 

how do you know how much power a card draw? Newegg doesn't tell me anything about it, and my tower is pretty small, so i don't know if it's gonna even fit in there... I wish a 8800GT can fit tho, if it's not out of the power supply limit

[OldJoe]

It's very easy to know. Some cards have one or two or none pci-e connectors. A card that doesn't have one, you always know it draws less than 75w - because that's the maximum you can get from the pci-e slot.

 

9800GT is 23cm, but i can't say i would trust a prebuilt psu with a 9800GT.