Odds that GPUs can't handle max OC from CCC?

[Brutality]

Ok so I was just wondering, since I often read (in overclocking guides) that gpus easily surpass the limits of Catalyst Control Center, and since I've got to attend S7LAN (local LAN party, 170 ppl) in 2½ hours (I'd like to take a nap soon as well, since I haven't got much sleep lately)

 

So my questions is basically: Can I crank up the clocks in CCC (= 840 on the core and 1325 on the memory (stock clocks are 800/1250)), and assume it's stable?

PS: I also put +20% on the power settings

 

As some have noticed I tried, since Monday to overclock it and stress test it, but I overshot the capabilites lots of times and wasted hours stress testing, just to see it fail in a game.

So I'll be honest now, at this moment I've had the core on 840 and mem on 1325 for a bit now (passed CineBench OpenGL test and had 2 passes of heaven 2.5 with highest settings without any errors - I also played TrackMania for 10 mins and I have Crysis 2 running now (from my overclocking experience Crysis 2 is what stresses it most (I've tried having it pass OGL test, 30 mins in Heaven, 30 mins in Kombustor, browsed YouTube for 1 hour (watch in full screen), play Trackmania for 1 hour, and then I open Crysis 2 and it crashes within 5 mins)

So Crysis 2 been running for 15 mins now, and no crash, no artifacts and no crazy temps ^^

 

Ok so, back when I was trying to overclock it (and overshot many times) I ended at 877, which held for 55 mins in Crysis 2 - so imo 840 shouldn't be a problem?

 

But why do I want to overclock it in a rush?

Well Skyrim has just been released, and I can actually run it in highest possible graphics settings at 1920x1200 without laggy fps, but only if I turn down some options in CCC (i.e. set AA quality to MultiSample instead of Super Sample and use Standard AA (instead of Edge-Detect)

So with some overclocking I bet it would handle at least the medium quality AA settings (can't remember name of that)

 

Cheers!

Edited November 11, 2011 by Brutality

[Black64]

No, I use CCC to OC and I can't go all the way up with out it be unstable. I think cooling may be the issue, IMO

 

Think of it like this, just because your car's speedometer goes to 150 doesn't mean you should take it to 150.

[dihartnell]

Heat is often the isue when you overclock. Try setting the fan manually to 100% and repeat your tests and see if that cures the crashing.

[Brutality]

Haven't had a crash since I put it to 840/1325, so it seems like it's stable

A LAN party is a good way to test stability of your system lol =P

[AeroZ]

I'm running my Sapphire's Dirt3 6950 with same clocks as you. Aka maxed from CCC. I think it's stable. My temps are always under 70C. Tho the card have pretty good cooling too. I've played few hours of BF3 without problems. Also I moved the power slider to +20%.

Planning to get another card by the end of this month for XFire.

Edited November 12, 2011 by AeroZ