MSI GTX 560 Ti Hawk or ASUS GTX 560 Ti DirectCUII?

[momosmokey]

Okay, I now have a better understanding of how to overclock a GPU. What I was failing to understand when I posted that ridiculous core clock of 1100 Mhz was what a GPU crash actually looked like. When I overclocked my CPU it was very obvious when the system was unstable, in most cases, the computer would crash. When I was overclocking the GPU and running Unigine Heaven Benchmark, it never crashed the system. What I failed to realize was the pop up window that Unigine display that stated "Fatal Error Device Removed" was the indication of a crash, and further more I also failed to read GPU-Z which blatantly showed I had not overclocked. However, with your expert advice El_Capitan I feel confident to say I understand the rudimentary fundamentals of overclocking a GPU. Here are the statistics of my Heaven Benchmarks.

 

Stock Clock: http://i44.tinypic.com/25hzn01.jpg

 

1010Mhz (60Mhz) Overclock: http://i40.tinypic.com/30kumu9.jpg

 

 

After 1010Mhz I applied the voltage and increased to 1150mV.

 

 

1020Mhz (70Mhz) Overclock: http://i39.tinypic.com/b87g9u.jpg

 

1030Mhz (80Mhz) Overclock: http://i44.tinypic.com/s1pwk8.jpg

 

 

After 1030Mhz I increased to 1040Mhz. I was greeted with the "Fatal Error Device Removed" pop up window from Unigine.

 

I then backed my overclock down 20Mhz to 1020Mhz and proceeded in testing the overclock in Crysis 2. Within a span of 5 minutes or so the game crashed. I tried the same process all the way down to 1010Mhz where it still proceeded to crash, albeit it took 15 minutes or so. (These were done at a voltage of 1150mV).

 

At this point in time I'm sitting on an overclock at 1000Mhz and 1100mV.

 

My current settings in Afterburner: http://i40.tinypic.com/2thsp.jpg

 

I was impressed that the fans on auto got no higher than 55% and temperatures never passed 76c with a voltage of 1150mV.

 

Give me your impressions and let me know if there's any other statistics you'd like me to provide.

 

I'll continue tweaking the overclock. Maybe I can run at 1Ghz with a lower voltage, we'll see.

Edited January 6, 2012 by momosmokey

[El_Capitan]

Looks good. Your CPU may be keeping you back, especially in Crysis 2 on higher settings: http://www.techspot.com/review/379-crysis-2-performance/page8.html

 

1030MHz is a pretty good overclock.

[momosmokey]

Is it normal for the memory temperature in MSI afterburner to read 73c CONSTANT and 103c in Crysis 2?

[vandreadstriker]

I Personally wouldn't reccomend a idle temp of over 65c (70 is a definite nono for me). I would consider that Load temp of yours dangerous but I've had my old 460 running at 105c at most intense parts. That said, It isn't healthy for your card to keep those temperatures, you'd be able to fry an egg with it . Try backing up the voltage since it's almost always plays a major role in generating heat when I OC my cards.. Also, what's your fan profile at those temps? In stock the TFIII coolers should be able to keep a <40c idle and <70 load.. I personally ramp up my old 460's fans up to 70-80% when gaming (with speakers on, couldn't really tell the sound)

Edited January 9, 2012 by vandreadstriker

[momosmokey]

I Personally wouldn't reccomend a idle temp of over 65c (70 is a definite nono for me). I would consider that Load temp of yours dangerous but I've had my old 460 running at 105c at most intense parts. That said, It isn't healthy for your card to keep those temperatures, you'd be able to fry an egg with it . Try backing up the voltage since it's almost always plays a major role in generating heat when I OC my cards.. Also, what's your fan profile at those temps? In stock the TFIII coolers should be able to keep a <40c idle and <70 load.. I personally ramp up my old 460's fans up to 70-80% when gaming (with speakers on, couldn't really tell the sound)

 

Agreed. I think the MSI Afterburner memory temperature monitor is faulty. If I restart the computer it idles at ~29c. After running crysis 2 the sensor says it maxes at 103c and if I let it idle for a while the lowest it gets is 69c. You'd think it would idle at ~29c again.

 

There doesn't seem to be too much talk about the memory sensors, but from what I've read it appears almost all, if not all, GTX 560 Ti Hawk's are plauged with supposed high memory temps.

 

Here are some links to those descussion. Let me know what you think, thanks.

 

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=151618.msg1128614

 

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=154564.msg1140928

[vandreadstriker]

Agreed. I think the MSI Afterburner memory temperature monitor is faulty. If I restart the computer it idles at ~29c. After running crysis 2 the sensor says it maxes at 103c and if I let it idle for a while the lowest it gets is 69c. You'd think it would idle at ~29c again.

 

There doesn't seem to be too much talk about the memory sensors, but from what I've read it appears almost all, if not all, GTX 560 Ti Hawk's are plauged with supposed high memory temps.

 

Here are some links to those descussion. Let me know what you think, thanks.

 

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=151618.msg1128614

 

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=154564.msg1140928

Well I'm not so sure but really, a 100c+ temp just isn't anyone's comfort zone (or at least, me).. Maybe try to contact MSI even.. But if other are saying that they experince it and nothing bad has happened, then it's probably fine.. After all, there's always RMA for last resort