How many watts is too much? RX480

[Andromendous]

Hello all,
Build specs,
https://pcpartpicker.com/b/t3f8TW

I just have a quick question.
I've been playing around with my XFX RX480 GTR
I think I've found the sweet spot at 1370MHz on the GPU and +50 on the memory. It easly stays at 67c, could make it run cooler. So, she seems to run at around 150watts during heavy load, sometimes spikes up to 180w for a split second then drops down, maybe just inconsistent readings? Even if it is, would this be pushing the card too much? whats a safe range to keep it at?

 

[chemmajorp53]

As long as the temperatures are fine, you're alright. The VRMs on the RX 480 GTR can handle A LOT more than 180W

 

[Andromendous]

As long as the temperatures are fine, you're alright. The VRMs on the RX 480 GTR can handle A LOT more than 180W

Ok, so do you think it would be safe to bump the power limit to +50%? right now I got it at +20%

 

[chemmajorp53]

If you can somehow keep the temperatures in check, then it should be fine, but I wouldn't run your card for long periods of time at much above 80C. The VRMs will be more sensitive to temperature than current. Maybe try something a little more conservative first?

 

[Andromendous]

If you can somehow keep the temperatures in check, then it should be fine, but I wouldn't run your card for long periods of time at much above 80C. The VRMs will be more sensitive to temperature than current. Maybe try something a little more conservative first?

Well ok then, seems like im golden then, got the gpu at 1370MHz and the memory seems to be fine at 2150MHz so far. and thats barely hit 62c with fans at 47% And thats with heaven running in the background while im writing this, lol!

Thanks!

EDIT: One other question while we're here. Something I don't get, for instance, when on cut scenes on BO3 or GTA 5, it skips and studders, but in game it runs amazing, every once in a while ill get a huge studder for a few seconds, then it will go a way, like somethings running in the background, but three isn't. Someone told me it could be a memory or SSD issue, but all my benchmarks seem to suggest my hardware is running on par or better than otheres, any suggestions?

 

[chemmajorp53]

IDK, my game does that too sometimes when I play H1Z1. I haven't found a fix yet. It could just be the game loading new textures in or something

 

[TJ Hooker]

If your GPU is currently able to maintain its 1370 MHz clock under sustained load, then increasing power limit won't have any effect unless you overclock further.

What are you using to measure power?

 

[chemmajorp53]

I assumed he was raising the core clock to match but I guess not

 

[Andromendous]

If your GPU is currently able to maintain its 1370 MHz clock under sustained load, then increasing power limit won't have any effect unless you overclock further.

What are you using to measure power?

I am using GPU Z, I do raise it to match, I'll run heaven bench mark, and a few games, if the GPU clock lowers at any time through the test, I'll raise the power limit until it stops throttling.

What are your thoughts on flashing a custom bios that allows me to raise the voltage. This GPU runs pretty cool. I can run all day at 60c, I know it can go higher. Would it still be safe to raise it slightly to get to 1400 or 1450MHz if I can keep it around 70c?

 

[TJ Hooker]

I am using GPU Z, I do raise it to match, I'll run heaven bench mark, and a few games, if the GPU clock lowers at any time through the test, I'll raise the power limit until it stops throttling.

Oh, ok, good.

What overclocking tool are you using, and what do you have your voltage set at? Are you actually running into the voltage limit to run the card at 1370 MHz?

 

[Andromendous]

I am using GPU Z, I do raise it to match, I'll run heaven bench mark, and a few games, if the GPU clock lowers at any time through the test, I'll raise the power limit until it stops throttling.

Oh, ok, good.

What overclocking tool are you using, and what do you have your voltage set at? Are you actually running into the voltage limit to run the card at 1370 MHz?

I'm using wattman, I believe it is hitting the voltage limit, it's kinda weird though, 1400MHz will run for a while, then all the sudden I'll get a driver crash. 1380MHz will run for a little while, then I'll get a driver crash, but 1370MHz will run all day. The stock voltage is 1168, it will only allow me to goto 1175mv

 

[TJ Hooker]

Yeah, that's normal, if an overclock is close but not quite stable it may run fine for a bit then crash.

Idk, if your temps are good you could probably push it further with an unlocked BIOS. Not sure what the max safe voltage for an RX 480 is though. But I'd question whether it's worth it for what will probably only a few % increase in clock speed.

 

[Andromendous]

Yeah, that's normal, if an overclock is close but not quite stable it may run fine for a bit then crash.

Idk, if your temps are good you could probably push it further with an unlocked BIOS. Not sure what the max safe voltage for an RX 480 is though. But I'd question whether it's worth it for what will probably only a few % increase in clock speed.

seems worth it to me, I've already gained + or - 20fps in some games. I'd take all I can get if I can do it safely.

EDIT: Well, little disappointed... I managed a stable OC at 1450 and 1.25v, but saw absolutely no gain in FPS, maybe 5 or 10, but not worth it, especially how loud the fans were just keeping it at 70c. Well this was a learning experience for me so I appreciate all your help anyways. Thank you.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Like I said, 1450 is only ~6% higher than your overclock of 1370, which means you'll see a 6% increase in FPS at most, likely a little less due to performance not scaling perfectly with clock speed.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised with your results. I recently got an RX 480 myself (MSI Armor 4G OC), and I can run 1400/1900 MHz core/memory at 1.145 V in Wattman. Currently running Heaven at "Extreme" settings, 1920x1080 (non full screen) and average power is 119 W. And this is one of the cheapest 480s I could find, compared to your GTR Black Edition which is supposed to be the best/highest OCing 480 out there. Really makes me question the whole idea of paying extra for a premium card with a supposedly highly binned chip. That being said, you do get a better cooler; running Heaven for ~20 minutes I'm at ~77 C and 51% fan speed, which is quite audible, although not quite annoying.

To be honest, for day to day use I'm probably going to undervolt rather than overclock. I can run 1290 core (stock) and 1850 memory (1750 stock) at 1 V in Wattman. I like me a cool and quiet PC.

 

[Andromendous]

Like I said, 1450 is only ~6% higher than your overclock of 1370, which means you'll see a 6% increase in FPS at most, likely a little less due to performance not scaling perfectly with clock speed.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised with your results. I recently got an RX 480 myself (MSI Armor 4G OC), and I can run 1400/1900 MHz core/memory at 1.145 V in Wattman. Currently running Heaven at "Extreme" settings, 1920x1080 (non full screen) and average power is 119 W. And this is one of the cheapest 480s I could find, compared to your GTR Black Edition which is supposed to be the best/highest OCing 480 out there. Really makes me question the whole idea of paying extra for a premium card with a supposedly highly binned chip. That being said, you do get a better cooler; running Heaven for ~20 minutes I'm at ~77 C and 51% fan speed, which is quite audible, although not quite annoying.

To be honest, for day to day use I'm probably going to undervolt rather than overclock. I can run 1290 core (stock) and 1850 memory (1750 stock) at 1 V in Wattman. I like me a cool and quiet PC.

I don't have the black edition, just the regular GTR stock 1288MHz, so I didn't get a "binned" GPU and I guess it shows.

Also I got it around black friday on sale for $250.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Oh, ok, the GPU in your PC part picker link is model number RX-480P8DBA6, which is the black edition. To be honest, I thought the regular GTR was supposed to be better binned too, maybe not. If you got a good deal on it it's still a great card. Mine was $280 Canadian.