I just have to ask

[NateKingCole]

I just have to ask even though I think I know the answer already: Is there a way of monitoring your graphics card heat level without installing a temperature gauge?

Rig:
XP Barton 2500+, A7N8X- Deluxe, 1GB OCZ pc3200 (2.5-3-3-7)
Volcano 7+ with OCZ ultra II paste, XP professional, ATI 9600 pro
Antec 400W w/ 4 case fans installed. [No Bragging Here]

 

[scottchen]

Built by ATI, then No, in the ATI family, only Tyan cards can monitor the temperatures and fan speed.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[NateKingCole]

That's what I thought. Ok well then how exactly do I go about overclocking my graphics card? I've read guides where they simply install rage3d and go until they get artifacts, then back off. Is there nothing to worry about with heat?

Rig:
XP Barton 2500+, A7N8X- Deluxe, 1GB OCZ pc3200 (2.5-3-3-7)
Volcano 7+ with OCZ ultra II paste, XP professional, ATI 9600 pro
Antec 400W w/ 4 case fans installed. [No Bragging Here]

 

[scottchen]

Use artifact tester i think you can download it at majorgeeks, just run that everytime you overclock by about 10mhz, until it detects artifacts. After that keep your comp on whole night in 3dmark03 with infinite loop, the 4th test if your card handles it on 1600x1200 and see if it's still doing the same thing next morning. If 3dmark03's off that means it couldn't handle and computer restarted so back off a little bit. Keep doing that until you find the perfect frequency for you.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[NateKingCole]

Thanks. I'm still a little unclear on the steps of overclocking though. I've installed some additional cooling. I've got rage3d and the artifact tester what do you push up first? Or do you push the sliders together?

Rig:
XP Barton 2500+, A7N8X- Deluxe, 1GB OCZ pc3200 (2.5-3-3-7)
Volcano 7+ with OCZ ultra II paste, XP professional, ATI 9600 pro
Antec 400W w/ 4 case fans installed. [No Bragging Here]

 

[scottchen]

I perfer core first since you can go really high with 9600 pro's core. What new cooling you got? I heard that Sapphire 9600pro can get up to 500 core and 340 memory.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[scottchen]

The reason you push up 1 at a time is so you'll know exactly what problem that had caused your card to become unstable and have artifacts. If you push both bars they you wouldn't know which 1 screwed up and you have to do more work testing both. So go up 1 at a time, see if you can get 500 core, if you can then GREAT your card kicks ass, and see if memory can go beyond the 340. Now some ppl's been saying that ramsinks are a gamble and sometimes they can even be counter-effective, however the 3 cards I've used so far with ramsinks helped me by a lot. But ramsinks are up to you.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[scottchen]

Hey nate how far have u got with that 9600pro?

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[mopeygoth]

you do not have to worry too much about heat. If the card gets too hot your computer will simply stall, freeze (no fun intended thus the double meaning =)
The temperatures will seriously show in the standard system temperature, you can work your way through this by installing additonal an additional heatsink and cooler on the card's metal plates. I know this might sound laughable to some oc'ers, but it work great. Both the transistors or lookalikes) on the card and the standard systemtemperature will stay cooler.

Intel Pentium 4 - 400Mhz FSB - 2.4Ghz
- 1152mb pc-133 - Ati Radeon 9700 128Mb

 

[scottchen]

Actually from too much heat you can dammage your card permanently.

-Intel PIV 2.4C @ 3.84G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Gold 2x256 3700EL memory @ 256mhz 2.5-3-3-7 -Sapphire 9800pro @ 490/780 -SB audigy -80G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 Ultra ATA-133 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[scottchen]

I did that to my 9500pro didn't crash or freeze it just kept burning until it died, oh well RMA, paid a little extra got 9800pro.

-Intel PIV 2.4C @ 3.84G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Gold 2x256 3700EL memory @ 256mhz 2.5-3-3-7 -Sapphire 9800pro @ 490/780 -SB audigy -80G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 Ultra ATA-133 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[NateKingCole]

Well I havn't gotten anywhere. I just asked to question to know. But unfortunatly I won't put the knowledge to the test till I get to my computer, which I shipped off to my school time hope about 5 days ago. Yeah it's sad, but the climate is a little colder up there, so you know what that means! more oc'ing. I'll post a new thread in a week or so. Thanks for the info.

Rig:
XP Barton 2500+, A7N8X- Deluxe, 1GB OCZ pc3200 (2.5-3-3-7)
Volcano 7+ with OCZ ultra II paste, XP professional, ATI 9600 pro
Antec 400W w/ 4 case fans installed. [No Bragging Here]

 

[mopeygoth]

I suppose you did notice a significant change in system temperatures back then? or the smell of burning flesh touching the card? =) just kidding...

Intel Pentium 4 - 400Mhz FSB - 2.4Ghz
- 1152mb pc-133 - Ati Radeon 9700 128Mb

 

[scottchen]

The card was really really hot, primarily because i had no casefans back then, yeah 1 day my computer didn't smell good when i turned it on so figured out something's wrong with it. Oh well got 9800pro now

-Intel PIV 2.4C @ 3.84G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Gold 2x256 3700EL memory @ 256mhz 2.5-3-3-7 -Sapphire 9800pro @ 490/780 -SB audigy -80G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 Ultra ATA-133 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[mopeygoth]

Don't you just hate it when that happens!? That static smell of burned hardware gives me nightmares, well at least the 9800 is a swell swap though =)

Intel Pentium 4 - 400Mhz FSB - 2.4Ghz
- 1152mb pc-133 - Ati Radeon 9700 128Mb