Overclocking a MSI GTX 1080 Gaming

[inneruniverse]

Hello. I am attempting to overclock an MSI GTX 1080 Gaming. I downloaded Heaven Benchmark 4.0 for stress testing. I am using MSI Afterburner to adjust settings.

http://i.imgur.com/vKR2f8F.png

What should I be setting for my Power Limit, and Temperature limit before I start tuning the Core and Memory Clocks? Also should I unlink the power and temperature limits?

Also another question, is there any difference internally between the MSI Gaming and Gaming X versions of the 1080? I accidentally bought the Gaming instead of the X because newegg had nearly identical pages for both:

Gaming: http://i.imgur.com/Q2LBUK8.png
Gaming X: https://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16814127943&ignorebbr=1&RandomID=63890682059217120170204103318

 

[17seconds]

The Power Limit should be set to maximum. These are the settings Guru3d used for that card:

We applied the following settings:

Temp Target 95 Degrees C
CPU clock +80 MHz
Mem clock +575 MHz
Voltage +100%
FAN RPM 60 % (remains really silent with TwiNFrozr VI)

The Boost clock will now render at roughly 1950~2067 MHz depending on the power and temperature signature. The GPU will continuously be dynamically altered on voltage and clock frequency to match the power and temperature targets versus the increased core clock. In FireStrike we are now hovering at the 2 GHz marker on the Boost frequency for example, but some games jumped to roughly 2.1 GHz one second and dipped below 2 GHz the other.
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_1080_gaming_x_8g_review,38.html

There's a bit more of a discussion on the linked page.

 

[inneruniverse]

The Power Limit should be set to maximum. These are the settings Guru3d used for that card:

We applied the following settings:

Temp Target 95 Degrees C
CPU clock +80 MHz
Mem clock +575 MHz
Voltage +100%
FAN RPM 60 % (remains really silent with TwiNFrozr VI)

The Boost clock will now render at roughly 1950~2067 MHz depending on the power and temperature signature. The GPU will continuously be dynamically altered on voltage and clock frequency to match the power and temperature targets versus the increased core clock. In FireStrike we are now hovering at the 2 GHz marker on the Boost frequency for example, but some games jumped to roughly 2.1 GHz one second and dipped below 2 GHz the other.
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_1080_gaming_x_8g_review,38.html

There's a bit more of a discussion on the linked page.

I am scared to touch the voltage as I have read adjusting voltage shortens the life of your card and could potentially damage it. Also I do not have the gaming X, I have the Gaming. The X is a different version of the gaming series.

 

[krells]

It is relatively easy to hit 2ghz boost clocks on any gtx 1080 unless you get really unlucky. If you are looking to just get the same performance as the gaming X version out of your card a good starting point would be to keep the temp limit at the stock 83c, raise the power limit to the max, then add +100 to the core. The boost clock should hit 2ghz or slightly above, then test for stability.

 

[inneruniverse]

It is relatively easy to hit 2ghz boost clocks on any gtx 1080 unless you get really unlucky. If you are looking to just get the same performance as the gaming X version out of your card a good starting point would be to keep the temp limit at the stock 83c, raise the power limit to the max, then add +100 to the core. The boost clock should hit 2ghz or slightly above, then test for stability.

I'd like to push it past the X but I'm looking for a safe power and temperature target first. I can push the power limit to 121% without causing damage? What about the temperature target. The last time I overclocked a card it was a 970 and it was recommended to stay below 80C. What's the recommended temp target for a 1080?

 

[inneruniverse]

I have a new question now. I left all settings at stock and increased the core clock to +175. Going to +200 resulted in unigine crashing or getting multiple freezes. I then went back to +175 and this time maxed out the power limit to +121. Same score, same FPS, same temperature, no difference. I then kept the power limit at +121 and tried going to +200 core clock. Again a crash in unigine. Actually had to restart my computer since I tried it twice to be sure. Note that +175 results in ~2050Mhz with the automatic boost thing nvidia has on the 10 series.

What exactly is the point of increasing the power limit if it's not letting me OC further and it's not increasing my performance at +175 core?

Does power limit come in to play when OCing the memory clock? I have not touched the memory clock yet.

I assumed it would be needed to keep the +175 steady without down clocking but it remained at that speed regardless of whether I had power limit at 100 or 121.

These were my results at Extreme preset with 1600x900 resolution windowed.

Core +175: FPS 153.0, Score 3854, min 40.4, max 330.7
Core Voltage - 0
Power Limit - 100
Temp Limit - 83
Core Clock - +175
Memory Clock - 0
Fan Speed - Auto
Temp: 75C

Core +175: FPS 152.9, Score 3852, min 40.4, max 333.1
Core Voltage - 0
Power Limit - +121
Temp Limit - 83
Core Clock - +175
Memory Clock - 0
Fan Speed - Auto
Temp: 75C

 

[17seconds]

Assuming you're using MSI Afterburner for your overclocking... be sure to use the graph to monitor (also assuming you are). Now check the "limit" variables: Temp Limit, Power Limit, Voltage Limit, OV Max Limit. These have values of either a "0" or a "1". A zero means that the limit has not been reached. A 1 means the limit has been reached.

You will only reach one limit at a time usually, this will tell you what part of your overclock is holding you back. You can increase the limit that has been reached, if there is anything left on the slider.

Great thing about Turbo Boost 2.0 and all these limits, there are a lot of built in safeguards. The GPU will usually throttle itself to prevent permanent damage. Keep your temperatures in the mid-80c's or below, and you are doing well.