Overclocking PowerColor Radeon HD 7970 Issues

[CaseySean01]

Lately, I've been having trouble overclocking my video card. I've turned up the settings only slightly (20Mhz on the core, 25 on the mem), and every 10 minutes or so, I get a crash like I've attached. I'm using afterburner, and I also turn up the power limit to +20%. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[RyanMacRocks]

Funny that you say that since I just got a 7970 used yesterday and I'm just about to try overclocking it. Hopefully I don't have the same problem, but if I do we can troubleshoot it together!

[CaseySean01]

Lately, I've been having trouble overclocking my video card. I've turned up the settings only slightly (20Mhz on the core, 25 on the mem), and every 10 minutes or so, I get a crash like I've attached. I'm using afterburner, and I also turn up the power limit to +20%. Am I doing something wrong?

If it matters, I'm also using two displays, and because of that, the core at idle runs at 500mhz.

[CaseySean01]

Funny that you say that since I just got a 7970 used yesterday and I'm just about to try overclocking it. Hopefully I don't have the same problem, but if I do we can troubleshoot it together!

Yeah for sure! Been a reliable card at stock, I can tell you that much!

[Starelementpoke]

From what I can remember, powercolor uses a (PCB was it?) that doesn't handle overclocking that well. Their coolers are pretty good though.

[CaseySean01]

From what I can remember, powercolor uses a (PCB was it?) that doesn't handle overclocking that well. Their coolers are pretty good though.

What do you mean? Why would that affect overclocking ability? It's a twin fan cooler, but it's very passive. Doesn't like to ramp up unless it's under some serious stress.

[Me1z]

1) Don't overclock the GPU and the VRAM at the same time. You do the GPU first and the VRAM after its stable.

 

2) Did you first try overclocking without touching the voltage? You should figure out your GPU's limits with stock voltage before adding more. It's entirely possible that you're overvolting.

[Starelementpoke]

What do you mean? Why would that affect overclocking ability? It's a twin fan cooler, but it's very passive. Doesn't like to ramp up unless it's under some serious stress.

Not so sure to be honest, just some things I heard in the passing.

[CaseySean01]

1) Don't overclock the GPU and the VRAM at the same time. You do the GPU first and the VRAM after its stable.

 

2) Did you first try overclocking without touching the voltage? You should figure out your GPU's limits with stock voltage before adding more. It's entirely possible that you're overvolting.

I haven't touched the core voltage AT ALL. Just the power limit. And I wasn't aware that you should change the core before the memory. I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

[CaseySean01]

Not so sure to be honest, just some things I heard in the passing.

I've actually heard the opposite. Apparently the coolers are great, and that's what makes them great for overclocking, but I could be wrong.

[Starelementpoke]

I've actually heard the opposite. Apparently the coolers are great, and that's what makes them great for overclocking, but I could be wrong.

I said their coolers were great...

[jimakos234]

your overclock is not stable. period

try lower settings, your card is a bad overclocker, u got unlucky on the silicon lottery

[SkilledRebuilds]

Your core clock is WAY wrong at idle...

 

If it matters, I'm also using two displays, and because of that, the core at idle runs at 500mhz.

The core should be idling at 300mhz/1250mhz with dual monitors. (Ive had a few 7950/7970 and know what their performance profiles are) and 300/150 without a 2nd monitor.

It's only the memory speeds that increase to 1250mhz with dual+ monitors

Your core clock is wrong already, leading me to believe a driver issue (on top of the seemingly unstable-past>stock clocks)

When the PC crash's due to an OC, MSI can be bugged out, forcing a constant 500mhz (even in games it wont boost) and a driver reinstall solves this too.

 

Uninstall drivers, use DDU to clean the traces left behind, and reinstall GPU drivers.

[CaseySean01]

Your core clock is WAY wrong at idle...

 

The core should be idling at 300mhz/1250mhz with dual monitors. (Ive had a few 7950/7970 and know what their performance profiles are) and 300/150 without a 2nd monitor.

It's only the memory speeds that increase to 1250mhz with dual+ monitors

Your core clock is wrong already, leading me to believe a driver issue (on top of the seemingly unstable-past>stock clocks)

When the PC crash's due to an OC, MSI can be bugged out, forcing a constant 500mhz (even in games it wont boost) and a driver reinstall solves this too.

 

Uninstall drivers, use DDU to clean the traces left behind, and reinstall GPU drivers.

I was actually curious about this at first. I unplugged the second monitor from the back of the GPU, and it went back down to 300MHz. Is there a reason that is happening? I uninstalled all my drivers after finding that issue and reinstalled, but did not help. 

[CaseySean01]

I said their coolers were great...

No, I mean I heard the opposite about their overclocking potential.

[CaseySean01]

your overclock is not stable. period

try lower settings, your card is a bad overclocker, u got unlucky on the silicon lottery

Sorry, I'm not that knowledgable about the really technical stuff. What exactly do you mean by getting unlucky with the silicon?

[jimakos234]

Sorry, I'm not that knowledgable about the really technical stuff. What exactly do you mean by getting unlucky with the silicon?

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

CPUs have variances in how they overclock.

[CaseySean01]

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

CPUs have variances in how they overclock.

So basically the GPU I have is not up to standards? Does the manufacturing process change the ability to overclock?

[TheRandomness]

So basically the GPU I have is not up to standards? Does the manufacturing process change the ability to overclock?

Some GPUs are binned to have better overclocking capabilities (ASIC quality) out of the box. Also, some manufacturers have a custom PCB design with more VRMs or other features to help with cooling or power delivery or whatnot.

[SkilledRebuilds]

I was actually curious about this at first. I unplugged the second monitor from the back of the GPU, and it went back down to 300MHz. Is there a reason that is happening? I uninstalled all my drivers after finding that issue and reinstalled, but did not help. 

It's normal, but I don't know why its such a huge jump from 300>1250.

Happened to both my 7950 and my 290 when using dual monitors.

 

(The way around it, is to use onboard for the 2nd screen, and dedicated gpu for the first.) But you lose the ability to clone the first to the 2nd screen cos their on different GPU's.

[CaseySean01]

It's normal, but I don't know why its such a huge jump from 300>1250.

Happened to both my 7950 and my 290 when using dual monitors.

 

(The way around it, is to use onboard for the 2nd screen, and dedicated gpu for the first.) But you lose the ability to clone the first to the 2nd screen cos their on different GPU's.

Brilliant. I never thought about using onboard, but that still doesn't explain why it's idling at 500MHz. I figured I should fix it, considering that would take the life out of the GPU faster.

[SkilledRebuilds]

Brilliant. I never thought about using onboard, but that still doesn't explain why it's idling at 500MHz. I figured I should fix it, considering that would take the life out of the GPU faster.

In Msi Afterburner. Add +1mhz and apply. Then do a 3d test and monitor clocks.

My mums 270x would idle wrong too when i set the default stocks.

So i added 1mhz and applied and it reverted to normal again. Her core is 1000mhz but using that it is actually 500mhz if i use 999 or 1001 its actually that. Tis weird but give it a shot.

[CaseySean01]

In Msi Afterburner. Add +1mhz and apply. Then do a 3d test and monitor clocks.

My mums 270x would idle wrong too when i set the default stocks.

So i added 1mhz and applied and it reverted to normal again. Her core is 1000mhz but using that it is actually 500mhz if i use 999 or 1001 its actually that. Tis weird but give it a shot.

Didn't work. For some reason, it refuses to run at any core clock lower than 500MHz. Maybe it's just how PowerColor designed it?