Question about GPU boost

Sanjeev · September 9, 2015

Here's what i understood about GPU boost correct me if i am wrong

The video card overclocks to boost clock when it's below a certain temperature (say 80 degrees) and comes back to the base clock if it hits 80 degrees .

So does this mean when playing a graphics intensive game half of the level i would be at say 50 FPS (With boost) and the other half at 40 FPS when the card reaches the temp limit and then again back to 50 FPS when card cools down again .Won't this give a bad experience ?

Also isn't pushing the card to go upto 80 degrees a bad thing with the excessive heat and fan noise ?

Curufinwe_wins · September 9, 2015

It's a dynamic effect. It doesn't go all the way down it just bumps like 10-30 Mhz at a time until temps get good again.

For example I could get 1507 max but temp limit rotates me between 1484 and 1507.

Also it doesn't change your fan curve so you make the card as loud as you are willing to have it then run your tests.

80C really isn't bad for gpus these days and the only nvidia cards that boost that hot (reference only as well) are the 980ti and titan x.

The 390/390x run about 78-85C under load and reference 290x thermal throttled under its base clock only at 93/95C.

Intel's max temp is like 95-100C as well so it's probably not great, but it won't kill your gpu overnight or anything.

DildorTheDecent · September 9, 2015

The video card overclocks to boost clock when it's below a certain temperature (say 80 degrees) and comes back to the base clock if it hits 80 degrees .

So does this mean when playing a graphics intensive game half of the level i would be at say 50 FPS (With boost) and the other half at 40 FPS when the card reaches the temp limit and then again back to 50 FPS when card cools down again .Won't this give a bad experience ?

Also isn't pushing the card to go upto 80 degrees a bad thing with the excessive heat and fan noise ?

There's no issue at all with frame dropping. A card dropping say 50 MHz would not cost you 10 frames. For the most part the dip in clock speed is unnoticeable.

Also it is fine for cards to hit 80C. The 290X was perfectly fine running at 95C and the GTX 480 was comfortable at around 102C. Just remember the clean it so the hot air can actually get out.