It's Not Stable

[byalexandr]

So my 290 is OC'd to 1100MHz/1350MHz with a +85mV core and +25mV aux (I have a modded 390X BIOS, so that's why the voltage is high). Anyway, it runs just fine for several hours, but on random occasion it will crash the Crimson drivers or Afterburner and recover. This only happens once a day or so. Do I need to increase voltage or can my card simply not OC that high?

[2FA]

I have a 290 personally, couldn't overclock to save its life.

[byalexandr]

I have a 290 personally, couldn't overclock to save its life.

Yeah, but mine is almost super stable, like I said it only happens once a day. Is my voltage too low or can my card simply not reach that speed? What is the limiting factor here?

[App4that]

If it crashes, it's not stable.

[2FA]

Yeah, but mine is almost super stable, like I said it only happens once a day. Is my voltage too low or can my card simply not reach that speed? What is the limiting factor here?

Mine was the same way. The 290 and 290X was very limited for overclocking, I'd say it's just the speed.

[byalexandr]

If it crashes, it's not stable.

Okay I get it, what do I need to do to get it stable?

 

What program would you suggest for stressing my GPU? I used FurMark but people seem to advise against that.

[byalexandr]

Mine was the same way. The 290 and 290X was very limited for overclocking, I'd say it's just the speed.

Shit.

I'll find a way.

[xnoobftw]

Okay I get it, what do I need to do to get it stable?

 

What program would you suggest for stressing my GPU? I used FurMark but people seem to advise against that.

Run 3dmark or crysis 3 to really push your card (for around 30min-1hr depending on how much time you wanna spend)

Usually crashes wouldnt occur at something like unigine heaven/valley for me

Crysis 3 is the best testing tool so far in my experience

My 290x is clocked up to 1155/1580 with +100mV (or 1090/1370 at stock voltages)

[byalexandr]

Run 3dmark or crysis 3 to really push your card (for around 30min-1hr depending on how much time you wanna spend)

Usually crashes wouldnt occur at something like unigine heaven/valley for me

Crysis 3 is the best testing tool so far in my experience

My 290x is clocked up to 1155/1580 with +100mV (or 1090/1370 at stock voltages)

I kind of want 1200/1400 but I know it's not going to happen...

 

Anything that's free? Really don't want to buy/pirate anything. 

Maybe I can run BF4? That game is probably the pickiest when it comes to OCing.

[App4that]

Okay I get it, what do I need to do to get it stable?

What program would you suggest for stressing my GPU? I used FurMark but people seem to advise against that.

Synthetic benchmarks will only show extreme instability. Gaming is where you find out if you're stable.

If you're set on getting more out of it and are not worried about ruining your card, add more voltage. When your temps go too high that will set the limit of your overclock.

Why are you so set on overclocking it that far?

[xnoobftw]

I kind of want 1200/1400 but I know it's not going to happen...

 

Anything that's free? Really don't want to buy/pirate anything. 

Maybe I can run BF4? That game is probably the pickiest when it comes to OCing.

Good luck achieving that

BF4 isnt THAT taxing in my experience 

Hmmm... Your next bet would be to run unigine heaven/valley for like 8hours  

Or loop 3dmark firestrike and test for artifacts/stability 

[byalexandr]

Synthetic benchmarks will only show extreme instability. Gaming is where you find out if you're stable.

If you're set on getting more out of it and are not worried about ruining your card, add more voltage. When your temps go too high that will set the limit of your overclock.

Why are you so set on overclocking it that far?

More performance. Simple as that. Also to beat my friend's stupid 970.

 

Oh, and I'm not supposed to let the VDDC over 1.3V right? Otherwise I'm gonna see some serious shit?

[byalexandr]

Good luck achieving that

BF4 isnt THAT taxing in my experience 

Hmmm... Your next bet would be to run unigine heaven/valley for like 8hours  

Or loop 3dmark firestrike and test for artifacts/stability 

BF4 isn't taxing, but it's very picky on overclocks, it crashes as soon as it feels like it.

 

I knew that speed was too much lol. Maybe 1150/1400?

[App4that]

More performance. Simple as that. Also to beat my friend's stupid 970.

Don't waste a good card over stuff like that. Your GPU is only one factor, if your friend has better everything else you'll never catch them.

Set a mild overclock and wait until you have an issue with fps to worry about adding voltage. Or sell the 290 and get a 390. The difference in memory speed makes them monsters in synthetic benchmarks. My 290 is a better overclocker but my 390 spanks it in benchmarks.

[byalexandr]

Don't waste a good card over stuff like that. Your GPU is only one factor, if your friend has better everything else you'll never catch them.

Set a mild overclock and wait until you have an issue with fps to worry about adding voltage. Or sell the 290 and get a 390. The difference in memory speed makes them monsters in synthetic benchmarks. My 290 is a better overclocker but my 390 spanks it in benchmarks.

I don't have the money to add on to get a 390... Maybe I can ask for like $100 for Christmas...

 

I at least want to get it stable at 1100 though, most people are able to easily do that on any 290.

[App4that]

I don't have the money to add on to get a 390... Maybe I can ask for like $100 for Christmas...

I at least want to get it stable at 1100 though, most people are able to easily do that on any 290.

290 and 390 both don't like to overclock on the memory. Go as far as you can on the core, then start raising the memory. Usually 50mhz is all you'll get without getting crazy with voltage.

[byalexandr]

290 and 390 both don't like to overclock on the memory. Go as far as you can on the core, then start raising the memory. Usually 50mhz is all you'll get without getting crazy with voltage.

Yeah I'm mostly worried about the core. I was looking at the voltage a minute ago, why tf is it locked to +88mV? I can't go higher, even though my modded BIOS will allow for it.

 

Afterburner is weird, won't change the voltage if it's not significant enough of a change.

[xnoobftw]

BF4 isn't taxing, but it's very picky on overclocks, it crashes as soon as it feels like it.

 

I knew that speed was too much lol. Maybe 1150/1400?

That sounds a heck more reasonable  

[byalexandr]

That was scary... Thought I had killed my IMC.

 

Playing BF4 at 1125/1375MHz +94/25mV, started artifacting and I remembered I had forgotten about the power limit so I set that back to +50%. Played for like 15 more minutes, then a little artifact, and then BAM screen black audio stuck in a loop, can't do anything. Gave it a hard reset, screen was blank. Shut it off, switched to the secondary BIOS (regular ole 290 BIOS) and booted up.

 

I suppose stock clocks aren't that bad...