What Should I Do?

[byalexandr]

Overclocking my 290. I just can't figure what's the best thing to do, and a lot of stuff doesn't work. On the first BIOS, I have a modded 390X BIOS, the same one found here:

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/1564219/r9-390x-bios-for-r9-290-290x-now-with-stock-and-modded-voltage-tables

 

And on the other side of the switch I have a stock 290 BIOS.

 

Overclocking on both yielded almost the same performance (as far as I could tell with my bare eye, as I didn't have any frame rates on) but the 390X BIOS managed to keep higher clock speeds, along with more voltage and an alleged increase of 3-5 FPS on top of the OC. That is, until you OC it too much and almost kill the card. I switched to the 290 BIOS, and put a mild OC on it, and just now I crashed hard again (idk why, probably the memory clock was too high again). Did a hard reset, switched back to the 390X BIOS to fix it from yesterday. Now I'm on the 390X BIOS at stock 290 speeds, and the 290 BIOS is still OC'd but I can easily switch it back to stock if I reboot.

 

So what should I do? Let me know in the poll or down below.

 

Oh, and the reason I'm so obsessed with OCing my 290 is because I just want to beat my friend's 970. I don't know what clock speeds will do it, so I'm trying everything I can. I'd like the same performance as a 390 but I can't get the mem clock high enough. And just trying again and again, it's kind of addicting. I know I might kill the card and I really don't want to but I don't have many other options like newer, better cards and what-not.

 

Sorry if I am making absolutely no sense. I'm just asking that someone will help me make more sense in what I'm doing.

 

EDIT: Can someone link me a very detailed overclocking guide?

[byalexandr]

It is a reference cooled card, but I know it's limitations and OCing to this degree is not going to meet that limitation (FOR MY CARD SPECIFICALLY, if you want temperature proof then just ask). Please don't tell me it's the limiting factor as it adequately cools the card even though it gets loud.

[AdamH96]

its a 290, it can only do what it can do. I wouldn't recommend overvolting the card unless you have money to buy a new GPU. OC as high as you can, as long as its stable. That's the best it is going to get.

[byalexandr]

its a 290, i can only do what it can do. I wouldn't recommend overvolting the card unless you have money to buy a new GPU.

I've overvolted it to hell and back. It's at complete stock (besides the modded BIOS which doesn't do much) right now, I just want to see what people think I should do.

[byalexandr]

Let me edit the poll, the two different OCing options need to be corrected.

[rmac52]

In my opinion the correct way of overclocking takes hours of hard work.  

 

It can be a pain but I find it fun.  If I built a new system I would estimate 10+ hours of dialing in an overclock.  

 

I have a 30% overclock on my 670 and 8350.  This was a lot of work but I find it enjoyable.  you need to play with what you have.  None of us can tell you whats best. 

It depends on how good your chip is.  none of us can answer that.  Its a matter of trial and error.

[byalexandr]

In my opinion the correct way of overclocking takes hours of hard work.  

 

It can be a pain but I find it fun.  If I built a new system I would estimate 10+ hours of dialing in an overclock.  

 

I have a 30% overclock on my 670 and 8350.  This was a lot of work but I find it enjoyable.  you need to play with what you have.  None of us can tell you whats best. 

It depends on how good your chip is.  none of us can answer that.  Its a matter of trial and error.

I've tried and tried and tried to get it to a stable 1100MHz. It runs fine for hours, and then all of a sudden crashes hard (VERY hard, I have to use the reset switch). I THINK it's not because of the core but because of the memory, not sure if it can take 1400MHz, and even 1350MHz is a little unstable.

 

The thing is, I don't have much experience in what the average overclocks are for this card, and I don't have much experience stressing overclocks to see if they are stable or not. Some people recommend benchmarks, some recommend games instead. I use benchmarks, everything runs smoothly. I use games, all hell breaks loose.

[byalexandr]

I'm interested as to why people recommend using the stock 290 BIOS?

[AdamH96]

I've tried and tried and tried to get it to a stable 1100MHz. It runs fine for hours, and then all of a sudden crashes hard (VERY hard, I have to use the reset switch). I THINK it's not because of the core but because of the memory, not sure if it can take 1400MHz, and even 1350MHz is a little unstable.

 

The thing is, I don't have much experience in what the average overclocks are for this card, and I don't have much experience stressing overclocks to see if they are stable or not. Some people recommend benchmarks, some recommend games instead. I use benchmarks, everything runs smoothly. I use games, all hell breaks loose.

if your overvolting maybe your PSU is not enough? This card can easily consume over 300W... And when your OC do the Core first then the memory.

[r1Ns3]

I would save up a bit of money go for a gtx 970 and while I am saving I would OC the shit out of the card even if it melts in a few months because you're going to be getting a new one anyway.

So, here:

 

1. Plan for a new GPU.

2. Overclock the crap out of the r9 (extra voltage)

3. wait until the card dies then upgrade it to your new GPU.

[rmac52]

I've tried and tried and tried to get it to a stable 1100MHz. It runs fine for hours, and then all of a sudden crashes hard (VERY hard, I have to use the reset switch). I THINK it's not because of the core but because of the memory, not sure if it can take 1400MHz, and even 1350MHz is a little unstable.

 

The thing is, I don't have much experience in what the average overclocks are for this card, and I don't have much experience stressing overclocks to see if they are stable or not. Some people recommend benchmarks, some recommend games instead. I use benchmarks, everything runs smoothly. I use games, all hell breaks loose.

 

That's odd.  Typically benchmarks stress a card way more than games.  If I push my gpu in benchmarks till it crashes and back off like 2% i don't see an issue in games.

 

I would push the card as far as I could on the 290 bios and then push as far as I could on the 290x bios.  You will probably buy a new card before you kill this one anyway so go ahead an push it to the limits.  so what ever gets you the best results.

[byalexandr]

if your overvolting maybe your PSU is not enough? This card can easily consume over 300W... And when your OC do the Core first then the memory.

PSU is fine, I ran my 290 on a 400W (didn't OC though)

 

And even if it consumed over 300W, the rest of my system barely consumes like 80W.

 

So how do I do this?

Turned voltage all the way up?

Then get core as far as I can?

Then memory?

Then turn down voltage as low as I can until it's still stable?

 

What programs should I use to stress test it? Is there one that tells me if it's artifacting or something?

[byalexandr]

That's odd.  Typically benchmarks stress a card way more than games.  If I push my gpu in benchmarks till it crashes and back off like 2% i don't see an issue in games.

 

I would push the card as far as I could on the 290 bios and then push as far as I could on the 290x bios.  You will probably buy a new card before you kill this one anyway so go ahead an push it to the limits.  so what ever gets you the best results.

I'm definitely not going to be able to buy a new card, don't know where people got that from.

 

I would save up a bit of money go for a gtx 970 and while I am saving I would OC the shit out of the card even if it melts in a few months because you're going to be getting a new one anyway.

So, here:

 

1. Plan for a new GPU.

2. Overclock the crap out of the r9 (extra voltage)

3. wait until the card dies then upgrade it to your new GPU.

Why a 970? Shouldn't I get a 390 instead?

 

Not like I'll be able to anyway, at least not until summer of 2016.

[byalexandr]

What would you guys recommend as a good OC that is generally stable on any 290? It appears that my 290 is not that stellar of an overclocker.

[r1Ns3]

I'm definitely not going to be able to buy a new card, don't know where people got that from.

 

Why a 970? Shouldn't I get a 390 instead?

 

Not like I'll be able to anyway, at least not until summer of 2016.

I would personally go for a 970 as sadly most games benefit from the rigged drivers that Nvidia has and also SHADOWplay is awesome!

Both are fine choices but yea that's what I would do.

[byalexandr]

I would personally go for a 970 as sadly most games benefit from the rigged drivers that Nvidia has and also SHADOWplay is awesome!

Both are fine choices but yea that's what I would do.

I don't care much for ShadowPlay, don't record my games anyways. And as far as I can tell (at least when I had a 760 several months ago) AMD's drivers are way more consistent.

[rmac52]

I'm definitely not going to be able to buy a new card, don't know where people got that from.

 

Why a 970? Shouldn't I get a 390 instead?

 

Not like I'll be able to anyway, at least not until summer of 2016.

 

I was referring to people saying you are shortening the life of your card.  

 

I push my chips as hard as I can, and maybe its luck, but I have yet to kill a chip early.

[byalexandr]

I was referring to people saying you are shortening the life of your card.  

 

I push my chips as hard as I can, and maybe its luck, but I have yet to kill a chip early.

I'm lucky I haven't killed mine in the past three times it's crashed so hard. I think I'm going to spend the rest of the night getting everything perfect, I'll even use the stock 290 BIOS like other suggested. Again, what GPU stress should I use? A lot of people recommended against FurMark and Unigine stuff.