Overclocking 980 G1

[Vellinious]

I'm using the Gigabyte's OC GURU II, but I also use MSI Afterburner for temps and loads while in-game. is it fine?

Man....I listed all the tools you need to overclock your card.  AB / PCX and GPUz.  

[Vellinious]

ASIC quality only matters for out-of-the-box boost 2.0 performance. NOT for overclocking.

That is inaccurate.....  For Maxwell, all things being equal between two cards, a higher ASIC core will reach a specific clock at at a lower voltage, than the lower ASIC core.  Things are just rarely exactly equal between two cards, even with the same model number.  Overall build quality plays it's role as well.  But to say that it doesn't affect overclocking at all, is pretty silly.

[Majestic]

That is inaccurate.....  For Maxwell, all things being equal between two cards, a higher ASIC core will reach a specific clock at at a lower voltage, than the lower ASIC core.  Things are just rarely exactly equal between two cards, even with the same model number.  Overall build quality plays it's role as well.  But to say that it doesn't affect overclocking at all, is pretty silly.

 

It's role is insignificant when you start manually (and grossly) violating the thermal design specs. Other variables take over.. 

[Vellinious]

It's role is insignificant when you start manually (and grossly) violating the thermal design specs. Other variables take over.. 

If you're on air, yeah, the clocks will drop as the GPU heats up.  That doesn't change the overclock peak under optimal temps.  The challenge is to keep them cool enough, on air, to see those clocks.  Or....put a block on it.  The latter being preferred, if you're going to overclock high enough that it'll matter.

[Majestic]

If you're on air, yeah, the clocks will drop as the GPU heats up.  That doesn't change the overclock peak under optimal temps.  The challenge is to keep them cool enough, on air, to see those clocks.  Or....put a block on it.  The latter being preferred, if you're going to overclock high enough that it'll matter.

 

The maximum overclock of my 980 is not limited by power target or thermals. On air..

[Vellinious]

The maximum overclock of my 980 is not limited by power target or thermals. On air..

I would bet that if you put it on water, you'd see a different maximum overclock.  Unless you've gone to some pretty extreme measures to keep it cool.  Have you modded the bios?  How much voltage are you running?

[velskud12]

I would bet that if you put it on water, you'd see a different maximum overclock.  Unless you've gone to some pretty extreme measures to keep it cool.  Have you modded the bios?  How much voltage are you running?

Oh yeah, another thing I come across is the custom bios I found on the internet, stock settings will be higher. is it safe to flash my bios?, my card has dual bios btw

[Majestic]

I would bet that if you put it on water, you'd see a different maximum overclock.  Unless you've gone to some pretty extreme measures to keep it cool.  Have you modded the bios?  How much voltage are you running?

 

Stock voltage though, that might be the reason. It stops at about 1520mhz

[Vellinious]

Stock voltage though, that might be the reason. It stops at about 1520mhz

That's why...so, max overclock on stock volts.  = )

[Vellinious]

Oh yeah, another thing I come across is the custom bios I found on the internet, stock settings will be higher. is it safe to flash my bios?, my card has dual bios btw

What bios file did you find?  Was it made for YOUR card?  Link?

[velskud12]

What bios file did you find?  Was it made for YOUR card?  Link?

this one? http://www.overclock.net/t/1544574/gigabyte-gtx-9xx-g1-gaming-h2o-air-bios-tweaking

[Vellinious]

this one? http://www.overclock.net/t/1544574/gigabyte-gtx-9xx-g1-gaming-h2o-air-bios-tweaking

1.281.  3D base clock 1531.  TDP 395 watts.  Power limit 265 watts @ 100%, and 395 watts @ 150%. 

Looks pretty good.  For air cooling, the 1.281v might be a tad high, but.....the rest looks very good.