GPU Overvolting/Replacing Thermal Paste

[Kruziik_Kel]

So ive finally gotten round to overclocking my 7950,

going well so far dont have time to go further tonight but so far 900MHz on the core (+100MHz) and 1250MHz on the memory (+0MHz) no instability issues yet but I am new to the GPU overclocking world so I was wondering if any of you have some tips for overvolting or upping the memory?

but now the main question temps are fairly similar to starting +3-4 degrees at load +1-2 at idle though regardless I thought it probably be a good idea to replace the thermal paste with some IC Diamond to improve them a bit and allow more headroom for overclocking so assuming I havent missed anything

some 99% Propan-2-ol (Isopropyl Alcohol)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ISOPROPANOL-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Courier-Shipping/dp/B003D8SDSW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1361568747&sr=8-4#productDetails

and a lint free cloth

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Supersoft-Cotton-Polishing-Cloths/dp/B001MPSSYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1361568931&sr=1-1

that is everything beyond the thermal paste and a screwdriver right?

[mvitkun]

the lint free cloth and alcohol isn't required.

you could just go for anything that is clean and doesn't leave fibers.so a strong toilet paper would be fine.and unless the thermal paste is really old you shouldn't need rubbing alcohol to get it off,a good amount of the time the thermal paste can still be liquidy,unless it hasn't been replaced for years,and just requires a little time to rub the thermal paste off.

as to overclocking.

test the overclock in multiple programs with a decent amount of variety.

I test mine with

Crysis (any of them are fine) at max settings.

Furmark (or kombuster) burn in mode

3D mark 11 or 2013.

Unigine Heaven benchmark.

watch in each benchmark for artifacts,if it starts artifacting either back off the overclock or raise the voltage.

don't be stupid.

Linus rule #1 if it's not stable in even one thing,then it's not stable,period.

and if it's not stable just raise the voltage up a single notch 12 or 13 mV and test it again.

I'd personally do furmark benchmark first for like 5-10 min to make sure the temps are fine,because in some benchmarks like 3dmark you can't monitor temps,and so you might not know it if the gpu is overheating.

[Wats]

Don't use IC Diamond on AMD cards! Use MX-4. Actually, don't replace the TIM, the stock gunk on there already is good enough. You're better off just dusting the card's fan and heatsink. As for overvolting, don't just keep an eye on your GPU temps, watch your VRM temps too.

[mvitkun]

Don't use IC Diamond on AMD cards! Use MX-4. Actually, don't replace the TIM, the stock gunk on there already is good enough. You're better off just dusting the card's fan and heatsink. As for overvolting, don't just keep an eye on your GPU temps, watch your VRM temps too.

why not use it on AMD cards in particular?I know it can scratch up the labels on the IHS for cpu's which can cause issues with returning it,but what would be the issue with gpu's,I mean it's soldered onto there so your not going to be returning it anyway.

[Wats]

The AMD cards don't have an IHS like Green Team cards, its just a Die. ICD has those tiny pieces of industrial diamond that scratches everything, and that can damage the card.

[Kruziik_Kel]

The AMD cards don't have an IHS like Green Team cards' date=' its just a Die. ICD has those tiny pieces of industrial diamond that scratches everything, and that can damage the card.[/quote']

ahh I forgot about that, I have some Noctua NT-H1 that came with the NH-D14 assuming normal silver based stuff works fine temps arnt too bad so I might not bother though it couldnt hurt sitting at 43 right now on idle max I saw it at while stressing either using Crysis 3 or Heaven was 64 so not overly bad though I do have my fans manually cranked to 100% (though in saying that I always have) im more interested in bumping up the memory like intervals to use and what shows instabilty or is it still just artifacts? or if it will even increase performance that much

[Kruziik_Kel]

just another quick question what is the maximum safe tempratures on a 7950? at 940MHz after about an hour and a half of crysis 3 at max (pulling 20FPS stable not too shabby) it was at a constant 75 degrees at 100% load is this safe? or should I down the clocks?

[fishymamba]

Looks OK to me! You can bump up the fan profile to get it a bit cooler, but 75C is OK.

[Umeshwarnath]

just another quick question what is the maximum safe tempratures on a 7950? at 940MHz after about an hour and a half of crysis 3 at max (pulling 20FPS stable not too shabby) it was at a constant 75 degrees at 100% load is this safe? or should I down the clocks?

a 7950 can go much higher!!!well over 1100...and temps below 85 no issues...up the voltage and overclock the shit out of it!

[Kruziik_Kel]

just another quick question what is the maximum safe tempratures on a 7950? at 940MHz after about an hour and a half of crysis 3 at max (pulling 20FPS stable not too shabby) it was at a constant 75 degrees at 100% load is this safe? or should I down the clocks?

that does not answer my question however it would appear as long as it is below 80-85 it should be fine though im told its not a particularly good idea to have it above 75 for long periods of time