Undervolting GTX 970

[1Revenger1]

So I have been endeavoring to overclock my graphics card, and found that it overclocked best and was best stable with no voltage being added. I was curious as to see if I was to undervolt my card just a little bit to see if it would add any benefit. In MSI afterburner and PrecisionX though, I can only add voltage, not force it to use less volts without using the power limiter. I was wandering if there was anything I can do to try this. And if there isn't, I guess 1500 MHz is pretty dang good in my books :).

 

Thanks

[suchamoneypit]

undervolting would just lower what your max core clock could be. Im not sure why your getting the results you are. increasing voltage will increase stability, although having a lower voltage is a goal you want.

[1Revenger1]

4 minutes ago, suchamoneypit said:

undervolting would just lower what your max core clock could be. Im not sure why your getting the results you are. increasing voltage will increase stability, although having a lower voltage is a goal you want.

I know that if I lower voltage, my max core clock will generally go down, but I was wandering if my card would benefit from a small amount of voltage being lost or not. Also it is getting close to summer time and I want my system to stay relatively cool >_>.

[suchamoneypit]

1 minute ago, 1Revenger1 said:

I know that if I lower voltage, my max core clock will generally go down, but I was wandering if my card would benefit from a small amount of voltage being lost or not. Also it is getting close to summer time and I want my system to stay relatively cool >_>.

the thermal gains from undervolting it without a significant drop in performance would not be worth it.

[1Revenger1]

13 minutes ago, suchamoneypit said:

the thermal gains from undervolting it without a significant drop in performance would not be worth it.

Look, I appreciate that you are trying to help, but I honestly just want to figure out how to do this and see what happens. If it preforms worse, it preforms worse and I can revert it back.

[suchamoneypit]

37 minutes ago, 1Revenger1 said:

Look, I appreciate that you are trying to help, but I honestly just want to figure out how to do this and see what happens. If it preforms worse, it preforms worse and I can revert it back.

using MSI afterburner, go to settings, 

 

Try and unlock some stuff here and see if it will let you manually undervolt here. I know on my 390X I can without any trouble, but it has more unlocked features most GPUs dont. Im not trying to convince you not to do it, you won't hurt anything undervolting so if you want to do it, do it. Im just trying to make sure you know the cons outweigh the pros.

[1Revenger1]

2 minutes ago, suchamoneypit said:

-snip-

I have tried to unlock some of the stuff there, although at this point I am thinking it is a BIOS lock. Here is what my settings look like: http://prntscr.com/bc3vxp

[suchamoneypit]

1 minute ago, 1Revenger1 said:

I have tried to unlock some of the stuff there, although at this point I am thinking it is a BIOS lock. Here is what my settings look like: http://prntscr.com/bc3vxp

yeah if you can't do it here, you would need to edit the bios which I highly suggest against doing. Try clicking the dropdown and changing from "standard MSI" to "extended MSI".

[1Revenger1]

5 minutes ago, suchamoneypit said:

yeah if you can't do it here, you would need to edit the bios which I highly suggest against doing. Try clicking the dropdown and changing from "standard MSI" to "extended MSI".

I just tried that, and it unfortunately didn't do anything. The Reference Design also didn't change anything. I think MSi has some other utilties so I am going to see what they have real quick. I'm thinking though that it isn't possible. Thanks for trying to help though.

 

Edit: Actually looking at it, their utilities wouldn't be of help. Oh well

[Imakuni]

1 hour ago, 1Revenger1 said:

Look, I appreciate that you are trying to help, but I honestly just want to figure out how to do this and see what happens. If it preforms worse, it preforms worse and I can revert it back.

Is your card this one: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GTX-970-4GD5T-OC.html#hero-overview

 

If so, I know exactly what's going on...

[1Revenger1]

23 minutes ago, Imakuni said:

Is your card this one: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GTX-970-4GD5T-OC.html#hero-overview

 

If so, I know exactly what's going on...

No, it is this one: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GTX-970-GAMING-4G.html#hero-overview

Could be the same issue though, although I don't know how similar the two are though.

[Imakuni]

1 minute ago, 1Revenger1 said:

No, it is this one: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GTX-970-GAMING-4G.html#hero-overview

Nvm then.

[1Revenger1]

1 minute ago, Imakuni said:

Nvm then.

 

I know the issue isn't probably the same, but I'm just curious, what was wrong with the other card?

[Imakuni]

Just now, 1Revenger1 said:

 

I know the issue isn't probably the same, but I'm just curious, what was wrong with the other card?

That other one has problems with the power delivery system; it can't even hold the clocks at stock, let alone OC at all.

 

But this is specific to the armor Gtx 970. The Gaming 4g is unaffected.

[Vellinious]

5 hours ago, 1Revenger1 said:

So I have been endeavoring to overclock my graphics card, and found that it overclocked best and was best stable with no voltage being added. I was curious as to see if I was to undervolt my card just a little bit to see if it would add any benefit. In MSI afterburner and PrecisionX though, I can only add voltage, not force it to use less volts without using the power limiter. I was wandering if there was anything I can do to try this. And if there isn't, I guess 1500 MHz is pretty dang good in my books :).

 

Thanks

If you're using the stock air cooler on Maxwell, it is possible that lowering the voltage may help you achieve higher clocks.  With lower temps come the possibility that you could achieve higher clocks.  Won't know until you try.

[Levant]

On 6/4/2016 at 9:35 AM, Imakuni said:

That other one has problems with the power delivery system; it can't even hold the clocks at stock, let alone OC at all.

 

But this is specific to the armor Gtx 970. The Gaming 4g is unaffected.

Hey I'm using gtx 970 4gd5t oc, so do you know how to fix that problem?