GPU Overclocking Question

[Guest]

In order to overclock a GPU, do you need some type of overclocking capable motherboard for it or can you just use any other motherboard? I assume you can use just about any motherboard, but I figure I'd check to be sure. 

[Princess Luna]

GPUs are still like CPUs back in the day, any motherboard can overclock them [:

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Princess Cadence said:

GPUs are still like CPUs back in the day, any motherboard can overclock them [:

?

[SaladFingers]

Yep motherboard doesn't really matter. The GPU draws power directly from the PSU (for the most part) and thus you don't need to fiddle with any voltage settings on the board itself. Easy way would be to use overclocking software like Afterburner, or more advanced would be flashing custom roms (made by you or others) directly into the card's firmware. But there shouldn't be a need for the latter nor is it possible with all cards.

[Princess Luna]

4 minutes ago, IAmLamp said:

?

During the Intel Core 2Duo 2Quad eras, and before, you could overclock your CPU on any motherboard you wanted to thus why the old rule that you should always OC your CPU for free gains was born, sure that isn't the case any longer as overclocking now costs a lot rather than being free gains.

 

Nonetheless GPUs still can be overclocked on any motherboard you have, yet... who knows if nVidia and AMD won't lock it to specific motherboard someday, better take advantage of it now [:

[Guest]

3 hours ago, SaladFingers said:

Yep motherboard doesn't really matter. The GPU draws power directly from the PSU (for the most part) and thus you don't need to fiddle with any voltage settings on the board itself. Easy way would be to use overclocking software like Afterburner, or more advanced would be flashing custom roms (made by you or others) directly into the card's firmware. But there shouldn't be a need for the latter nor is it possible with all cards.

Thanks for the clarification. I know overclockable CPUs require an overclockable capable motherboard, so I wasn't sure if the same reasoning applied exactly. 

[SaladFingers]

1 minute ago, IAmLamp said:

Thanks for the clarification. I know overclockable CPUs require an overclockable capable motherboard, so I wasn't sure if the same reasoning applied exactly. 

You're welcome. You are right about CPUs, though most of the time there's still some amount of overclocking that can be done even on basic motherboards. But yeah GPUs are more.. "self contained". Just make sure you pair it with a quality PSU (for safety purposes) and you're good to go!

[Morgan MLGman]

1 minute ago, SaladFingers said:

But yeah GPUs are more.. "self contained".

That's because a GPU is essentially something like a small computer inside of your computer that's dedicated only to one purpose

[SaladFingers]

4 minutes ago, Morgan MLGman said:

That's because a GPU is essentially something like a small computer inside of your computer that's dedicated only to one purpose

Yep  People have actually made complete server nodes using "daisy chained" GPUs hehe. It's a complete computer with dedicated processor and memory, etc.

[Princess Luna]

4 minutes ago, SaladFingers said:

Yep  People have actually made complete server nodes using "daisy chained" GPUs hehe. It's a complete computer with dedicated processor and memory, etc.

Next time I'll just answer a short "yes" without trying to explain or say say any trivia maybe I'll get best answer too instead of a rude "?"

[SaladFingers]

Just now, Princess Cadence said:

Next time I'll just answer a short "yes" without trying to explain or say say any trivia maybe I'll get best answer too instead of a rude "?"

Hahaha... You can have the "best answer"  This shouldn't be a contest, we're all here to help others and discuss things.