Advice on GPU Overclock

[perfectlydiverse]

I just bought a EVGA GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked. I've been working on a stable overclock and I've run into an issue that I'm not sure is normal. I'm new to the GPU overclocking game, so please educate me.

First, Specs:

Intel i7 3770k

Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH

Seagate 1TB 7200rpm (I forget the model)

8GB (2x4GB) Team Vulkan DDR3 1600 (Dual Channel)

EVGA GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked

 

I've been using Heaven Benchmark looping for ~30min in 4k Ultra to test and MSI Afterburner to OC.

All OC are set with Power Limit maxed at 120%, Temp Limit maxed at 92 c and fan speed at 90%.

 

My process by the numbers:

 

(No Overclock) : Stable

Core Clock = 2000MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 51 c

Hit Limit = Voltage

 

(+30 Core Offset) : Stable

Core Clock = 2038MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 49 c

Hit Limit = Voltage

 

(+50 Core Offset) : Stable

Core Clock = 2063MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 49 c

Hit Limit = Voltage

 

(+70 Core Offset) : Stable

Core Clock = 2063MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

Hit Limit = Voltage

 

Next I pushed the Core Clock just +10 to a +80 Core Offset. This crashed after about 10min. So I upped the voltage +10%... no change, Voltage Limit Hit. +20... same. +30... still crashes but Voltage Limit has not been hit.

 

So I thought let me back off and see if I can get the +70 Core Offset to run without hitting the Voltage Limit. So Results were as follows:

+70 Core Offset, +10% Voltage = Stable

Max Voltage = 1.062mV

Hit Limit = Voltage

Core Clock = 2063MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

 

+70 Core, +20% V = Stable

Max Voltage = 1.062mV

Hit Limit = Voltage

Core Clock = 2063MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

 

+70 Core, +30% V = Unstable (crashes after ~15min)

Max Voltage = 1.062mV

Hit Limit = Voltage, Power (only momentarily a few moments before crash)

Core Clock = 2063MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

 

So just to push I tried once more:

 

+70 Core, +40% V = Unstable (crashed after ~25min)

Max Voltage = 1.062mV

Hit Limit = Voltage, (Few/Sporadic Power)

Core Clock = 2063MHz (2076MHz before hitting V Limit)

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 54 c

 

+70 Core, +50% V = Unstable (mini crash after ~10min, recovered, mini crashed again after another ~5min, recovered, fully crashed after 25min)

Max Voltage = 1.075mV

Hit Limit = Power (only momentarily a few moments before a mini crash), Voltage (only after both mini crashes)

Core Clock = 2063MHz (2076MHz before hitting V Limit)

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

 

+70 Core, +60% V = Unstable (crashed after ~10min)

Voltage = 1.075mV

Hit Limit = Power (only momentarily a few moments before crash)

Core Clock = 2076MHz

Mem Clock = 5006MHz

Temp = 52 c

 

So seeing all that data, what do you think is the issue. Is my card just unable to maintain 2076MHz? Is the voltage causing increased instability rather than greater stability, or do you think the Power Limit is the culprit? Should I just accept that my card can't handle an increased voltage and accept a 2063MHz Core Clock?

 

GPU-Z log file is attached below

Let me know if I'm missing something or if I'm just being a rookie. Thanks

GPU-Z Sensor Log.txt

[r2724r16]

What's the power limit percentage you hit under load?

[Mick Naughty]

4 out of the 5 1080’s I’ve over clocked, have hit over 2100. 3 if the 4 hit power and voltage limit the whole time at that point. Doubt it’s power. 

[perfectlydiverse]

On 5/26/2018 at 12:53 PM, Rasbir Singh said:

What's the power limit percentage you hit under load?

Peak was about 118-119%, average probably 110-114%

 

Today I tested VRAM OC max separately from Core Clock max using heaven windowed in 1080p ultra everything. I can ramp up the VRAM +1000 at 0% Voltage, with no visible artifacts, though I've noticed my core clock seems to suffer a bit due to hitting voltage and power limits more often when I do that. Core Voltage +100% helps that a bit, but +700 VRAM doesn't dip the clock speed as much, both with Voltage at +0 or +100%.

 

Putting VRAM back to +0 I started testing core clock +10 at a time looking for artifacts and crashes. Side note: All this testing is with Power Limit maxed at 120% and Temp Limit maxed at 92 c. I got to +60 core clock with no problems or artifacts, but as soon as I hit +70 (or +65, which does the same as +70 to my total core clock) it crashes pretty quickly. I tried adding voltage +10 at a time, but no change all the way up to +100%, it crashes no matter what. I never hit more than 57 c temp.
 

So now I'm running stable (except on test 2 of Firestrike in 1080p for some reason) with Core Clock +60, Mem Clock +700, and Voltage +100% which only hit a peak 1.081x. I only ever hit max 1.092x when above +70 Core Clock. So Max Core Clock is 2063MHz, Mem Clock 5702MHz, and max Temp is 57 c.

Edited May 27, 2018 by perfectlydiverse

[Mick Naughty]

Any reason you even want to overclock? Having owned 5 1080’s and a 3770k what use would it be to you?

[perfectlydiverse]

2 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

Any reason you even want to overclock? Having owned 5 1080’s and a 3770k what use would it be to you?

Just to squeeze out a bit more performance. I'm using it on a 4k oled tv sometimes, so the extra headroom in performance helps keep things moving without too many concessions on quality.

[Mick Naughty]

2 minutes ago, perfectlydiverse said:

Just to squeeze out a bit more performance. I'm using it on a 4k oled tv sometimes, so the extra headroom in performance helps keep things moving without too many concessions on quality.

I don’t notice anything with an oc. Only makes a 5 frame difference at 1080. Most of the games I play, all three of my cpus are too weak for the card. 

[perfectlydiverse]

I got about a 7 frame increase from what I've got now. It's not much, but it took my 4k gaming on medium settings from ~52fps to ~60fps. So I've found the improvement beneficial.

[Srnewbee]

instead of upping the core, have you tried upping the memory speed. I think upping the memory speed will give you a large gain in fps.

[perfectlydiverse]

22 hours ago, Srnewbee said:

instead of upping the core, have you tried upping the memory speed. I think upping the memory speed will give you a large gain in fps.

I can up the Mem to +1000 with little issue, but not without causing more issues with voltage and power limits lowering my core clock. I've just settled that what I've got is what I've got. My current overclock is stable in some games, while other games just don't play well with afterburner open at all, even at stock settings.