PiLsY
09-13-2002, 10:26 AM
Here you go guys, sussed out a core clock fix. I'll explain the fix then a bit of background info - please dont use the fix until youve read the lot.
First off install powerstrip. Reboot. Install only the overclocking part of rage3d tweak (latest version) from www.rage3d.com. Reboot again.
Now for the fix.
Run powerstrip set to not load with windows or restore settings. You can change this by going to options > preferences and unchecking the boxes.
Make sure rage3d tweak is starting with windows.
Go to the powerstrip overclocker and clock as high as it will let you go. You need to be bang on its limit here so find out to the mhz how high its letting you clock. Go to the rage3d overclocker and set your core clock 1mhz higher. Go back to powerstrip and you will now have the full range of core clock functionality. DO NOT OVERCLOCK MEMORY USING RAGE3D TWEAK.
Now for the background.
Video cards run bioses exactly like motherboards. What many people dont know though is that they also have timings just like normal motherboards. The difference is though that theyre adjusted automatically. Most of the time this doesnt matter as we would overclock using driver functionality and not video bios / PLL programming. However, powerstrip is unique (and patented) in that it communicates directly with the video card bios and uses whats best described as a Windows bios editor to change settings. This means its compatible with 99% of cards out there. Rage 3d Tweaker is like most other clocking programs in that is communicates with the driver files and sets clock speeds by tricking the bios into thinking its at default whilst setting windows clocks higher.
Now for the easy explanation of differences in clocks between pstrip and r3dtweaker. When powerstrip alters clock speeds the preprogrammed bios timings change to reflect the new core or memory clock. Much like youd do when maxing out your motherboard, you lower certain timings in order to retain stability whilst pumping up the fsb and bandwidth. For example, I can run 395mhz core and 397mhz core, but NOT 395mhz core. At 395 timings change down to retain stability. 3D Mark scores also dip noticeably (but not by a huge margin - maybe 25 points consistently over 10 tests). This means you can reach higher clocks by running lower overall timings internally on the card. This isa good thing - we all know that finding the sweet spot on anything is all about balancing timings and speed.
Driver based overclocking does NOT alter these timings as the card bios thinks its still at stock speed. This means as you increase clocks on mem and core youll reach lower overall speed due to retaining the tight stock timings. This is why I said above that you should NOT use rage 3d tweak to OC. Youll find the timings will not change down as you increase clocks from what powerstrip set. Youre best off doing your memory oc with powerstrip alone as it works flawlessly, and using rage3dtweaker to "nudge" through the sticky spot youre encountering on powerstrip. It will negatively affect your oc if you use rage3d tweaker alone.
Hope that helps a few of you out and clears up any questions as to why you should use powerstrip and not any software based overclocker.
PiLsY.
First off install powerstrip. Reboot. Install only the overclocking part of rage3d tweak (latest version) from www.rage3d.com. Reboot again.
Now for the fix.
Run powerstrip set to not load with windows or restore settings. You can change this by going to options > preferences and unchecking the boxes.
Make sure rage3d tweak is starting with windows.
Go to the powerstrip overclocker and clock as high as it will let you go. You need to be bang on its limit here so find out to the mhz how high its letting you clock. Go to the rage3d overclocker and set your core clock 1mhz higher. Go back to powerstrip and you will now have the full range of core clock functionality. DO NOT OVERCLOCK MEMORY USING RAGE3D TWEAK.
Now for the background.
Video cards run bioses exactly like motherboards. What many people dont know though is that they also have timings just like normal motherboards. The difference is though that theyre adjusted automatically. Most of the time this doesnt matter as we would overclock using driver functionality and not video bios / PLL programming. However, powerstrip is unique (and patented) in that it communicates directly with the video card bios and uses whats best described as a Windows bios editor to change settings. This means its compatible with 99% of cards out there. Rage 3d Tweaker is like most other clocking programs in that is communicates with the driver files and sets clock speeds by tricking the bios into thinking its at default whilst setting windows clocks higher.
Now for the easy explanation of differences in clocks between pstrip and r3dtweaker. When powerstrip alters clock speeds the preprogrammed bios timings change to reflect the new core or memory clock. Much like youd do when maxing out your motherboard, you lower certain timings in order to retain stability whilst pumping up the fsb and bandwidth. For example, I can run 395mhz core and 397mhz core, but NOT 395mhz core. At 395 timings change down to retain stability. 3D Mark scores also dip noticeably (but not by a huge margin - maybe 25 points consistently over 10 tests). This means you can reach higher clocks by running lower overall timings internally on the card. This isa good thing - we all know that finding the sweet spot on anything is all about balancing timings and speed.
Driver based overclocking does NOT alter these timings as the card bios thinks its still at stock speed. This means as you increase clocks on mem and core youll reach lower overall speed due to retaining the tight stock timings. This is why I said above that you should NOT use rage 3d tweak to OC. Youll find the timings will not change down as you increase clocks from what powerstrip set. Youre best off doing your memory oc with powerstrip alone as it works flawlessly, and using rage3dtweaker to "nudge" through the sticky spot youre encountering on powerstrip. It will negatively affect your oc if you use rage3d tweaker alone.
Hope that helps a few of you out and clears up any questions as to why you should use powerstrip and not any software based overclocker.
PiLsY.