Although upgrading to thebest graphics card(also know as a graphics processing unit , or GPU ) is arguably the just means to improve your microcomputer ’s 3D interpreting ability , you could eke out a small more performance from your subsist card with overclocking .
Much like a CPU , a GPU contains poker chip that with the right tweaks can work heavily and faster . That can mean better benchmark results and higher flesh per 2d in your favorite game . Although still a slight intimidating and sure as shooting not friendly to your graphic card ’s temperature , learning how to overclock your GPU is easier today than it ’s ever been . You just involve the right shaft , the right steps , and plentifulness of patience . Let us help show you how to overclock your graphics tease GPU .
A word of warning
You canoverclock a CPU , and you canoverclock RAM . But overclocking anything has built-in jeopardy . They are relatively low , but they are authoritative to consider so that you ’re well informed before starting . Overclocking anything involves the process of forcing it to perform at a faster charge per unit than it was manufactured to do so . That means you are pushing it hard and by working faster , it will get hotter and it may become less stable . That could result in crashes in the unforesightful term and over the long term , could boil down the lifespan of your particular ironware .
There ’s a chance that overclocking your hardware may evacuate your warranty too . Many maker allow it , as graphics card will throttle up and down during general usance anyhow . However , serious tweak like playing with voltages or flashing your nontextual matter card ’s BIOS are more likely to impact any warrantee you have . The respectable stake is to double check with your manufacturer whether what you ’re doing affects the warranty before begin .
Although we will do our best to guide you along the path to a faster , more muscular art card , Digital Trends accepts no liability for any problems you run into with your computer hardware along the fashion .
Overclocking a graphics posting is also only recommended for desktop PC users . Although in some case you’re able to overclock laptop GPUs — including Intel HD fries — it ’s not usually recommended due to temperature concerns .
Step 1: Get ready
Before you’re able to actually get originate overclocking your GPU , you need to get everything quick . The first step , if you do n’t know already , is figuring outwhich graphics add-in you have . To do so , you’re able to take a look at the lineup itself , or the packaging if you still have it . If that does n’t work , right - click your desktop and click either the Nvidia or AMD computer graphic context link , followed byMy RigorSystem , severally .
If you ’d rather use a manufacturer agnostic result , GPUZcan secernate you everything you need to make love about your graphics card .
Once you sleep with exactly which graphics card you ’re running , you should update to the latest graphics drivers . you could find those onNvidiaandAMD ’s web site . Upgrading them will belike require a reboot , so make trusted to come back to this guide when you ’re done , or read on before continue . Our list ofthe best GPU overclocking softwarewill assist you make the right choice .
Before starting the overclocking right , you ’ll also desire to download some useful tools to aid you along . First , you ’ll want to download the overclocking tool we ’re going to be using for this guide : MSI Afterburner . Although AMD has its own Wattman alternative and there are several other pop third - party tools , Afterburner works for just about every graphics card and offers a full retinue of features .
You ’re also going to postulate a benchmark to test the constancy of your young graphics card . A proven , lightweight benchmark isUnigine ’s Valley . We also likeFurmarkfor its build up in temperature read-out , but it ’s more of a synthetic test . If you have any game with built in benchmark you may want to have those install and to hand , so that you’re able to see what effect your raw overclocks have on carrying into action .
If you haven’tcleaned your PCin a long time , this is also a in effect prison term to do so , as any extra dust in your organisation can heavily kick in to GPU temperature spikes during overclocking . It ’s not a compulsory step but is certainly advisable before you get bulge out .
Step 2: Establish baselines
The next step in your overclocking journey is establishing baselines . You want to know your arrangement ’s standard clock speeds ( for both the kernel and memory ) , as well as its stock operating temperature ( both idle and load ) and its standard performance .
To find out those figures , near down any applications that are already running and startup MSI Afterburner . Although you may customize the facial expression of Afterburner to how you see set , to make certain we ’re all on the same page about the position of dissimilar element , locate the cogSettingsbutton and sink in it . employ the top - tab navigation arrows and selectUser Interface . Then in theUser interface shin propertiesheading , apply the drop down to selectDefault MSI Afterburner v3 tegument , and clickOK .
If you demand to , use the temperature preferences to convert readouts to Celsius or Fahrenheit depending on your preference .
The graphs on the correct - hired hand side will severalise you most of what you need to know at this distributor point . The top one is for your artwork bill of fare ’s core temperature . It can run anywhere up to 176 degree Fahrenheit without much trouble , but anything beyond that gets dangerous for your hardware and can result in crashes or even damage , so it ’s important to be mindful of your GPU ’s temperature at all times during overclocking and subsequent examination .
The other figure to be aware of are core clock and store clock . Those are the figures that we ’re going to be tweaking during overclocking . The “ Min ” numbers on those graphs are the slug speeds , while the “ Max , ” figures are the single that your graphics card will typically practice when it ’s operate hard at rendering a game or bench mark . That ’s what we need to raise to improve carrying into action .
The final number(s ) to determine out before we get overclocking for real , is an idea of your graphics card ’s performance . carry the Valley bench mark you downloaded sooner using theExtreme HDpreset , or with everything at maximal quality , fullscreen , and atSystemresolution .
mention : PressF9during the demonstration to start the benchmark .
If you need to note down some extra performance number before begin , you may also want to runFuturemark ’s 3Dmark , or any modern secret plan with its own build - in benchmarking service program , likeShadow of MordororRise of the Tomb Raider .
Step 3: Slow and steady
Overclocking might be easy today than ever before , but that does n’t mean you should rush into it headfirst . Overclocking is most successful when you take your time and take precautions along the way . Make trusted that during your baseline benchmarking that Afterburner ’s temperature graphical record does n’t show any dangerous peaks . Anything over 176 degrees Fahrenheit would suggest you need toimprove microcomputer showcase coolingfor overclocking .
Also make certain that in the Afterburner windowpane theApply overclocking as scheme inauguration , box is n’t ticked . That forces your newly designated clock speeds to startup with Windows and you do n’t want that until you have come up a stable overclock .
If you have some temperature headway , start up the Valley emphasis testing program again , but this time operate it inWindowedmode . In the Afterburner windowpane , raise the power limit to its maximum percentage — that lets your GPU draw as much power as it needs for the scope you put into it and stave off any automated throttling . It will not move the voltage put through your chip .
Make trusted Valley is run and return to the Afterburner window . Using either the slider or by typewrite in the act yourself , raise your clock speed by 10MHz . Once that ’s done , reopen the Valley window and look on for any visual “ artifacts . ” These are visual signs that your nontextual matter chip is working too intemperately and can demonstrate as petite block of miscolored picture element , or large shard - similar bands of color . If you do n’t see any of those after a minute or two , yield to the Afterburner windowpane and repeat the process .
reprise that time and again until you see artifact , or until Valley itself crashes . If you bear on thing too far , you may see a mordant screen as your art driver crashes or your intact organisation reboots . Do n’t scratch , you just went too far . telephone dial things back a yoke of steps ( 20Mhz or so ) and run Valley again . This time permit it black market through a couple of iteration . If everything is stable you ’ve plant a good maximum for your GPU .
Once you have found the limit for your effect , mention down that time value , readjust the clock to its default option and perform the same cognitive operation on the GPU ’s computer storage clock . This time you ’re looking for artefact that represent as upstanding block or blobs of color . Again , once you ’ve attain the limitation , roll back a duo of steps and do a long stability test . Once you ’ve rule your terminus ad quem , note it down and readjust everything .
Step 4: Bring it all together
Now that you have your individual maximums for both magnetic core and memory clocks , it ’s time to combine them . It ’s unlikely that you ’ll be able to use the full maximal overclock for both at the same clock time , as both put extra stress on your art scorecard , but it ’s potential . Your beneficial wager is to start at the bottom again though and upgrade both values together . Know what the upper limit is and be quick for artifacts and crashes as you set about it . As before , once you find the point of accumulation , roll back a step or two and execute longer stableness trial . you could then elevate one or the other on an individual basis if you like , to see if either , in particular , was the effort of the stableness issue .
Once you have your stable dual - maximum overclock for both nucleus and remembering , it ’s time to execute some substantial stability testing . Let the Valley test run through several times in a row , play some biz for a few hours — and keep a swell eye out for problems . If you run across any , scale back the alfilaria a exclusive footprint and start again .
Although this process can seem hard , it ’s the final big step in making sure your system can run at these clocks all day , everyday . Once you ’ve found it , you’re able to — if you like — use Afterburner to trigger these options every time your PC iron boot up .
You now have a permanent GPU overclock . To retrieve out how much of an advance you ’ve made , run all of your play benchmarks again and see what your novel scores are compared to the old ones .
Hopefully , that rise should keep you gaming at your favourite resolve and detail scene for longer .
What about voltage?
One of the ways in which you may increase stableness and viability of some core clock is by increasing the voltage pushed through the potato chip , otherwise known as Core Voltage and abbreviate in Afterburner as “ mV. ” increase voltages is disabled in Afterburner by default as it has a much greater impact on your system than other stage setting . increase potential can reduce the lifespan of your artwork card and even damage it irreparably if used irresponsibly . It can also lead to a large growth in the amount of power your computer graphic bill of fare draws , reducing the card — and by extension phone , your organisation ’s — efficiency .
Although Afterburner has its own limits that are improbable to appropriate you to stress your add-in too much , because every card is different , if you want to try out mV adjustment , do a quick Google hunting for your finicky card to find a secure limit . you’re able to enable electromotive force adjustments in the Afterburner preferences carte du jour .
With that said , use it much the same way you would frequency adjustments . Raise it in small amounts to see if it allows for a more static overclock — or increased pin grass . Regularlycheck your GPU temperatureand if you encounter any problems , scale it back . check that to quiz for stability as you did with all premature changes .
