Overclocking Function by Nvidia

[Sam Raven]

I was looking through an online PC guide on overclocking, and it mentioned how Nvidia had this overclocking program built into its latest cards, and told us how it should be activated, mostly stuff that most of those who know about computers would know, but this as with most things on overclocking was new to me. I will say it here how it was done.
Basically, it allows you to overclock without opening your case, and has a safe optimal overclocking function for those who don't want to bust anything along the way and do it quick and safe.

This was how it was done.

Start>Run>type regedit

Opens panel, and you navigate through the subfolders HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/NVIDIACorporation/Global/NVTweak/

Then right click on the right pane of the editor => add new DWord "coolbits" => Edit and give it hexagonal value "3" => close registry editor. Then go to the Nvidia icon at the system tray icon, go to Nvidia display, then click on teh name of the monitor. And so apparently it seems this old PCI card of mine can be overclocked as well. This is what I got below.
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/9338/overclocking1zd.png (http://imageshack.us)

The above values were improved over previous rates of 250 and 275 Mhz respectively, by hitting the "Detect Optimal Frequencies" Button you can see in the pic.

The question is, is it still safe for the PC by doing it on optimal?

Other questions I need to ask, what are Core Clock Frequency (max here is 500Mhz) and Memory Clock Frequency (max here is 1 Ghz)?

[EclipseSix]

well all I know is setting the frequencys on 500 mhz and 1 ghz on an old pci video card would probably make it melt instantaneously. Each card's max speeds are different, depending on its core, heatsink and other cooling measures. You just have to resarch your card and find what other people have managed to make it to safely.

[noobman]

I'd go play an hour of Doom3 or Half Life 2, or any other intensive game before detecting the optimal value... you want to make sure that your card is about as hot as it can get before overclocking, so that you don't end up going too high and damaging it.

[EclipseSix]

^ good advice, never thought about that..

[Celeron Gamer]

I'd go play an hour of Doom3 or Half Life 2, or any other intensive game before detecting the optimal value... you want to make sure that your card is about as hot as it can get before overclocking, so that you don't end up going too high and damaging it.

Really goes down to the overclocker's personal preference eh? :) I'd never thought of that as well. But GFX cools down fast as hell.

All I do is loop 3dmark03/05 a couple times, and then play a game. :P

[noobman]

Really goes down to the overclocker's personal preference eh? :) I'd never thought of that as well. But GFX cools down fast as hell.

All I do is loop 3dmark03/05 a couple times, and then play a game. :P
I just keep the OC thing open in the background... I ctrl+alt+del out of my game and run the test right away (or at least, I did with ATi tool, when I had an ATi card)

[Sam Raven]

Pushed Memory Clock Frequency to 390Mhz to have a nice round number. I don't think I want to push the graphics card too hard just yet. The CPU would do, but when I go to the "Award BIOS Setup Utility" by pressing F2, I have a few categories. The sub categories mentioned below are those that can be accessed. The rest are just specifications and indicators you can't access as they just tell you the CPU temperature and fan speed, etc.

Main
Primary Master
Primary Slave
Secondary Master
Secondary Slave

Advanced
Plug and Play [Yes]
Reset Config Data [No]
Outboard Video Memory [8Mb]
Primary Video Adapter
PS/2 Mouse [AutoDetect]
USB L Mode Support [AutoDetect]
Supervisor Password
User Password
Local Bus IDE Adaptor => this one had options between activating both, either one, or none at all. No indications of speed adjustment of which the Bus Speed is what I am looking for....
Onboard LAN
Onboard Audio

So that was it. Other categories included Power, which had a section for fan speed and CPU temperature, and Boot and Exit. Maybe my processor is one of those unlucky ones where overclocking has been prevented by the manufacturers by some sort of Hard Code to reduce tech support calls.

[Celeron Gamer]

Pushed Memory Clock Frequency to 390Mhz to have a nice round number. I don't think I want to push the graphics card too hard just yet. The CPU would do, but when I go to the "Award BIOS Setup Utility" by pressing F2, I have a few categories. The sub categories mentioned below are those that can be accessed. The rest are just specifications and indicators you can't access as they just tell you the CPU temperature and fan speed, etc.

Main
Primary Master
Primary Slave
Secondary Master
Secondary Slave

Advanced
Plug and Play [Yes]
Reset Config Data [No]
Outboard Video Memory [8Mb]
Primary Video Adapter
PS/2 Mouse [AutoDetect]
USB L Mode Support [AutoDetect]
Supervisor Password
User Password
Local Bus IDE Adaptor => this one had options between activating both, either one, or none at all. No indications of speed adjustment of which the Bus Speed is what I am looking for....
Onboard LAN
Onboard Audio

So that was it. Other categories included Power, which had a section for fan speed and CPU temperature, and Boot and Exit. Maybe my processor is one of those unlucky ones where overclocking has been prevented by the manufacturers by some sort of Hard Code to reduce tech support calls.


LOL, that's the IDE adapter, so it wouldn't work. It's just that your BIOS doesn't have OC capability.

Tell you what, give this a shot http://www.cpuid.org/cg.php?cgid=CY28346 it may not be much, but it could still overclock your CPU somewhat in the safe range (C1 steppings is most common for SNDS).

Might not work, depends on your southbridge controller.

[Sam Raven]

LOL, that's the IDE adapter, so it wouldn't work. It's just that your BIOS doesn't have OC capability.

Tell you what, give this a shot http://www.cpuid.org/cg.php?cgid=CY28346 it may not be much, but it could still overclock your CPU somewhat in the safe range (C1 steppings is most common for SNDS).

Might not work, depends on your southbridge controller.Appreciate the help you have been giving me, man, but it seems my computer has been designed for losers. The Echo-GLA motherboard I have is not mentioned in the website. Unless I am a cockeyed person I didn't see anything resembling it. Well here are my comp specs. If you find anything opportunistic that doesn't involve a complete n00b like me having to open up my case to overclock the CPU and risk damaging other components of the motherboard (mobo), I am all ears.

My Computer, full list of specs.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&tool=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&product=241750&dest_page=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&docname=bpb11710
Thanks for all you guys' help.

[Celeron Gamer]

Appreciate the help you have been giving me, man, but it seems my computer has been designed for losers. The Echo-GLA motherboard I have is not mentioned in the website. Unless I am a cockeyed person I didn't see anything resembling it. Well here are my comp specs. If you find anything opportunistic that doesn't involve a complete n00b like me having to open up my case to overclock the CPU and risk damaging other components of the motherboard (mobo), I am all ears.

My Computer, full list of specs.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&tool=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&product=241750&dest_page=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&docname=bpb11710
Thanks for all you guys' help.


Try the one I just gave you it's also a 845GL chipset, the southbridge maybe the same. btw, it maybe somewhat risky, unless you're ready to take the risk, then I don't recommend it

[Natoksane]

Keep your core clock at 275. Lower your Mem clock about 20 mhz. Play a game and if you have no artifacts - if you dont know what they are, if you're overdoing your OC'ing you'll soon see them and will not need an explanation-

Anyways, up your mem about 10-15 mhz until you're running around 65 F -- doesn't appear your card has a temp reader so skip reading the rest of this paragraph if yours doesn't--, most cards can handle that heat, and many much higher. Though I dont want you to get too ambitious here, so keep it at those temps since you're new.

If you're afraid of your card frying itself, it wont. If the card starts running too hot the system will shut itself off. However, sometimes you can run it too hot and it'll be far too late before your system does that, but that is hard to actually do, mainly because you have to be super inexperienced and just throwing out massive clocks then playing your game. You at least are watching your clock settings. Those results Nvidia gave you by the way are pretty good. If you want, run the game on those settings. If you run into any problems, just get out of the game and lower the mem clocks about 10-15 mhz.

Anyways, keep upping your mem settings until your game starts playing a little weird, tears in the screen, artifacts, anything out of the ordinary, lower your clocks. Or, just stop when you're happy with what you've done.


I wish the Nvidia cards an an OC'ing program like ATI Tool. Man! That thing rocked. It'd find artifacts when you were OC'ing it using its built in 3D image.