I have a 6800GT clocked at 420/1.14 anything past this starts to lock up and shows artifacts I was just wondering if this was because of cooling or because the card does not overclock that far?
A bit of both, they go hand in hand. Considering it starts at 350/1000, I'd say it's probably near aircooling limits.
you'll need some higher voltage. There's some guides to doing it. Basicly once you've pushed it to the highest voltage and the highest clock without artifacts and you still want more it's time for better cooling.
i wouldn't change the voltage unless you can cool the mosfets/power circuit well. My power circuit limits my 6800GT - cooling the core does nothing for the OC, and increasing the voltage just makes things worse unless i chuck a large fan over the mosfet heatsink.
The power reg on the 6800 series is poo, the 'fets on this 6800 @ 16*6 needs a reasonable CFM fan at anything above 1.3v As for the 6600, maybe try a cooling upgrade, grab a Zalmna VF700, gives a good GPU cooler, its as quiet as the VGA silencers, works a little better (imo) and you'll get some ramsinks (all be it cheap ones) too. Should get you a few more mhz at least....
Dont be like that Highland3r every one has to start one day. Either way there are a few ways to kick your card abit further. Two options are possible soft mod or volt mod the card. To get better clocks volt mod would be the best thing to do. But its a great risk, and in my own opion its not smart to start of learning to wolt mod a 6800 card. If u got an older card around start off with that. Plus there are millions of places where u can get a guide, this is a good start and then there is guru3d bonne chance
i don't see how everyone gets these high overclocks with their 6800gt. if i oc mine to 410/1.15, i get artifacts. sometimes even at 405/1.10. it's the MSI, the AGP version. can anyone help me?
The only reason I say that, is that its not something I'd recommend someone with no knowledge doing, especially to a 6800GT. Its less about the risk of the mod itself (if you are reasonable ok with a soldering iron then it should be ok) its more about the control of the mod once its on. Often the gains are low and you need better cooling (ie decent water or more) to make it worth while. The 6800's have a fairly crappy voltage regulation circuit as is, so increasing voltage isnt the best of ideas on these cards without a little knowledge of whats going on.. Cooling is the first place to look, (reverse fozzy's post and you're bang on) cool the card first, then get the mods. If the cards well cooled, then you reduce the risk of hurting it with higher voltages. Grab a decent GPU cooler (Zalman VF700 is the best IMO) and some ramsinks (zalman comes with em) stick em on and using a zalman bracket, add a 120mm fan (doesnt have to be a huge CFM, but average). Those alone should gain ~20mhz core and maybe 20+ mhz on the memory, IF cooling is the issue. Might just be that the core maxes... The last (stock cooled) GT I played with managed 427 core and 1.22 on the memory, with a 120mm fan blowing over the card. That wasnt stable, but say ~ 410/1.19 should be fine. With better cooling 430+ should be stable on the core....
True True Highland3r But I would rather recommend Watercooling then still going with air cooling. O and is it true that AGP core's are a littel different from the PCI-E ? If so that may be the reason why u cant push any further DAE JA VOO. I mean there is a huge difference in power given to a AGP and a PCI-E card.
