Nvidia video card tweaks and tools

[fsgregs]

Hi everyone:

I have just installed a new Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX card into my new system, and I want to be able to moderately overclock it, and test its stability from time to time. About a year ago, I downloaded some software that provides screens to overclock the card, and to run stability tests. It is on my old system and I discarded the installer file. I don't recall what website I got it from. I have been to Nvidia.com and cannot find that software for download. I found a software download on Nvidia.com called "6.03 Nvidia System tools" and installed it. It does have overclocking ability, but it does not have any system test or stability test controls.

Is there a favorite Nvidia tool that you all feel is the one we should all use to tweak Nvidia cards, overclock them and run stability tests?

I'd appreciate your advice.

Thanks

[ANDREA]

Frank, for overclocking my Nvidia 8800 GTX I use the freeware ATITool_0.26.exe that, though its name suggests the contrary, works equally well on ATI and Nvidia cards.
Give a look here
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/
My little cent.
Bye

Andrea

[BobHegwood]

Can the Brain-Dead ask of what use this is?
Please keep in mind that I know absolutely nothing about this technology.

Of what advantage is it to "over-clock" your Nvidia video card?
Thanks, Bob

[jogad]

Hello

With an already so fast graphic card I am really curious to know why do you want absolutely overclock it!?

[fsgregs]

Why do I want to overclock the card? That is a good question. In addition to Celestia (which will not need me to do anything with the card), I play a lot of fast computer games in my spare time. For a 60 yr old geezer, I am one hell of a first-person shooter. Anyway, I have never overclocked anything before, but in checking out performance of video cards on several benchmark sites before selecting the 9800 GTX, virtually everyone who is into gaming was overclocking even their fast cards.

I loaded one of the newer games onto my new system, and although it ran fine in most places, there were several severe slowdowns on my system when the game was displaying a lot of events occurring simultaneously. So ... I thought I'd give overclocking a try, considering that I have the CPU and power supply to handle it. I can always return everything to normal if it doesn't work out well.

Thus, my request for advice on which software will (1) allow me to overclock my card just a bit (nothing radical), and (2) will allow me to test stability by running some internal stability tests. I know there is a Nvidia software pkg for free out there somewhere that will do both. I just don't recall its name or where to get it. I can't seem to locate it on Nvidia.com.

[ANDREA]

Hello. With an already so fast graphic card I am really curious to know why do you want absolutely overclock it!?

Jogad, I have both CPU and graphic Card overclocked because I love absolutely fluid motions, and if you have ever played Chrysis and/or Chrysis Warhead, as I often do, you surely understand the reason why I prefer so.
Bye

Andrea

[jogad]

oh!

I have never played these games. I wonder if I am normal?
Excuse my stupid question and thank you for responding anyway.
 

[ANDREA]

oh! I have never played these games. I wonder if I am normal?
Excuse my stupid question and thank you for responding anyway.
 

You are welcome, jogad.
Bye

Andrea

[BobHegwood]

Back to the original question though...
I investigated Andrea's link, but that software is apparently
not a solution for a Vista 64-bit system. Does anyone know if
there is a solution available for my particular system?

Thanks again, Brain-Dead

[Reiko]

Back to the original question though...
I investigated Andrea's link, but that software is apparently
not a solution for a Vista 64-bit system. Does anyone know if
there is a solution available for my particular system?

Thanks again, Brain-Dead

Trey this one http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163

Just remember if you overclock your card then be sure to increase the fan speed.

[BobHegwood]

Hey, thanks a lot for that link Reiko...
All kinds of interesting information to be had there.
Much appreciated.

Thanks again, Brain-Dead Bob

[LordFerret]

You could also take a look here (http://www.xbitlabs.com/), do a search for your card and the word "overclock". That's how I found info (even) for my old Riva TNT2 Ultra.

[jogad]

Hi

I learn a lot with you!

Does anyone know if there is a solution available for my particular system?

For you and all of you who have an Nvidia based machine and are not geek enough to search for exotic software, I found a link to the Nvidia System Tools Software at the bottom of the official NVidia driver update page.

This is the tool of your dreams.
Take the opportunity to update your graphic driver. The new release (181) seems to be better and faster than the last ones.

[BobHegwood]

For you and all of you who have an Nvidia based machine and are not geek enough to search for exotic software, I found a link to the Nvidia System Tools Software at the bottom of the official NVidia driver update page.

This is the tool of your dreams.
Take the opportunity to update your graphic driver. The new release (181) seems to be better and faster than the last ones.

Appreciate it...

[fsgregs]

Jogad:

Thanks for the tip. I did download the software a few days ago. It does indeed allow me to overclock the card if I wish. However, for some strange reason, this software (formerly called "NTune"), no longer displays an option to run stress and stability tests on the video card. NTune used to offer that screen. I have run across references to a registry edit that can be done to activate that particular feature in the tools, but have not yet found out what the edit is. I'm calling Nvidia to ask them.

If I can turn that on, then this software will do the trick nicely.

I'll keep you informed.

Frank

[fsgregs]

I just visited Nvidia's own forum and was rather shocked to discover that everyone on that forum is bad-mouthing Nvidia's new System Tools software - the one that offers overclocking, etc. and is supposed to be an improvement over its old NTune software. Seems it can really screw up card timing. Here is the link:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=85547&hl=Nvidia+System+Tools

I guess I'll uninstall it and reconsider overclocking anything. If I still go with tweaking, it seems lots of folks like some free app called Riva Tuner. I will also download ATI Tool, as Andrea recommended.

Thanks for everything, guys

Frank

[Johaen]

I always use RivaTuner for setting my overclocks. It has really nice graphs that show realtime core temps, memory usage, clock speeds, and other fanciness. It doesn't have any sort of stability tests, but it's best to do that manually anyway. 3dMark06 is a good stress test for the video card. Or you can try 3dMark Vantage if you have Vista. (I'm sticking with XP for now.)