Learning learn how to overclock your graphics card will be the distinction between playable framerates and falling simply quick.
While it is not the silver bullet it was once with older GPUs that had far much less (and slower) VRAM on a lot smaller reminiscence buses, it could nonetheless be a stellar useful resource to make use of, offered you are conscious of the efficiency benefits and the dangers that may come together with it.
Namely, that overclocking even the perfect graphics playing cards can see elevated efficiency at the price of greater warmth output and energy draw, so you may need to ensure you’ve received among the best PSUs on your respective GPU with not less than 100W (however ideally extra) additional overhead than you want in order that you do not run into any compatibility issues. Similarly, among the best PC circumstances (filled with followers) with respectable airflow might help to manage issues, too.
Tools & necessities
- A graphics card with an honest heatsink
- An acceptable energy provide unit
- Overclocking and monitoring software program
Quick steps for learn how to overclock a graphics card
- Download and open MSI Afterburner (or one other overclocking software program)
- Slowly improve the clock pace (which may even add to the facility restrict)
- Scale the fan pace and most voltage to inside a protected temperature vary
- Monitor your graphics card’s thermal efficiency with software program resembling NZXT CAM, Nvidia App, HWInfo, or MSI Afterburner
- Check your elevated framerates in video games with Nvidia’s in-game overlay
How to overclock a graphics card: step-by-step
1. Download and open an overclocking software program
(Image: © MSI)
Overclocking a graphics card begins with the proper software program, and a well-liked alternative stays the likes of MSI Afterburner. Originally developed for the corporate’s {hardware}, it is since been tailored by PC avid gamers due to its easy-to-use, pleasing UI, which provides you quick and correct metrics of your GPU’s voltage, clock speeds, followers, and extra. It’s been upgraded and streamlined many occasions over time, making it simpler to make use of than ever.
2. Steadily improve your GPU’s clock pace
Now comes the precise overclocking a part of the method, which entails boosting the clock pace of the GPU past its inventory capabilities, which will increase efficiency. The secret’s to do issues slowly, shifting granularly in regular increments, ensuring to keenly observe how the facility draw and (doubtless) improve the warmth output, too. Your outcomes will differ relying on what sort of cooler you’ve got received slapped in your GPU, with some AIB choices fairing higher than the default choices.
3. Scale the fan pace with the elevated voltage
You’ll discover as you improve the clock pace of your graphics card that its temperature and energy draw will improve as properly. It’s of paramount significance that you just scale your followers’ pace as much as accommodate them, which will be finished by way of MSI Afterburner itself or a devoted monitoring app resembling NZXT CAM. As your GPU’s heatsink followers spin quicker, it can imply elevated noise and a heavier energy draw, however we additionally suggest pushing your PC case followers up as properly, which will be finished out of your motherboard’s BIOS settings. You’re going to wish all of the cooling you may get, in any case.
4. Monitor your GPU’s efficiency
Once the whole lot seems stage in your GPU monitoring app of alternative, the important thing to profitable overclocking is to maintain issues constant. You’ll change into conscious of the elevated energy, warmth, and sound generated, so it’s essential to look ahead to spikes and make sure that your video card stays inside a protected temperature vary (something below 70°c / 158°f needs to be positive for extended intervals.
5. Compare your framerates in video games
(Image: © Nvidia / CD Projekt Red)
Now, for a very powerful a part of overclocking your graphics card, having fun with the additional frames on provide. Depending on the optimization of the software program, and your GPU’s VRAM, CUDA cores, and reminiscence bus width. While older GPU generations might see a lift of as much as 10% in rasterized video games in 1080p, issues are a lot completely different recently, particularly when factoring in greater resolutions like 1440p and 4K, and that is to say nothing of ray tracing, too.
You can anticipate wherever from 1 to five% elevated efficiency in right this moment’s fashionable video games. It could not sound like a lot, but it surely may very well be the distinction between hitting 60fps or 120fps relying on whether or not you are considering of utilzing DLSS/FSR/XeSS on your related GPU model.
Finals ideas
While overclocking your graphics card might not be as highly effective a useful resource because it was once with the parts, it is nonetheless a superb solution to squeeze an additional few frames out of right this moment’s demanding PC video games. It’s really useful that you just solely overclock should you’re 100% positive that you’ve the additional wattage of your PSU to deal with the additional energy draw, and that your GPU has an honest cooler (two or three followers) to deal with the additional warmth as properly.
