Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it?

~~scurvy~~ · Feb 20, 2009, 08:00 AM

I had an Asus 8800 Ultra, and it was running perfectly heavily overclocked, then I replaced my existing PSU with an Asus 550 which I thought would be better but turned out it was real shitty PSU, with not enough amps on the +12 rail and soon after my Ultra burned out.

Now iam not sure whether its the OCing that burnt it out or the shitty PSU, but iam leaning toward the latter.

Now Asus has sent me a brand new replacement Ultra (which also runs cooler than the first) and I having the OCing urge again.

In the meantime I have upgraded my PSU to a high quality Asus 750W unit (made by Delta) with plenty of amps on the +12.

So I was wondering if I crank up the clocks on my card , with the PSU problem solved, is it still possible to permanently damage the card by OCing alone, even if the temps are reasonable???

Also should I leave the core and shader linked or can I OC them separately??

Thanks,
Scurv

Partizan · Feb 20, 2009, 10:22 AM

First of all, if you don't raise the voltage, it's very hard to destroy your card. It's true though, that higher clocks can shorten the life of your card (from 10 years to 9 for example. Not relevant really).

As long as you don't raise the voltage, and the temperatures are normal, you shouldn't worry.

You can separately OC core and shader, but I suggest you leave them linked. No point in OC one of them. Better OC them both linked for just a little. You'll gain more.

~~scurvy~~ · Feb 20, 2009, 02:37 PM

thats good to hear.

Just Learnin' · Feb 20, 2009, 04:23 PM

I had 2 XFX 8800 Ultra XXX cards fail, I had overclocked both and didn't overvolt either. IMO the Ultra's were at the ragged edge of their abilities from factory and if you don't want another long wait due to an RMA I wouldn't push this one too hard.

GigaWatt · Feb 20, 2009, 09:36 PM

i don't think that you can permanently damage your GFX card with OCing... as far as i know, most OCing applications have a Test button to evaluate if the current OCing profile can be applied or not... so there is nothing serious to worry about...

procupine14 · Feb 20, 2009, 09:43 PM

In my experience with graphic cards OC'd you don't really run a huge risk of damaging the card if your temps are within reasonable values at idle and full load. I have never ruined a card yet from OCing so I'd say you'll be fine. I do, however, agree that it WILL shorten the overall lifespan of the card but you most likely will have replaced it by that time. Perfect example of what a junk PSU does to a system.

Mac Daddy · Feb 21, 2009, 01:26 AM

I have never seen a video card damaged as a result of overclocking (overvolting is a different story).

On the 88xx series in general they are pigs and run very hot often stock cooling isn't enough to overclock them much.

Feb 20, 2009, 08:00 AM	#1
~~scurvy~~ So Cutesy Wootsy Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 241 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? I had an Asus 8800 Ultra, and it was running perfectly heavily overclocked, then I replaced my existing PSU with an Asus 550 which I thought would be better but turned out it was real shitty PSU, with not enough amps on the +12 rail and soon after my Ultra burned out. Now iam not sure whether its the OCing that burnt it out or the shitty PSU, but iam leaning toward the latter. Now Asus has sent me a brand new replacement Ultra (which also runs cooler than the first) and I having the OCing urge again. In the meantime I have upgraded my PSU to a high quality Asus 750W unit (made by Delta) with plenty of amps on the +12. So I was wondering if I crank up the clocks on my card , with the PSU problem solved, is it still possible to permanently damage the card by OCing alone, even if the temps are reasonable??? Also should I leave the core and shader linked or can I OC them separately?? Thanks, Scurv

Feb 20, 2009, 10:22 AM	#2
Partizan Fun loving criminal Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,182 Rep Power: 62 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? First of all, if you don't raise the voltage, it's very hard to destroy your card. It's true though, that higher clocks can shorten the life of your card (from 10 years to 9 for example. Not relevant really). As long as you don't raise the voltage, and the temperatures are normal, you shouldn't worry. You can separately OC core and shader, but I suggest you leave them linked. No point in OC one of them. Better OC them both linked for just a little. You'll gain more. __________________ Live and let live!

Feb 20, 2009, 02:37 PM	Thread Starter #3
~~scurvy~~ So Cutesy Wootsy Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 241 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? thats good to hear.

Feb 20, 2009, 04:23 PM	#4
Just Learnin' HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 1,414 Rep Power: 56 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? I had 2 XFX 8800 Ultra XXX cards fail, I had overclocked both and didn't overvolt either. IMO the Ultra's were at the ragged edge of their abilities from factory and if you don't want another long wait due to an RMA I wouldn't push this one too hard.

Feb 20, 2009, 09:36 PM	#5
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? i don't think that you can permanently damage your GFX card with OCing... as far as i know, most OCing applications have a Test button to evaluate if the current OCing profile can be applied or not... so there is nothing serious to worry about... __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Feb 20, 2009, 09:43 PM	#6
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? In my experience with graphic cards OC'd you don't really run a huge risk of damaging the card if your temps are within reasonable values at idle and full load. I have never ruined a card yet from OCing so I'd say you'll be fine. I do, however, agree that it WILL shorten the overall lifespan of the card but you most likely will have replaced it by that time. Perfect example of what a junk PSU does to a system. __________________ HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Feb 21, 2009, 01:26 AM	#7
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: Can OCing ur Graphics Card Permananetly damage it? I have never seen a video card damaged as a result of overclocking (overvolting is a different story). On the 88xx series in general they are pigs and run very hot often stock cooling isn't enough to overclock them much. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen