Overclocking video card?

[808smokey]

Hi,

I have an Abit Nvidia Geforce4 Ti4400 128mb 4xAGP video card. It runs "OK" I guess but with the new games out now it's subpar to say the least. Specifically Half life two and the Day of defeatource games.

Yesterday I hacked my video card with the coolbits feature via the registry.

I can now "overclock" the frequencies

Core clock frequency default is: 275MHz
Memory clock frequency is: 552MHz

I can overclock up to:
Core clock frequency default is: 550MHz
Memory clock frequency is: 1.33Ghz

My question is...

How much is too much?? I don't want to cook/kill my video card.
I'm building a new box but in the mean time I'm trying to make the game a little better. This would be a temporary thing maybe til around christmas. I have 3 intake fans and 2 exhaust fans in the case. there's no fan on the video card at all. Should I make a duct port to go straight on the card to help in the cooling??

Currently I have all the video settings on low for HL2 and the graphics aren't all that great. It almost sucks. Plus my FPS is between 10-20 depending on what's happening in game. Also running 800x600 1024x768 is too much for that card

Thanks in advance everyone

Here's my computer specs:
Operating System: WinXP SP 1
CPU Speed: Athlon XP1800+
Harddrive space: 160g
RAM Memory: 768 PC2100
Video Card: Abit Geforce 4 Ti4400
Capture Card: WinTV PVR
Motherboard: Jetway something
DVD-ROM: Samsung
DVD Writer: NEC 1300A
Standalone DVD Player: Philips DVP-642

[redwudz]

I'd put a fan on it, at least until you can determine how much the temp is going to increase. Do 10% increments, from 275 to 300, say, and check it. If it crashes the system or the card locks up, you may have to pull the card, then plug it back it to reset to the old default speeds.

You didn't mention your refresh speed. Have you tried setting that higher first? Though if you're running at 800x600, it's probably not that high. I'd go for 70Hz or even 75, if it will let you. Anything above 60Hz is good.

Not sure how far you can push a 4X card. Depends somewhat on the onboard memory speed. Have fun.

[rallynavvie]

Really? I actually got pretty good performance from my PNY 4400 right up through FarCry. In fact I was stunned at how well my 4400 handled FarCry. I hadn't tried it with HL2, and FarCry does have a really well-optimized code for its graphics engine so perhaps it was just that it did so well for that one game. I think I played NWN with pretty good results on that card too though. And BF1942 very well, but that game was more about other system resources. Luckily for you HL2 and Source rely more on the video card.

I think you are in line for a new rig though, especially if you're a gamer.

[808smokey]

I think you are in line for a new rig though, especially if you're a gamer.

I definitly am...

I'm going to be building a new one, hopefully before X-mas, but that's a few months down the road. I'm trying to improve the performance with what I have. So far it's not too bad. It turns out most of the problems I'm having were the related to the software not my actual hardware limitations. It'll get better, I hope

Thanks

[glockjs]

if you are going to OC it you have to...i stress have to put a new fan on it. copper+AS5=good. and just like any other OC you have to watch temps and test stability

[808smokey]

Well here's a pic of my card.


It all ready has a Heat sink and fan on it. I went here: http://www.pcextreme.net/siluro.php and it says it tested this card at 300mhz and 650mhz just fine for 120 hours.
Compared to the stock speeds of:
Core clock frequency default is: 275MHz
Memory clock frequency is: 552MHz

I'm gonna try that setting and see how it goes.

I forgot how much I paid for this card

the Siluro Ti4400 is going for about $240.00 USD

That was back in 2002