OC Gigabyte GTX970 Windforce 3x + BIOS MOD

[rul3s]

A week ago I published the overclocking results of my 4790k, well now I already have the oc results of my graphics card ready, a Gigabyte GTX970 Windforce 3x OC, let's begin:

Let's remember that the base frequency of the GTX970 chip is:
Base clock: 1050MHz
Boost clock: 1178MHz
Memory (GDDR5): 7000MHz (1750MHz real)
Card Power: 145 W

This model from gigabyte has a little oc from the factory staying at:
Base clock: 1114MHz +6%
Boost clock: 1253MHz +6.3%
Memory (GDDR5): 7000MHz (No changes)
Temp Max: 64º (with a very well cooled case)

After many tests with the included sw, Gigabyte OC GURU II, I saw that I could raise 200MHz the core and it held up well, but sometimes, it did strange things. Investigating a bit I came across a thread on overclock.net in which they explain that the "step" system that it uses to progressively increase the vcore and frequency makes achieving a stable oc quite complicated, so they recommend modifying the bios to eliminate the intermediate states and the boost, leaving the graphics card in only 2 states, 2D and 3D, and while we're at it, increase the TDP and the maximum VCORE.
So what you have to do is save a backup of the stock bios with GPU-Z, and then with the Maxwell II BIOS Tweaker modify these parameters.
We also have to thank the forum member Mr. Dark from overclock.net who has a thread where he offers to make these modifications to people who ask for it, I myself, not having much time, asked him to do it for me and it worked 100%, so I modified the bios removing the steps of the boost mode, increasing the TDP, the vcore up to 1.275 (the maximum before was 1.225) and setting the frequencies to 1504/7800 gpu/mems respectively.

Once the new bios was mounted I was surprised that it is 100% stable, I didn't expect it considering that it's not a G1, and that in addition I can finally oc it a little more until reaching:

Base clock: 1575MHz +33.7% +397Mhz
Boost clock: eliminated
Memory (GDDR5): 7800MHz +11.4% +800MHz
Maximum temperature: 68º
Maximum card power: 168W

To check that everything was stable I ran it for 1h with MSI Kombustor and then 4 stress tests of 3DMark, FireStrike, FireStrike Ultra, FireStrike Extreme and Sky diver.

Finally, a comparison of the before oc and after, both are my scores from 3DMark:

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/spy/638033/spy/581881#

Best regards and I hope it serves as help if anyone is interested/thinking about oc their graphics card of maxwell architecture (960,970,980).

[Fassou]

Very interesting :nerd:

But not a single sad screenshot of a game to make us eager

Any FPS or car game in which you have noticed a special improvement?

Bye! Gamer!

[rul3s]

@Fassou Well, right now I'm playing Overwatch and of course, with a 144hz screen I have to make sure the framerate > 144hz...
Before the OC in graphics in something and fullhd resolution, I was going about 150-180fps, now I'm going about 170-200fps hehe.

For csgo it doesn't matter, I always go full throttle with 300fps xD

[Juanreyes2493]

@rul3s hello friend maybe you have some time but I read your experience with the oc of the gtx 970 and I'm interested in getting the same results..would it be too much trouble for you to send me the same bios that you mentioned here please thanks in advance and regards