Exactly as the title says, this is a OCing guide for ATi\\Nvidia graphics cards. There is quite a lot of stuff so instead of just listing it all i'll make various posts from basic techniques to advanced hoodwinking
Well being the first post in this thread as you can probably guess this is the Basic Techniques part of the guide.
What IS overclocking?
^^ I know, I know but some people really are THAT n00bish
Overclocking, to keep it simple, is where a particular component (weather it be a processor or otherwise) is where it is run faster than manufacturer default speeds.
HOW can I overclock?
The most commonly used method is software overclocking.
Where can I get software overclocking utilities \\ what overclocking utilities are best?
Use www.google.com to find these overclockers (saves me linking to them see
)
Powerstrip - This is largely free but requires you to PAY
in order to activate the more advanced features. Overall I would rate this software 3 out of 10 as its nothing special and does not really do anything more than various other software overclockers do which are 100% FREE
Powerstrip works with both ATI and Nvidia cards.
Radclocker - This is quite possibly the most simple free overclocker, it does its job and it does it well. 5\\10 just because its pretty basic. As the name suggests it only works with ATi based cards. This is also FREE!
ATItool - Some people say it's better than Rage3D, I say it's equall, as the name says it only works with ATI cards and yup, it's 100% FREE!
8\\10
Rage3D - This is it, the grand daddy of all ATi software based overclockers, has everything you could possibly want. 8\\10, FREE!
Coolbits\\Coolbits2 - This is a Nvidia software overclocker, its actually a registry hack but you can download a small file that does the registry hacks for you. Its a blindin bit of software and its all you need to overclock any Nvidia based card, 8\\10. Yup this is FREE! too
There are many other software overclockers, i've just listed what I consider to be the best software overclockers.
GAH! I messed around with my ATi\\Nvidia card with one of those software overclockers and my display fuxored up! what have I done!
You overclocked too much, don't panic just reset to default videocard speeds and start again, start by OCing <-(overclocking) the Core first, raise it in no more than 15MHz increments and test with 3Dmark2001SE \\ 3Dmark03 \\ 3Dmark05 \\ Aquamark3 for stability. If the core is unstable the tests will show it either by the display locking up (hit the reset button on your case if this happens) or "snow" being visible (white, random, flickering dots).
Once you have found the maximum stable Core OC its time to move on to the video card Memory. Follow the same procedure as before only if the memory is unstable you will see Artifacts (textures being drawn incorrectly) to correct this simply lower the memory OC.
To further boost performance for you Radeon \\ Nvidia card there are 3rd party drivers you can find which not only improve performance but also improve image quality.
For ATI based cards there is no better 3rd party driver than Omega Drivers, these drivers are also officially supported by ATI.
As for Nvidia, Starstorm drivers are probably the best, Omega also offers Nvidia based drivers, dunno how good they are though. Neither Starstorm or Omega drivers for the Nvidia card are supported by Nvidia themselves (basterds!)
EDIT! For drivers for the ATI\\Nvidia based cards visit the following sites:
For ATI Radeon chipsets:
ATI drivers -official Catalyst Drivers
For Nvidia based cards:
Nvidia drivers -official Nvidia Drivers
Misc: sites that contain both ATI and Nvidia drivers both official and 3rd party.
Guru3d
Driverheaven -Win9x\\ME\\XP\\2000 based drivers for ATI and Nvidia based cards. Omega Variants.
As people seem to have difficulty finding them on the guru3d site I will
link directly to the Nvidia Starstorm drivers.
Starstorm linky
Quick lowdown on driver types:
Catalyst - Official ATI drivers
Omega - 3rd party drivers for ATI cards, supported by ATI themselves
Forceware - Official Nvidia drivers
DNA - 3rd party drivers for ATI cards, crap drivers IMO but listed because they exist in the world...unfortunately
Starstorm - 3rd party Nvidia drivers, not supported by Nvidia themselves but easily the best drivers for any Nvidia based card.
Omega - this guy makes drivers for Nvidia cards too, not supported by Nvidia.
Well thats it for basic graphics card OCing

Well being the first post in this thread as you can probably guess this is the Basic Techniques part of the guide.

What IS overclocking?
^^ I know, I know but some people really are THAT n00bish

Overclocking, to keep it simple, is where a particular component (weather it be a processor or otherwise) is where it is run faster than manufacturer default speeds.
HOW can I overclock?
The most commonly used method is software overclocking.
Where can I get software overclocking utilities \\ what overclocking utilities are best?
Use www.google.com to find these overclockers (saves me linking to them see

Powerstrip - This is largely free but requires you to PAY


Radclocker - This is quite possibly the most simple free overclocker, it does its job and it does it well. 5\\10 just because its pretty basic. As the name suggests it only works with ATi based cards. This is also FREE!
ATItool - Some people say it's better than Rage3D, I say it's equall, as the name says it only works with ATI cards and yup, it's 100% FREE!

Rage3D - This is it, the grand daddy of all ATi software based overclockers, has everything you could possibly want. 8\\10, FREE!
Coolbits\\Coolbits2 - This is a Nvidia software overclocker, its actually a registry hack but you can download a small file that does the registry hacks for you. Its a blindin bit of software and its all you need to overclock any Nvidia based card, 8\\10. Yup this is FREE! too

There are many other software overclockers, i've just listed what I consider to be the best software overclockers.
GAH! I messed around with my ATi\\Nvidia card with one of those software overclockers and my display fuxored up! what have I done!
You overclocked too much, don't panic just reset to default videocard speeds and start again, start by OCing <-(overclocking) the Core first, raise it in no more than 15MHz increments and test with 3Dmark2001SE \\ 3Dmark03 \\ 3Dmark05 \\ Aquamark3 for stability. If the core is unstable the tests will show it either by the display locking up (hit the reset button on your case if this happens) or "snow" being visible (white, random, flickering dots).
Once you have found the maximum stable Core OC its time to move on to the video card Memory. Follow the same procedure as before only if the memory is unstable you will see Artifacts (textures being drawn incorrectly) to correct this simply lower the memory OC.
To further boost performance for you Radeon \\ Nvidia card there are 3rd party drivers you can find which not only improve performance but also improve image quality.
For ATI based cards there is no better 3rd party driver than Omega Drivers, these drivers are also officially supported by ATI.
As for Nvidia, Starstorm drivers are probably the best, Omega also offers Nvidia based drivers, dunno how good they are though. Neither Starstorm or Omega drivers for the Nvidia card are supported by Nvidia themselves (basterds!)
EDIT! For drivers for the ATI\\Nvidia based cards visit the following sites:
For ATI Radeon chipsets:
ATI drivers -official Catalyst Drivers
For Nvidia based cards:
Nvidia drivers -official Nvidia Drivers
Misc: sites that contain both ATI and Nvidia drivers both official and 3rd party.
Guru3d
Driverheaven -Win9x\\ME\\XP\\2000 based drivers for ATI and Nvidia based cards. Omega Variants.
As people seem to have difficulty finding them on the guru3d site I will
link directly to the Nvidia Starstorm drivers.
Starstorm linky
Quick lowdown on driver types:
Catalyst - Official ATI drivers
Omega - 3rd party drivers for ATI cards, supported by ATI themselves
Forceware - Official Nvidia drivers
DNA - 3rd party drivers for ATI cards, crap drivers IMO but listed because they exist in the world...unfortunately

Starstorm - 3rd party Nvidia drivers, not supported by Nvidia themselves but easily the best drivers for any Nvidia based card.
Omega - this guy makes drivers for Nvidia cards too, not supported by Nvidia.
Well thats it for basic graphics card OCing
