Overclocking
Testing notes & interpretation- Unless specifically noted in the text above, overclocking results listed in this section are achieved with the default settings for fan, power, voltage, etc. We choose this approach as it is the most realistic scenario for most users, while still maximizing the potential performance of the card.
- Each GPU, including each GPU of the same make and model, will overclock slightly differently based on random production variances.
- The data in this table shows comparable overclocks using identical conditions from previous TechPowerUp reviews.
- The Average GPU clock frequency reported in the table is an actual measurement of the clock speeds during 3DMark Time Spy Extreme GT1. Making a "maximum overclock" comparison just based on the "rated" clocks in GPU-Z will be inaccurate—actual frequencies is what matters.
Using these clock frequencies, we ran a quick test of 3DMark Time Spy GT1 to evaluate the gains from overclocking.
Power Limits
All NVIDIA graphics cards have a power limit defined in the BIOS, which limits power draw by adjusting Boost frequencies accordingly. A second limit exists that defines the maximum TDP adjustment limit for user overclocking; i.e., how far the power slider will go. In the second chart, the (+xx%) value lists the percentage increase from the tested card's default power limit to the highest available manual setting—the slider's adjustment range.