Should You Overlock or Undervolt Your GPU?

In this comprehensive guide, I explore the considerations and methods for overclocking and undervolting your GPU, comparing the advantages and potential downsides of each approach.

Key Points

1. Introduction

   • Discussion on whether to overclock, undervolt, or leave the GPU settings unchanged.
   • Reference to a previous video on using DLSS 4 on DLSS-supported games.

2. Overclocking vs. Undervolting

   • Uncertainty about whether to recommend either overclocking or undervolting.
   • Intention to compare both approaches in this video.
   • First step: ensuring stable memory overclock before adjusting GPU core settings.

3. Memory Overclocking

   • Steps to overclock GPU memory using MSI Afterburner.
     • Adjust settings: unlock voltage control, unlock voltage monitoring.
     • Use tools like FurMark for benchmarking and stability testing.
     • Increase memory clock speed gradually, monitoring for artifacts.
   • Results:
     • Significant improvements in frame rates and frame timings.
     • Higher temperatures and power consumption as a trade-off.

4. Core Overclocking

   • Process for overclocking GPU core in MSI Afterburner.
     • Incrementally increase core clock speeds while monitoring for stability issues.
   • Stability testing involves running benchmarks such as Heaven benchmark.
   • Process requires gradual adjustments and monitoring of artifacts and crashes.

5. Benchmark Results

   • Comparison of overclocked vs. stock GPU performance using Counter-Strike 2 and Cyberpunk as examples.
   • Notable increases in FPS and frame timing in overclocked settings, but higher temperature and power consumption.

6. Undervolting

   • Detailed explanation of the undervolting process using MSI Afterburner's curve editor.
   • Undervolting reduces power consumption and heat production, and can lead to consistent clock speeds and performance.
   • While it may not offer as much performance increase as overclocking, it provides advantages in stability and lower power usage.
   • Undervolting process is detailed with voltage adjustment to lower temperatures while maintaining stability.

7. Conclusion

   • Overclocking provides better performance but at the cost of higher temperatures and power usage.
   • Undervolting offers benefits in stability, temperature, and power efficiency, despite challenges in consistency with saved settings.
   • Advises considering leaving the GPU settings stock for most users.

8. Additional Content

   • Mention of sponsoring by a company offering discounted Windows 11 licenses.
   • Potential future video on water-cooling a GPU.

These points provide an overview of the discussion and offer insights into the advantages, disadvantages, and processes involved in overclocking and undervolting GPUs.