Solved Is the Sapphire Raedon R9 280X overclocked or...

[Aurondium]

Is the Sapphire Raedon R9 280X 3Gig GDDR5 already overclocked or is it just that it can be overclocked if desired.

I have no desire to overclock and therefore have not installed a heat sink beyond the standard fan that came with my i5 processor.

Forgive my simple question.

I have an MSI H87-G43 motherboard and 8 Gig of Ram with Windows 7 HP 64 bit.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Depends Vapor X or Toxic version both of them can be clocked a little more

 

[ShamrockRig]

Which one? They have a few variations buddy.

Sapphire Radeon R9 280X VAPOR-X AMD Graphics Card - 3GB - 11221-02-40G - Scan.co.uk

Sapphire Radeon R9 280X Dual-X OC 3GB AMD PCI Express Graphics Card - 11221-00-20G - Scan.co.uk

Sapphire Radeon R9 280X Dual-X OC 3GB AMD PCI Express Graphics Card - 11221-00-40G - Scan.co.uk

Sapphire TOXIC 3GB R9 280X AMD Radeon Graphics Card - 11221-01-40G - Scan.co.uk

You will struggle to find a gpu from a 3rd party supplier that isn't overclocked in comparison to the reference card.

 

[Aurondium]

Thank you for taking time to reply, Solarstarshines.

The box (AMD) says 'Overclock edition' but does that mean it is already overclocked or that it is simply capable of being overclocked. What I'm looking for really is assurance that my existing set up is safe using this graphics card.

 

[Aurondium]

My mistake. This one-
Sapphire Radeon R9 280X Dual-X OC 3GB AMD PCI Express Graphics Card - 11221-00-20G - Scan.co.uk


That's the code on the side of the box but the pictures are a tad different and there is asticker on the top left saying 'UEFI ready -optimised for windows 8. Compatible with Motherboards that comply with UEFI specification 2.3.1 or after

The whole code on side reads- R9 280X 3G GDDR5 PCI-E DVI-I/DVI-D/HDMI/DP Dual-X OC version (UEFI)

Sorry to bother you guys like this.

 

[ShamrockRig]

Sapphire Radeon R9 280X VAPOR-X AMD Graphics Card - 3GB - 11221-02-40G - Scan.co.uk Id go with this one, its better than the card you chose in Ram speed, GPU speed, and Boost speed and is also cheaper. OC means the card HAS been overclocked from the standard reference card

 

[Aurondium]

Cheaper, Devlin.. I love it.

Only thing is I bought it in January and installed it a day or so ago- just haven't used Driver disc yet..

Thank you so much. I guess I'm advised to open up the case I shut a couple of hours ago remove the card and fork out for a new one. That's the price of experience, eh?

Anyone able to use the OC 280X?

Thanks again from Aberdeen.

 

[Aurondium]

Can I just have a final double check - is it overclocked to such an extent that I shouldn't risk it in my exisitng system?

 

[Solarstarshines]

Typically any card can be pushed just depends on the PBC and Bios afforded to the GPU for Overclocking stability

The best way to find out your Version is to read reviews on it ,Reviews of overclocking and Temps

Most Saphire Models will do really good Overclocks but keep in mind higher tier cards in the same Category are made with the intent to Overclock hope that clears up some of the process on which cards are better for Overclocks

 

[Solarstarshines]

This should tell you everything Sapphire AMD Radeon R9 280X Vapor-X OC 3GB Graphics Card Review

 

[ShamrockRig]

Nah the one you have is still a top card! Only the one i showed you was a tiny bit faster, not worth ripping out and forking out on a new one!

 

[Aurondium]

Thanks, Devlin. Appreciate your help, but I'm still left with unanswered question.

Is it safe for me to use the OC card with my present system where I only have the three built in Corsair case fans and the standard fan that came with the i5 processor- i.e., I have no heat sink like EVO. The card has two fans, too, if I recall correctly.

I do possess an Evo hyper 212 heat sink - I just decided not to fit it because I hadn't twigged the sapphire card was overclocked.

Are you suggesting I could leave my system as is and use the card (without overclocking it any farther, which I have no interest in doing) or do you feel it preferable I take my build apart and fit the EVO? I don't know what heat the card might develop and the review stuff is gobbledygook to me.



It's my first build, I'm long in the tooth, and I'm taking wee steps at a time. Appreciate all the help here and will decide what to do once I've chewed all your advice over.

My new build system specs are above- not in the My System specs link below.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Thanks, Devlin. Appreciate your help, but I'm still left with unanswered question.

Is it safe for me to use the OC card with my present system where I only have the three built in Corsair case fans and the standard fan that came with the i5 processor- i.e., I have no heat sink like EVO. The card has two fans, too, if I recall correctly.

I do possess an Evo hyper 212 heat sink - I just decided not to fit it because I hadn't twigged the sapphire card was overclocked.

Are you suggesting I could leave my system as is and use the card (without overclocking it any farther, which I have no interest in doing) or do you feel it preferable I take my build apart and fit the EVO? I don't know what heat the card might develop and the review stuff is gobbledygook to me.



It's my first build, I'm long in the tooth, and I'm taking wee steps at a time. Appreciate all the help here and will decide what to do once I've chewed all your advice over.

My new build system specs are above- not in the My System specs link below.

just leave it as is Mantle will pick up any struggle you're having it's ok as is don't wreck yourself over it

 

[ShamrockRig]

Temps should be fine buddy!

 

[Aurondium]

Very interesting, Solarstarshines.

I was close to using Catalyst this afternoon to load any updated driver but hesitated. I have to stop now but will pick up here again tomorrow after reading about Mantle, and may then take the plunge with catalyst.

Meantime, thank you. All you folk are so helpful.

So far I've nothing on my 1TB Mechanical Drive D and am still creeping through the initial installs on my 120Gb SSD C Drive. Great fun.

And thanks again to you, Devlin. I'm feeling better already.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Very interesting, Solarstarshines.

I was close to using Catalyst this afternoon to load any updated driver but hesitated. I have to stop now but will pick up here again tomorrow after reading about Mantle, and may then take the plunge with catalyst.

Meantime, thank you. All you folk are so helpful.

So far I've nothing on my 1TB Mechanical Drive D and am still creeping through the initial installs on my 120Gb SSD C Drive. Great fun.

And thanks again to you, Devlin. I'm feeling better already.

I would still use CCC it will help you make fan profiles that will assure you of excellent temps my old HD7970's aka R9-280x ran at 33c Idle about 70c Heavy Gaming ans i have a Dual GPU set up

 

[ShamrockRig]

The catalyst is very handy! I do all my overclocking(CPU) through the AMD catalyst, it also allows me to switch between crossfire/single GPU as well as force settings like vsync and triple buffering and openGL etc, You can use speccy to see your temps, you can get it from here Speccy - System Information - Free Download

And if you prefer something a little more portable you can use core temp(shows temps on all cores down the bottom right of the task bar) and you can find that here - Core Temp

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Vapor-X has a higher clock and voltage than the reference card, plus you can bump it a bit more. The Vapor-X cools better than most, 1200/6600 is easy the reach. Bump voltage to 1.30 and you can get more, watch the temps.

The card should perform great with stock setting, you can get another 10-15% but it adds heat.

 

[Aurondium]

Thanks, guys. I am leaving the set-up as is and have decided to use Sapphire Trixx to keep an eye on temp if necessary. I can consider adding another fan to the case if and when needed but fingers crossed I should be okay.

Your assistance has been much appreciated.