GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Overclock | Is It Worth It?

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition features ICX cooling that is designed to permit airflow chambers so that the graphics card can work at full capacity. But to improve the performance even further, the graphics card should be overclocked while maintaining the temperature.  

In this article, we will share all the prominent information about GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition’s overclocking. This will help you to understand the necessity and result of its overclocking so that you can utilize it properly.

Therefore, if you are already interested to know the detail, stick with this post till the end.

GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Overclock – Basic Things to Know

A GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition GPU is a solid performer that can handle most of the software and games. But good things always come with a price. Even though the price value of this graphics card is in the normal range, the temperature rises more than 80°C under load. Here are the details about the EVGA SuperClocked Black Edition GTX 1080 Ti –

Specifications	Values
GPU Name and Variant	GP102-350
Process Size	16 nm
Shading Units / CUDA cores	3584
SM Count	28
ROP Count	88
TMU Count	224
Memory Capacity	11 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5X
Memory Bus Width	352 bits
Memory Frequency	11.0 GHz
Memory Bandwidth	484.4 GB/s
Base Clock Speed	1556 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	1670 MHz
TDP	250 Watts
Power Connectors	8+6 Pins

If you are going to overclock your GPU, it will increase the stress on the card, that’s why you need to ensure your pc has enough cooling system to dissipate heat. 

Although the advertised boost clock is described to be 1670 MHz, it’s not the actual overclock limit. In reality, the GPU will speed up further by overclocking until it hits the limits of temperature, voltage, or power consumption. 

How to Overclock the GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition?

To overclock the 1080 Ti SC Black –

• First, you will need to slowly bump the card’s core frequency while testing for stability with a benchmarking tool each time you push the frequency a bit further. You will need an overclocking tool, a benchmarking tool, and a system utility that can provide info about the video card and GPU.
• Benchmark the stock settings first, then increase the core clock and re-benchmark while keeping an eye on the temperature range. You can also increase the voltage and memory clock. Keep doing this until you find a reasonably stable setting and clock speed, then test the card for some time, and you can play games to test.
• Sometimes the 1080 Ti can whine while performing, especially when overclocked. To solve this problem completely, you need to work with Undervoltage with a slight performance cost. 

But if you don’t want to compromise with the GPU power while eliminating the coil simultaneously, you should try to reach stock clocks to 0.900v or a bit higher.

Overclock GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition – Pros and Cons

The pros and cons are pretty simple like overclocking other GPUs. First, let’s start with the pros. When you overclock this 1080 Ti one, it will increase the frame rate. This way you will get faster and smoother graphics while playing games at higher resolutions. In short, provide better performance. 

But there are also some cons too. Overclocking your GPU will increase power usage and cause overheating. The more you overclock your GPU, the more its lifespan will decrease, as the GPU components have to bear the stress on a regular basis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it better to overclock GPU or normal?

It basically depends on the tasks you usually execute on your computer. If you prefer to perform graphics-intensive tasks that put a heavy load on your GPU, then overclocking the GPU is a better option. It generally has higher power capacity and better cooling. On the other hand, if you are an average or casual user, you may not need to overclock your GPU. 

Should I overclock GPU or VRAM?

The fact is it is wise to overclock both the VRAM and GPU to ensure better performance. First of all, you can try overclocking the VRAM at its best. When you are at the limit of it, then you should clock the GPU accordingly. This way you can get the maximum output from a modern graphics card.

How do I know if my GPU is overclocked?

There is a pretty simple way to check if the overclocking is accomplished. To do so, you should start by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously. Now, choose Task Manager. Then get into the Performance tab. Here, at the bottom, you will notice the GPU section. Check there and see if the Utilization is higher than the normal percentage. If so, then you have successfully overclocked your GPU.

Final Verdict

1080 Ti SC Black overclocked GPU will certainly offer the best performance ever but make sure to use proper cooling methods to keep the temperature within range. You can also modify the card’s hardware or BIOS, or adjust the fan curve for cooling to push the speed even further.