Does overclocking the GPU in bootcamp carry over to OS X?

[maccanuck2006]

Hi all:

I know that updating Win XP drivers for the GPU in bootcamp does not carry over to OS X, but how about overclocking?

I downloaded nTune 5.05 from the nVidia website for the sole purpose of overclocking; it reports the speed of the 8600m GT on my MBP at 375 clock speed and 575 memory bus speed IIRC. I can now overclock it with this utility (I know about the usual caveats) but want to know if doing will also translate into a performance increase in the OS X environment, or will I only see a difference in Win XP?

Thanks

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

I am actually not so certain. In a way yes, since you will raise the maximum clock hardware wise. No because the new mobile GPUs have various new features where they clock themselves down depending on use.

I am fairly certain that you will see performance increases in OS X as well (although that depends if you actually use the GPU at all).

 

[olmoscd]

No it should be at default speeds when you boot into os x. I used to do that and I know that if the utility doesn't start, your gpu doesn't overclock. For example, I'd overclock until I got slight artifacts in video and when I would restart, the artifacts wouldn't show up until my overclocking utility starts in the tray.

Just my two cents.

 

[maccanuck2006]

No it should be at default speeds when you boot into os x. I used to do that and I know that if the utility doesn't start, your gpu doesn't overclock. For example, I'd overclock until I got slight artifacts in video and when I would restart, the artifacts wouldn't show up until my overclocking utility starts in the tray.

Just my two cents.

I suspected as much. Thanks!

BTW: what was the highest clock and memory speed that you could push your 8600 to before artifacts and/or random badness started to occur? Also, what were the "real world" improvements that you saw (if any)?
I have updated my nVidia drivers to 163.69 (from laptopvideo2go) and hope to be able to run Crysis at medium to high levels when its finally released; I'm wondering if I can do it with the factory set clock speed or do I need to overclock. System specs for Crysis haven't been released but the propellerheads at the EA forums suggest that a stock 8600m GT may not be good for anything higher than medium quality textures.
For what it's worth I currently can run Bioshock at high details without any issues at 1440 x 900 without O/C.

Currently running with 4 gigs of RAM with a 2.4 SR MBP with a 160gig 7200RPM Seagate drive. Win XP with SP2 in bootcamp 1.4.

Cheers

 

[h00ligan]

I suspected as much. Thanks!

BTW: what was the highest clock and memory speed that you could push your 8600 to before artifacts and/or random badness started to occur? Also, what were the "real world" improvements that you saw (if any)?
I have updated my nVidia drivers to 163.69 (from laptopvideo2go) and hope to be able to run Crysis at medium to high levels when its finally released; I'm wondering if I can do it with the factory set clock speed or do I need to overclock. System specs for Crysis haven't been released but the propellerheads at the EA forums suggest that a stock 8600m GT may not be good for anything higher than medium quality textures.
For what it's worth I currently can run Bioshock at high details without any issues at 1440 x 900 without O/C.

Currently running with 4 gigs of RAM with a 2.4 SR MBP with a 160gig 7200RPM Seagate drive. Win XP with SP2 in bootcamp 1.4.

Cheers

man, how can you possibly run bioshock at high - I get like 10 fps on high with dx10 running. Any success with your overclock?

 

[ethernet76]

man, how can you possibly run bioshock at high - I get like 10 fps on high with dx10 running. Any success with your overclock?

Lots of RAM and a fast HD are more important than most people realize.

 

[Sonic]

man, how can you possibly run bioshock at high - I get like 10 fps on high with dx10 running. Any success with your overclock?

I guess that's the difference in speed with Vista dx10 vs XP dx9...

I'm also running abound 25fps on high with my 2.4 MBP (downloaded latest drivers, def. helped too). Looks great!

 

[h00ligan]

I guess that's the difference in speed with Vista dx10 vs XP dx9...

I'm also running abound 25fps on high with my 2.4 MBP (downloaded latest drivers, def. helped too). Looks great!

after replying the dx9 thing dawned on me - and i ran it in forced 9 - much much better.. .sheesh.

I still think there are tweaks to do on it... and vista needs some optimization, i'm starting to think i will roll xp on there.

 

[TheStu]

I have seen some screenshots, and it looks to my eyes like there are almost no penalties in running DX9 mode for BioShock, so if you can squeeze some more frames out of it that way, make it more playable, then that is the way to go.

It really is impressive to me that the 8600M runs the game that well though, "Apple doesn't make gaming machines" my foot!