Overclocking is a great way to unlock the full potential & squeeze every bit of performance out of your PC components. But beware! A simple mistake in overclocking procedure can cause irreparable harm.
If you have an EVGA GTX 1070 FTW graphics card & looking for a safe way to overclock it, you’ve come to the right place.
Instead of relying on random internet solutions, let’s do a hands-on overclocking to see how far we can push the 1070 FTW without risk.
How to Safely Overclock GTX 1070 FTW
To safely overclock the EVGA GTX 1070 FTW graphics card, install & launch EVGA Precision XOC software. Set the POWER TARGET to 110% & TEMP TARGET to 85℃. Hit Apply. Incrementally increase the memory clock until you find a stable value. Do the same for the core clock.
Too short? Don’t worry. Below, I have thoroughly discussed the GPU overclocking procedure and divided it into two parts based on the OC tool/software. Before we begin, make sure the graphics driver and the OS are up to date.
Check out our separate post on why are GPUs so expensive?
1. Use EVGA Precision XOC
- Download and install the EVGA Precision XOC software on your PC.
- Launch the app. You’ll see a pop-up for XOC Scanner, showing 3 options to choose from.
- Select Quick Test: 15-20 Minutes or Full Test: 30-60 Minutes to apply auto-overclocking. This way, the app will automatically apply a series of OC presets to test the overclocking stability and find+apply the most stable OC value.
- Select Manual to manually overclock the GPU.
- Set the Power Target to 112%.
- Move the slider for Temp Target and set it to 85℃.
- Increase the Voltage value to 1.093V.
- Click on CURVE.
- See the image and set the fan curve accordingly.
- Set the GPU Clock Offset to +200 MHz and Mem Clock Offset to +200 MHz.
- Hit Apply.
Read more on how much GPU usage is normal for gaming?
2. Use MSI Afterburner
- Download and install MSI Afterburner. It will automatically install RivaTuner as well.
- Launch MSI Afterburner.
- Set the Power Limit to 112% and Temp Limit to 85℃.
- Input 70% for the Fan Speed value.
- Set the Core Clock to +200 MHz and Memory Clock to +200 MHz.
- Increase the Voltage value to 1.093V.
- Hit Apply.
Now, run a GPU-intensive game to test the OC stability. If the game doesn’t crash or you don’t encounter any issues, like artifacting, PC shut down, etc., then the set frequencies are stable. Feel free to slightly increase those frequency values and repeat the testing process to find out the most stable OC profile.
| EVGA GTX 1070 FTW Overclocking Profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Stock | Quick Test OC Mode | Manual Overclock |
| Base Clock | 1607MHz | 1711MHz | 1807MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1683MHz | 1797MHz | 1883MHz |
| Maximum Boost Clock | 1797MHz | 1911MHz | 1997MHz |
| Memory Clock | 8Gbps | 8Gbps | 8.8Gbps |
| Voltage | 1.062V | 1.062V | 1.093V |
| Power Consumption | 180W | 180W | 215W |
For me, the most stable GPU core clock offset was +120 MHz and +150 MHz for memory clock. It may vary for different users due to silicon lottery, Windows OS, driver version, and some other variables.
Also read, what does Ti Stand for in GPU?
Benchmark Comparison
Let’s see how much extra performance the set OC value can provide compared to the stock value. For this, I’ve picked some of the most GPU-intensive titles to remove any CPU overhead and get GPU-based performance results.
As we can see, the manual OC profile managed to deliver 6-7% performance uplift. It may not sound much but it was actually noticeable during gameplay. The overall framerate was much more stable than the stock frequency.
Additionally, in Elden Ring, I noticed less input delay in OC modes compared to the stock settings, even though the actual framerate increase was barely noticeable.
You may also like to read about how to check if GPU is working properly?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much power does 1070 FTW draw?
The rated TDP of EVGA 1070 FTW is 215 watts. While gaming, the power draw sits around 200 watts.
What is the max MHz for GTX 1070?
The max/boost clock of the Nvidia GTX 1070 is 1683 MHz. But it can vary depending on the OEM brand.
What does FTW mean on EVGA GTX 1070?
In EVGA’s GTX 1070 FTW card, the term FTW means For The Win.
Final Note
Now that you know how to OC your EVGA FTW card, keep an eye on the GPU temperature since overclocked graphics cards tend to run at a higher temperature. Also, ensure the GPU has enough clearance for proper air circulation.
If you have any doubts or queries on this topic, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
GGWP!
