Extreme Overclocking: MSI GTX460 Cyclone 1 GB GDDR5

Right now, the GeForce GTX 460 is perhaps the most interesting GPU in the mainstream graphics card segment, if not the whole market. Its fame is well earned; this particular GPU has an excellent price-performance ratio and awesome overlcockability. Even with its stock cooler, the GTX 460 can be easily overclocked to 750-800 MHz from its default speed of 675 MHz, raising the performance bar by more than 15%.

For those who are not yet familiar with the GTX 460, you can read these following articles to get an idea of how this GPU performs under default condition. We happened to receive a few good samples from some vendors.

• Digital Alliance GTX 460 768MB: New Chip, Custom Cooling
• Digital Alliance GTX 460 1GB Sonic – Extra Megahertz for Extra Performance
• Gigabyte GV-N460OC-768I – Ultra Durable with Windforce 2X

GTX460 + LN2 = Overclocking Madness!

Soon after a review has been finished, we would usually throw the corresponding computer hardware –particularly graphics cards, motherboards, and processors- to the other room in our lab, right into the lap of some murderous individuals whose hobby is none other than to push computer hardwares to their absolute limit: the Jagat Review Overclocking Team! GTX 460 is no exception, and an unfortunate sample was handed over to these sadists. With some luck, it should emerge from this ordeal alive and without any significant damage. We had our fingers crossed though.

The Jagat Review OC team jumped at the chance so enthusiastically that they immediately brought in a VPG (Vapor Gas Storage) cylinder, containing 100 liters of Liquid Nitrogen (LN2). Our fellow reviewer, Gatot, was amazed by the size of the cylinder that closely matches his own. You can see him in the photograph below. We don’t see this kind of thing very often in our lab, so everybody was utterly surprised the first time it released a nasty hissing sound to relieve the pressure inside.

Soon after the giant cylinder landed on the first floor, the Jagat Review OC team began extracting some portion of LN2 from inside it. Then, of course, it’s time for the overclocking action!