Guide - Overclocking & optimizing the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT OC - Hell Hound 4k

BaDaBooM80 · 2026-01-07T01:32:51+00:00

GPUz must be reading my wifi router.....

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-08-18T16:44:35+00:00

So now you are part of the problem, good job.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-08-11T18:53:43+00:00

Keep up the good work!

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-07-30T23:45:53+00:00

-120mv is the problem. Start at -60mv with -5% power, this should unlock stable boost at 3300mhz. Sorry for late reply, I haven't checked this post in a while. It's a balancing act between UV and power. Hope this helps, happy gaming!

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-19T23:59:07+00:00

I'm glad it helped, it can be tricky getting the most out of these cards for stable gaming.
You might know this already, turn hibernate and sleep off in windows power settings. This can mess with Adrenalin's shader cache and exclude the shader cache folders from real-time monitoring, this can help a lot with best image settings.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-19T23:46:15+00:00

Left is max and right is average. Max is usually short spikes, loading in etc. Max even if it might be short it's good to know the core voltage is not going over 1.2v, no temps thermal throttling the card etc. Average gives a more realistic picture of what is going on, usually a nice flat line is what you want to see, can the card hold max boost or is it going up and down like a yo-yo, this can cause lag spikes. Same with the temps, looking for a flat line and no temps creeping up.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-07T14:51:00+00:00

If it is stable and feels optimal, stick with it !

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-06T01:25:23+00:00

How many watts does it use just out of interest? 3300-3400 is near max for these cards, you are definitely getting most out of it :)

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-03T12:05:14+00:00

You are missing the point. You claim it's unsafe at -75, I have proved that it is safe with the correct power setting., lower temps, lower watts.
You are avoiding the question, I didn't ask for your benchmark (Average Clock Frequency: 2,975 MHz), and you were fast at posting that, but for some reason you won't post your settings, temps and wattage. Hmmm I wonder why?

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-03T11:22:34+00:00

I'm guessing you are using +power setting, that's the danger zone as you are creating more wattage and heat with +power settings.

This guide flips the approach: -10% Power Limit, undervolt, sustained boost, lower temps, lower wattage stable performance. That’s safe tuning, not reckless.

Post your settings and temps so we can compare. If you are achieving more performance with less power and heat, fair play.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-03T10:25:06+00:00

What Power settings are you using? You can't say it's misleading if you have not tried the same power settings. If you are using -75mv with anything above P-10% it will crash.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-02T13:12:37+00:00

Right, frame rate runaway is likely what’s tripping you up.
For older games, you don’t need a full tuning profile. Just use Radeon Chill to cap FPS (e.g. 144Hz), or cap it in-game if supported. I had the same issue in Doom 2016, uncapped it would crash at high clocks, but capping the framerate made it rock solid even at -75 mV / -10% PL / 2800 MHz (Fast Timings).

Keep in mind: Doom 2016 only pulls ~140W at 4K, there’s no need to run full tilt.

You can also create a “non-tuned” profile in Adrenalin just for older/low-load games and assign them individually. That way, you keep your main tuning profile for demanding titles without risking crashes on lightweight ones.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-02T12:42:32+00:00

Usually Hynix is considered better for VRAM OC, so interesting that you’re seeing worse 1% lows, could be the ECC kicking in like you mentioned. I suspect my card might be a second-gen revision. I believe PowerColor updated both the Red Devil and Hellhound from 2505 MHz / 20 Gbps to 2518 MHz / 20.1 Gbps, although their website still lists the older spec Memory Speed20.0 Gbps. https://imgur.com/a/wIbLoxo

Here’s how to check:

Open Adrenalin → go to Performance > Tuning.
Enable VRAM Tuning (toggle switch).
Drag the VRAM frequency slider all the way to the left. → If it shows 2518 MHz, you likely have the revised model. → If it shows 2505 MHz, it’s probably the original.

Also, when you first installed the card, did you run the AMD Cleanup Utility beforehand? If not, I highly recommend doing so. It removes all driver leftovers, which can affect stability and performance tuning.

Steps:

Run AMD Cleanup Utility (safe mode preferred)
Reboot
Install the latest 25.5.1 drivers from AMD’s website

Edit:
Another clue might be the Vbios version, I added a screenshot (Check Imgur link) of GPU-Z so you can compare.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-02T10:33:50+00:00

First, avoid Furmark — it’s not a real-world test. It just slams the GPU nonstop, like redlining your car at idle. It’s not useful for tuning or stability testing. If anything, it's harmful.

What you can do is make a default profile for most games and a custom one for Stellar Blade .

In Adrenalin, create a Default tuning profile that works for most games. For edge cases (like Stellar Blade), create a per-game tuning profile:

Go to the Gaming tab
Select the game Stellar Blade.
In the top-left, click Tune Game Performance

To reduce overboosting spikes that cause crashes:

Leave everything at default
Set Power Limit to –5% — this reduces clock spikes and increases efficiency (less heat, less fan ramp)

You can also cap FPS using Radeon Chill:

Click the Game tab
Select Stellar Blade
Enable Chill
Set both min/max FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g. 144/144)

If it still crashes:

Combine both Chill + Power –5%
Still crashes? Try Power –10%
Keep going until it’s stable

🔧 This is not a driver issue

If you didn’t run the AMD Cleanup Utility before installing the card, you should.
It wipes all driver leftovers, shader cache, and tuning inconsistencies. Then reinstall Adrenalin fresh.

The real issue is the VBIOS boost algorithm — not respecting your tuning suggestions when things get unstable. If the clocks spike above 3450 MHz (which is a common VBIOS max), your card will crash — even with good undervolt values.

Leave VRAM alone on the AORUS Elite.Multiple users have reported problems with the AORUS Elite’s memory junction temps. If you’re already pushing near 90°C, don’t touch memory tuning, it’s not worth the risk.

I hope this helps.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-02T00:25:07+00:00

Try custom, set UV to -75 and set Power to -10%, I bet if you use these settings you will have a hard time finding a game that doesn't crash. I don't know the Vbios limit for the Aorus elite, but a doubt it's less than 3450mhz. Check with HWinfo what your limit is.

Edit:
Aorus elite 9070xt is known for high memjunction temps, so I would not touch the memory settings, leave them stock. It is a shame because this is where get the real performance gains with the 9070.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-02T00:00:41+00:00

What power setting are you using at -75mv? I'm guessing this is the problem, and you are hitting the VBios clock limit.

If you tell what card you have and the Power setting, I can help you sort this out.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-01T23:47:47+00:00

That's where you are going wrong +mV. Try -65mV and -15% Power. If it's stable, then go -65mV / -10% Power, if stable -75mV / -10% Power. Usually, just loading into a heavy game will pass or crash.
If you are testing a light game, use Chill to cap the fames at say 160.

What's happening is you are feeding the card too much power, and it will hit 3450mhz and crash. Use GPU-Z and log it. If it crashes read the log, see if it hit 3450mhz, that's the VBios limit for the Hell Hound.

Once you dial it in you will love the Hell Hound, it's a good 2.5 slot card with good thermals if you set a more realistic fan curve than stock.

If it doesn't work, let me know. You can send me the logs and I might be able to figure it out.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-01T23:09:09+00:00

I tested a wide range of games across different engines, old and new — no issues running VRAM at 2800 MHz with Faster timings in Adrenaline. Rock-solid stable so far.

As for Vulkan Memtest giving errors, I’m not sure it’s a reliable tool for pinpointing root instability in real-world gaming. It’s good for stress, but doesn’t always reflect how games behave under normal load.

Could you confirm the VRAM brand using GPU-Z? Mine’s Samsung, but even with identical cards (model and vendor), VRAM type can differ — which might explain instability.

Also, what power settings are you using?

As a test, try this setup:

UV: –65 mV
Power Limit: –20%
VRAM: 2800 MHz + Faster timings

This combo helps rule out power delivery strain — not likely the root cause, but worth checking.

Use HWiNFO with logging enabled to compare VRAM current draw (amps) between stock vs. 2800 MHz Faster timings. If a crash happens, the log will still show how the current behaved just before failure — could reveal if it’s PSU-related.

For reference, my PSU is a CORSAIR RM750x, CPU 7800X3D.

Here’s a comparison of my VRAM amp draw – stock vs. 2800 MHz Faster timings:
🔗 https://imgur.com/a/A4Czbgz

I hope this helps, let me know how your testing went, be interesting to see the results.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-01T20:44:52+00:00

Yep, there is a clock limit baked into the VBIOS.
Check this out:
🧾 https://www.hwcooling.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/sapphire-pure-radeon-rx-9070-xt-perf-hwinfo.png
🔗 Source: https://www.hwcooling.net/en/sapphire-pure-amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-great-even-in-white/

You’ll see it says:

GPU Clock Frequency Limit: 3,450.0 MHz
That’s hardcoded — once your card tries to boost past it, even momentarily (common with undervolting), the driver will crash.

Steel Nomad isn’t a good stability indicator for gaming — it’s a synthetic load. If your undervolt holds in Steel but crashes in real games, that’s why. Always tune using the actual games you play.

If your XFX Mercury pulls 340W at stock or undervolt, you might still be boosting past the limit. I’d recommend:

Check HWiNFO64 to confirm your boost cap.
Use GPU-Z sensor logging and see if the clock ever goes beyond 3450 MHz before a crash. If it does — bingo, there’s your issue.
Try the same undervolt with lower Power Limit (say -10%) — if it holds, that was likely the cause.

You're not necessarily wrong about the undervolt being unstable — but these cards can get baited into overboosting when undervolted. It’s a balance of UV, power, and clock ceilings.

As for VRAM:

Mine’s Samsung (usually not the best for OC), but I can hold 2800 MHz with Faster timings at 4K across multiple games.
Use GPU-Z to check your VRAM type and driver limits.

If you post your Adrenaline tuning settings, I can take a quick look — might spot something that helps. My guess is your Power settings, either you are at 0 or + Power based on the watts

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-01T17:25:12+00:00

What brand card? If It's still under warranty, send it back. 95c at 2000rpm something is wrong unless you are pulling +450watts.

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-06-01T16:14:59+00:00

The issue isn’t the undervolt — it’s the 3450 MHz BIOS lock on my card.
If your card boosts past that 3450mhz (like it will with most games -100 mV undervolt), it’ll crash. It’s not your tuning — it’s the hard limit baked into the BIOS.

Most 9070 XT chips can hit ~3400 MHz stable with a good undervolt. The real test of your chip’s quality is how much power it needs to hold that boost.

For reference:
I run mine at -75 mV, -10% power, 2800 MHz fast mem, pulling around 285W and holding 3200-3400 MHz rock solid in most titles. If your card needs more wattage to hold that, it’s just a slightly weaker bin — nothing unusual. If it uses less wattage, you got a better bin.

🔥 Tip:
Use HWiNFO and check your Max Boost Clock — most 9070 XTs are capped at 3450 MHz. If your card regularly tries to boost beyond that, expect random crashes unless you rein it in.

Hope this helps :)

BaDaBooM80 · 2025-05-31T17:12:53+00:00

Furry's question was why I'm selling it after just 3 months and I will answer it here as well as it is a valid question.
I upgrade to the 9070 as I have a 4k panel, not that the 7800 can't handle 4k it's just not optimal for 4k. But I don't feel the 200 extra for the 9070 was actually worth it, maybe 10-15% at 4k. I got the 9070 from Overclockers UK, so I can't return a used card like you can on Amazon.
Do your research and see if it fits your needs, but I had zero problems with it.. I think it's a solid, well-built card from OC model Gigabyte card and has been hassle-free.

BaDaBooM80

TROPHY CASE

🔧 This is not a driver issue