Overclocking the EVGA GTX 980 Classified with LN2

I have to admit overclocking the EVGA GTX 980 Classified was extremely enjoyable and a lot easier than it looks.  Of course with that being said there are a few things to consider before doing something like this.  As I mentioned many times in this article the 980 Classifed is designed to handle the stresses of extreme overclocking but you won’t be able to do anything without a few tools. 

The most important of these is the extreme BIOS image that will allow the VRM to supply the current needed to run the GPU past 1700Mhz.  Next you will need a way to control voltages on the card and while Nvidia Inspector does allow some voltage modifications you’ll need something like the EVGA EVBot (hardware) or the Classified Voltage Tool (software) to get the best results.

If you go the software route you are allowed three adjustments for Core / Mem / PLL  This is what I used in this article and everything worked out great.  If you can actually find an EVBot tool that is clearly teh best option as you’ll be able to control the three voltages above and a number of other settings including the VRM switching frequency.

Sadly neither the BIOS or Voltage tool are supported by EVGA for obvious *cough* nvidia */cough* reasons but a quick google search will find what you need along with a number of guides telling you how to use them. 

For me I I basically flashed the image to the “red” BIOS on my card for some mad overclocking and later flipped it back to green during my gaming sessions.

Overclocking can be quite fun if done properly so exercise common sense when handling cold liquids and work in an area with proper ventilation so you and your pets don’t pass out and die.  Likewise it is always best to work in a static free environment as shocks can have unexpected results on mind body and hardware.  I find it best to touch a properly grounded PSU every once in awhile to remain static free and to keep the cat away when handling exposed hardware.