Hacking Hardware Homebrew Misc Others Homebrew app What are safe overclocking values for Switch?

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

Hi all!~

What are safe overclocking values for Switch In handheld and dock modes (i refer to actual, physical dock and
out-of-the-dock), and also what temperatures
are acceptable (wont damage the console in any way), and what not to go above for both CPU/GPU and TEMPERATURES?
The way i play is in handheld, no charger, but i ask fro dock since i sometimes (although rarely) use switch docked.

That being said,
I don't want to stress my console, but just to give it a little boost within the official limits, (or to under-clock it if needed,
but that one doesn't damage the console, i presume, so ignore under-clocking.)

Correct me if i'm wrong, but these are my findings:

CPU (MHz)
1020 - official handheld & docked
1224 - sdev oc (i don't know what this means, if someone can explain it to me. And i'd also like to know if this is also safe, maximum official clocks to be using regulary and safely)
(What if i go beyond that, say 1785 MHz which sys-clk allows me in handheld without charger, will that be OK?)

GPU (MHz)
384 - official handheld
768 - official docked
460 - max handheld (i presume this clock is also the official one, correct? Since i read online that "Mortal Kombat 11" uses those in handheld, and i presume it won't damage the console in prolonged play sessions?)

So are those OFFICIAL maximum clocks (CPU - 1020 / GPU - 384), and more importantly, those 1224 - sdev oc and 460 - max handheld safe to use for prolonged game-play sessions, and regular use in handheld mode, without charger?
Additionally, if i set CPU at 1785 MHz and use it like that in game for prolonged time, is THAT safe to use?

As for temperatures, the hottest i got in "DOOM: Eternal" using 60fps patch, some graphical mods, ReverseNH set to "handheld" and GPU set at 460 Mhz in sys-clk is 47°C / 116.6°F

Thanks~ <3

M7L7NK7 · Jan 26, 2023

Sys clk only lets you overclock to safe values, so it's fine

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

Milenko said:
Sys clk only lets you overclock to safe values, so it's fine

But if it OVERCLOCKS, how can it be safe, since definition of overclocking is going OVER intended clocks, righ?

Does that mean that setting CPU at 1785 Mhz and GPU at 460 MHz and playing always like that in handheld, with no charger is perfectly safe?

Also what are safe temperatures in order not to stress the system to much? Like...what is the TOP temperature where system "feels" comfortable being in prolonged play sessions?

And regarding memory... in what cases i should increase it?

And last question:
1224 - sdev oc
460 - max handheld

What those refer to?

Anxiety_timmy · Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
Hi all!~

What are safe overclocking values for Switch In handheld and dock modes (i refer to actual, physical dock and
out-of-the-dock), and also what temperatures
are acceptable (wont damage the console in any way), and what not to go above for both CPU/GPU and TEMPERATURES?
The way i play is in handheld, no charger, but i ask fro dock since i sometimes (although rarely) use switch docked.

That being said,
I don't want to stress my console, but just to give it a little boost within the official limits, (or to under-clock it if needed,
but that one doesn't damage the console, i presume, so ignore under-clocking.)

Correct me if i'm wrong, but these are my findings:

CPU (MHz)
1020 - official handheld & docked
1224 - sdev oc (i don't know what this means, if someone can explain it to me. And i'd also like to know if this is also safe, maximum official clocks to be using regulary and safely)
(What if i go beyond that, say 1785 MHz which sys-clk allows me in handheld without charger, will that be OK?)

GPU (MHz)
384 - official handheld
768 - official docked
460 - max handheld (i presume this clock is also the official one, correct? Since i read online that "Mortal Kombat 11" uses those in handheld, and i presume it won't damage the console in prolonged play sessions?)

So are those OFFICIAL maximum clocks (CPU - 1020 / GPU - 384), and more importantly, those 1224 - sdev oc and 460 - max handheld safe to use for prolonged game-play sessions, and regular use in handheld mode, without charger?
Additionally, if i set CPU at 1785 MHz and use it like that in game for prolonged time, is THAT safe to use?

As for temperatures, the hottest i got in "DOOM: Eternal" using 60fps patch, some graphical mods, ReverseNH set to "handheld" and GPU set at 460 Mhz in sys-clk is 47°C / 116.6°F

Thanks~ <3

SDev oc is an overclocking that is optional on development units. It essentially allows developers to run something like debugging tools with more overhead instead of the regular 1.020ghz speed. Safe values depend on a few things but in short, overclock until you get what you want and then stop. Ram overclocking is the most beneficial for any game, and has next to no battery life penalties. CPU is tricky because at full load, 1.785 and 460 is already pushing the board power limit. Key word being at full load, very few games can actually stress 1.785 to full without mods. 768mhz leaves just enough head room at full load for 1.224ghz. 921 at times can by itself draw very close to and sometimes above the 18 watt power limit. Temperatures are essentially a non issue unless you haven't replaced the thermal paste.

Post automatically merged: Jan 26, 2023

However that is the overall power limit ( taking into account whatever else the switch has to power such as the screen and fan), the CPU/GPU have different power regulators and they are perfectly capable of running at 1.785 921, however that draws beyond what the board and charging ICs are rated for. You run the risk of burning a power rail (note that this will take a long time to do, in excess of a year of use), and the charging IC is rated for higher than 18W if I remember correctly, but only for spikes and not for continuous use.

Post automatically merged: Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
But if it OVERCLOCKS, how can it be safe, since definition of overclocking is going OVER intended clocks, righ?

Does that mean that setting CPU at 1785 Mhz and GPU at 460 MHz and playing always like that in handheld, with no charger is perfectly safe?

Also what are safe temperatures in order not to stress the system to much? Like...what is the TOP temperature where system "feels" comfortable being in prolonged play sessions?

And regarding memory... in what cases i should increase it?

And last question:
1224 - sdev oc
460 - max handheld

What those refer to?

So long as you're not constantly hitting around 70c or higher, then you should be fine temps wise. Memory should be increased when ever unless you absolutely do not need it, because its basically a free performance benefit. 1.785 and 460 on battery isn't exactly ideal but it should be """fine"""

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

Anxiety_timmy said:
SDev oc is an overclocking that is optional on development units.
It essentially allows developers to run something like debugging tools with more overhead instead of the regular 1020 ghz speed.

Safe values depend on a few things but in short, overclock until you get what you want and then stop.

But how is MK11 using those speeds... Does that mean you buy an official game that overclock your system...officially?!
Shouldn't that be bad?
I mean when you say "overclock" i think something thats OVER the safe/recomended values "OVER - CLOCK". Right?

Anxiety_timmy said:
Ram overclocking is the most beneficial for any game, and has next to no battery life penalties.

How about negatives of increasing memory speed to a maximum?

Anxiety_timmy said:
CPU is tricky because at full load, 1.785 and 460 is already pushing the board power limit.

Do you mean at the same time CPU + GPU or ether one of those at those speeds?
Also, again, Isn't MK11 the official game that uses those values, and is proved by Nintendo?

Anxiety_timmy said:
Key word being at full load, very few games can actually stress 1.785 to full without mods.

HOW would i know empirically tell if switch is at full load and where to stop, etc, so i don't just guess...?

Anxiety_timmy said:
768mhz leaves just enough head room at full load for 1.224ghz. 921 at times can by itself draw very close to and sometimes above the 18 watt power limit.

Again, how should i know the power draw so i can act acordingly?

Anxiety_timmy said:
Temperatures are essentially a non issue unless you haven't replaced the thermal paste.

I have V1 Switch, never done that, but it works really nice and quiet/cool. I mean is 47 ok temperature for Doom Eternal?
I meantion that game since i presume its the one that stress the system the most. Byt he way is 60fps mod stressing the system also? I mean not overclocking, just having the mod and leaving fps to fluctuate.

Anxiety_timmy said:
However that is the overall power limit ( taking into account whatever else the switch has to power such as the screen and fan), the CPU/GPU have different power regulators and they are perfectly capable of running at 1.785 921,

So that means that switch can handle what i do, since you mention higher values than i intend to use.

Anxiety_timmy said:
however that draws beyond what the board and charging ICs are rated for. You run the risk of burning a power rail (note that this will take a long time to do, in excess of a year of use), and the charging IC is rated for higher than 18W if I remember correctly, but only for spikes and not for continuous use.

I had a hard time following all of that but i think i understood.

Well since i play handheld/no charger, i mostly just set GPU at 460 Mhz and be done with it, since ether that does the trick, or i think it makes FPS more stable.

So what do you think about that? Just the GPU at 460 Mhz?

Anxiety_timmy said:
So long as you're not constantly hitting around 70c or higher, then you should be fine temps wise. Memory should be increased when ever unless you absolutely do not need it, because its basically a free performance benefit. 1.785 and 460 on battery isn't exactly ideal but it should be """fine"""

Why quotations? Is it fine or not fine?

Anyway, i never go beyond 47°C, and in Doom eternal with GPU at 460 Mhz... so i guess that's fine.
I didn't know Switch can get that hot... 70°C ?!

What does memory do exactly in practical sense, what will i see on a screen differently if i increase it?

toolazytosearchitmyself · Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
But if it OVERCLOCKS, how can it be safe, since definition of overclocking is going OVER intended clocks, righ?

Does that mean that setting CPU at 1785 Mhz and GPU at 460 MHz and playing always like that in handheld, with no charger is perfectly safe?

Also what are safe temperatures in order not to stress the system to much? Like...what is the TOP temperature where system "feels" comfortable being in prolonged play sessions?

And regarding memory... in what cases i should increase it?

And last question:
1224 - sdev oc
460 - max handheld

What those refer to?

I always play with maximum overclocking settings enabled and am just fine. This does increase levels of wear and tear but you'll probably stop using your Switch long before the hardware fails. The Nvidia Tegra chip was designed for TVs which run it at a higher clock rate than the maximum overclocking settings allow. Just replace the default thermal paste with something actually good if you're worried (I did). If you're using a 16nm transistor model (longer battery life Switch, Switch Lite and OLED Switch) then all the better. Nintendo does allow the CPU to run at 1.785 GHz during loading screens.

M7L7NK7 · Jan 26, 2023

Basically the switch is underclocked, so overclocking just puts it back to what the chips were designed to handle

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
I always play with maximum overclocking settings enabled and am just fine.
This does increase levels of wear and tear but you'll probably stop using your Switch long before the hardware fails.

The Nvidia Tegra chip was designed for TVs which run it at a higher clock rate than the maximum overclocking settings allow.
Just replace the default thermal paste with something actually good if you're worried (I did).

I have no clue what paste to use. I never opened up a Switch, just a PC, PS3.

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
If you're using a 16nm transistor model then all the better (longer battery life Switches, Switch Lite and OLED Switch).

My Switch is V1 Switch, first model i believe. I mean i softmoded it, so yeah. No mod-chip.

Post automatically merged: Jan 26, 2023

Milenko said:
Basically the switch is underclocked, so overclocking just puts it back to what the chips were designed to handle

Thanks, but id still like to know specifics and nuances.

Post automatically merged: Jan 26, 2023

Is there any tesla overlay that i can use to monitor power consumption in real time?

toolazytosearchitmyself · Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
I have no clue what paste to use. I never opened up a Switch, just a PC, PS3.

I use and recommend Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. Some people recommend arctic silver which I haven't tried myself.

Metoroid0 said:
My Switch is V1 Switch, first model i believe. I mean i softmoded it, so yeah. No mod-chip.

Then it's a 20nm transistor model. I used one with maximum overclock settings for a few years and played some games which struggle performance wise like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, pushing the hardware to its limits. It still works just fine. Just don't try going over the 1.785GHz and 921MHz limits (it is possible but I'm not sure how) on it.

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
I use and recommend Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. Some people recommend arctic silver which I haven't tried myself.

Can you send me some tutorial and/or video (that you think is good) so i can see how other people did it?

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
Then it's a 20nm transistor model. I used one with maximum overclock settings for a few years and played some games which struggle performance wise like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, pushing the hardware to its limits. It still works just fine. Just don't try

So 20nm is that bad? What does that mean exactly?

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
going over the 1.785GHz and 921MHz limits (it is possible but I'm not sure how) on it.

I never intended to anyway, the reason i installed sys-clk is so i can set highest safe clocks for games that under-clock the gpu/cpu or to make fps more stable, not to actually overclock, i mean i am aware that i don't really have beast of a hardware so i don't try to make it run like my PC.

So the whole reason i want to "ever-clock" is to make games run a bit better or more stable if possible, not to go beyond anything recommended really. Although sounds fun but i don't really have money to buy another switch nor patience to set up everything lol

swutch · Jan 26, 2023

The switch APU is underclocked from Nintendo to save battery life.

You don't need to worry in the safe range.

And you don't need to exchange the thermal paste, if your switch stays cool.

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

swutch said:
The switch APU is underclocked from Nintendo to save battery life.

You don't need to worry in the safe range.

So my only concern should be that i'll have less play time if i increase clocks?
Also, what's APU? something.... power unit??

swutch said:
And you don't need to exchange the thermal paste, if you switch stays cool.

Well i'm not sure haha you tell me....
Is 47°C/116.6°F temperature to hot for V1 Switch running doom eternal with just GPU set to 460mhz and 60fps mod and other graphic enhancements?
afaik doom eternal is a demanding game (in my mind) so that's why i mention doom eternal.
And by the way, 47 is the top temperature i got in any game, its usually at lower temps.
For example idle in home menu its 29.5°C just sitting there playing nothing.

swutch · Jan 26, 2023

APU = CPU & GPU on a single chip

As long as your Fan isn't spinning at 100% it should be fine. (Or below 58C)

https://github.com/masagrator/Status-Monitor-Overlay/blob/master/docs/modes.md#additional-info

toolazytosearchitmyself · Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
Can you send me some tutorial and/or video (that you think is good) so i can see how other people did it?

The video is a bit brief about removing the old thermal paste. You'll want to use isopropyl alcohol, a plastic scraper and some cotton swabs. As best you can, try to remove all the old thermal paste from around the surface mounted components.

Metoroid0 said:
So 20nm is that bad? What does that mean exactly?

The 20nm transistor models are less energy efficient so they generate more heat while running and draw more power. Staying within the 1.785 GHz and 921 MHz range is safe. Going over it might not be.

Metoroid0 said:
Well i'm not sure haha you tell me....
Is 47°C/116.6°F temperature to hot for V1 Switch running doom eternal with just GPU set to 460mhz and 60fps mod and other graphic enhancements?
afaik doom eternal is a demanding game (in my mind) so that's why i mention doom eternal.
And by the way, 47 is the top temperature i got in any game, its usually at lower temps.
For example idle in home menu its 29.5°C just sitting there playing nothing.

If I remember correctly, anything below 60°C is safe and the Switch will display a thermometer at the top right corner of the screen if it gets too hot. It's never been an issue for me.

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
The video is a bit brief about removing the old thermal paste. You'll want to use isopropyl alcohol, a plastic scraper and some cotton swabs. As best you can, try to remove all the old thermal paste from around the surface mounted components.

Thanks a lot! ill have it here for future reference if i ever decide to do it.

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
The 20nm models are less energy efficient so they generate more heat while running and draw more power.
Staying within the 1.785 GHz and 921 MHz range is safe. Going over it might not be.

Right. Thanks!

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
If I remember correctly, anything below 60°C is safe and the Switch will display a thermometer at the top right corner of the screen if it gets too hot. It's never been an issue for me.

I remember this when it was summer... I guess environmental temperature also counts.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nintendo-warns-gamers-dont-play-switch-amid-heat-waves/

binkinator · Jan 26, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
Hi all!~

What are safe overclocking values for Switch In handheld and dock modes (i refer to actual, physical dock and
out-of-the-dock), and also what temperatures
are acceptable (wont damage the console in any way), and what not to go above for both CPU/GPU and TEMPERATURES?
The way i play is in handheld, no charger, but i ask fro dock since i sometimes (although rarely) use switch docked.

That being said,
I don't want to stress my console, but just to give it a little boost within the official limits, (or to under-clock it if needed,
but that one doesn't damage the console, i presume, so ignore under-clocking.)

Correct me if i'm wrong, but these are my findings:

CPU (MHz)
1020 - official handheld & docked
1224 - sdev oc (i don't know what this means, if someone can explain it to me. And i'd also like to know if this is also safe, maximum official clocks to be using regulary and safely)
(What if i go beyond that, say 1785 MHz which sys-clk allows me in handheld without charger, will that be OK?)

GPU (MHz)
384 - official handheld
768 - official docked
460 - max handheld (i presume this clock is also the official one, correct? Since i read online that "Mortal Kombat 11" uses those in handheld, and i presume it won't damage the console in prolonged play sessions?)

So are those OFFICIAL maximum clocks (CPU - 1020 / GPU - 384), and more importantly, those 1224 - sdev oc and 460 - max handheld safe to use for prolonged game-play sessions, and regular use in handheld mode, without charger?
Additionally, if i set CPU at 1785 MHz and use it like that in game for prolonged time, is THAT safe to use?

As for temperatures, the hottest i got in "DOOM: Eternal" using 60fps patch, some graphical mods, ReverseNH set to "handheld" and GPU set at 460 Mhz in sys-clk is 47°C / 116.6°F

Thanks~ <3

https://github.com/KazushiMe/Switch-OC-Suite/blob/master/Source/sys-clk-OC/README.md

Metoroid0 · Jan 26, 2023

swutch said:
APU = CPU & GPU on a single chip

I see. What's "SoC" than?

swutch said:
As long as your Fan isn't spinning at 100% it should be fine. (Or below 58C)

I got the first part about the fan, but Below 58C what? You mean if the fan spins 100% while temperature is below 58C?

swutch said:
https://github.com/masagrator/Status-Monitor-Overlay/blob/master/docs/modes.md#additional-info

Nice, thanks!

toolazytosearchitmyself · Jan 27, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
I see. What's "SoC" than?

System on a Chip.

Metoroid0 said:
got the first part about the fan, but Below 58C what? You mean if the fan spins 100% while temperature is below 58C?

I think he means that if the fan is spinning at less than 100% and the temperature is below 58°C then you're safe.

Post automatically merged: Jan 27, 2023

I can understand your concern, Switches are expensive and you probably have save data you don't want to lose on it but all these questions suggest paranoia. The Switch can handle being overclocked. AFAIK the only cases of damage were caused by using maximum overclock settings in handheld mode without the charger being plugged in, leading to excessive strain on the battery and the battery physically swelled as a result. You can no longer do this because of the limits built into sys-clk.

Metoroid0 · Jan 27, 2023

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
System on a Chip.

I know what's the abbreviation but i meant is that the same as APU?

toolazytosearchitmyself said:
I think he means that if the fan is spinning at less than 100% and the temperature is below 58°C then you're safe.

my fan is always @ 20-25% and temp is from 35-47C

toolazytosearchitmyself · Jan 27, 2023

Metoroid0 said:
I know what's the abbreviation but i meant is that the same as APU?

There might be a difference between them but for the sake of this discussion the difference is irrelevant. They pretty much mean the same thing.

Hacking Hardware Homebrew Misc Others Homebrew app What are safe overclocking values for Switch?

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