7900GT: Unlocking the Beast Within

[firewolfsm]

What clocks and CPU are you using?

 

[Muhadib]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
How come my memory in Coolbits only goes up to 900mhz (1800mhz)?
Can I get it to go higher?

Use a 3rd party overclock utility like powerstrip.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: Muhadib

Originally posted by: wizboy11
How come my memory in Coolbits only goes up to 900mhz (1800mhz)?
Can I get it to go higher?

Use a 3rd party overclock utility like powerstrip.

Thanks.

Also, I found an easy way to do the vmod with a conductive pen and a paper clip.

I basically streched out the paper clip so that it's one long peice. I then put some conductive ink on a peice of paper, dipped the end of the paper clip in the ink, and then applied it to the card. I found this to be pretty accurate and if you have a steady hand, you won't even need to tape anything off.

But it won't come out in one neat line, but it'll work.

 

[TheRyuu]

Also, something weird is going on. On the desktop it looks like theirs artifacts, yet in games, it's rock solid stable with no artifacts.
A little Weird.

(and this is after I took off the conductive ink and the pencil, so their should be no vmod's on my card at all)

 

[Muhadib]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
Also, something weird is going on. On the desktop it looks like theirs artifacts, yet in games, it's rock solid stable with no artifacts.
A little Weird.

(and this is after I took off the conductive ink and the pencil, so their should be no vmod's on my card at all)

Run ATITool to see what settings you can get away with artifact free.

 

[samusaraniv]

Originally posted by: wizboy11

Originally posted by: Muhadib

Originally posted by: wizboy11
How come my memory in Coolbits only goes up to 900mhz (1800mhz)?
Can I get it to go higher?

Use a 3rd party overclock utility like powerstrip.

Thanks.

Also, I found an easy way to do the vmod with a conductive pen and a paper clip.

I basically streched out the paper clip so that it's one long peice. I then put some conductive ink on a peice of paper, dipped the end of the paper clip in the ink, and then applied it to the card. I found this to be pretty accurate and if you have a steady hand, you won't even need to tape anything off.

But it won't come out in one neat line, but it'll work.

I thought of doing something similar to what you suggest, but the conductive ink from the pen I got from Radio Shack dries so fast that it's almost impossible to do this. Pretty frustrating..

As for the artifacts, if you've removed all mods and are still getting them, I would clean the general area around the VMEM resistor, as some of the graphite might still be present and interfering with the electronic components around the reisstor. This actually happened to me as well, and once I recleaned the area, the problem went away.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: samusaraniv

Originally posted by: wizboy11

Originally posted by: Muhadib

Originally posted by: wizboy11
How come my memory in Coolbits only goes up to 900mhz (1800mhz)?
Can I get it to go higher?

Use a 3rd party overclock utility like powerstrip.

Thanks.

Also, I found an easy way to do the vmod with a conductive pen and a paper clip.

I basically streched out the paper clip so that it's one long peice. I then put some conductive ink on a peice of paper, dipped the end of the paper clip in the ink, and then applied it to the card. I found this to be pretty accurate and if you have a steady hand, you won't even need to tape anything off.

But it won't come out in one neat line, but it'll work.

I thought of doing something similar to what you suggest, but the conductive ink from the pen I got from Radio Shack dries so fast that it's almost impossible to do this. Pretty frustrating..

As for the artifacts, if you've removed all mods and are still getting them, I would clean the general area around the VMEM resistor, as some of the graphite might still be present and interfering with the electronic components around the reisstor. This actually happened to me as well, and once I recleaned the area, the problem went away.

So just use some alcohol and clean it? Already did it twice, but I'll do a much larger area next time. It was weird though. The Artifacts only came on the desktop background, NOT in games, NOT in Firefox, NOT in anything else. JUST the desktop background. Right now they went away, but I'll clean the vmem thing again just to be sure.

Can't wait for the multimeter to get here (got one online for $5) so I can try the mods (and get it right) next time.

Also, I have the same conductive pen (the crappy radio shack one) as you and I was able to do it. Just make a big enough blob of ink (and you may have to do it several times) before you finish the card.

 

[Showtime]

Thanks OP!

I came here to check on comparable cards to the 7900gt. I have one on back order at dell and was thinking of upgrading to a ati x1900. Good thing I found this thread. I knew the 7900gt was a decent card but had no idea how good it could oc. Kinda like the old 4200 or gf3 200 cards.

 

[dman918]

I am not so sure about performing the pencil mod without being able to test the results... Can anyone verify if you can do this and get a good approximate increase with a light shading?
Also, is there a program or anything that can verify what voltage the gpu is running at?

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: dman918
I am not so sure about performing the pencil mod without being able to test the results... Can anyone verify if you can do this and get a good approximate increase with a light shading?
Also, is there a program or anything that can verify what voltage the gpu is running at?

Get a multimeter. Their like $3.

Link (from some post two pages back)

 

[dman918]

Alright, I used the conductive pen to raise to 1.4v. However, it seems it didn't work because I can't OC past 515 on the core (fails test through coolbits). Is there a way to test to see if I have the two points connected? It's a little messy, but it seems like they are connected just fine...

 

[kyparrish]

Originally posted by: dman918
Alright, I used the conductive pen to raise to 1.4v. However, it seems it didn't work because I can't OC past 515 on the core (fails test through coolbits). Is there a way to test to see if I have the two points connected? It's a little messy, but it seems like they are connected just fine...

You could theoretically take your multi-meter, set to test "continuity", put one tip on each side of your ink (right on top of the 2 points you connected), and see if your meter beeps (if it has a speaker) to show the circuit is closed (is it closed or open, I'm drawing a blank....)

 

[dman918]

OK, I think I got it. However, I am only getting 644/800 using coolbits. Should I try a different OCing prog?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: dman918
OK, I think I got it. However, I am only getting 644/800 using coolbits. Should I try a different OCing prog?

You should def be getting more on the mem.

 

[dman918]

Coolbits only goes up to 800 for me. How can I change that? BTW, just got 10002 in 3dmark05. Does the GPU seem pretty good at 644 with a VF700? I see you got 700. BTW, this is at 1.4v.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: dman918
Coolbits only goes up to 800 for me. How can I change that? BTW, just got 10002 in 3dmark05. Does the GPU seem pretty good at 644 with a VF700? I see you got 700. BTW, this is at 1.4v.

Use Powerstrip . . .

 

[dman918]

What is the best way to test the settings? 3dmark without artifacts?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: dman918
What is the best way to test the settings? 3dmark without artifacts?

RTHDRIBL . . .

 

[dman918]

Thanks. I'll see what I can do...

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1

Originally posted by: dman918
What is the best way to test the settings? 3dmark without artifacts?

RTHDRIBL . . .

And ATI Tool. Just choose Scan for Artifacts, and let it run for an hour.

(but you kinda have to be on the computer at the same time to see if artifacts (that sound thing) appear)

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
(but you kinda have to be on the computer at the same time to see if artifacts (that sound thing) appear)

I usually just let it run for five to ten minutes . . .

 

[samusaraniv]

Well, I got a multimeter and did the mem mod RIGHT this time. Top card reads at 2.23, bottom fluctuates between 2.24-2.25. GPUs are both at 1.3V.

I have ran RTHDRIBL an Oblviion for an hour straight a piece at 618/2020 (!!) w/ no artifacting or crashing.

Cards don't get above 72/65C in-game, 85/75 in RTHDRIBL with VF700s and OCZ ramsinks using an Abit AN8 32X (cramped SLI PCI-E mobo). I am getting two VF900s tomorrow and will try for 1.4V and higher GPU clocks if my temps drop significantally. Otherwise, I'm done tampering, as this degree of OC is almost too good to be true as it is. :-D

 

[dman918]

I am using powerstrip, but it is annoying how the tip box comes up on boot. Any way to get rid of that with the free version?

ON EDIT!!! Wha??? Just ran 3dmark05 and scored a 5850??? OCed at 665/850. What is wrong?

 

[Arkane13131]

you ran 3dmark06 by mistake!

 

[dman918]

No, I am pretty positive I didn't. I will check when I get home, but I really don't think I did. That'll be funny if I did though...