The Simple & Concise 7900GT Voltmod Tutorial

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Looking at its picture, shouldn't the RAM heat just travel up to the main heatsink through the copper that contacts the RAM? The copper contacts do look mighty thin though, so I guess RAMsinks are still needed.

Thank you for your very helpful answer.

Can anyone verify how an NV Silencer will contract the RAM on this card? It looks to me, and fuzzybabybunny (wow, never thought I would type that) says above that the Silencer's heatsink contacts thge RAM directly. If this is so then how do you add RAM sinks at all?

 

[ueadian]

This mod is so awesome! If only everyone knew about this there would be no reason to buy any other card on the market right now. The whole X1800XT vs 7900GT arguement would have no grounds. I have never owned a Nvidia card I've always loved ATi but this is insane! I'm getting faster speeds with my voltmoted 7900GT then a 7900GTX or X1900XTX even when THEY are overclocked as well! There is absolutely no point in paying 200+ more dollars for the 7900GTX when all you get is 256mb more memory. The 7900 GT is the best card on the market right now period when you throw this easy 10 minutes modification into the picture.

OH and by the way I am NOT using an aftermarket cooler. I am at 650 core with just my case fans and the stock fan and the temps arent that bad at all. I have 5 case fans though. Plus my room temperature is never above 70 F.

And yes thank you crazylegs you can even do 1.55 this way with one more line, I saw the picture on the xtreme boards.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

1.4V and 1.55V GPU configurations have been added!

 

[ueadian]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=94177 <<< the guy who originaly did this mod explains why people get Black Screens. He is way more technical then this one but its worth a read to find out how to fix the black screens.

 

[starwars7]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
1.4V and 1.55V GPU configurations have been added!

Fuzzy, this thread so very helpful and you're doing a fantastic job managing your OP to take veryone's input and make the thread even better, just wanted to say how much it is apreaciated!

 

[yanman]

awesome guide, thanks!!!

could i make a plea to all of you who've successfully modded and oc'd... can you possibly post some game benchmarks before and after? ) bf2 benches would be awesome

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: yanman
awesome guide, thanks!!!

could i make a plea to all of you who've successfully modded and oc'd... can you possibly post some game benchmarks before and after? ) bf2 benches would be awesome

When I redo the vmod, I'll give it a shot. (maby)

 

[Dexmaus]

my desktop will freeze if my memory clock go over 1700 why?? i'm using ATI Tool

right now im at 650/1700 , the core can go up more i believe, i have not tried yet, but if i push the memory a notch, it will freeze, otherwise its very stable, i scored 10417 on 3DMark05 without artifacts.

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1983841

 

[Keysplayr]

OP: I have copied all of this info from the first post. If you wish, I can turn it into a nice web page with photos and host it. This sticky won't last forever, but the web page could stay as long as you like.

Keys

EDIT: Done. Here is the site.
If you want any changes, PM me. Thanks again for the great guide. I know I'll be using it. :beer:

 

[crazylegs]

Nice little website conversion!

Now just need some 7900GT's to be in stock with my supplier

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: yanman
could i make a plea to all of you who've successfully modded and oc'd... can you possibly post some game benchmarks before and after? ) bf2 benches would be awesome

I'll see about BF2 and others later (I need to leave soon) but I managed to get enough time to bench F.E.A.R.

@ 450/1320 (ref. GT speeds)

1280x960 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 27
Avg: 45
Max: 96

0% below 25 fps
58% between 25 and 40 fps
42% above 40 fps

1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 19
Avg: 31
Max: 65

24% below 25 fps
58% between 25 and 40 fps
18% above 40 fps

@ 500/1500 (stock OC speeds for my CO)

1280x960 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 32
Avg: 50
Max: 110

0% below 25 fps
38% between 25 and 40 fps
62% above 40 fps

1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 22
Avg: 35
Max: 74

16% below 25 fps
64% between 25 and 40 fps
20% above 40 fps

@ 700/1800 (after 1.4v mod)

1280x960 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 36
Avg: 64
Max: 144

0% below 25 fps
6% between 25 and 40 fps
94% above 40 fps

1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF

Min: 29
Avg: 46
Max: 97

0% below 25 fps
45% between 25 and 40 fps
55% above 40 fps

A big difference, and F.E.A.R. still a pretty stressful app.

 

[crazylegs]

Nice analysis... did you use the FEAR DEMO and FRAPS for the benchmark?

Good to see that the performance increase is pretty much direct proporionate (in percentage terms) to the percentage increase in CORE clock speeds...

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: crazylegs
Nice analysis... did you use the FEAR DEMO and FRAPS for the benchmark?

Good to see that the performance increase is pretty much direct proporionate (in percentage terms) to the percentage increase in CORE clock speeds...

I used the retail version of F.E.A.R. and it's built-in benchmark.

 

[Keysplayr]

Added Link to site for 1Dark1Sharigan1's benchmarks. Easier to read and compare. Click here and then click the "Before and After Benchmarks" link.

If anyone has any benches as thorough as 1Dark1Sharigan1's, I'll be happy to add them.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
OP: I have copied all of this info from the first post. If you wish, I can turn it into a nice web page with photos and host it. This sticky won't last forever, but the web page could stay as long as you like.

Keys

EDIT: Done. Here is the site.
If you want any changes, PM me. Thanks again for the great guide. I know I'll be using it. :beer:

OMG thanks yay! It looks perfect

<3 keysplayr2003

 

[Acanthus]

Very good guide.

This is almost enough to convince me to bite.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ST
BTW> An NV SIllencer 5 Rev 2/3 works fine with the 7900GTs, with a slight length hack to it. You can get them from SVC for $14.95 : http://www.svc.com/avc-nv5-r2.html

Are you sure the rev 2 works? I know that the tip of the exhaust port needs trimming, but both rev 2 and 3 can mount properly? Are RAMsinks needed if not overclocking?

I'm interested in this for better cooling and quieter operation in a near SFF case and won't be overclocking. TIA.

 

[zendari]

Quick question: Just got a 7900 GT, would you do this mod with stock cooler? I have a small case and no room for NV silencer.

I've overcloked it with coolbits. 564/853 stable at the moment.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: zendari
Quick question: Just got a 7900 GT, would you do this mod with stock cooler? I have a small case and no room for NV silencer.

I've overcloked it with coolbits. 564/853 stable at the moment.

What are your temps at those clocks with the stock cooler?

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: zendari
Quick question: Just got a 7900 GT, would you do this mod with stock cooler? I have a small case and no room for NV silencer.

I've overcloked it with coolbits. 564/853 stable at the moment.

What are your temps at those clocks with the stock cooler?

Somewhere in the range of 65 C running rthdribl side by side with temp window.

It's an EVGA card, the one off the recent circuit city deal. Base clocks 500/750.

I have no intention of doing the memory mod; aren't these cards bottlenecked by core anyway?

this card

 

[6shiw1]

I would also like an answer the the question above. Isn't it also dependent on AA/AF and resolution and whatnot? I imagine most people with the 7900gt will have everything set to highest...

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: zendari
Quick question: Just got a 7900 GT, would you do this mod with stock cooler? I have a small case and no room for NV silencer.

I've overcloked it with coolbits. 564/853 stable at the moment.

What are your temps at those clocks with the stock cooler?

Somewhere in the range of 65 C running rthdribl side by side with temp window.

It's an EVGA card, the one off the recent circuit city deal. Base clocks 500/750.

I have no intention of doing the memory mod; aren't these cards bottlenecked by core anyway?

this card

I have the same card as of yesterday. Detected OC of 556/868. Ran BF2 flawlessly @ that OC for hours. Idled @47, out of BF2 @ 55 ish.

Edit: Everything was maxed in BF2.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: zendari
Quick question: Just got a 7900 GT, would you do this mod with stock cooler? I have a small case and no room for NV silencer.

I've overcloked it with coolbits. 564/853 stable at the moment.

What are your temps at those clocks with the stock cooler?

Somewhere in the range of 65 C running rthdribl side by side with temp window.

It's an EVGA card, the one off the recent circuit city deal. Base clocks 500/750.

I have no intention of doing the memory mod; aren't these cards bottlenecked by core anyway?

this card

IMHO, I would not attempt this volt mod without better cooling. 65C is ok, but the voltmod will pump up the heat output a bit. It would be nice if they had low profile water blocks for the core and memory. I don't like the idea of those bare memory chips either. And would definitely use ramsinks on them.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Yeah, the volt mod increases the heat significantly. Before the volt mod my load temps were around 51-52C, after the volt mod my load temps who go as high as 60-61C, and remember this is with an NV Silencer 5 and an open air setup. I would imagine close case with a stock cooler would be a even higher percentage increase in temps.

Also sorry for delays on Benchmarks. I need to install BF2. Then I will have BF2, HL2 Lost Coast, Quake 4, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, Chronicles of Riddick, COD2, and possibly AOEIII/Oblivion (if I can figure out a way to bench it properly. I'm thinking using replay + FRAPS in AOEIII would work) soon . . .

 

[akugami]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835127009

Keysplayer, this seems like what you're looking for but it's mad expensive. Can probably find it cheaper elsewhere but still pricey. Checked Koolance's web site and it's low profile and will work in SLI rigs. The bad thing is that one of the nozzles seems to be blocking the SLI bridge so you can't use it in SLI mode for the 7900GT's though it's suppose to work fine for the 7900GTX's even in SLI.