Evga 8600GT Vmod

[Spawn-Inc]

i figure i will share with you my experience with volt modding my video card for the first time. i have been trying to boost my 3dmark06 and aquamark scores as high as they can go and while at work i discovered it's rather easy to volt mod my current video card with a simple pencil mod. after messing around for a couple of hours i was able to get my non volt modded setup to a score of 5429 on 3dmark. i was rather impressed with that seeing as what i have to work with hardware wise. after reading through a couple of sites and mainly this one (http://sg.vr-zone.com/index.php?i=4925&s=1) i got out my multimeter and HB 2 pencil. i located the proper spots and check voltages. at stock i was 1.35v core and 1.8v memory, after my volt mod i ended up with 1.50v core and 1.92v. i ran aquamark only to find out the cpu wouldn't let me go any further and could not get above 109k. however i was able to get 5856 in 3DMark06. i wanted to try to get more volts but couldn't get the voltages any higher no matter how much i penciled the resistors. i tried one last time and got the voltages to 1.52v core and 2.0 memory but when i went to test the oc something made a weird noise when i tried to run a artifact test via ati tool. not wanting to break my video card i gave up and cleaned off the lead from the pencil and have returned to stock voltages. it was probably for the best that it didn't go any higher as temps got to a toasty 84C.

here are the pictures i took :)

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/30349/2295837540100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

i cut up a old cpu heatsink for the voltage regulators so they didn't burn up :)
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/29460/2585297060100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/29882/2740028230100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

here is the GPU core measure point and resistor that needs to be coloured over with a pencil.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/4241/p1010579kr9.jpg


and here is the one for the memory, i didn't get the measure point for the memory but its in the pictures from the link above
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7076/p1010581bx7.jpg

and here is my homemade Delta 80mm x 38mm :) it's just two 80mm fans screwed together, it seems to blow more air then if separate. i used it to cool the voltage regulator heat sink as seen in the first picture. i'm using for a rear exhaust fan now and its dropped my cpu 2C to 28C idle.
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/27953/2232068540100511463S600x600Q85.jpg



i was the top dog on EVGA's site for 3DMark06 score for my video card but when i got home to bums had to go post better scores. but in the end i'm happy with what i did and love overclocking!!!! go void your warranties and post your stories/work logs here!!! here is the link (http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=3800130) for my final 3DMark06 score for now :twisted::twisted:

thanks for reading, hope it makes sense!

[crenn]

No V-Mods, stock cooling:

5666 - http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=3036111

Not going to push mine any more that that. But notice that the majority of the points come from my CPU, not the GPU!

[Spawn-Inc]

ya once i get a quad core i expect 8k or so, i'm waiting for the new quads though. for what it is though i like it. if i can locate some inexpensive 20k VR i will solder them in and try to get it farther.

[crenn]

20k VRs are fairly inexpensive I thought. And if you're a smart ass, you'll notice on the motherboard, there is places for a PCI-E power connector.... I think you can see where this is going!

[Spawn-Inc]

where is there room for a PCI-e connector?

not sure if that comment is meant to be an insult or not but i don't know what i did to invoke such a thing if it was a insult.

[crenn]

When I open up my case again (today) I'll show you what I mean. On my graphics card (not motherboard xP) there is 6 soldering points for a PCI-E connector!

btw, I didn't mean for it to be an insult, I apologise if you took it that way.

[Spawn-Inc]

i googled your card and i see what your talking about, mine doesn't have that, i guess the different card designs. that would be interesting to see what would happen if you soldered in a plug and if it would do anything.

[crenn]

I might have to try one time when I'm feeling daring.

[Spawn-Inc]

UPDATE: i've changed the stock heat sink to a Arctic cooling accelero S2 and have dropped temps a good deal. i also had to change the voltage regulator heatsink as it was to high so its a bit smaller now.

before
idle 48C - load 75C
after
idle 39C - load 60C (mind you thats volt modded so once i return to stock voltages it should be lower)


i've upped my 3dmark 06 score from 5868 to 6060 and aquamark from 109 621 to 110 528.

those score where at vcore 1.5 and vmem 1.95 @ 843/943

i have upped it as much as i can to 1.6vcore and 2.03vmem. i will do some tests and leave it at that until i get a better cpu.

EDIT: i was able to get 6098 (http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=4017807) in 3dmark06 and 110 651 (http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2937/aquamark3110641ul8.jpg) in aquamark at 870/945/1964 (http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4310/870945ow4.jpg).

[crenn]

How's the noise for that heatsink?

[Spawn-Inc]

none, its passive. but i added 2 fans (they where already in the case so there hasn't been any noise change) i think the loudest fan in my case is a old 40mm van for the mobo voltage reg's. but its a really nice heat sink and only 25!

[Spawn-Inc]

added some leads so it's easier to see the voltages when i get some 20k VR's.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1662/12140001hg9.jpg

can you step up a volt modded card?

[.Maleficus.]

LOL no, you can't. That definitely voids the warranty.