AGP Voltage question

[JonUK]

I have been having problems with lock-ups with my Radeon and I think I have now solved them . To do this though I have had to change the VAGP Output setting from 1.5v to 1.8v. The card seems stable as anything now. Is it ok to run the card at this voltage setting? The mobo is an AGP 3.0 (4x/8x) and the card is a 2x/4x card (running at 4x).

The settings for the VAGP were as follows:

1.5v (default) - lock-ups within seconds of "Dragothic" benchmarking in 3dmark2001SE
1.6v - locks up after getting slightly further
1.7v - locks up again and gets even further
1.8v - No lock-ups at all!

My main concern now is that maybe 1.8v may cause some damage or is it the correct voltage?

 

[ethebubbeth]

1.5v is standard. What is your card? Is it one that requres an additional power connector? Your card should be fine, especially if your case has adequate airflow, although you are probably shortening it's lifespan (not something i'd be worried about).

 

[JonUK]

Its a Radeon 9000 128mb (non-pro). It will only work in 1.8v though, it will crash at all other settings! Maybe this is the correct setting for my mobo/vid card setup? There seem to be no ill-effects of the increase so far and it runs perfectly. Also on the cooling side I have a Titan System Exhaust fan in the slot directly below the Radeon as well as the Radeons own fan, then an additional 2 system fans.

 

[ethebubbeth]

Well you should probably be ok. That is most definitely not what it SHOULD be running at though.

 

[JonUK]

Its strange how they allow the change from the BIOS and that the voltage would be the problem. Maybe a better PSU would help?

UPDATE: Just rang my local comp. shop and they think that the AGP Voltage setting should be OK and they have had to use this setting on their own machines to get them to work.

 

[MatthewF01]

i run my Ti4200 at 1.7v all the time, as the card is overclocked to 320/590 and it just seems to help out a little bit

but something ive wondered for a long time is, will the power regulating stuff on the video card itself just bleed off the extra voltage youre supplying the AGP slot with???

 

[TerryMathews]

No. Lowering the voltage down to a specific level would require a specific voltage-dampening circuit, a PIC chip and some sort of serial voltage monitor.

Basically, that circuitry on the card is designed to filter the power to the card and only allow a specific current to pass through. It's usually a set of caps and resistors. That being said, when you increase the voltage, the current increases as well since the resistance is constant. This is why cards OC better when you turn up the volts.

 

[Soulkeeper]

anyone here been running their agp voltage at 1.7 or higher for more than half a year ???
just wondering also about the long term effects

 

[sman789]

time to test this on my9600 which i can only get to 465/330