Connect3D GTO also moddable to X850 XT PE

[Munky]

Looking at the pictures, the sapphire x800gto doesnt even have an external power connector, but the connect3d gto does. All the real x800xt/x850xt cards also have an external power connector, so I wouldnt count on unlocking the sapphire gto.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Jagercola
Tiger has one for $299 after rebate then Dell had one for $285 and $300 at the beginning of the week.

yeap, theres a linky at nvnews.net in the monday roundup. 300 bucks after rebate.

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
Not sure how hard 520mhz is to hit on the core as most I have seen has gone higer. It uses a copper heatsink unlike the cheap aluminum on the GTO2s. R423>R480 clock for clock.

Mine does 600mhz on the core w/ the stock heatsink and NO volt mods. I used W1zzard's bios from techpowerup! to get 16pipes and atitool to overclock.

Things have changed. 1 year ago most X800 Pro's (VIVO) would unlock to 16P but a lot of people had to settle for 500MHz. Mine went to the 520MHz, I was happy.

The cards could reach above 540, with only the 12P enabled. But stock sink was a no go, only with Silencers or Zalmans you could do better.

Perhaps during this time, ATI improved the process and the yields are better.

Normally, if yours reach 600MHz, it is a "diamond" IMO.

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: munky
Looking at the pictures, the sapphire x800gto doesnt even have an external power connector, but the connect3d gto does. All the real x800xt/x850xt cards also have an external power connector, so I wouldnt count on unlocking the sapphire gto.

They are very specific on the article: only the Connect3D GTO can be unlocked.

I saw on some threads people mentioning the Sapphire GTOs being very overclockable but not unlockable.

Don't take the risk. Benefit from the 26x1 feedbacks.

 

[JimmyH]

I might have a cherry core Most seem to hang around 540-580mhz w/ stock cooling. I think the cores have improved from last year.

This review shows a C3d r423 outclocking a R480 stock. To bad he didn't know to unlock the pipes LOL.

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=3575&page=10

The C3d's 2.0ns Ram will not clock as high as a GTO2's 1.6ns , but the core will probably close the gap if not pull ahead. Plus I believe the 2.0ns may be tighter timings than on the GTOs 1.6ns. Not sure though.

 

[jlbenedict]

I wonder if I should take the chance and mod my Connect3D GTO to 16 pipes.

 

[JimmyH]

I'd go for it. Its pretty much 100% success unless you got a AsRock ULI mobo. It'll work but not in a AsRock ULI board.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
I'd go for it. Its pretty much 100% success unless you got a AsRock ULI mobo. It'll work but not in a AsRock ULI board.

I noticed you have some high clocks on your GTO..

I've run ATI tool, and this thing I have starts artifacting at 443 core, 500 memory.. when I run the Find Max Core and Mem tools...

Would running at 16 pipes, as long as I'm running stock speeds work??

 

[JimmyH]

You could run it stock 400/490 w/ 16pipes and it'll get you ~500 3dmarks05. It may lower your max overclock. I never overclocked mine at 12pipe. Make sure u don't flash to the Powercolor X800XT bios as its 500/500 and yours looks like it won't hang.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/127

Use W1zzard's bios found in this article so u just get 16pipes then use atitool to overclock. Man 443 sounds real low, maybe u got a gimpy powersupply?

 

[jlbenedict]

Not sure if its a gimply power supply.. but its not exactly high powered..

I have a Fortron Blue Storm, 400 Watt'r... dual 12 v rails (14A, 15A )...

running a X2, 3800+, Abit An8-SLI, one hard drive, one optical drive, 2 gigs of mem, and a sound card.. not really overloaded, at least in my opinion..
Case has one intake 120mm fan, and one exhaust 120 mm fan

 

[sparka]

Does anyone know what SM version this card supports?
SM2.0, SM2.0 extended, etc.

 

[Diasper]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
I'd go for it. Its pretty much 100% success unless you got a AsRock ULI mobo. It'll work but not in a AsRock ULI board.

How come no play on Asrock?

 

[JimmyH]

jlbenedict
400w isn't alot and X2s do suck down power. Does your 12v drop alot under load? After u unlock the 4 pipes it'll draw even more power. Never heard of core not hitting 500mhz. Maybe u got a dud core :-(

Diasper
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=6006

Think its cause ULI probably has crappy drivers. I had 1st DDR mobo out. A ULI err ALI Iwill Magik KA266 and it was horrible. I wouldn't trust them.

 

[sparka]

Originally posted by: Diasper

Originally posted by: JimmyH
I'd go for it. Its pretty much 100% success unless you got a AsRock ULI mobo. It'll work but not in a AsRock ULI board.

How come no play on Asrock?

I was wondering the same thing. What makes you think that?

 

[jeffreyyan]

Hey, should be getting my C3D X800GTO tomorrow. Is it possible to not plug in the PCIe power connector in the card and use my ASUS A8N-SLI's EZplug power plug that's next to the slot instead?

 

[buzzsaw13]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
Not sure how hard 520mhz is to hit on the core as most I have seen has gone higer. It uses a copper heatsink unlike the cheap aluminum on the GTO2s. R423>R480 clock for clock.

Mine does 600mhz on the core w/ the stock heatsink and NO volt mods. I used W1zzard's bios from techpowerup! to get 16pipes and atitool to overclock.

Nice overclock for the core, I can't get that core when I slap on my Zalman VF-700

 

[JimmyH]

Guess my core is a diamond. What you get yours to w/ the stock copper heatsink and then your zalman?

Mine does: Case temp 40c (toasty)

48c idle 70c load at 16p stock 400/490
48c idle 74c load at 551/551 (24/7)
49c idle 81c load at 599/565

I run everything at the ragged edge on stock to poor cooling. Hate noise. 1st victim to heat was my 9800np flashed to 9800xt after 18months of abuse in case w/ no fans. No ragged edge for C3d X800GTO. 551/551 it is w/ one slow 80mm fan in case. Probably go no case fan now winter approaching LOL. I'd buy a better cooler, but I like value champs.

 

[buzzsaw13]

didn't check with the stock cooler, too loud for my tastes Though I can tell you my temps are a lot lower though, about 36C idle and about 60C load at 560/560

 

[JimmyH]

That stock cooler is LOUD way oc'd at load. Hmm that zalman @ $25 is above my $0.00 budget for vid card cooling. I got some leftover AS5, ole heatsinks, #2 pencil and sandpaper.. hmm...

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
jlbenedict
400w isn't alot and X2s do suck down power. Does your 12v drop alot under load? After u unlock the 4 pipes it'll draw even more power. Never heard of core not hitting 500mhz. Maybe u got a dud core :-(

I had better results lastnight after a few days of burn in..

I started the Find Max Core tool, and went off to take a shower... me being old forgetful that I am.. forgot about it running... well.. my wife asked me what was wrong with the computer, and I noticed it had locked up...

I checked the ATI Tool log, and noticed it made it up to a Core of 660 before locking up..
The log showed throughout the increments of the core no artifacting...

So, the outcome looks a little better this time and looks like I can squeeze a little performance out of this baby

 

[jeffreyyan]

Just got my C3d GTO. Modded it to 16p already. Using Atitool it found the max core to be 529 and max memory to be 542. Any higher and it just results in a black screen? Hey, what fan settings is everyone running at? I manually set mine up, if you don't then just does it just do it automatically?

At stock I get 43c idle, 65 load
At 520/540 I get 48 idle, 71 load

 

[WhipperSnapper]

So this card has a copper heatsink? How hard is it to remove the heatsink? Would it be advisable to add Arctic Silver or Arctic Ceramique to the GPU (and memory?)?

 

[JimmyH]

jlbenedict, 660mhz on the core. Holy Shi*! Crazy what a burn in can do. My atitool only goes only to 637mhz. Tried that and no prob w/ 2d but chicken to try that at 3d load. Looks like you got a monster on your hands, from Dud to STUD w/ a burn-in.

Its a copper heatsink. Just learned to set 100% fan in atitool. DOH. Got it 100% fan speed after 50c and its running cooler under load ~71c at 591/580 on Quake4. I'm done w/ soft mods and will go for some "el cheapo" hard mods when I get some time. Here's my end result w/ 16 pipe flash + 100% fan speed + 2 case fans.

Screenshot

 

[OhHenry]

Those are some nice overclocks. Wish they found out about that sooner, I could of saved myself 60 bucks. Oh well, I got a x850pro vivo for 245 instead and unlock it got about 530/590. I got rid of stock fan since it was annoying it got really hot with the x850xtpe mod and replaced with a waterblock and ramsink on the rams.

35C/44C/22C(Idle/Load/Ambient)

Edit: Oh my, this card is pcie... just like the gto2. Hence I got a x850provivo agp baby!

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: JimmyH
jlbenedict, 660mhz on the core. Holy Shi*! Crazy what a burn in can do. My atitool only goes only to 637mhz. Tried that and no prob w/ 2d but chicken to try that at 3d load. Looks like you got a monster on your hands, from Dud to STUD w/ a burn-in.

Its a copper heatsink. Just learned to set 100% fan in atitool. DOH. Got it 100% fan speed after 50c and its running cooler under load ~71c at 591/580 on Quake4. I'm done w/ soft mods and will go for some "el cheapo" hard mods when I get some time. Here's my end result w/ 16 pipe flash + 100% fan speed + 2 case fans.

Screenshot

I tested out the mem on the card, and it started artifacting at 528.. which is to be expected from 2.0ns memory...

It does look like I'll get more than the 430'ish I previously encountered.. must have been a flakey test session from the tool... my case cooling is fairly good... when my wife doesn't have the heat turned up in the house, the card idles between 37-39c.. my X2 3800+ idles lower than that... I only have two 120MM Vantec stealths running in my mid tower case.. but so far, this seems very good