Easy Software Voltmod for your GT200 / HD4870

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: geokilla
Drop in a Phenom II thilan. Then you'll notice the increase. Or you can always turn up the eye candy.

Don't forget that sometimes, drivers make the game's benchmark perform really well, while elsewhere in the game, the increase in performance is minimal. At least that's what I keep on reading about...

Yeah I was thinking about a Ph II but I've had this CPU only about 5 months...I'll upgrade the CPU towards the end of the year. Eye candy was turned up all the way for the FC2 test and it made no difference running 750 or 875 core...in a test I did before, upping the CPU to 3.2GHz made a larger difference than going from 750 to 830 core (although I had the trees set to high in the benchmark so the CPU might have been a bigger bottleneck that time).

 

[SSChevy2001]

Originally posted by: thilan29
I got mine up to 875 core @ 1.35v and ran the FC2 benchmark tool (1920x1200, ultra settings) and it ran fine but I gained nothing in the fps compared to running it at 750MHz (looks like my 3GHz CPU is holding me back) so I'm not gonna bother OCing anymore...I'll just leave it at 800MHz.

Anyone know at what values OVP and OCP kick in?

Nice clocks! The OVP for some 4870x2 kicks in at about 1.37v so it might be the same for the 4870.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: SSChevy2001
Nice clocks! The OVP for some 4870x2 kicks in at about 1.37v so it might be the same for the 4870.

Thanks.

What are you gonna keep yours at?

 

[SSChevy2001]

I need to do more testing, but I'm more than likely stick with 830Mhz at 1.275v. Biggest problem is the stock cooler, I'm already running my fan speed at 50%. I'm going to more than likely keep it low until I decide to upgrade the cooler.

 

[error8]

I'm getting 850 mhz at 1.33 V. The problem is that, like you've said, the stock cooler is starting to choke on me too. I'm hitting 72C with the fan at 60%, which is not tolerable at all.

UPDATE: Tried furmark and it crashed in 5 seconds, the screen turned black and the fan broke loose at 100%. Rebooted and it froze on the windows logo. I think I'm going to try a smaller voltage/overclock. :laugh:

 

[Tempered81]

It's now become even easier to do the mod. I've updated the post at XS to include evga voltage tuner 'unlocked' edition that works on any brand card, and removes the slider limitation. Simple enough

enjoy!

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
It's now become even easier to do the mod. I've updated the post at XS to include evga voltage tuner 'unlocked' edition that works on any brand card, and removes the slider limitation. Simple enough

enjoy!

Thanks again man, now my 4870 1gb is begging to be vmodded


Any suggestions on a relatively safe voltage setting for a reference 4870 1gb?

 

[Tempered81]

There's a 'limit' where law of diminishing returns comes into play. You'll reach a point on rv770 & gt200 where stock cooling (and sometimes even aftermarket/water cooling) will be keeping your temps in the safe zone, yet more vcore will essentially not help you get higher core/shader clocks. your hd4870 having core/shader ratio locked will find it's own limit. Plus it has over volt protection set at 1370mv. You won't be able to go higher than that unless you further modify your card. That keeps you from overvolting. but remember - you can still damamge your card if say ~1.3v load generates too much heat. The card still has it's own shut-off functions when you overheat it, but you really don't want to risk reaching that limitation. I'd say your 48701gb will top out somewhere around ~830-880mhz @ about 1.25~1.35v. Remember to get your ram to its max stable oc before you start to overclock/overvolt your core.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: TC91

Originally posted by: jaredpace
It's now become even easier to do the mod. I've updated the post at XS to include evga voltage tuner 'unlocked' edition that works on any brand card, and removes the slider limitation. Simple enough

enjoy!

Thanks again man, now my 4870 1gb is begging to be vmodded


Any suggestions on a relatively safe voltage setting for a reference 4870 1gb?

From what I've tested so far, even 1.3 V is quite high for the stock cooler. Furmark overheats my VRMs at that voltage ( 105 C ) with the fan at 65%, GPU hits 73C, which is not a beautiful thing. I would guess that on water, you could increase the voltage to 1.35 V or you can do that with the stock fan at 100%, if you can stand it. Anyway, volt moding 4870 sucks big time.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: TC91
Any suggestions on a relatively safe voltage setting for a reference 4870 1gb?

For the stock cooler I'd say around 1.3-1.325v IF the temps are kept in check. I went up to 1.375 but it seems I might have hit OVP and it didn't help me get any higher.

 

[Tempered81]

This mod is most beneficial to 65nm GTX260 owners. They will get the largest core clock increase

575 -> 800mhz is quite possible on 65nm 260's.

Texture fill rate of a stock GTX260: 40.3 gigatexels
http://img.techpowerup.org/080...UN%20STOCK%2017766.jpg

Texture fill rate of an overclocked GTX285 SSC edition: 56.6 gigatexels
http://images2.hiboox.com/imag...d8ef9bad6033ecb46c.jpg

Texture fill rate of a highly overclocked 65nm GTX260: 57.4 gigatexels
http://img.techpowerup.org/080801/bios.jpg

 

[Tempered81]

If anyone's downloaded the patch for EVGA's voltage tuner (the one that allows any vendor/any voltage) would you mind emailing it to me? They're removing the links quickly.

jaredpaceatgmaildotcom

edit - thanks i've got it!

 

[TC91]

hmmm I can't seem to get it to work. I installed the voltage tuner, then patched it and when i apply a new voltage, the slider just jumps back. GPU-Z doesnt show a change in voltage either. This is a reference sapphire 4870 1gb with catalyst 9.1 on vista x64. Thanks.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: TC91
hmmm I can't seem to get it to work. I installed the voltage tuner, then patched it and when i apply a new voltage, the slider just jumps back. GPU-Z doesnt show a change in voltage either. This is a reference sapphire 4870 1gb with catalyst 9.1 on vista x64. Thanks.

you could try polling the voltage regulator to see if you have the volterra vt1165. when you open gpu-z or rivatuner, can you see the temperature or voltage reading of the VRM / VDDC?

 

[TC91]

yeah when i go to the sensors page of gpu-z, there's VDDC Current, VDDC Slave #1-3 Temperatures, and VDDC. I will try polling the voltage regulator.

 

[TC91]

So I used the VoltageFactory tool in the XS link in the OP and it says my I2C bus number is 1, so I think the card does have the volterra regulator. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[error8]

Then use one of those methods listed in that link and get that voltage high into the sky.

 

[Tempered81]

evga voltage tuner + patch should work just fine. If not, try the rivatuner plugin or the voltage factory

 

[TC91]

dang I don't think I'm gona get very far. VoltageFactory works but I think my card is one of those lemons. 825mhz crashes at 1.3v or any lower, with the fan up to 50% (so loud). The memory was left at stock 900mhz. Don't think im going to want to push over 1.3v.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: TC91
Any suggestions on a relatively safe voltage setting for a reference 4870 1gb?

For the stock cooler I'd say around 1.3-1.325v IF the temps are kept in check. I went up to 1.375 but it seems I might have hit OVP and it didn't help me get any higher.

About to exercise this Sapphire Toxic edition cooler... at stock voltage, 820MHz/4650 the absolute highest temp I've seen yet is 55C with the fan set to auto (30% at that temp). Time to push the fan and GPU speed some more.

I'm installing Rivatuner now, 820MHz is the max for CCC... I need more slider room. Out of curiosity, what is the factory voltage for the 4870 GPU when it is under load?

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: TC91
Any suggestions on a relatively safe voltage setting for a reference 4870 1gb?

For the stock cooler I'd say around 1.3-1.325v IF the temps are kept in check. I went up to 1.375 but it seems I might have hit OVP and it didn't help me get any higher.

About to exercise this Sapphire Toxic edition cooler... at stock voltage, 820MHz/4650 the absolute highest temp I've seen yet is 55C with the fan set to auto (30% at that temp). Time to push the fan and GPU speed some more.

I'm installing Rivatuner now, 820MHz is the max for CCC... I need more slider room. Out of curiosity, what is the factory voltage for the 4870 GPU when it is under load?

should be 1.2625v

 

[SlowSpyder]

Hmmm... not sure if this is working. I set the slider to 1.3v and hit apply. Upon doing so the slider moves back to 1.0v and stays there. Not sure if possibly this is not a reference PCB?

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Hmmm... not sure if this is working. I set the slider to 1.3v and hit apply. Upon doing so the slider moves back to 1.0v and stays there. Not sure if possibly this is not a reference PCB?

This is exactly what happened to me. I had to use the VoltageFactory tool in the XS link in the OP

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: TC91

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Hmmm... not sure if this is working. I set the slider to 1.3v and hit apply. Upon doing so the slider moves back to 1.0v and stays there. Not sure if possibly this is not a reference PCB?

This is exactly what happened to me. I had to use the VoltageFactory tool in the XS link in the OP

I'll look into the other method, thanks.

On a side note with Rivatuner I'm up to 830MHz on stock volts/stock fan settings (30%) and able to complete 3DMark. Not too bad. If I can give a little bump in voltage I have pretty high hopes.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Hmmm... not sure if this is working. I set the slider to 1.3v and hit apply. Upon doing so the slider moves back to 1.0v and stays there. Not sure if possibly this is not a reference PCB?

Do the non-reference cards have the volterra vr?