EVGA Announces GPU Voltage Tuner for GTX 260s, 280s, 295s

[AuDioFreaK39]

EVGA Announces GPU Voltage Tuner for GTX 260s, 280s, 295s

the first utility of its kind


For a number of years, many enthusiasts have enjoyed the idea of voltage modifying the GPU in order to yield higher overclocks in an attempt to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of their investments. Yet, the result often came at the cost of voiding a warranty or possessing general soldering skills and a few anxiety relief pills.

Nevertheless, EVGA has responded to the request for a non-warranty-voiding solution with the announcement of its own GPU voltage tuning software utility. The first version of this utility will support all EVGA GTX 280, 65nm GTX 260, and GTX 295 cards. Yes that's right, this is only for EVGA cards, and only for EVGA registered users. In addition, support for the company's 55nm GTX 260s and GTX 285s will come shortly in a later release.

Our friend Jacob Freeman from EVGA has demonstrated the utility running on an air-cooled EVGA GTX 295, in which he was able to raise the core clock frequency from 685MHz to a stunning 783MHz and the shader frequency from 1476MHz to 1692MHz with a small vCore boost of 225mV.

The utility is expected to be available for download on EVGA's site very soon. More information, including pictures of the utility in action on the GTX 295, can be found here.



No self- promotion


esquared
Anandtech Senior Moderator

 

[Denithor]

This is certainly interesting, a voltmod that won't void your (lifetime) warranty. Nice indeed.

But 0.225V seems like quite a lot extra, what is the stock vcore on these cards?

 

[error8]

That is a great step forward in videocards overclocking. Although, EVGA might have lots of RMA situations after this software is released.

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: AuDioFreaK39
EVGA Announces GPU Voltage Tuner for GTX 260s, 280s, 295s

the first utility of its kind


For a number of years, many enthusiasts have enjoyed the idea of voltage modifying the GPU in order to yield higher overclocks in an attempt to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of their investments. Yet, the result often came at the cost of voiding a warranty or possessing general soldering skills and a few anxiety relief pills.

Nevertheless, EVGA has responded to the request for a non-warranty-voiding solution with the announcement of its own GPU voltage tuning software utility. The first version of this utility will support all EVGA GTX 280, 65nm GTX 260, and GTX 295 cards. Yes that's right, this is only for EVGA cards, and only for EVGA registered users. In addition, support for the company's 55nm GTX 260s and GTX 285s will come shortly in a later release.

Our friend Jacob Freeman from EVGA has demonstrated the utility running on an air-cooled EVGA GTX 295, in which he was able to raise the core clock frequency from 685MHz to a stunning 783MHz and the shader frequency from 1476MHz to 1692MHz with a small vCore boost of 225mV.

The utility is expected to be available for download on EVGA's site very soon. More information, including pictures of the utility in action on the GTX 295, can be found here.


http://www.fudzilla.com/index....view&id=11634&Itemid=1

Thanks for posting this Audiofreak39! This utility will be awesome for EVGA owners; I wouldn't doubt other manufacturors may follow suit after EVGA makes this available. I am definitely in when they get these working with the 55nm 260's.

 

[thilanliyan]

Gigabyte has had something similar for a while (gamerhud?) and Asus also has this on their matrix cards I think.

 

[OCGuy]

This is why I will always support EVGA. If they stopped making nV cards and jumped to ATi, I probably would as well.

Most companies dont even cover overclocking, nevermind volt-modding.


:thumbsup: to EVGA.

 

[AzN]

They should beef up the cooling solutions too.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Azn
They should beef up the cooling solutions too.

This is why I watercool all my eVGA cards. With a voltage bump, I'm seeing some serious folding in my future.

 

[Painman]

Cool. I finally pulled the trigger on an EVGA 260 c216 SC edition in 65nm flavor, and it's all dressed up in its WC suit and ready to party. This is the kind of stuff Water is for!

 

[angry hampster]

I think my next card will be an EVGA. I've never heard a bad thing about them.

 

[ArchAngel777]

If this works, I will likely install a waterblock on mine... Unless the air cooling can handle the job.

 

[chizow]

Wow, EVGA never ceases to amaze, gotta love their products and support for enthusiasts. I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of this, starting with the Release 180 drivers, my temps have gone up significantly (7-8C) from higher GPU load and better overall performance in games. Rel 180 drivers also reduced the heat threshold from 100C to 85C before GT200 cards downclock or throttle, so voltmodding would only bring my temps closer to that 85C threshold.

 

[ashishmishra]

I bet this will go well with volt modded GT200's Accelero Xtreme GTX280

 

[geokilla]

Old RivaTuner feature

How to change voltage using RivaTuner

Guess it's time to install RivaTuner. Topping out at 62C while folding with fan speed at 40% = Great clocks are on the way.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: geokilla
Old RivaTuner feature

How to change voltage using RivaTuner

Guess it's time to install RivaTuner. Topping out at 62C while folding with fan speed at 40% = Great clocks are on the way.

This can kill your card I think if done improperly so anyone using it should use caution.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: ashishmishra
I bet this will go well with volt modded GT200's Accelero Xtreme GTX280

Be careful with after-market coolers, they tend to cool the GPU core better, but there's growing evidence they do a poor job cooling the VRMs, which can lead to premature card death. There was quite a few threads about this with the 4850s and people using after-market coolers with insufficient VRM cooling. You can also see similar results here:

PCGH GTX 280 Cooler Round-up

You can see the HR-03 does a much better job at cooling the GPU, but is much worst than the stock cooler at cooling the VRMs. The SilenX solution looks like it'd be a great performance, but clearly fails at cooling better than the stock cooler.

 

[ashishmishra]

Originally posted by: chizow

Originally posted by: ashishmishra
I bet this will go well with volt modded GT200's Accelero Xtreme GTX280

Be careful with after-market coolers, they tend to cool the GPU core better, but there's growing evidence they do a poor job cooling the VRMs, which can lead to premature card death. There was quite a few threads about this with the 4850s and people using after-market coolers with insufficient VRM cooling. You can also see similar results here:

PCGH GTX 280 Cooler Round-up

You can see the HR-03 does a much better job at cooling the GPU, but is much worst than the stock cooler at cooling the VRMs. The SilenX solution looks like it'd be a great performance, but clearly fails at cooling better than the stock cooler.

Though with 3 92mm fans blowing down, I willing to bet that the vrm's will have better air-flow than the stock cooler

 

[Nafets]

Tried the Rivatuner voltage tweak with a HD4870 and it works great! Voltage changes in both directions (overvolting and undervolting) works great.