[BioVader]

VGPU and VMem modifications were done via the 7800 GT Voltage Mod Guide put up my Shamino @ VR-Zone

Anyhow I'm all done.. It's kind of like the feeling the first time I took apart my truck motor and put it back together. You really have know idea how you did until you have it back together and hear the motor running. Well this is the same feeling of relief to see the boot screen pop up on the monitor. Then the feeling you get when you see your first benches is like sending your kids off to their first day of school... Well ok so I'm just trying to say that I'm relieved that the mod is complete and the card still works.. Mission accomplished.

Voltages before installing the VR's: GPU 1.213/2D and 1.42/3D | Memory 2.08

Now with it fired up and the GPU 10k Trimpot set to 5k the GPU is sitting at 1.27v/2D and 1.5/3D and with the memory 10k Trimpot set to 10K the memory is running at 2.2v. With Riva Tuner installed, the default Nvidia overclocking Auto Detect function is available. Using the auto detect clock setting tab with the NV Silencer 5 Rev 3 installed at stock volts, the card set itself to 473/1.2 and with this mod in place the card set itself to 514/1.2. That gave me a 101,000+ Aquamark score.

Right now I'm preping the card for water cooling (Swiftech/55) along with all copper Swiftech ramsinks. Once everything is back up and running I will see what all I can do...


Overview of the completed evga 7800 GT Vmod. This is my first time soldering too...


A look at the VMem mod area.


A closer look at the two 10k trimpots with the left VR going to the VGPU mod area.





The mod was really easy to do but please keep in mind the risk you take in doing such a mod. Also if you’re not sure of your soldering abilities make sure you practice and are comfortable with your work before doing any mods.

Update: Jan 22, 2006
2nd 7800 GT vmod to go SLI

[Blackmage]

nice whats the max this card will push?

[BioVader]

I personally don't know yet... Will find out what it can do once it's watered down...

[godofgorks]

First time soldering? Wow, you got some balls to put it to the 7800gt.

Good job though. Just curious, the molex is to check voltage correct, one is Vgpucore and the other Vgpumem? Just curious, but wouldn't have female molex worked better, considering you could put the voltage probe into it and it would hold its self? Just curious as when I eventually mod my 6600gt's I want to do something similar and just wondering which would work better.

I know what you mean about working on stuff, motors and such, about tearing them down and building them back up. It's an amazing feeling when you have all those parts in front of you and then at the end you have this functioning engine, it feels so empowering.

[BioVader]

Yeah thinking about it a female would have worked better but didn't have one handy... (ok didn't think of it) And yes molex connecter is for checking the voltages when you raise or lower the resistance of the VR's.

And it's always nice when the motor runs and you have parts left over...

[Son1990]

Very nice job. Post some benches when you can.

[godofgorks]

Originally Posted by BioVader

Yeah thinking about it a female would have worked better but didn't have one handy... (ok didn't think of it) And yes molex connecter is for checking the voltages when you raise or lower the resistance of the VR's.

And it's always nice when the motor runs and you have parts left over...

Only if those parts aren't supposed to be in there

Oh S***, weren't these supposed to go somewhere!!!

It's running. LOL.

[SolidxSnake]

a little messy on the soldering (but can be shrugged off to first time soldering), but a good job in general. keep up the good work!

[Revivalist]

Wow!!! That's an awesome job, especially for your first time!!

I'm planning to do the exact same mod on a BFG 7800GT but I have never soldered before either. I was really unsure whether I could do it but this thread is very encouraging and insightful. I think I'll do this on my 6600GT first before I try it on the 7800GT. (I guess I'm not as brave as you!

May I ask a few questions? . . .

1. Where did you get those trimpots from? (Radio Shack?)

2. Did you glue the wires, trimpots, and soldering joints after soldering them on in order to make sure they don't rip off, or is everthing basically just laying freely on the card?

3. (Super noob question): Did you actually touch the soldering iron to the connection points on the video card, or did you just hold the wire there and melt solder over it?

Thanks for any help!

[BioVader]

Originally Posted by Revivalist

May I ask a few questions? . . .

1. Where did you get those trimpots from? (Radio Shack?)

2. Did you glue the wires, trimpots, and soldering joints after soldering them on in order to make sure they don't rip off, or is everthing basically just laying freely on the card?

3. (Super noob question): Did you actually touch the soldering iron to the connection points on the video card, or did you just hold the wire there and melt solder over it?

Thanks for any help!

1. I bought everything from the shack except the multimeter, (must have) which I picked up at walmart for $16.

2. I used silicone to secure the Trimpots and molex connector to the board. I used shrink tubing on the wires and I did not put anything over the solder points. Although if you read the guide I think it suggests something for added strength.

3. Before you solder anything, read the voltage modding guide by VR-Zone, which goes over some basic soldering tips. I did a lot of test soldering to make sure I had it down before touching my board.

[Revivalist]

Thank you very much for the answers and for that guide! It was very helpful. . . Tonight, I shall volt-mod.

[BioVader]

Well the 7800 is on H2O now and things are looking good so far... I made some other changes in my case to help with some other heat issuse and I was able to hit 108,500 on Aquamark3. Right now the card is running 513/1.25. Still playing with the volts. Ran into a problem with 3dmark05 and had to lower the CPU overclock back to 2.85.

3dmark05 8780
3dmark03 18696
3dmark2001SE 31936

[speed bump]

Originally Posted by SolidxSnake

a little messy on the soldering (but can be shrugged off to first time soldering), but a good job in general. keep up the good work!

If thats messy I would like to see clean I have been soldering for abouut 9 years or so and have also watched artists that right there looks as good as some of the best I have seen, although FCG at XS has the cleanest v-mods I have ever seen.

[four4875]

soldering looks mighty fine. also, the other guy starting out, i have a soldering guide stickied here in this very forum :-) also linked in sig.

[d94]

Originally Posted by BioVader

Well the 7800 is on H2O now and things are looking good so far... I made some other changes in my case to help with some other heat issuse and I was able to hit 108,500 on Aquamark3. Right now the card is running 513/1.25. Still playing with the volts. Ran into a problem with 3dmark05 and had to lower the CPU overclock back to 2.85.

3dmark05 8780
3dmark03 18696
3dmark2001SE 31936

jesus man. that's almost rivaling my OC'd GTX!
awsome work

[BioVader]

Well I'm still taking baby steps. I've upped it to 513/1250 1.6/2.2v without any trace of artifacting. I figured I was doing good until I seen benches from other vmodded 78's and know I have a ways to go yet. My temps have yet to brake 40 so I should be safe for a while pushing up the clocks.

[White Runner]

looks very nice indeed...

just when i thought i had no reason to wc my vid card...

[Revivalist]

Well, I studied the guide sticked in here and also the one that BioVader posted, but I really had a very hard time. In fact, when I came back to look at the pictures of the volt-mod here, I was even more amazed. How did you do that so clean?!! . . .

Here are my problems. . .

- The soldering points are so tiny that it's hard to see if the wire is even in the right place (even with a magnifying glass mounted on "helping hands" from Radio Shack.)

- The solder dribbles fast and is hard to control.

- The wires are hard to keep in place while soldering.

- Even once I finally made a connection, the wire pulls away so easily.

I finally got the wires soldered, glue them down with conformal coating, and was relieved after working on it for over an hour. Then I turned on the card but the GPU voltage dropped to 0.2V! Even when I turned the pot, it never rose above 0.7V. . . .

So I removed the soldered wires but now I don't see the resister that I was soldering the wires to. I think it must have ripped off.

I think my 6600GT is dead. . . . I feel like giving up on volt-mods.

[BioVader]

Well here are some benches from todays testing.

GPU Core speed set to 253MHz + 40 MHz Delta = 293 MHz (1.65v)
Memory was set to 1320 MHz (2.28v)







Futuremark Links:

• 3dmark2001SE

• 3dmark03

• 3dmark05

[BioVader]

Originally Posted by Revivalist

- The solder dribbles fast and is hard to control.

- The wires are hard to keep in place while soldering.

- Even once I finally made a connection, the wire pulls away so easily.

I finally got the wires soldered, glue them down with conformal coating, and was relieved after working on it for over an hour. Then I turned on the card but the GPU voltage dropped to 0.2V! Even when I turned the pot, it never rose above 0.7V. . . .

So I removed the soldered wires but now I don't see the resister that I was soldering the wires to. I think it must have ripped off.

I thought you were modding a 7800... I don't think the guide I listed would have helped you with a 6600... Anyhow did you find the resistor and if so can you solder it back on?

Also how were you soldering the wire on? Did you put a small amount of solder on the wire before trying to place it. Then all you do it touch the tip of the iron to the wire and let the solder melt to the small solder point of the resistor. I had my wire ends, as small as they were, bent so that it was a small contact point.

Maybe you could take some close up pics of your card and post over on vr-zone and see if shamino can come up with something to fix your problem...

[Revivalist]

Congrats on the overclock. That's awesome!

Thanks for the reply also. . . . I do have a 7800GT that I was thinking about volt modding but I was practicing on a 6600GT first. From the looks of it, I don't think I will dare to touch the 7800GT.

[BioVader]

Well I guess the challenge now it to get the 6600 running again...

[d94]

Originally Posted by BioVader

Well here are some benches from todays testing.

GPU Core speed set to 253MHz + 40 MHz Delta = 293 MHz (2.65v)
Memory was set to 1320 MHz (2.28v)







Futuremark Links:

• 3dmark2001SE

• 3dmark03

• 3dmark05

ok. now you've got me
VERY IMPRESSIVE

[BioVader]

ty...Had a type-o with the volts though...

[dfonda]

Wow you really have that thing singing!

Do you test it on actual games right away or just the benchmarks?
I have found Far Cry is always finicky to any changes I make.
Great post!

[BioVader]

I did benchmarks only at first to look for any artifacts... Then I tried Quake 4 and Battlefield 2 without any problems.

Before the vmod I couldn't overclock really at all with Q4. I could overclock to around 463/1200 with BF2...

Right now I have the card running 583/1300 and backed the vcore voltage down just a tad. Remember the 583 is with the 40 delta added. So it's really 543 in the settings.

[4qman]

I also did the same mod as showen on my link, ive been working
in electronics for years and i must admit your work looks alot neater
than mine.
http://4qman.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=22

My stock voltages were a little lower than yours on the GPU. Mine were
1.36v in 3D mode.

I run the settings below 24/7 100% stable and im jitting around 9500 in 3Dmark 05..

www.4qman.com
S12 600w SLI PSU
MSI K8N Platinum *Volt Modded*
3800X2 @ 2.7Ghz
Mushkin HP3200 2-3-2-6 T1 225Mhz
BFG 7800GT @ 550/1280 *Volt Modded*
*WATER COOLED*

[BioVader]

I was going to go with those HS but decided to go with copper... I did however buy the ones you are using first but didn't like that they only gave you 4 of the larger size..

[Gautam]

Excellent work BioVader. Top-notch soldering and top-notch scores.

And sorry about your loss Revivalist. I would say just about anyone who does volt-mods frequently kills nearly as frequently. Not a wonderful thought I guess, but you're not alone.

[mysterfix]

Very nice BioVader I can't believe how good that solder job looks for a first timer! You must have practiced a lot before hand or you were blessed with a natural talent for soldering. Either way good job, a little bit more and you might have my uber clocker GT in a headlock.