How-to: Pencil mod your HD 3870!

[KurosakiIchigo]

Excellent! Take your time, be very methodical, and if you get stuck, STOP and post a question or two. We'll be here for you man! (And if Random is sleeping I'll wake his ass up!) -He's my son....:)

thanks :D

Stay Tuned :rockout:

[thoughtdisorder]

thanks :D

Stay Tuned :rockout:

Btw, there are several excellent resources here for you: Dr. Spankenstein, Danishdevil, Sneekypeet, Randommurderer, Coldstorm, just to name a few....We're all here. If it can be done, someone on this site knows how to do it..........:pimp:

And I am staying tuned! In case you haven't noticed, there's usually THOUSANDS of "guests" viewing. What we do is important. If you have success, take pics and post in this thread for others! Thanks! :rockout:

[monohouse]

if my real temps of the core at 1.6V are really 65 C, and the card is known to be quite stable even at 90 C (when it was on air), doesn't that mean I can incrase 1.7/1.8 and maybe that will give me to increase from 958.50 to 1000+ ? so it might increase temperature to 75/80 C but is still ok ?

[KurosakiIchigo]

nothing to do... another point for the trimmer mod ? (100kohm)

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Are you needing another solder point for the VCore mod? There are a few that are on the trace that leads from the FB pin.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080807/3870corecontrolfinalic3.jpg

I've marked the other potential points for soldering. The issue you could be running into is the pot itsself may not be set to a point where the resistance is changing. You have to take readings at the legs of the pot that you will be using. Measure then to get as close to 100k (probably closer to 90k) as possible then turn the screw counterclockwise until the values start to drop.

[KurosakiIchigo]

Are you needing another solder point for the VCore mod? There are a few that are on the trace that leads from the FB pin.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080807/3870corecontrolfinalic3.jpg

I've marked the other potential points for soldering. The issue you could be running into is the pot itsself may not be set to a point where the resistance is changing. You have to take readings at the legs of the pot that you will be using. Measure then to get as close to 100k (probably closer to 90k) as possible then turn the screw counterclockwise until the values start to drop.

i've set the pot at 96kohm , but when i boot the card i measure the vcore but even the ram are set to 0...

[Dr. Spankenstein]

I'm sorry. I don't understand.

[KurosakiIchigo]

I'm sorry. I don't understand.

sorry for my english... i'll post a photo of my videoboard... everything will be clear :)

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Very good.

When the resistor broke off, it may have taken the pad and some of the trace with it.
That can easily be solved with a blod of solder!

I'll hold my other opinions until we see the photo...

[Random Murderer]

Very good.

When the resistor broke off, it may have taken the pad and some of the trace with it.
That can easily be solved with a blod of solder!

I'll hold my other opinions until we see the photo...

my thoughts exactly.

[KurosakiIchigo]

Sorry for my english again , but soon as i can i'll post a photo!

[Random Murderer]

Sorry for my english again ,

don't worry about it, you use better english than half of the people on here!

[thoughtdisorder]

Sorry for my english again , but soon as i can i'll post a photo!

No worries about your English! Who's to say we shouldn't learn your language?:p Btw-Where ya from my friend?

[KurosakiIchigo]

I'm from Italy :)
I've done some photos , but aren't sharp as i expected...
First (http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/4681/epsn2685fm5.jpg)
Second (http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8505/epsn2673yr5.jpg)

[tigger]

That wire is going to add to the overall resistance.

Heres mine as an example-
http://img.techpowerup.org/080809/IMG_3170.jpg

Can you try thinner wire and fit the trimmer to the card?

good first try though.

[KurosakiIchigo]

so , what i have to do ?

[Dr. Spankenstein]

First, does the card boot?

I see alot of scorching on the PCB. Hopefully you haven't melted through some of the traces.

The mod looks like it should be working.

Please specify what is wrong.

[KurosakiIchigo]

First, does the card boot?

I see alot of scorching on the PCB. Hopefully you haven't melted through some of the traces.

The mod looks like it should be working.

Please specify what is wrong.

the card doesn't boot... that is the problem!

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Well, if your solder points are solid and they are not bridging any connections then I don't know where else to go.

Last resort would be to solder directly to the leg of the IC marked in my photo above.

You might want to find a smaller tip for your soldering iron AND practice on something other than a $200 card next time. :eek:

[KurosakiIchigo]

Well, if your solder points are solid and they are not bridging any connections then I don't know where else to go.

Last resort would be to solder directly to the leg of the IC marked in my photo above.

You might want to find a smaller tip for your soldering iron AND practice on something other than a $200 card next time. :eek:

damn resistor :banghead:

[Random Murderer]

so , what i have to do ?

it looks to me like you have bridged some points that shouldn't be bridged.
also, it's not clear from the pictures which pins on the pot you soldered to.

[KurosakiIchigo]

it looks to me like you have bridged some points that shouldn't be bridged.
also, it's not clear from the pictures which pins on the pot you soldered to.

to get everything clear: I broke the R1222 resistor and i'm trying to recover this videoboard with the trimmer mod (hard mod). Now i've sold the pot between ground and a point in the picture posted few pages back. I hope i can do a more detailed picture in those days...

[tigger]

Take the mod off now,clean up were it was with a desoldering pump to remove any solder that may be bridging other connections.You may be able to repair were the R1222 resistor was.You need to use thinner wire.How big is the tip on your soldering iron.

[Random Murderer]

to get everything clear: I broke the R1222 resistor and i'm trying to recover this videoboard with the trimmer mod (hard mod). Now i've sold the pot between ground and a point in the picture posted few pages back. I hope i can do a more detailed picture in those days...

right, i understood that.
the pot itself has three pins on it. which pins did you use?

[KurosakiIchigo]

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5752/177503re9.jpg

Trimmer set to 96 Kohm (measured with the tester)

[sleepsus]

Using CRABE Radeon BIOS editor to up the VCore, does it give the same results as this pencil mod?

I found the article that uses CRABE here (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-graphics-card,1916-9.html)

any pros and cons using just a bios mod to up the VCore?

Thanks, Mark - OC noob

[KurosakiIchigo]

Using CRABE Radeon BIOS editor to up the VCore, does it give the same results as this pencil mod?

I found the article that uses CRABE here (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-graphics-card,1916-9.html)

any pros and cons using just a bios mod to up the VCore?

Thanks, Mark - OC noob

you cannot modify Vcore with the bios , you have to set it up with an hardware mod

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Using CRABE Radeon BIOS editor to up the VCore, does it give the same results as this pencil mod?

I found the article that uses CRABE here (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-graphics-card,1916-9.html)

any pros and cons using just a bios mod to up the VCore?

Thanks, Mark - OC noob


I understand what your suggesting.

Try to make all clocks work @ 3D speeds and voltages since he is trying to bypass the resistor. It could work, IF you were able to flash a non-booting card. Not sure on that one.

Do you have another PCI-e video card you could use while you flash the dead one?

[sleepsus]

I understand what your suggesting.

Try to make all clocks work @ 3D speeds and voltages since he is trying to bypass the resistor. It could work, IF you were able to flash a non-booting card. Not sure on that one.

Do you have another PCI-e video card you could use while you flash the dead one?

I've actually tried it on my not-dead Palit HD 3850 Super (512MB DDR3)
I did get it to 810/1125, but it was unstable, so I'm not sure if this could be because the VCore setting in CRABE doesnt really have any effect.

BTW techPowerUp also has a bios editor that features VCore adjustments here (http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1148/TechPowerUp_Radeon_Bios_Editor_v1.13.html)

[Random Murderer]

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5752/177503re9.jpg

Trimmer set to 96 Kohm (measured with the tester)is it a single or multi turn pot?

[KurosakiIchigo]

is it a single or multi turn pot?

single

[tigger]

You need a 15 or 22 turn 100kohm cermet trimmer.
Like this-
http://img.techpowerup.org/080810/untitled482.jpg

You cannot get the resistance fine enough on that type.

On my 3850,the resistances are as follows.

61.3kohm=1.34vgpu
61.0kohm=1.39vgpu

If this helps.

[Random Murderer]

single

as tigger said, you need at least a 15 turn pot.

[KurosakiIchigo]

as tigger said, you need at least a 15 turn pot.

sure ? if so , i will buy one of this

[Random Murderer]

sure ? if so , i will buy one of this

do you have a link?

[sleepsus]

you cannot modify Vcore with the bios , you have to set it up with an hardware mod

Sorry, I'm confused if I should do the pencil mod or just the bios mod to up the VCore ?

I did just the bios mod this morning on my HD3850 and ...

Here is a screenshot of AMD Overdrive reporting 1.375V on the VCore while running Gears Of War in the background:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/sleepsusSS-1.jpg

Is it correct? I'm not aware of any other tool that monitors GPU VCores?

[sleepsus]

It's also strange that Everest and GPU-Z report slightly lower speed values compared to AMD Overdrive.

AMD Overdrive reports more accurately the actual values i used in the bios editor.

My bios attached if anyone's interested, - From a Palit HD 3850 Super (512M/DDR3), extracted via GPU-Z and edited with CRABE

[Random Murderer]

It's also strange that Everest and GPU-Z report slightly lower speed values compared to AMD Overdrive.

AMD Overdrive reports more accurately the actual values i used in the bios editor.

My bios attached if anyone's interested, - From a Palit HD 3850 Super (512M/DDR3), extracted via GPU-Z and edited with CRABE

last i heard, there is no way to raise the voltage through bios software, even though most cards support it.
as far as i know the only way to raise voltage is to tinker with the hardware in some way, such as a pencil mod or the trimmer mod.

[sleepsus]

last i heard, there is no way to raise the voltage through bios software, even though most cards support it.
as far as i know the only way to raise voltage is to tinker with the hardware in some way, such as a pencil mod or the trimmer mod.

I see now what you guys mean ... bios may support it but the hardware may not actually implement the voltages set in bios ...

I'll need to find myself a DMM and know for sure!

Anyone figured out where the read point on a 3850 is?

[sneekypeet]

I see now what you guys mean ... bios may support it but the hardware may not actually implement the voltages set in bios ...

I'll need to find myself a DMM and know for sure!

Anyone figured out where the read point on a 3850 is?

what manufacturer of HD3850?

[sleepsus]

what manufacturer of HD3850?

It's from Palit (http://www.palit.biz/main/vgapro.php?id=677)

[sneekypeet]

I assume the Palit is on a non reference PCB. Wait for Random tho on that one. Im not really sure, based on my assumption!

[tigger]

Can you post a pic of the back of your card sleepsus please?

[sleepsus]

will do, once I get home from work :)

[Random Murderer]

I assume the Palit is on a non reference PCB. Wait for Random tho on that one. Im not really sure, based on my assumption!

although i can't say this for sure, palit has never made a reference 3870. if they have, i've haven't seen it.
in the case that it is not a reference pcb, you'll need to do a bit of detective work(we'll help you) to find out where the measure point is. there is only so much we can figure out without actually having the card in our hands.

[KurosakiIchigo]

do you have a link?

Link Trimmer (http://www.webtronic.it/pages/ITA/prodotto.asp?ProdottoID=17610&FamigliaID=0)

[Dr. Spankenstein]

For mounting purposes, this (http://www.webtronic.it/pages/ITA/prodotto.asp?ProdottoID=17652&FamigliaID=0) would be better!

[KurosakiIchigo]

so maybe the problem is the trimmer , because reach 96kohm and not 100kohm ?

[tigger]

No its not that it does not reach 100kohms.Its because the adjustment on the old one is too coarse.Either of them two linked will be fine.I use the type you first linked.
http://img.techpowerup.org/080811/IMG_3169.jpg

The reason for setting the trimmer to max resistance when you fit it is so you dont blow your card with too much voltage for the gpu.As an example,mmy trimmer is set to 61.0kohms which gives the gpu 1.39v.

Imagine what would happen to your card if you fitted the trimmer set at 50kohms or less.

[KurosakiIchigo]

now i want only that the card boot...

[Dr. Spankenstein]

He has stated that he measured resistance @ 96kohm. This should be fine. It would just operate close to stock voltages.

Something else has happened. Either the PCB has been damaged (by either the physical breaking of the resistor OR the ham-fisted soldering job.

I'm still leaning towards soldering at the leg of the IC to bypass the fried traces. But that's just me...

[tigger]

It would be stock at 96 i reckon.

By the looks of his pics,he needs to clean all traces of the old volt mod off and start again.It really does look like he bridged something on the resistance connection.The earth is fine onto the pci-e connector.

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Any possible way of getting a better picture of the affected area (Man, I do sound like a Dr.!):laugh:

Does your camera have a MACRO setting? Do you have access to a flatbed scanner?
It would be of great help to have a focused, high-resolution photo of the card.

[KurosakiIchigo]

Any possible way of getting a better picture of the affected area (Man, I do sound like a Dr.!):laugh:

Does your camera have a MACRO setting? Do you have access to a flatbed scanner?
It would be of great help to have a focused, high-resolution photo of the card.

Here (http://rapidshare.com/files/136566981/video.rar.html)

i can't get more detailed photos...

[Random Murderer]

maybe we're all missing something and the hard mod doesn't really bypass r1222?
get a 2Kohm multiturn pot and put it in place of r1222.
something like this (http://www.webtronic.it/pages/ITA/prodotto.asp?ProdottoID=17722&FamigliaID=0).

[tigger]

Do you reckon that could be an easier v mod by altering the resistance of r1222?

[tigger]

I uploaded KurosakiIchigo's pic from the rar,it does not look very healthy.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080811/Untitled158.jpg

[KurosakiIchigo]

maybe we're all missing something and the hard mod doesn't really bypass r1222?
get a 2Kohm multiturn pot and put it in place of r1222.
something like this (http://www.webtronic.it/pages/ITA/prodotto.asp?ProdottoID=17722&FamigliaID=0).

ok , Stay Tuned for infos ;)

[Dr. Spankenstein]

I uploaded KurosakiIchigo's pic from the rar,it does not look very healthy.

:eek: THAT is an understatement! :eek:

"Why won't it boot?" Are you serious!?! You should be arrested for molesting that poor card!:cry:

[Random Murderer]

:eek: THAT is an understatement! :eek:

"Why won't it boot?" Are you serious!?! You should be arrested for molesting that poor card!:cry:

woah there, it's ok. his soldering skills may not be on par with yours, dr.
remember, i killed the first card i hard modded.

ichigo, remove the wire and clean up the soldering job a bit. solder wick will really help here.

[KurosakiIchigo]

woah there, it's ok. his soldering skills may not be on par with yours, dr.
remember, i killed the first card i hard modded.

ichigo, remove the wire and clean up the soldering job a bit. solder wick will really help here.

this was the first time i sold in my life :p
i don't understand the last words :o

[Dr. Spankenstein]

@ Random,

Please forgive. That was meant to be more "tongue-in-cheek"...

Should have used the "winky" emoticon. At least I didn't go with "sodomizing" iron!:laugh:

@KurosakiIchigo
solder wick
http://img.techpowerup.org/080811/wick.jpg

The heat of your soldering iron on top of this will remove extra solder.

[KurosakiIchigo]

@KurosakiIchigo
solder wick
http://img.techpowerup.org/080811/wick.jpg

The heat of your soldering iron on top of this will remove extra solder.

Thx ;)

[sleepsus]

although i can't say this for sure, palit has never made a reference 3870. if they have, i've haven't seen it.
in the case that it is not a reference pcb, you'll need to do a bit of detective work(we'll help you) to find out where the measure point is. there is only so much we can figure out without actually having the card in our hands.

I can't seem to find an R1222 marked resistor on the PCB, I do see an SR122 one?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1231.jpg

Full backside:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1234.jpg

[tigger]

Can you post as good a close up as you can get of this area please.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080812/2i0zz84.jpg

[Random Murderer]

Can you post as good a close up as you can get of this area please.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080812/2i0zz84.jpg

my thoughts exactly.

[sleepsus]

Can you post as good a close up as you can get of this area please.


Here ya go:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1241-1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1246-1.jpg

[Random Murderer]

sorry for the long delay, i know it's been over two weeks.

is there any way you could get a nice, high res shot of the other side sans the cooler?

[crapgame]

thank 2 all for the mod tips.:respect::respect::respect::respect:
will do pencil mod soon but want 2 get water cooling 2 my vid card.
what make of waterblock r u guys that r on water using?
thanks:toast:
tom

[Random Murderer]

thank 2 all for the mod tips.:respect::respect::respect::respect:
will do pencil mod soon but want 2 get water cooling 2 my vid card.
what make of waterblock r u guys that r on water using?
thanks:toast:
tom

swiftech is good, as well as dangerden and d-tek. if i'm missing one, i'm sure one of the others will pick it up quickly.

[Thrackan]

Has anyone tried gophering around with the non-reference Asus 3870?
I have the version with the gold-colored heatsink and I want to find out whether I can pencilmod this baby:cool:

[Random Murderer]

yes, unfortunately asus uses proprietary chips that we have not been able to figure out yet.

[k_9virus]

thanks for the tips guys

[ivanka_13]

Hi! any updates on the Palit HD38xx PCB? i have the same gfx card but i can't find the R1222.

[Random Murderer]

Hi! any updates on the Palit HD38xx PCB? i have the same gfx card but i can't find the R1222.

if you can post some high res shots of the back of the card and the front without the cooler, i can have a look.

[Thrackan]

yes, unfortunately asus uses proprietary chips that we have not been able to figure out yet.

Do you think you could figure stuff out if I make hi-res pictures of the PCB?
I equipped my 3870 with a Zalman VF1000 yesterday, which dramatically dropped load temps by 12C with the fan on low :cool: and that's without taking thermal grease cure time into account...

Unfortunately, this didn't seem to improve my card's overclock capabilities. Volt modding must be the answer :D

Current results (yes, I have a small case, which affects GPU cooling capabilities):
Stock clock: 777/1126 @ 56C load
Stable max: 864/1168 @ 61C load

Previous results (stock cooler):
Stock clock: 777/1126 @ 68C load
Stable max: 864/1126 @ 74C load

I have a gut feeling this can be improved :shadedshu

[Random Murderer]

Do you think you could figure stuff out if I make hi-res pictures of the PCB?
I equipped my 3870 with a Zalman VF1000 yesterday, which dramatically dropped load temps by 12C with the fan on low :cool: and that's without taking thermal grease cure time into account...

Unfortunately, this didn't seem to improve my card's overclock capabilities. Volt modding must be the answer :D

Current results (yes, I have a small case, which affects GPU cooling capabilities):
Stock clock: 777/1126 @ 56C load
Stable max: 864/1168 @ 61C load

Previous results (stock cooler):
Stock clock: 777/1126 @ 68C load
Stable max: 864/1126 @ 74C load

I have a gut feeling this can be improved :shadedshu

your max oc has nothing to do with temps. the fact that you are maxing out at 864 tells me that your bios has the pll lock. update your bios to a newer version and i guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

[Thrackan]

your max oc has nothing to do with temps. the fact that you are maxing out at 864 tells me that your bios has the pll lock. update your bios to a newer version and i guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

I can clock it higher but it shows artifacs then. As far as I read I thought the 860 limit was a hard limit, as in you couldn't even try a higher setting, while I can.
But it can't hurt putting in a modded BIOS. Now if only the workday would end :D

As far as memory clocking potential is concerned, is this affected by a new BIOS as well?

Still, would you like high-res pictures of the ASUS board? Even if I won't mod it, it might be useful to others who will...
Getting a pic of the GPU side would mean I'd have to take the cooler off again though, I don't know if that's a useful side to picture? If so, I might do that too. Might need more thermal grease then though.

[Random Murderer]

I can clock it higher but it shows artifacs then. As far as I read I thought the 860 limit was a hard limit, as in you couldn't even try a higher setting, while I can.
But it can't hurt putting in a modded BIOS. Now if only the workday would end :D

As far as memory clocking potential is concerned, is this affected by a new BIOS as well?

Still, would you like high-res pictures of the ASUS board? Even if I won't mod it, it might be useful to others who will...
Getting a pic of the GPU side would mean I'd have to take the cooler off again though, I don't know if that's a useful side to picture? If so, I might do that too. Might need more thermal grease then though.

i never really got a thourough look at the asus 3870, but if it's like the 3650, the circuitry i'm looking for is on the gpu side. however, it could also end up being on the reverse side like the reference pcb, so i'll need both.

although it hasn't been proven, i believe the bios will have an effect on the mem oc as well.
if you could, would you mind running gpu-z and posting a screenshot so i can see your bios version, please?

[Thrackan]

Did a couple of nice things in the last couple of days:
- Overclocked to 891/1170 no-artifact stable (AtiTool tested for several hours)
- Flashed my motherboard dead and revived it again :D (Thanks Asus CrashFree!)
- Finally reflashed my V3-barebone motherboard to a full-featured P5K-VM bios so I can overclock my CPU
- Did some babysteps and got my E6750 up from 2,66 to 3,2Ghz in one attempt :P

All of the above brought my 3DMark06 score up to 11642 (stock was 10221) with great temps :eek:

I'll make some pictures of the card though, probably tomorrow. I'll give you the backside first though, I think it's a hassle to have to remove the cooler again ;)

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Quite a nice list of accomplishments! Well done!

Enjoy the system you've "created" by not settling for "stock" performance!

Cheers! :toast:

[ivanka_13]

I can't seem to find an R1222 marked resistor on the PCB, I do see an SR122 one?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1231.jpg

Full backside:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1234.jpg


as for the Palit HD38xx PCB, we cant seem to find R1222 at the backside. Is there a possibility that we can locate it at the frontside? where the heatsink covers it?

[Thrackan]

I managed to snap one well-focused picture before my camera's batteries decided to say no...
Oh and the flash is ABSOLUTELY necessary when taking a pic inside a fully blue-lit system case:D

http://home.kabelfoon.nl/~rieken/pics/top_middle.jpg

First look is quite different from what I've seen on other cards in this topic :shadedshu but I will get some more of the back when my batteries are recharged again.
Took a good peek, but nothing marked "R1222" on the backside either...

Offtopic: My CPU overclock was severely limited by my RAM. Might go out and get some quality DDR2-1066 sticks instead of the DDR2-800 "Value"RAM I have now :cool:

[Random Murderer]

thanks, but i'll need some more "head-on" shots so i can read the part numbers off of the ic's.

[Thrackan]

thanks, but i'll need some more "head-on" shots so i can read the part numbers off of the ic's.

Thought so, but at least I can say it's a pretty different layout. To the back end of the card, where the R1222 is located on the reference board, there is just a very small cluster of parts, nothing like reference layout.
Chances are big that the important parts are on the cooler side :shadedshu

[ivanka_13]

@Thrackan

maybe the R1222 is located at the frontside of the GPU, beneath the cooler.. The Asus PCB looks similarly the same w/ my Palit HD3870..

[Random Murderer]

@Thrackan

maybe the R1222 is located at the frontside of the GPU, beneath the cooler.. The Asus PCB looks similarly the same w/ my Palit HD3870..

right, but on a non reference board, r1222 could be for a completely different use than on a reference board.

[Thrackan]

Duh, I've been sick for a couple of days now, pretty annoying cold.
I prefer not to sneeze/cough/dribble inside my case and stuff, so new pics might take a while ;)

[Random Murderer]

Duh, I've been sick for a couple of days now, pretty annoying cold.
I prefer not to sneeze/cough/dribble inside my case and stuff, so new pics might take a while ;)

lol, no worries.

[ivanka_13]

On the Palit PCB, I cant seem to find the R1222 at the frontside, there are no labels of the components on the frontside but on the backside we seem can find a SR122.. can we verify this one if it's the same w/ the R1222 on the reference PCB..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/sleepsus/IMG_1231.jpg

[Random Murderer]

On the Palit PCB, I cant seem to find the R1222 at the frontside, there are no labels of the components on the frontside but on the backside we seem can find a SR122.. can we verify this one if it's the same w/ the R1222 on the reference PCB..

on non reference boards, the layout, part naming, and generally the entire card, is different.

[ivanka_13]

so? there will be no possibility to volt mod it?

[Random Murderer]

so? there will be no possibility to volt mod it?

there is a way. there must be.
unfortunately, nobody has bothered to figure it out as far as i know, and i would actually need the card in my possession to figure it out(or a schematic, but good luck finding and/or making one).

[Toxicologist]

Hi :)

I've got the same problem with my ASUS EAH 3870 TOP nonreference Card.
This Card, compared to the reference design, almost looks empty, because there is many empty space and lots of "stuff" (resistors etc) seems to be missing.
It even does not have this chip with legs to all four sites, which can bee seen on nearly every photo explaining a 3870 VoltMod (at least it's not on the backside :D ).
But now some more pictures, detailed enough to read the inscriptions of the parts :)

Picture 1 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseiter4dw.jpg)
Picture 2 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseite9atm.jpg)
Picture 3 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseitec9w9.jpg)

(are quite big, flatrate recommended :P)

If you need pictures from the upside, too, I could take some, but then I'd need to buy some new thermal grease at first to remount the cooler after photographing.

greetings
the Toxicologist

[Thrackan]

I've put the pencil mod idea in the cooler for now, since I've already got a casebuild to finish and an urge to silence my current "main rig".
Be sure to look out for a worklog someday.

[DanishDevil]

Hi :)

I've got the same problem with my ASUS EAH 3870 TOP nonreference Card.
This Card, compared to the reference design, almost looks empty, because there is many empty space and lots of "stuff" (resistors etc) seems to be missing.
It even does not have this chip with legs to all four sites, which can bee seen on nearly every photo explaining a 3870 VoltMod (at least it's not on the backside :D ).
But now some more pictures, detailed enough to read the inscriptions of the parts :)

Picture 1 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseiter4dw.jpg)
Picture 2 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseite9atm.jpg)
Picture 3 (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=asuseah3870toprckseitec9w9.jpg)

(are quite big, flatrate recommended :P)

If you need pictures from the upside, too, I could take some, but then I'd need to buy some new thermal grease at first to remount the cooler after photographing.

greetings
the Toxicologist

I'm no expert on this stuff, but with the back of the card looking like that, I'm guessing you're going to have to post some pictures of the front of the card in order for RM to figure it out (if he can). Some fresh thermal paste (over the stock one especially) wouldn't hurt ;)

[Random Murderer]

I'm no expert on this stuff, but with the back of the card looking like that, I'm guessing you're going to have to post some pictures of the front of the card in order for RM to figure it out (if he can). Some fresh thermal paste (over the stock one especially) wouldn't hurt ;)
exactly. ;)

[Dark-Link]

Hey guys! Hi! :)

First of all, I must say that my English is not good. Sorry :(...

Ok, lets begin... :)

Yesterday I started to read the thread just for curiosity. Today I finished reading the thread and started with the pencilmod.

I have a MSI RX3850 OC 256Mb Edition (Core 690Mhz). PCB Layout its not exactly the reference, dont have the points to measure vcore in the 90% of pics posted. Rest of layout its the same :)

My results were mediocre, but equally Im happy! :roll:

I made the pencilmod to R1222 resistance, leaving it in 1.9KOhm. I did not do it more because I could not measure the Vcore (I do not know precisely how to do it :banghead:)

Core: 690Mhz -> 796Mhz :ohwell:

Thank you so much everyone! :respect:

Greetings :)

[DanishDevil]

Nice! If you can't currently measure the vCore, just keep an eye on your temps!

It was a long read, wasn't it? But it was worth it! :rockout:

[Dark-Link]

Nice! If you can't currently measure the vCore, just keep an eye on your temps!

It was a long read, wasn't it? But it was worth it! :rockout:

Yeah! it was LOOOOOOOOOOooooooonnnnng!!! :twitch: :)


My temperatures are around 90ºC full load (20mins in FurMark) :eek:. In-game (FarCry2/GRID) are around 73ºC in the same time. :)

See ya! :)

[DanishDevil]

That's getting warm, but it's fine. Just don't expect to get more than 2 or 3 solid years out of it...you may not.

[Random Murderer]

90C seems a bit high, maybe put a 120mm fan blowing on the card?

[Wile E]

That's 90C with Furmark tho. Under normal gaming he's loading in the 70s.

[DanishDevil]

Yeah, that's why I'm not worried about it. Furmark can push a card's temperature further than any game out right now. I hit the high 80's with my card penciled (although it was a 3870) and it never hit over 70 gaming. Gaming under 80C is totally fine. Like I said though, it won't last for oodles of years.

[Dark-Link]

Here my 3850 Cooler-Mod, down the max temp around 8ºC.

Sorry if this is illegal or something... tell me if i cant put this link and i edit this quickly!

English Version of Google Translator:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maximotec.com%2Fshowt hread.php%3Ft%3D50445&hl=es&ie=UTF-8&sl=es&tl=en

Original Version (Only Spanish, sorry):
http://www.maximotec.com/showthread.php?t=50445


:)

[Random Murderer]

that's pretty ingenious!

[thoughtdisorder]

Here my 3850 Cooler-Mod, down the max temp around 8ºC.

Sorry if this is illegal or something... tell me if i cant put this link and i edit this quickly!

English Version of Google Translator:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maximotec.com%2Fshowt hread.php%3Ft%3D50445&hl=es&ie=UTF-8&sl=es&tl=en

Original Version (Only Spanish, sorry):
http://www.maximotec.com/showthread.php?t=50445


:)


It is illegal! The internet cops are coming to kick in your door as I type this!:laugh:

On the serious side, the way you ducted the air is quite unique and looks like it should work nicely. Way to make something good with what you had on hand!:toast: