How-to: Pencil mod your HD 3870!

asb2106 · Apr 6, 2008

ghost101 said:
Apparently the second pencilmod point works better.

If I wanted to do a hardmod to my card, would I use any of these points for the positive?

I would imagine just grounding to one of the neg's on the power connector.

and if Im not mistaken its a 100k pot trimmer, right? then turn the resistance to the max and lower it to increase the voltage.....

Also.... by doing the hardmod, what is the max the voltage can get to with the hard mod, just an estimate....? just wonderin

BTW my cards are WCed

eidairaman1 · Apr 6, 2008

i know this is out of topic, but yesterday, i had my machine apart for cleaning, i was looking at my 1950 Pro and i noticed 2 DIP switches on it, i wonder what they do.

Sapphire Radeon 1950 Pro AGP.

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

The red points, yes. I just stick the ground to the case (like where the side panel locks into).

100k ohm trimmer is correct for vCore mod. Also correct on setup. Test trimmer for MAX resistance then tune down (checking voltages as you go).

I don't think OVP kicks in until 1.9V, IIRC. I've had mine to 1.6V on the stock cooler. Your EK blocks should handle that very well.

Keeping them cool is the key, not volts. There has been a paradigm shift with the latest fabrication shrinks (both CPU and GPU) where they aren't as keen on volts as they used to be. I know, with the smaller fab the voltages must go down proportionally but they just seem less tolerant. (My opinion...)

Glad to see you taking the plunge! Ask anything, we're all behind you!

@eidairaman1,

They are for NTSC/PAL selection. No need to futz with them.

thoughtdisorder · Apr 6, 2008

eidairaman1 said:
i know this is out of topic, but yesterday, i had my machine apart for cleaning, i was looking at my 1950 Pro and i noticed 2 DIP switches on it, i wonder what they do.

Sapphire Radeon 1950 Pro AGP.

Some of the X1950 Pro's have jumpers, some have dips. They're for switching the video out / TV signal to PAL or NTSC.

eidairaman1 · Apr 6, 2008

thoughtdisorder said:
Some of the X1950 Pro's have jumpers, some have dips. They're for switching the video out / TV signal to PAL or NTSC.

where did you get this info from? also i thought standards switching was software based nowadays.

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

It should be silkscreened near the switches. They usually have them covered by a yellow/amber colored plastic.

philbrown23 · Apr 6, 2008

so should my H.I.S. be running at 1.9 resistance cuz no matter how many times I do it they both come out the same.

DanishDevil · Apr 6, 2008

You need to rough up the resistor or area that you will be shading. I had to on my HIS.

thoughtdisorder · Apr 6, 2008

eidairaman1 said:
where did you get this info from? also i thought standards switching was software based nowadays.

I have a 1950 and I asked a dude where I work (Raytheon) who is literally a "rocket scientist" what the deal was, he told me the deal......I messed with it and found he was right.

thoughtdisorder · Apr 6, 2008

DanishDevil said:
You need to rough up the resistor or area that you will be shading. I had to on my HIS.

+1, Danish is right, rough it up for the best result! :toast:

DanishDevil · Apr 6, 2008

I used a nail file in the opposite direction that i would be shading, and I shaded the long way. That way, the grooves you create near/in the resistor get filled with lead easier.

When you think about it, many of these tech things really come down to simple mechanics and physics

thoughtdisorder · Apr 6, 2008

DanishDevil said:
I used a nail file in the opposite direction that i would be shading, and I shaded the long way. That way, the grooves you create near/in the resistor get filled with lead easier.

When you think about it, many of these tech things really come down to simple mechanics and physics

Great stuff! Danish, you're obviously a dude like me who's done the "trial and error" route! :toast:

(Unfortunately, it's usually my son (RM) who does the trial & error and then hits me up for more money to fix the results!) :laugh:

philbrown23 · Apr 6, 2008

ok gotta wait till my new pencils come in no place around here sells the right noes not even the art store, these are drawing pecils we are talking bout yes?

Random Murderer · Apr 6, 2008

philbrown23 said:
ok gotta wait till my new pencils come in no place around here sells the right noes not even the art store, these are drawing pecils we are talking bout yes?

i used 4h, i can whip out a pencil mod(1.6 or 1.5 K ohms to 1k ohm) in about 5 minutes.

asb2106 · Apr 6, 2008

Dr. Spankenstein said:
The red points, yes. I just stick the ground to the case (like where the side panel locks into).

100k ohm trimmer is correct for vCore mod. Also correct on setup. Test trimmer for MAX resistance then tune down (checking voltages as you go).

I don't think OVP kicks in until 1.9V, IIRC. I've had mine to 1.6V on the stock cooler. Your EK blocks should handle that very well.

Keeping them cool is the key, not volts. There has been a paradigm shift with the latest fabrication shrinks (both CPU and GPU) where they aren't as keen on volts as they used to be. I know, with the smaller fab the voltages must go down proportionally but they just seem less tolerant. (My opinion...)

Glad to see you taking the plunge! Ask anything, we're all behind you!

@eidairaman1,

They are for NTSC/PAL selection. No need to futz with them.

so let me see if I got this straight, I just soldier my hot lead to any one of the red points that are used to measure, ground the other side, and start cranking the volts? I was thinking I was gonna have to do some intense soldiering, but those points dont look too bad.

Any ideas where I can get the 100k trimmers? I went to radioshack here and they didnt have any! I used to work there like 8 years ago and we had sooo much of that stuff, I guess they are going away from it. Any links maybe where I can get em??

thoughtdisorder · Apr 6, 2008

Random Murderer said:
i used 4h, i can whip out a pencil mod(1.6 or 1.5 K ohms to 1k ohm) in about 5 minutes.

+1. Phil, make sure you use the 4h, if you're having trouble locating them, let us know, maybe we can help! :cool:

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

asb2106 said:
so let me see if I got this straight, I just soldier my hot lead to any one of the red points that are used to measure, ground the other side, and start cranking the volts? I was thinking I was gonna have to do some intense soldiering, but those points dont look too bad.

Any ideas where I can get the 100k trimmers? I went to radioshack here and they didnt have any! I used to work there like 8 years ago and we had sooo much of that stuff, I guess they are going away from it. Any links maybe where I can get em??

WHOOPS! HOLD THE PHONE!

My mistake, thanks for verifying. I though your were checking voltages! :eek:

Correction: you will use one of the BLUE points (I actually used the solder pad above the yellow bar-the arrow on the PCB is pointing right at it!) This is the hairiest part of the whole thing, but I chose that point cuz there wasn't much around it to screw up!
The ground I had running to one of the screws holding the mem heatsink on-heck, it's right there!
I'll try to upload a pic of my mod when I get home.

You'll need to verify which legs of the trim pot you want to use. Measure to 100k ohms then do your thing.

I've got a few leftovers that are perfectly fine. Shoot me a PM and we'll get them out to you.

asb2106 · Apr 6, 2008

Dr. Spankenstein said:
WHOOPS! HOLD THE PHONE!

My mistake, thanks for verifying. I though your were checking voltages!
Correction: you will use one of the BLUE points (I actually used the solder pad above the yellow bar-the arrow on the PCB is pointing right at it!) This is the hairiest part of the whole thing, but I chose that point cuz there wasn't much around it to screw up!
The ground I had running to one of the screws holding the mem heatsink on-heck, it's right there!
I'll try to upload a pic of my mod when I get home.

You'll need to verify which legs of the trim pot you want to use. Measure to 100k ohms then do your thing.

I've got a few leftovers that are perfectly fine. Shoot me a PM and we'll get them out to you.

ok, I am ordering another pump and radiator on monday, so I can make a sperate loop for my CPU. Since it will be apart already I figure thats the best time to do it! Im gonna take some pics of the video cards and put them up here later this week. The cards dont look the same as the other cards here. It could be because Im looking at it upside down.

About the trimmers Ill shoot u over a message tommorow, Im hitting the sack right now. Thanks for all your help Dr., youve always been a big help.

**ALSO

did you see my post in the 3dmark ATI forum, please take a look, Im having issues with my xfire!

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

Just saw it. Get some sleep, we'll tawk latah!

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

BTW here's that pic I promised:

Random Murderer · Apr 6, 2008

nice work!

Cold Storm · Apr 6, 2008

Dr. Spankenstein, you did a awesome job at reworking the wires! Probably the cleanest mod done yet with the trim pots.

Dr. Spankenstein · Apr 6, 2008

Thank you!

I HATE messy vmods! This was my very first one, so I took my time. Thought about the layout and the cleanest method.

Nice to be appreciated!

Cold Storm · Apr 6, 2008

Time is what makes perfect in all forms of life. I've found that, like you have done, is by having the clearest of mind sets you can oc anything. But doing it while you are hungry, tired, or just plain in lala land.
And, your welcome for that. By being clean, you also can tell how the mod is being done!

eidairaman1 · Apr 6, 2008

thoughtdisorder said:
+1, Danish is right, rough it up for the best result!

that or use a conductive pen, but prewarning you could make that permanent and not beable to restore it, sometimes i think its better to have a variable resistor so you can control the voltage yourself.

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How-to: Pencil mod your HD 3870!

asb2106

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

Dr. Spankenstein

thoughtdisorder

New Member

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

Dr. Spankenstein

philbrown23

New Member

DanishDevil

thoughtdisorder

New Member

thoughtdisorder

New Member

DanishDevil

thoughtdisorder

New Member

philbrown23

New Member

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

asb2106

thoughtdisorder

New Member

Dr. Spankenstein

asb2106

Dr. Spankenstein

Dr. Spankenstein

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

Cold Storm

Battosai

Dr. Spankenstein

Cold Storm

Battosai

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

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