Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/11/30 13:45Hi, I have Sapphire Radeon HD 2600 XT with GDDR3 memory. I've read and edited the BIOS and correct voltages from 1.25V to 1.35V but I've found no difference. Core cannot go further than 860MHz both with default and overvoltage settings. I see I've done the things right cause I see RivaTuner v2.06 shows my changes. But no difference at all. What's up guys? I don't wanna make hardware modification on the voltage circuit. The mem goes from 1400MHz to 2100MHz, and that's without any modifications but I want to overclock the core too...
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Mavke
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/11/30 18:20eDaniel wrote: Core cannot go further than 860MHz both with default and overvoltage settings. I don't wanna make hardware modification on the voltage circuit. The mem goes from 1400MHz to 2100MHz, and that's without any modifications but I want to overclock the core too... And, which means you have overclocked the GPU already but at default voltage at 860MHz, so that is already start. But you want more. Why didn't you try first a voltage like 1.30V for the core? Yeah maybe I am wrong and that is not possible but just wondering... Cause these chips are getting hot and that might just be limiting your overclocking.
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eDaniel
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/01 11:02The clocks are 800/1400MHz by default. Without any changes to BIOS, just using RivaTuner v2.06 I've achieved 860/2100MHz or 860/2000MHz. I suppose the 2000MHz for the memory is more stable but I'm not sure which is pretty good overclocking. I've beaten my pal's Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR4 edition in all tests. But this is not enough for me, I want to go further. This is why I've modified the BIOS. The core temp is stable, at idle it has 59°C and max 65°C playing Need Fro Speed Prostreet. I've seen Gigabyte's Radeon HD 2600 XT fanless one and I saw temperatures over 80°C, that is why I think my card is not at its peek now.
I suppose 1.35V is normal overvoltage, somewhere I read 1.40V is max for PowerPlay modes but I'll follow your advice and I'll try to lower it to 1.30V. Meanwhile although RivaTuner reads the modified clock speeds properly I think it doesn't measure them and just read from somewhere. Main problem is that my modified BIOS don't show any signs of improvement and still goes only to 860MHz.
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Mavke
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/01 11:57eDaniel wrote: Meanwhile although RivaTuner reads the modified clock speeds properly I think it doesn't measure them and just read from somewhere. Main problem is that my modified BIOS don't show any signs of improvement and still goes only to 860MHz. And you never though about the fact that a GPU can also reach its maximum without havbing reach the higher heat point? That also happens and yes it isn't really seen as much as overheating that limits the overclocking but it is also there. If with 1.30V it doesn't do anything, then it could just be that your GPU is just not of enough quality to go to the next level or you are encountering the max overclock level in the BIOS.
And I think it might be that... Every Radeon HD 2600 series BIOS has a maximum overclock setting in the BIOS which is generally about 50-75MHz higher then the card is actually set. And anything you try to go over that setting will do nothing. So you need to also change normally in the BIOS that maximum clock setting to a higher value to go further... There is a thread about that on our forums.
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eDaniel
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/01 13:59Mavke wrote: Every Radeon HD 2600 series BIOS has a maximum overclock setting in the BIOS which is generally about 50-75MHz higher then the card is actually set. And anything you try to go over that setting will do nothing. So you need to also change normally in the BIOS that maximum clock setting to a higher value to go further... There is a thread about that on our forums. I think I know the thread you mean, though not significant because if you see that thread you'll notice that Sapphire limits are set to 880MHz. When I get past the 860MHz core speed barrier the computers gives black screen and hungs. I doubt this is because of a BIOS clocks limit, but I hope I'm not right. I also think that RivaTuner just don't care about BIOS limits as Catalyst Control Center does. I'm not going to start a mere arguing I just doubt that noiseless cards has better GPU's as they are with expensive passive coolers and they're almost similar priced.
No from soem other guys, these guys achieved a 1026MHz core speed, and I'll be just happy if I get past 900MHz. I wonder if there is really have any sense of this software and/or BIOS level modifications. If this is true, I don't see a reason for hardware modding the card with soldering if you just can change some bytes in BIOS. Correct me if I'm wrong. Later this night I'll make what you suggest me and I'll post the results. If you see my achievement you'll notice that I'm passed over this limits with my memory settings.
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nvfan
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/01 22:29Hi, can you upload your original and the modified BIOS. I have the same card and it won't boot with modified BIOS. What program did you use to tweak the BIOS and what to flash?
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Mavke
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/02 09:17eDaniel wrote: I also think that RivaTuner just don't care about BIOS limits as Catalyst Control Center does. I'm not going to start a mere arguing I just doubt that noiseless cards has better GPU's as they are with expensive passive coolers and they're almost similar priced. Well you can say what you want about arguing but I am still going to say how it is since I have had passive cooled cards before to just try out. They don't have better GPU's, but you must know that each manufacturer just gets a batch of GPU's and some batches are better than others. Nothing more and nothing less. And if you fall is the lesser batch, then bad luck. And that I have seen already a lot. Second one, RivaTuner doesn't care about limit? Yeah right, RivaTuner is as bound to the limit as any other overclocking program...
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AthlonX2
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/02 19:55From what I have found you can't slowly work your way up with these cards. On mine which is made by ATI, a Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR4 I had to jump straight to 880MHz and then go by 20MHz's all the way up, the highest I have gotten my core stable is 1.05GHz, but thats with a voltage modification and the core voltage at 1.6V. Be very careful if you use an aftermarket cooler because you must cover the mosfets at the end of the card or you are writing a deathwish for the card.
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eDaniel
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/03 13:13Mavke wrote: Well you can say what you want about arguing but I am still going to say how it is since I have had passive cooled cards before to just try out.... Okay man, I got to trust you. Just I don't wanna believe that my memory overclocked so good in contrast to my damn core which cannot do anything further than that... Yet I don't try the things you suggest me. I just managed to change voltage and set 850/900MHz in BIOS for beginning but still I'm not uploaded it.
nvfan wrote: Hi, can you upload your original and the modified BIOS. I have the same card and it won't boot with modified BIOS. What program did you use to tweak the BIOS and what to flash? No problem. I just wanna test it by myself and then I'll upload both full tuned and just overvoltaged version. So you will have to wait a bit but it is coming...
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eDaniel
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Re:Modify voltage of Radeon HD 2600 XT, done voltage tweaks? - 2007/12/03 20:20Excuse me that I do so much corrections, but at the first time I upload the wrong BIOS. Now these are the working ones. I give both BIOS's cause I guess not every card could achieve such a clocks. I recommend the voltage version. It's only voltage modded. The second one, with OC indication is voltage modded and has core and memory clocks changed to 850/950MHz.
ASUS 8800GT PCIe 512MB - Rev 04
