Nvidia Geforce 7900GT Overclocking

Radio91PRadio91P Layton, UT New
edited April 2006 in Hardware
Problems!

I downloaded coolbits and installed reg. But when I try to change the settings, even from 500(stock) to 501 the test will fail. Do I need another regedit or different drivers.

I am new at the OC thing so please show some pitty!

Thanks for the help!

Radio91P:confused2
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Comments

  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited March 2006
    Hey Radio91P, I see your running a 7900GT and having a few issues with Coolbits!

    As manual tweaking within Coolbits is possible, have you tried to do a Detect Optimal Frequencies? If so what was the result?

    Could you also let me know the make model and maker of your 7900GT? This will help me look into things a bit further

    Also what version of coolbits are you using?
  • Radio91PRadio91P Layton, UT New
    edited March 2006
    I figured it out. I installed the beta drivers from nvidia 8.4.2
    Also downloaded NVtweak with the NVTray. Works great. Why is the that the memory setting is at 750. Do you double it?

    When I run 3DMark it will not recognize what speed my card is running at? Do you have any tips to resolve that?

    Thank you so much for your input man.

    Radio91P
  • KometeKomete Member
    edited March 2006
    750ddr you multiply it by 2 to get 1500mhz :) so if you set it at 751 that would be 1502.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited March 2006
    I have the same problem. 7900 GT using coolbits 2.0. Moving the slider even 1 mhz up or down fails in the test after using detect optimal settings. I'll try the beta driver Version: 84.25 nd nvtray.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited March 2006
    Now that I updated to the beta driver 84.25, I can OC, but only a little. The temperature is a 46 Celcius according to the nvidia temperature settings menu.
    I'm currently at 591core 750memory. This is the highest I can put it since it doesn't seem to pass the test at any higher rates.

    I'm using nvtra to enable coolbits 3. Is there any other program I can use to force a higher OC?
    Since the temperature is at it's minimum of 46 Celcius, I shouldn't damage anything OC'ing higher than the nvidia control panel will let me, right?
  • KometeKomete Member
    edited March 2006
    I wonder if it has anything to do with those puney coolers.. I was thinkign when these came out that they would oc to 7900dtx speeds but that doesn't seem to be the case. It's like something is limmiting them.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited March 2006
    I have the thermaltake tide water gpu cooler. It's running at 46 celcius, so why can't I overclock it higher?

    Is there any program that can force an OC like the one for ATI cards?
  • KometeKomete Member
    edited March 2006
    skankinred wrote:
    I have the thermaltake tide water gpu cooler. It's running at 46 celcius, so why can't I overclock it higher?

    Is there any program that can force an OC like the one for ATI cards?

    I don't know but a lot of people are getting low oc on these cards so your not alone. You knock that wimpy cooling theory out the water :)
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited March 2006
    79mmod2.jpg
    All you need is conductive paint. Copper or silver, make sure it's 100%. I reccomend CircuitWriter http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.174/.f
    First remove the resistor marked above and replace it with a 50K ohms resistor. This will give you 1.5v for VGPU.

    If more voltage is desired, I suggest you move onto step 2: removing the 2 resistors marked to disable overcurrent protection for the card.

    You can then move onto step 3: Soldering and connecting this point to any grounded spot. This will give you 1.6v.

    Instead of step3, you can do step 4 if 1.7v is required.

    Found on:
    http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1357986&postcount=188



    Many have done it at xtreme:
    http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=92874&page=8

    User Powerstrip to OC:
    http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

    Nvidia 7900GT compared to other graphics cards:
    http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=3335

    Details @ VR Zone: http://www.vr-zone.com/print.php?i=3437
    Power Consumption/Heat Output/Chart
    Geforce 7900GT @ Default voltage/Speed 64 watts
    Geforce 7900GT @ 745MHz 1.5v 87 watts
    Geforce 7900GT @ 780MHz 1.6v 101 watts
    Geforce 7900GT @ 800MHz 1.7v 111 watts
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited March 2006
    Awesome work dude! Hope to see some screenshots in the benchmarking subforum soon! :D
  • KometeKomete Member
    edited April 2006
    I think the only mod I would do is the easy 1.4v http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/deimos47ca/easy1-4vmod.jpg
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited April 2006
    Wow, that is easy Komete! I'm sure 1.4V should buy you GTX performance.
  • KometeKomete Member
    edited April 2006
    Well I still havn't ordered me a 7900gt. I have some car trouble I got to take care of first but once thats done these 7900gt are looking like the right choice.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited April 2006
    What product would you reccomend for soldering the resistors on this board? I'm thinking about those cold soldering irons and something with a very sharp tip. I'm not sure where to start.
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited April 2006
    How much VGPU are you looking to produce? I would think the easiest way to go would be the 1.4V method that Komete posted. All you would need is a window defogger fix-kit, and about 10 minutes :)
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited April 2006
    I'm going for the 1.7V mod of course:p Why half ass it? I found what I was looking for:
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062718
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062737

    This should work right?
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    Wow talk about some massive modding. Now I am a graphic nut... but you guys are graphic crazy and it is just plain genius.

    Make sure to post your mods here!
    http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43542
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited April 2006
    skankinred wrote:
    I'm going for the 1.7V mod of course:p Why half ass it? I found what I was looking for:
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062718
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062737

    This should work right?

    Wow, thats going to put a huge strain on the GPU.. I'd proceed with caution, even with that tidewater cooler.. the tidewater is better than the stock cooler, but I'd question how it will handle 1.7V.. :eek:
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited April 2006
    this thing has 2 modes, loud and HELLA LOUD From the noise it's making, It should be able to cool a prescott!
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited April 2006
    skankinred wrote:
    this thing has 2 modes, loud and HELLA LOUD From the noise it's making, It should be able to cool a prescott!

    Just keep in mind that not only heat kills cores, overvolting does take its toll eventually (even if cooled to the extreme). It may work fine for a little while, but it could buckle. Just wanted to warn ya before you go all out modding the card :)
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited April 2006
    Right, but from a quote about OC at xtremesys:

    The other "danger" of overclocking is that it can reduce the lifespan of your components. When you run more voltage through a component, it's lifespan decreases. A small boost won't have much of an affect, but if you plan on using a large overclock, you will want to be aware of the decrease in lifespan. This is not usually an issue, however, since anybody that is overclocking likely will not be using the same components for more than 4-5 years, and it is unlikely that any of your components will fail before 4-5 years regardless of how much voltage you run through it. Most processors are designed to last for up to 10 years, so losing a few of those years is usually worth the increase in performance in the mind of an overclocker.



    4 years in plenty for me. I don't know if I can wait 3 years to get a new pc....
  • jradminjradmin North Kackalaki
    edited April 2006
    Hay, if you guys want an easy 1.55 volt mod...use this trace.

    http://img458.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7900vmod1552oc.jpg

    Its just like the 1.4 mod with a couple extra points connected.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited April 2006
    Yea I'll try that one out before I go soldering resistors off. My current eVGA 7900 just died on me. I'm going to have to RMA it through newegg and get a new one. Apparently the first batches from eVGA were defective. Good thing they have such a great warranty.
  • jradminjradmin North Kackalaki
    edited April 2006
    lemonlime wrote:
    Wow, thats going to put a huge strain on the GPU.. I'd proceed with caution, even with that tidewater cooler.. the tidewater is better than the stock cooler, but I'd question how it will handle 1.7V.. :eek:

    There are some replies at VRZone about guys getting their 7900GT vmem up to 2.2 from 2.02 and OCing the RAM up to 2140 stable at 60C full load ON AIR with ramsinks! Thats insane.

    http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=66989&page=6
  • jradminjradmin North Kackalaki
    edited April 2006
    that 1.55 volt mod is gonna be enough for me. Most cards are getting into the 720-725 range without artifacts in 3Dmark05. Heh, considering what these cards start out clocked at...I'd say the potential of this thing is only limited to how cool you can keep it.
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited April 2006
    Wow, I love how simple these vmods are.. I hate having to solder resisters etc. Not that many people are skilled enough to do that comfortably, but I wouldn't think twice about trying the 1.4/1.5V mods :)
  • Kinetix2005Kinetix2005
    edited April 2006
    Just so you guys know, the 7900GT Core is actually rated for 1.4V so theres no problems there...

    I'm gonna overvolt my 7900GT to 1.4V soon, ATM I've got 530/900, so memory's good but cores not so...
  • rexehukrexehuk
    edited April 2006
    Yo guys,

    Blown up my xfx 7900gt extreme edition :(

    I did the 1.5 voltmod with variable resistor and the 2.2 mem mod.

    Couldnt get the 50k resistor off so placed vr in parallel with it and stuck in a resistor on the pot to stop it shorting completely and overpowering the core.

    And same with the memory resistor didnt like the pencil idea cause its tacky so decided to solder resistor across that to the linked pin on the ic to lower the resistance to around 523.

    Was buzzing out the card in the machine and the just died and now cant even be seen at bootup :(

    Anyone got any ideas lads?

    Cheers
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    I had a BFG 7900GT fry without OC'ing it....
  • jradminjradmin North Kackalaki
    edited April 2006
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    I had a BFG 7900GT fry without OC'ing it....


    Had an EVGA fry before I even got to use it! :mean:
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