A Little Ranting

Recently we obtained a piece of Sapphire's X1600PRO for review, so we decided to experiment with it. We wanted to know if it had as much overclocking ability as the Inno3D 7600GS, since the RV530Pro used on the X1600PRO happens to be one of the first 90nm GPUs to appear on the mainstream market.

Using Zalman's Fatality GPU heatsink fan, we were able to push the GPU to 648MHz and the memory to 414MHz. Clockspeeds wise this X1600PRO scales pretty nicely. Nevertheless we wanted more and thus we came out with the voltage modification for it.

GPU Voltage Modification

Before we started on the voltage modification, we picked out a the measuring points for the GPU voltage. In this case, Vgpu can be read off the highlighted end of the inductor in the "SMPS A676-00 TILE" area. The reading is taken with respect to ground.

The default Vgpu hovers around 1.38V.

Flip to the back of the card where the voltage modification is carried out. You will see a PWM Buck Regulator going by the part number of RT9232.

Hook a 10kOHM variable resistor between pin 5 and ground. Starting with the resistance set at maximum, decrease the resistance slowly for Vgpu to rise.

Memory Voltage Modifications

Before we started on the voltage modification, we picked out a the measuring points for the memory voltage. Vmem can be read off the highlighted end of the inductor in the "SMPS A601-00A TILE" area. The reading is taken with respect to ground.

The default Vmem hovers around 2.06V.

Flip to the back of the card where the voltage modification is carried out. You will see a PWM Buck Regulator going by the part number of RT9232.

Hook a 50kOHM variable resistor between pin 5 and ground. Starting with the resistance set at maximum, decrease the resistance slowly for Vmem to rise.

VTT tracking is automatically acheived via the RT9199 Termination Regulator.

There is therefore no need for further VTT modifications.

Results!

With a Vgpu of 1.92V and Vmem at 2.20V, we could obtain artifact free clockspeeds at 800MHz on the GPU and 450MHz on the memory.

Before...

...AFTER!

Not bad a performance boost! The satisfaction you get from free speed is always priceless. :D