RichBa5tard
07-18-2002, 05:09 AM
Here's the story in a nutshell:
End May I bought a second hand R8500 to replace my GF1 DDR. The seller told me it was a R8500 Retail "build by ati" but instead I got a vmodded (pencil trick) R8500LE flashed to the R8500 bios. Off course I was mad and at first i wanted to ship it back but eventually he offered a reduction and I agreed.
The problem was, the card was far from stable: BSODs in 3D mark, lockups, etc. I checked the mem/core voltage and it was back @ 8500LE standards, no wonder it wouldn't run @ 275/275. So, i (re)did the pencil trick according to following scheme:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/atir8500mod_mod1a.jpg
... but when I rebooted and measured the voltage it readed a LOWER voltage than before (xtremely low, like from 1.7v to 1.0v) which resulted in a blank screen.
I removed the graphite to get the original voltage back but the screen is all messed up now. Just a load of garbage.
I contacted the store where the card was bought and they told me if I could manage to bring it back in the box I would get a new one. I didn't have the original cooler (blorb attached) but they said that wasn't a problem. OPP sent me a box and all the accessories I needed to get the package complete (thank you!!!). A month later I received an email which stated I didn't get warranty because the original cooling was missing... crap! The store told me that wasn't a problem. :( :(
So one and a half month later I'm still stuck with my broken Ati R8500, and I don't have the money to buy a new vidcard nor can I spare the cash to send it out for RMA again and again...
Ati's online RMA form stated it's only for US/Canadian costumers... :mad:
I can manage to get an original cooler, but I can't send it back to the store where I bought it once again, nor can I use Ait's online RMA form.
Looks like the only solution is trying to fix it myself. Does anyone have an idea whether this is duable? I'm fairly skilled in soldering and have the tools to do small voltmodjobs etc. If it's just a matter or replacing a resistor I might be able to save this card...
Can anyone help me? :)
End May I bought a second hand R8500 to replace my GF1 DDR. The seller told me it was a R8500 Retail "build by ati" but instead I got a vmodded (pencil trick) R8500LE flashed to the R8500 bios. Off course I was mad and at first i wanted to ship it back but eventually he offered a reduction and I agreed.
The problem was, the card was far from stable: BSODs in 3D mark, lockups, etc. I checked the mem/core voltage and it was back @ 8500LE standards, no wonder it wouldn't run @ 275/275. So, i (re)did the pencil trick according to following scheme:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/atir8500mod_mod1a.jpg
... but when I rebooted and measured the voltage it readed a LOWER voltage than before (xtremely low, like from 1.7v to 1.0v) which resulted in a blank screen.
I removed the graphite to get the original voltage back but the screen is all messed up now. Just a load of garbage.
I contacted the store where the card was bought and they told me if I could manage to bring it back in the box I would get a new one. I didn't have the original cooler (blorb attached) but they said that wasn't a problem. OPP sent me a box and all the accessories I needed to get the package complete (thank you!!!). A month later I received an email which stated I didn't get warranty because the original cooling was missing... crap! The store told me that wasn't a problem. :( :(
So one and a half month later I'm still stuck with my broken Ati R8500, and I don't have the money to buy a new vidcard nor can I spare the cash to send it out for RMA again and again...
Ati's online RMA form stated it's only for US/Canadian costumers... :mad:
I can manage to get an original cooler, but I can't send it back to the store where I bought it once again, nor can I use Ait's online RMA form.
Looks like the only solution is trying to fix it myself. Does anyone have an idea whether this is duable? I'm fairly skilled in soldering and have the tools to do small voltmodjobs etc. If it's just a matter or replacing a resistor I might be able to save this card...
Can anyone help me? :)