Gecube X800XL 256MB vMod?
I have a small little problem with my Gecube X800XL 256MB. The PCB does not look the same as all the other X800XL makes:
Here are the codes on the IC's that I think control the GPU and Memory voltage:
GPU - RT9256
Memory - RT9214
Can someone help me?
The RT9214 is probably controling the Vgpu voltage, and the RT9256 controling the Vmem/Vtt.
To check that the RT9214 is controling the Vgpu can you get a voltage reading from pin 8 of the chip. Can you also get a resistance reading between pin 6 (feedback) and pin 8, and also pin 6 and ground please.
For the Vmem/Vtt mod(s) can you get a closer picture of the RT9256 chip becasue it looks too small to solder to/take readings from and there will probably be alternative points to use.
Thanks for the input Persivore. The RT9214 IC sits closer to Memory, where as the RT9256 IC sits closer to the GPU. Do you not think RT9214 is for vddr and RT9256 is for vgpu? I will go get a mutli-meter from a friend today and see if I can get some readings from the RT9214 IC. Will also try to get a closer pic of the two IC's.
The RT9256 has 2 regulators on the chip, so one is probably being used as the Vmem regulator and the other as the Vtt regulator. Vtt might also follow with the RT9256 so you might not need a Vtt mod.
this card is wierd...i tend to agree w/ persivore that RT9256 controls vmem and vref/vtt However, it really doesnt matter, because you should be able to follow a trace form either pin 4 or pin 5 of RT9256 to a resistor surrounding it. You should be able to solder a VR in parrallel w/ that resistor and lower resistance for more voltage. It may also be a resistor with a value of zero, in which case you would need to remove it and solder a VT in its place, raise resistance for more voltage. CLOSE UP pics would help ALOT.
-CaT
Send Me Your Broken Hardware! - Repair Parts and vMod Research!
Need vMods? PM Me!
Thanks for the reply CaTalyst.X. I just find it funny. Why would the IC's controlling the Memory and GPU be sitting so far away from the actual parts...
Anyway, I am trying to get a camera. Will post pics as soon as I can.
Its not too important where the regulators are placed on the card because the MOSFETs which cary most of the large currents can be placed some distance away from the regulators due to the multi-layer PCB, which can carry quite alot of current. It can also provide some sheilding to traces which might be suseptible to interfearence (although interference can still be an issue). The MOSFET placing isn't too important either tbh, again due to the multi-layer PCB and its current carying capabilities.Originally Posted by AllBrain
Thanks for the reply CaTalyst.X. I just find it funny. Why would the IC's controlling the Memory and GPU be sitting so far away from the actual parts...
Anyway, I am trying to get a camera. Will post pics as soon as I can.
Yesterday I decided to finally buy a multi-meter for myself. So armed with my new multi-meter, knowledge from fellow voltmodders and tech docs, I started to work on my graphics card. Since I do not have the same PCB layout than the other makes, I had to some improvising. So here is what I did...
1. I used the same voltage measuring points than the above guide and found the following to me true:
Vgpu - 1.36V
Vdd - 2.05V
Vddq - 2.05V
2. Now I used the knowledge and tech docs I have acquired to find the right resistors to penci downl. At this point I did not know which of the two IC’s controlled what. So I started with the RT9214 IC and found two resistors connected with Pin 6. (Pin 6 is the one you need to trick by making it think that it is not giving enough voltage by reducing the resistance on the connected resistors.) So I penciled the one resistor down a little and found the Vgpu to stay at 1,36V but the Vdd and Vddq when down to 1.96V. This sounds like a step backwards and it is but at least now I knew which IC controlled what. Next I tried the other resistor on Pin 6 and to my amazement the Vdd and Vddq both went up to 2.10V.
3. Next up is the RT9256 IC. This IC can control two separate devices and thus has two pins that you can fool but since it is only contolling one device, I only had to work with one pin. And that was Pin 4. Once again this pin had two resistors connected to it and like always, I go pencil the wrong one. After kicking myself for reducing the Vgpu to 1.26V, I penciled down the other resistor just a little bit and the Vgpu shot up to 1.48V. Quite a big increase for a small amount of graphite.
And with that I have found the voltmods for my card all by myself. I would like to thank the people that gave my advice and encouragement.
hey can u post a pic pointing out which resistors u penciled?
-CaT
Send Me Your Broken Hardware! - Repair Parts and vMod Research!
Need vMods? PM Me!
No problem... Here you go. The green resistors is the right ones to pencil and the yellow ones are the wonrg ones.
So how did you go? Achieve good results? Thats a bonus finding the vddq. Well done for sharing your find
No problem... Here you go. The green resistors is the right ones to pencil and the yellow ones are the wonrg ones.
is this for the vgpu?
if no can you please post me a picture of the resistors you penclied down?
thx
Hi Crankybugga. The vdd and vddq mods works, but my memory seems to be at it's limits anyway. The vgpu mods wors even better. I went from 460 to 490 stable using 1.55 volts. I have not been able to any higher than that, because I am waiting for winter-time here in South Africa.
Hi there to you Mr.President. The mods in the top middle of the pic is for the gpu and the one on the middle left side is for the memory. Hope this helps.
Heya AllBrain..do they use the R430 core? Ive currently got my X800pro vivo running with 1.68v using a ATi Silencer4. Have been running that for around 6months with no issues and capable of benching at 635. I guess the R430 are somehow limited, and dont seem to scale as good as the r420.
The one to the left is the vmem and the one 20mm above the warranty sticker is the vgpu.
Hi, AllBrain could you please tell me what are the values of green resistors after you have penciled them? And what are the measuring points of the Vgpu and Vmem values. Thanks in advanvce.
AllBrain, please advice the ideal point to measure the VGPU.
Thanks.
pic of 9256 attached.
Sorry for the delay on my reply, but been really busy. Let me try and answer all the questions to the best of my knowledge.
1. The resistors that I penciled in the above pics, reads deferent if you turn the probes around on the mutli-meter, so I have no idea which one is right. I think you should use the bigger of the two values.
2. It seems like the Vddq and Vdd is linked, so when you up the voltage on the one, the other also goes up.
3. I used the same measuring points the other X800XL boards use. Go and have a look on the Techpowerup website for the article.
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