About to do some volt-mods on my A7N8X Deluxe rev2.0

[DaveX]

I'm new at this v-mod thing but I wanted to try it out on my A7N8X Deluxe rev2.0 . Anyways, I just wanted to be sure about some things. This is the best guide to follow right? Should I also do a Vcore mod too, even thought my mobo has adjustments far beyond 2V? What is the stock Vdd of my A7N8X? What should I increase it too for a good FSB oc? If I do the Vdimm mod, the Vtt should increase with it right? I'm getting watercooling so the NB should stay cool. I can get a soldering iron and VR's at Radioshack right?

-Thanks, Dave.

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by DaveX
I'm new at this v-mod thing but I wanted to try it out on my A7N8X Deluxe rev2.0 . Anyways, I just wanted to be sure about some things. This is the best guide to follow right? Should I also do a Vcore mod too, even thought my mobo has adjustments far beyond 2V? What is the stock Vdd of my A7N8X? What should I increase it too for a good FSB oc? If I do the Vdimm mod, the Vtt should increase with it right? I'm getting watercooling so the NB should stay cool. I can get a soldering iron and VR's at Radioshack right?

-Thanks, Dave.

Yes, that is the best guide imho.

If your board has the option to go above 2v, then I wouldnt bother with a Vcore mod. What bios are you running? Its been a bit since I messed with a A7N8X board, but from what I recall, no matter what bios used, never above 1.85 Vcore...even modded bios files.

Stock Vdd should be around 1.5v or so. I wouldnt run over 2v on the Vdd (NB). You will have to test thoroughly here to find out where your board responds the best m8. Some boards run fine at lower voltage, while others like the higher volts.

I am not certain if the Vtt will track with the Vdimm above 3v. Try a search on this issue has most people are running the NF7 and DFI boards. I dont recall deeing a method to mod the Vtt. YOu can measure Vtt in the DIMM slots if I recall.

You can get a soldering iron and VRs from Radio Shack. Since they only sell 1k and 10k VRs at the Shack that are multi-turns, you will either have to buy a single turn 50k (I dont recommend), or get 2x10K VRs and put them in series for the Vdimm mod. I am pretty sure they sell both the 1Mega Ohm VRs and fixed resistors that are needed for the Vdd mod.

[DaveX]

Thanks a lot. When I do the mod, I should leave all the voltages at default right? My A7N8X has BIOS 1006 and has the ability to go up beyond 2.0V Vcore. I've never tried it though because I don't have my watercooling setup yet. I hear that Vcore regulation is not good so is there a droop mod? Thanks.

[uwackme]

A7N8X doesnt need a Vtt mod, it tracks the Vdimm.... the Vdimm mod actualy mods the Vref circuit, which drives both Vdimm and Vtt so they all track correctly.

[DaveX]

Hell-Fire, so are you saying that the A7N8X has shaky Vcore regulation beyond 1.85V? Because I looked at BIOS and I can adjust it beyond 2.0V

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by uwackme
A7N8X doesnt need a Vtt mod, it tracks the Vdimm.... the Vdimm mod actualy mods the Vref circuit, which drives both Vdimm and Vtt so they all track correctly.

Once again, you provide some very useful info man.

BTW, how did you come about knowing this. I havent worked on a A7N8X in quite a bit, but just curious how you know that the Vtt will track.

Originally posted by DaveX
Hell-Fire, so are you saying that the A7N8X has shaky Vcore regulation beyond 1.85V? Because I looked at BIOS and I can adjust it beyond 2.0V

Hey Dave.

Not saying that at all bud. Just that in my days of using the A7N8X, there wasnt a bios that allowed a Vcore above 1.85v is all. That is why the Vcore mod was needed. If the bios already allows more than 2v, then a Vcore mod isnt needed unless you are keeping her very very cold.

[DaveX]

Originally posted by Hell-Fire
If the bios already allows more than 2v, then a Vcore mod isnt needed unless you are keeping her very very cold.

Nope, that's why I'm setting up watercooling . I was just worried that my A7N8X would have the Vcore regulation problems that the Asus P4 series boards have. If that is the case I might have to find a droop mod of sorts...

[uwackme]

I traced the circuit, I installed the Vdimm, then experimented with the settings. Vtt measured on the terminating resistors, and Vref on DIMM socket pin1 all tracked Vdimm correctly.

[DaveX]

Hey guys, what BIOS do you use on the A7N8X Deluxe? I have BIOS 1006 right so would it be worth it to uprade to BIOS 1007? I don't have a floppy drive...how well does the flash utility work? Are there uber BIOS out there for the A7N8X?

Thanks, Dave.

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by DaveX
Hey guys, what BIOS do you use on the A7N8X Deluxe? I have BIOS 1006 right so would it be worth it to uprade to BIOS 1007? I don't have a floppy drive...how well does the flash utility work? Are there uber BIOS out there for the A7N8X?

Thanks, Dave.

Here ya go bud:

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15505

I was using the 1007 Uber Bios when I had the A7N8X.

[DaveX]

Originally posted by Hell-Fire
Here ya go bud:

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15505

I was using the 1007 Uber Bios when I had the A7N8X.

Thanks a lot Hell-Fire!
*crosses fingers that Asus windows flashing utility will actually work*

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by DaveX
Thanks a lot Hell-Fire!
*crosses fingers that Asus windows flashing utility will actually work*

If possible, I would use AWDFLASH versus that WinFlash utility.

[DaveX]

Originally posted by Hell-Fire
If possible, I would use AWDFLASH versus that WinFlash utility.

No floppy drive...

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by DaveX
No floppy drive...

WinFlash it is then.

[uwackme]

You need to give me your address Dave, I did a couple A7N8X's with CDrom awardflash disks. I have a v2.0 board Uber1007 CD sitting right here..... along with the instructions for the full command, you need to use the MAC and GUID command elements too to make sure you dont FK up the mac/firewire addresses. Then... GET yourself a $19 CDRW drive next time CompUSA/Officemax puts one on sale

I did the maximumOC Vdimm mod, but for ground, I used PIN7 of the 74xxx chip sitting right there next to the cpufan connector.

Easiest Vdimm mod there is, and everything stays in sync....dimm/ref/tt.

[Hell-Fire]

Yeh, that A7N8X Vdimm is a piece of cake.

[DaveX]

You guys make this sound so easy...yet the pin you are supposed to solder is so small . I need something to practice soldering on.

uwackme, I have a CD-RW drive. YGPM

[Tonic]

Yeah, It's a very good idea to training in soldering

For example you can solder cables to points on PCB from
old, destroyed HDD

And you would be like cyborg

Also, if you want solder motherboard, don't forget about protections
like aluminum foils, woods or something. It's really helpful and
you can avoid a incidental effects (example, droping solder's tear
on mobo)

[Hell-Fire]

Originally posted by DaveX
You guys make this sound so easy...yet the pin you are supposed to solder is so small . I need something to practice soldering on.

uwackme, I have a CD-RW drive. YGPM

I know of people that minimize the possibility of bridging 2 pins together while trying to sodler a wire to one of them by taking an index card and cutting it into small pieces. Those pieces will fit on either side of the particular pin you want to attach the wire to, effectively shielding it from the other nearby pins.

This would prob work better with a material that can withstand high heat for prolonged times.