OCZ Booster no longer boosting??

[StellaArtois]

I've got a booster strapped into my K8N Neo2 atm. Been running at 3.1V since I set it up a few days ago. However, I took the case side off today and had a look at the booster, and it now reads 2.8 (BIOS Vdimm set to 2.6). Adjusting the pots makes no difference to the voltage readout. I've taken it out of the computer, and reseated it. Same result.

Any ideas? Is it a dud or does it need some recalibration or something?

[PnoT]

Maybe a trend here?


I am having the issue with mine. I've only had the thing for 3 days and everything was working fine for a while and now it sits at 2.5 no matter the knob adjustment. I've tried it in 2 other boards as well and it's a dud.

[Ubermann]

Same thing happend with mine.
Turning the pot only changed 0.1 max.
The problems was in the pot.
Resoldered the "points" and it works fine again.
Seems like it lost contact inside the pot.
Use a dmm and measure the resistans btw the 2 legs that are connected with the pcb.
If no contact try bend very little on the pot and see if it get contact.

[PnoT]

I might have to try that before i rma mine. Still can't believe it only lasted 3 days. My heatsink is WAY off to the side and not even centered to begin with.

[Ubermann]

Mine first started to make volt to go up and down like crazy before it died.
A bit dangerous if you have ram that might burn from high volts.

[StellaArtois]

Hmmm... I'll give the pot thing ago!

As an aside, the heatsink on mine was aligned, but wasn't contacting the FETs correctly when I received it. Had to physically press the sink down to make sure it had contact.

*Edit: perhaps I should rephrase the first sentence... :banana4:

[mad mikee]

Moved power connectors and transistors to other side, tossed pot (POS), got new micro pot (4 turn- perfect) from digikey (as well as replacement mosfets on general principle) and works well so far. OCZ BGA AL heatsinks on each mosfet, memory fan blows on them too!

Fits XTREMELY well in msi, and even set @ 2.7 allowed BH5 2x512 to go up to 250 FSB error free at 2-2-3-6 (2-3 bought me 5 FSB), at least for short testing cycles. Seems the localized voltage helps so far

Getting another for the DFI, which is on its way back from CA. Will do same mods so I can use 2 sticks of ram AND the booster finally I hope

[StellaArtois]

Same thing happend with mine.
Turning the pot only changed 0.1 max.
The problems was in the pot.
Resoldered the "points" and it works fine again.
Seems like it lost contact inside the pot.
Use a dmm and measure the resistans btw the 2 legs that are connected with the pcb.
If no contact try bend very little on the pot and see if it get contact.

Resoldered the connections on the pot, and undid / had a look / retightened the claws holding the pot backplate on, seems to have done the job. Back to 3.1v again! (For how long is a different matter!). If it fails again, I'll try bending the front faceplate in on the pot, as you suggest.

Nice advice, cheers!

[Ubermann]

Hope someone from OCZ read this.
I have seen 2 ppl in sweden with same problem.
I noticed that there is some kind of grease on the pot, isnt that very bad if it get on the contact surface inside the pot ??

[ryanpgroovy]

Hi guys , just email support@ocztechnology.com and we will get these replaced

I fear that a shipment to europe may have been damaged , We had an issue with one of our freight carriers who some how managed to break almost everything inside , none of those made it out to the public , but the earlier shipment might have been knocked around without us knowing

If you have any issues like this just please get in contact with us and we will get you replaced right away

[Ubermann]

But the box wasnt damaged at all.

[StellaArtois]

Ryanpgroovy, with mine the box was in 100% A1 condition when I received it. The booster worked fine for a few days. My initial thoughts would be that the heat from the FETs has caused a slightly cheap pot to expand, causing lack of contact within the pot, and failure.

[ryanpgroovy]

your outside box would not have been damaged , were thinking one of the huge cases was dropped which could have damaged the solder points,

[Kanati]

I'm not sure which pots the booster uses, but I know I've had several cheap pots that I've used in my industrial robotics lab for controlling small motor speeds go out after a several cycles of turning up and down. I think maybe just soldering on a high quality 4-6 turn pot might solve alot of these problems.

[Gogeta]

I have experienced the same problem where the pot no longer adjusts vdimm. It arises whenever I switch out the DIMMs for different modules. So far I've been able to correct the problem by entirely disconnecting the booster, booting without it, and then re-installing. Anybody know if this qualifies as grounds for a replacement?

[ryanpgroovy]

Gogeta ,
We will replace it if you like , but let us check out the problem in depth

[Ubermann]

My guess is that the pot is the problem also.
Maybe not the solder points, cuz they look just fine.
Putting the pot on the other side would take it away from heat like one here on the thread did.
And also make more room for ram.

[Gogeta]

Gogeta ,
We will replace it if you like , but let us check out the problem in depth

Thanks ryan. I'll sit tight with it for now unless it starts to get really weird on me.

[SteveOCZ]

Are all of you that are having problems on my side of the water? Thats Europe

[TSEC]

I have had problems with mine as well.

After adjusting / calibrating, I set it to 3V. But after re-starting the machine, it wouldnt boot into windows - a cursory glance at the display on the booster showed that somehow, the voltage had increased to 3.9V.

Bizarre.

I have uninstalled it until I can decide what to do with it...

[Ubermann]

TSEC what mobo do you use ?

[Holst]

Hope someone from OCZ read this.
I have seen 2 ppl in sweden with same problem.
I noticed that there is some kind of grease on the pot, isnt that very bad if it get on the contact surface inside the pot ??

The grease is probably contact grease and is supposed to be there.

Sounds like bad solder joints, should be easy enough to check for my moving the pot about.

If you do have this problem im sure OCZ will sort something out, they are normally pretty good with fixing mistakes/accidents these days.

[TSEC]

TSEC what mobo do you use ?

IC7-G max 2 - Possibly may require Vtt mod? Dunno

[semetrix]

I'm also having problems with an OCZ Booster that won't give more voltage then the bios.

I RMAed the first one and recieved a new one but the problem was still there.

Mobo: MSI K8N Neo2
Memory: 2x 512MB PC3200 Winbond BH-5

But this was some weeks ago and I bought some G.Skill PC4400 in the mean time

ps. I live in Europe btw.

[SteveOCZ]

Hey guys

Everyone that is having please email myself or support and please include your full system specs and the shop you bought the booster from. We will get these replaced for you all ASAP

Steve