Modding/overclocking the 4850/4870

sandwichamwin · 12th July 2008, 11:32 PM

Hi guys,

After years of video card volt modding nearly every ATI card since the 9xxx series and putting them through extreme TEC torture, i thought it was time to finally post up a quick guide on volt modding the 4850.

I tried not to go into too might technical detail, just a quick overview to help any newbies who want to take the plunge into volt modding. My writing isn't the best, because I'm tired/lazy/stupid but hopefully the pictures help get the message across.

So far there are two parts. Part 1 was just a quick look at the card - nothing new here. Part 2 takes a look at volt modding the card and imo, the best way to do it. Part 3 will cover installing a waterblock + ramsinks etc, i hope to get this done next weekend. Depending on the response i get, i may even add a guide to insulation for TEC/Phase/DICE and some real extreme overclocking. We'll see.

http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/

Feel free to comment, constructive criticism is appreciated but if you're going to be a dick, feel free to post in the pub instead.

I'm considering adding more modding guides if there's a positive response. Always willing to kill hardware for a good cause!

UPDATE: Added parts 2 and 3. Managed to hit 975mhz on the core with 1.4v under water. I'll be volt modding my GTX280 and HD4870 soon so expect a write up on them too

UPDATE2: Added volt modding guide for the 4870 - http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/20...ng-hd4870.html

Enjoy

renel · 12th July 2008, 11:42 PM

thanks sandwichamwin will be looking at this for my HD4850

sandwichamwin · 13th July 2008, 12:03 AM

Thanks. It's fairly basic stuff for people with experience, but hopefully someone new can find it useful.

AussieTemplar · 13th July 2008, 10:34 AM

Will this be easy for person that has never done anything like this before? :P

sandwichamwin · 13th July 2008, 11:19 AM

Very easy. If you spend a little time soldering you shouldn't have any troubles. Don't try it without a multimeter though

oohms · 13th July 2008, 11:22 AM

Thats pretty cool. Maybe it would be a good idea to have a closeup pic that shows what points to solder to in more detail.

Also if you feel inspired, maybe link to a guide on bios modding the 4850 for custom clocks/fan speeds

sandwichamwin · 13th July 2008, 1:47 PM

I've had so many bios flashes go wrong, i'm not sure i even want to go there

. I might look into it later. I'm more into hardware modding

TaroT · 13th July 2008, 5:26 PM

good i,ll bring the 2 cards around and you r=ig them up then i,ll bios mod yours for you

very nice guide but as above some pics of where to actually do the smoldering would be great

sandwichamwin · 13th July 2008, 10:48 PM

I'm not worried of doing them, i just see no need for it.

I've updated it with pictures of all the soldering and read points. Should clear things up a bit.

sandwichamwin · 19th July 2008, 9:10 PM

Just finished writing up the last section. Managed to hit 975mhz on the core with a little extra voltage. I didn't have any ramsinks so i didn't touch the ram unfortunately.

I'll get stuck into the GTX280 and HD4870 next week... I'm expecting some good results!

eva2000 · 19th July 2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandwichamwin

Just finished writing up the last section. Managed to hit 975mhz on the core with a little extra voltage. I didn't have any ramsinks so i didn't touch the ram unfortunately.

I'll get stuck into the GTX280 and HD4870 next week... I'm expecting some good results!

awesome stuff mate.. bookmarked your site as i need to learn to volt mod hehe

love the fan header approach http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/20...t-modding.html

dirtyd · 19th July 2008, 10:41 PM

Great stuff man, I've been following the 4850 voltmod thread on xs and this kind of condenses it all into one nice and easy package

AussieTemplar · 20th July 2008, 11:40 AM

Yes, this is a very good guide mate.

Can't wait to see the 4870

sandwichamwin · 20th July 2008, 12:07 PM

Thanks guys.

I've just put the 4870 under water. Idle temps dropped from 65 degrees to 27 degrees

. Load... well, i haven't gotten there yet

I also just managed to break 5ghz 3dmark stable...

sandwichamwin · 30th July 2008, 9:53 PM

Just added a guide to volt modding the 4870 here - http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/20...ng-hd4870.html

I know there's tonnes of people with this card, hopefully some of you get your act together and remember what OCAU is all about!

12th July 2008, 11:32 PM	#1
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Modding/overclocking the 4850/4870 Hi guys, After years of video card volt modding nearly every ATI card since the 9xxx series and putting them through extreme TEC torture, i thought it was time to finally post up a quick guide on volt modding the 4850. I tried not to go into too might technical detail, just a quick overview to help any newbies who want to take the plunge into volt modding. My writing isn't the best, because I'm tired/lazy/stupid but hopefully the pictures help get the message across. So far there are two parts. Part 1 was just a quick look at the card - nothing new here. Part 2 takes a look at volt modding the card and imo, the best way to do it. Part 3 will cover installing a waterblock + ramsinks etc, i hope to get this done next weekend. Depending on the response i get, i may even add a guide to insulation for TEC/Phase/DICE and some real extreme overclocking. We'll see. http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/ Feel free to comment, constructive criticism is appreciated but if you're going to be a dick, feel free to post in the pub instead. I'm considering adding more modding guides if there's a positive response. Always willing to kill hardware for a good cause! UPDATE: Added parts 2 and 3. Managed to hit 975mhz on the core with 1.4v under water. I'll be volt modding my GTX280 and HD4870 soon so expect a write up on them too UPDATE2: Added volt modding guide for the 4870 - http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/20...ng-hd4870.html Enjoy __________________ flickr Last edited by sandwichamwin; 30th July 2008 at 9:52 PM.

13th July 2008, 12:03 AM	#3
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Thanks. It's fairly basic stuff for people with experience, but hopefully someone new can find it useful. __________________ flickr

13th July 2008, 10:34 AM	#4
AussieTemplar Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Eastern Suburbs Sydney Posts: 2,433	Will this be easy for person that has never done anything like this before? :P __________________ \| AMD 7970 3GB \| FX-8350 @ 5.1ghz \| 32GB Corsair 2200 \| Lian Li PC-P80B \| AX-850w \| Win7 Ultimate x64 Successful Trades(28) ($3600+): Un-updated Trades

13th July 2008, 11:19 AM	#5
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Very easy. If you spend a little time soldering you shouldn't have any troubles. Don't try it without a multimeter though __________________ flickr

13th July 2008, 1:47 PM	#7
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	I've had so many bios flashes go wrong, i'm not sure i even want to go there . I might look into it later. I'm more into hardware modding __________________ flickr

12th July 2008, 11:42 PM	#2
renel (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 2768 Posts: 360	thanks sandwichamwin will be looking at this for my HD4850

13th July 2008, 11:22 AM	#6
oohms Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne 3016 Posts: 2,183	Thats pretty cool. Maybe it would be a good idea to have a closeup pic that shows what points to solder to in more detail. Also if you feel inspired, maybe link to a guide on bios modding the 4850 for custom clocks/fan speeds

13th July 2008, 5:26 PM	#8
TaroT Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hazelbrook nsw 2779 Posts: 6,515	good i,ll bring the 2 cards around and you r=ig them up then i,ll bios mod yours for you very nice guide but as above some pics of where to actually do the smoldering would be great __________________ AMD 8120FX @4.3 no turbo:corsair H100 cooler: Gigabyte 990FXUD5P: 16 gig GSKILL 1600@1600 9 9 9 27: Saphire 7850 2Gb 1100/1250:

13th July 2008, 10:48 PM	#9
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	I'm not worried of doing them, i just see no need for it. I've updated it with pictures of all the soldering and read points. Should clear things up a bit. __________________ flickr

19th July 2008, 9:10 PM	#10
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Just finished writing up the last section. Managed to hit 975mhz on the core with a little extra voltage. I didn't have any ramsinks so i didn't touch the ram unfortunately. I'll get stuck into the GTX280 and HD4870 next week... I'm expecting some good results! __________________ flickr

19th July 2008, 10:41 PM	#12
dirtyd Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 3,679	Great stuff man, I've been following the 4850 voltmod thread on xs and this kind of condenses it all into one nice and easy package __________________ "It is worthy of remark that a belief constantly inculcated during the early years of life, whilst the brain is impressible, appears to acquire almost the nature of an instinct; and the very essence of an instinct is that it is followed independently of reason." - Charles Darwin \| trustworthy traders

20th July 2008, 11:40 AM	#13
AussieTemplar Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Eastern Suburbs Sydney Posts: 2,433	Yes, this is a very good guide mate. Can't wait to see the 4870 __________________ \| AMD 7970 3GB \| FX-8350 @ 5.1ghz \| 32GB Corsair 2200 \| Lian Li PC-P80B \| AX-850w \| Win7 Ultimate x64 Successful Trades(28) ($3600+): Un-updated Trades

20th July 2008, 12:07 PM	#14
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Thanks guys. I've just put the 4870 under water. Idle temps dropped from 65 degrees to 27 degrees . Load... well, i haven't gotten there yet I also just managed to break 5ghz 3dmark stable... __________________ flickr

30th July 2008, 9:53 PM	#15
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,493	Just added a guide to volt modding the 4870 here - http://sandwichamwin.blogspot.com/20...ng-hd4870.html I know there's tonnes of people with this card, hopefully some of you get your act together and remember what OCAU is all about! __________________ flickr