Softmodding a 7800GT

[chuckskull]

So out of boredom earlier i decided to mod my 7800GT to a GTX. Not something I've tried before, just stuck to coolbits OC'ing and OC'ing my processors.

I'm half way there and stable as a rock, need some help with the last mile.

I've unmasked and enabled the 4 disabled pipes and 1 vertex unit. Frequencies stable at 500/1100 and I've used rivatuner to change the PCIdevice ID to 7800GTX (though I seriously doubt that affects performance )

Now that last mile, I want to get the memory up to full GTX speeds, about 1125 seems to be my absolute limit right now.

So what have a missed kids

[Whiternoise]

Are you using the stock cooler?

[chuckskull]

Are you using the stock cooler?

Yeah currently the XFX cooler that came with it. Pretty sure it's nVidia reference stuff.

I considered one of those zalman VGA coolers. Didn't have £20 floating about last time I ordered from scan. Never goes above 53C no matter how hard I push it.

I'm thinking a voltmod and zalman cooler next, just as soon as I learn how to do it

Gotta RAID my two new raptors first(be fun without a floppy drive) So the GPU is on hold for now. Give me some time to read up on it, I just dived in with Rivatune and figured it out myself earlier

[philipbain]

Theres no reason that given sufficient cooling the GPU shouldnt reach (or possible exceed) 7800GTX speeds, however the RAM could be a different story, one which is totally dependant on the selection of memory chips used by the card manufacturer. Basically the maker of the card will have used chips that meet the memory specification required for the 7800GT's base memory clock of 550 (1100 in DDR) which explains why it won't go much higher. Still, with the extra vertex unit and pipelines the performance should be better and with a beefier cooler you can expext to get some more Mhz out of the GPU too.

[Mr Pants]

So out of boredom earlier i decided to mod my 7800GT to a GTX. Not something I've tried before, just stuck to coolbits OC'ing and OC'ing my processors.

I'm half way there and stable as a rock, need some help with the last mile.

I've unmasked and enabled the 4 disabled pipes and 1 vertex unit. Frequencies stable at 500/1100 and I've used rivatuner to change the PCIdevice ID to 7800GTX (though I seriously doubt that affects performance )

Now that last mile, I want to get the memory up to full GTX speeds, about 1125 seems to be my absolute limit right now.

So what have a missed kids

I thought the 7800GT was laser cut? Hence impossible to unlock the disabled pipes

[BUFF]

I thought the 7800GT was laser cut? Hence impossible to unlock the disabled pipes

I must admit I thought that you can't softmod a 7800GT either.

[chuckskull]

I thought the 7800GT was laser cut? Hence impossible to unlock the disabled pipes

I must admit I thought that you can't softmod a 7800GT either.

Rivatuner is detecting 24pp and 8vertex. Performance increased annd I can now clock higher.

I've heard stories of the laser cutting taking out to many pp and vertex. I presume the opposite can happen (or XFX got lazy). Either way. I got 10+ fps in most games from this little experiment so I'm not bothered how it happened

[kalniel]

You can clock higher as a result of unlocked pipes? Usually it's the opposite, so well done!

[shaithis]

I have an eVGA 7800GT that managed to unlock to 24/8 as well. Although I have seen many that won't....

Probably down to the manufacturer.

[noTHINGface]

I have an eVGA 7800GT that managed to unlock to 24/8 as well. Although I have seen many that won't....

What did you use to unlock the pipes? Rivatuner?

I have a 7800GT that could do with a bit of a push (above the OC I already have on it) to see me through to DX10 cards.

[shaithis]

Yes, used RivaTuner. Some 2.00.xxx something beta I've had kicking around for a while.

[chuckskull]

You can clock higher as a result of unlocked pipes? Usually it's the opposite, so well done!

Not tried 'proper' overclocking yet, just used coolbits 'detect optimal' button came out about 25mhz higher for GPU and 75mhz for memory. Waiting on a zalman cooler, then I'll try OC'ing the old fashioned way

Can anyone think of a graphical burn in program? My card runs stable during gaming etc, but i'd like to give it a thrashing overnight.

[kalniel]

rthdribl is pretty demanding, as is the ATItool tester (the artifact detection/thrashing works on NVidia cards too).

http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

[un1d3n]

who ever thought a 7800gt was unlockable? i laugh at that

*laugh*


....i uncloked and oced mine to a gtx last week

but then again i am using artic cooler 7