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3dfx Hardware & Software => Voodoo4/5 Setup and tweaking => Topic started by: Atom_Anti on 01 May 2010, 10:04:17

Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 01 May 2010, 10:04:17
Dear Friends,

My VooDoo5 5500 AGP has great overclocking ability; therefore I would like to get more stable MHz with voltage modification.

At this page I found some English source: http://www.forumzone.it/showthread.php?t=9153&page=4

However hard to understand this guide and do not gives enough information to be able to make the modification.

In the beginning he sad GPUs and RAMs are both 2.8 volts powered, but later he wrote the RAMs are 3.3 volts powered. So which is true?

I also understand the mosfet on the lower right corner stabilizes the voltage from 3.3 to 2.8 volts. But what kind of modification should I do with the mosfet if I would like to give 3 volts for the GPUs or the RAMs?

He also mentioned the volt modification works and the VSAs work flawlessly at 3 volts. He did not say anything how he did!?

Reading further his guide, it getting more complicated. Than I can read about 47k timer, 17-18k resistor, and a new modification place in the upper right, near the 4 pin molex connector... Which modification place is for what?

So my question is how could I increase the voltage of my GPUs and RAMs? Would someone please to tell me!?
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 02 May 2010, 02:04:52
Hello,

I already replied to this message here: http://www.forumzone.it/showthread.php?t=33970
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 02 May 2010, 11:11:43
Hello goriath,

[/i]I have seen your answer at forumzone.it, but could not log in to answer, even if I reset my password. So I am answering here:[/i]

Many thanks for your time and for your understandable explanation.  I am very serious to overvolting my V5 so I am going to buy the necessary equipments. I already have changed the coolers on my V5 and added memory heat sinks. I will also add heat sink back of VSA100s. However I have never done any electrical modification yet, so I would have further questions;
What kind of the 47k potentiometer should I buy?
What kind of wire do I need to solder the 47k potentiometer?
Do I really need a multimeter? Without that I won't know how much voltage do I give for the VSA100s?

Also thank you for the high quality picture!
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 02 May 2010, 22:23:56
QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti

Hello goriath,

I have seen your answer at forumzone.it, but could not log in to answer, even if I reset my password. So I am answering here:

Many thanks for your time and for your understandable explanation.  I am very serious to overvolting my V5 so I am going to buy the necessary equipments. I already have changed the coolers on my V5 and added memory heat sinks. I will also add heat sink back of VSA100s. However I have never done any electrical modification yet, so I would have further questions;
Which of the 47k potentiometer would you buy from here?: ebay link rmoved
What kind of wire do I need to solder the 47k potentiometer?
Do I really need a multimeter? Without that I won't know how much voltage do I give for the VSA100s?

Also thank you for the high quality picture!

eBay and any commercial links are not allowed in the community, I suggest you to edit your previous message (I will send you an e-mail with some hint search)

Normally, standard variable resistor devices like potentiometers and/or trimmers have resistance value like 470R 1K 2K 4,7K 10K 22K 47K 100K 220K 470K 1M and so on...

But you would need a 47K multiturn potentiometer/trimmer. Multiturn because it can give you more accuracy in settings than a standard potentiometer. Actually, to my knowledge, every variable resistor device that can be defined as multiturn can not reach exactly the 47 Kohm that you need, but you can get a 50K instead.

Usually values for multiturn potentiometer/trimmer are: 500R 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K 50K 100K and so on...

So I suggest you to buy a 50K multiturn potentiometer or trimmer. The first is bigger and you can fasten it somewhere in the case like a fan-controller. The second one is smaller, you can glue it on the card PCB, but is not so practical, so a potentiometer would be better to me. About the electrical wire, you can use common wire AWG 20-22.

I suggest you to buy a digital multimeter, because it is always useful tool. Trough a multimeter you can regulate your variable resistor on about 17-18K which is the value of the R113 resistor, first to solder it to the card. In this way you can avoid any possibility to burn the Voodoo5. After the mod, you can start to regulate the variable resistor until you get the voltage you want, 3V in the case. Trough a multimeter, you can always keep checking the correct voltage. So...No, without a multimeter, you would be like a blind man who wants to strike a cooking pot.

P.S. Also using the right iron solder would be a good thing. You need a low-wattage iron solder with thin tip or ... a soldering station; even better, but more expensive.
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 04 May 2010, 09:23:37
Hello goriath,

Many thanks again for your help! I'll go to buy the necessary equipments and hopefully I can make the overvolting [8D]. I also sent you further questions about the equipments via email. I hope you got it!
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 05 May 2010, 03:53:05
QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti

Hello goriath,

Many thanks again for your help! I'll go to buy the necessary equipments and hopefully I can make the overvolting [8D]. I also sent you further questions about the equipments via email. I hope you got it!

Got it and replied.

Take care of your Napalm board and feel free to post your results here.

To my knoledge you would be the third user with a overvolted Voodoo5, after vsa, the italian guy who thought this mod and another 3dfx fellow who lives in Russia.
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 05 May 2010, 19:29:01
I'll be back about 2-3 week later and going to tell the results. So far without overvolting it can run 192MHz and absolutely stable. 3DMark2000: 7000+points, 3DMark2001: 4000+points.
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 05 May 2010, 23:15:08
That ones are good scores! Which system are you using with the Voodoo5?
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 06 May 2010, 08:03:13
Abit SA7
P4B 3.06@3.7GHz +AC Freezer 4
512MB Patriot DDR600
This is the best system what I could build arround V5. Later I am going to try some overclocker bios on V5, because now it is work with 1.15 bios. Memory timings are tight, so If I loosing it, than may I can go further than 192-193MHz. And finally I'll try to overvolting.
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Glide on 07 May 2010, 00:36:55
Nice topic...:)

Atom_Anti, which frame rate do you get with Unreal Tournament (1) demo?

Bye bye
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 07 May 2010, 01:42:25
QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti

Abit SA7
P4B 3.06@3.7GHz +AC Freezer 4
512MB Patriot DDR600
This is the best system what I could build arround V5. Later I am going to try some overclocker bios on V5, because now it is work with 1.15 bios. Memory timings are tight, so If I loosing it, than may I can go further than 192-193MHz. And finally I'll try to overvolting.

Well, I think that a system like yours should likely be the best you can build around a Voodoo5 AGP:)
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 20 May 2010, 20:33:54
Here few 3DMark screen shoots:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/2010520203054_3DMark%202000.jpg)
227.8 KB

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/2010520203136_3DMark%202001.jpg)
245.17 KB

I have also installed Unreal Tournament, but not sure how to run benchmark. In which resolution? Glide, OpenGL, Direct3D?
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Glide on 20 May 2010, 23:20:34
QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti
I have also installed Unreal Tournament, but not sure how to run benchmark. In which resolution? Glide, OpenGL, Direct3D?



I suggest to use UTbench tool: you can grab it here: https://www.3dfxzone.it/dir/tools/benchmark/video/

Bye bye
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 21 May 2010, 08:30:12
I have run the UTbenchmark in Glide mod, 1024x768, and High graphics details:
2939 frames rendered in 48.67 seconds
Min: 37.69
Max: 75.24
Avg: 60.37 FPS
Are these numbers good?
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 05 June 2010, 11:41:52
Before overvolting I make some improvements of V5 cooling. first I have made new heat sinks to the back side of the VSA100 GPUs.

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201065113913_IMG_6648.jpg)
229.71 KB

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201065113958_IMG_6649.jpg)
131.36 KB

I hope it will dissipate lot of heat!
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Glide on 09 June 2010, 10:19:17
QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti

I have run the UTbenchmark in Glide mod, 1024x768, and High graphics details:
2939 frames rendered in 48.67 seconds
Min: 37.69
Max: 75.24
Avg: 60.37 FPS
Are these numbers good?

Yes, this's a good result: the average value of the frame rate is equal to 60 so your system can manage all scenarios of UT with a smooth 3D rendering.

Thank you for contribution!

Bye bye
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 16 June 2010, 19:37:05
The improved cooling system is just done on my Voodoo5. Lot of work, but it cools significantly better. The overclocking ability also improved, now it is stable on 199MHz.
I have also realized the back side of the VSA100 chips heats more than the front side. I still feel them for too hot, I might have to add fans on to it before overvolting.

Here how is it look now:
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/644/img6738i.jpg)
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: goriath on 06 July 2010, 15:34:39
Sorry for my silence...I got your mail, but was unable to reply.

QuoteOriginally posted by Atom_Anti via e-mail

Hello Goriath,



Now I have all the equipments, that is necessary to do the overvolting my Voodoo5.


I need some further guide, because I am not sure how to solder the wire into the trimmer. The trimmer has 3 pins, but probably I should use only two of them. Which is that two? See my picture, than you can understand better my question.


Regards,
Atom_Anti

Here the picture from you:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/goriath/201076152534_trimmer.jpg)
64.47 KB

Yes, only two pins are needed; these are the first and the second one(or the second and the third one, is the same). In a few words, you must solder the central pin and one of two external pins.
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: Atom_Anti on 09 July 2010, 13:42:07
Ok, I am successfully overvolted my second Voodoo5. The first one is dead unfortunately, because I did not have any soldering experience and I screwd it up. It is very sad, that was an very good overclockable V5.

The overvolted Voodoo5 works wonderfully, I can regulate the VSA100s voltage in any range. It can work even with as low voltage as 2,4V and I have already increased it up to 3,2V so far. Might I will increase it further on a colder day.

Here how is look an overvolted Voodoo5:
front side:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201079123312_overvolted%20V5%20front%20side.jpg)
277.37 KB

back side:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201079123424_overvolted%20V5%20back%20side.jpg)
250.36 KB

Here are the results:
3,2V-->205MHz
3,1V-->202MHz
3,0V-->200MHz
2,9V-->198MHz
2,8V-->196MHz
2,7V-->192MHz
2,6V-->189MHz
2,5V-->187MHz
2,4V-->180MHz
These are stable MHz -es, tested with 3D Marks.

Few scores with pictures:
3DMark 2000:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201079133336_7645%203D%20marks.jpg)
250.7 KB

3DMark 2001SE:

Image Insert:
(https://www.3dfxzone.it/public/uploaded/Atom_Anti/201079133536_4495%203D%20marks.jpg)
270.29 KB

As you can see I have also switched my Abit SA7 to Asus P4S533 motherboard. It unofficially supports DDR400 RAMs, so probably this is the fastest motherboard for 3dfx AGP systems.

Many thanks for your gide "goriath"!
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: m14radu on 20 July 2011, 05:48:56
Nice work !

You should try to overclock again in a cold day.
i remember that i was able to overclock my voodoo5 @201Mhz in a cold winter, the system was put near to the open window :)

Did somenbody try to do the same voltage modification on a voodoo5 PCI ? Is the same resistor affected ?
What about the voodoo4 ?
[:p]
Title: 3Dfx VooDoo5 5500 AGP Video Card Voltage modification
Post by: mate175 on 20 July 2011, 18:37:37
Well, my Voodoo4 works great with 200MHz. (http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6884/20110720133432.jpg)