eva2000

I've always comtemplated putting ramsinks on my video cards but never got around to it. But today while benching my Gigacube 9800PRO Xtreme (default 398/351x2) on my A64 3000+/AN50R setup i decided why not.

I was going to use Vantec IceberQ Pro 4s copper ramsinks on my 9800PRO Xtreme but thought to myself what about my 128MB Xmicro GF4 Ti4200 VIVO's ramsinks that i removed 7+ months ago at http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...cro4200Vivo/1/ ?

You can see the ramsinks at

http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...rgPro4_01.html

http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...rgPro4_03.html

http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...rgPro4_05.html

http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...rgPro4_07.html

Well see the black sticky tape at http://www.fileshosts.com/vantec/ice...rgPro4_18.html on one of the ramsinks well all of them are still very sticky even after 7 months being off

The mod
So what i did was just stick 3 of the 4 xmicro ramsinks onto my 9800Pro's ram chips so that each ramsink covered 2 ram chips each using the same black sticky tape already on the ramsinks that Xmicro implemented. I was blown away by the results!

Before stock 9800PRO Xtreme without ramsinks
stock ram = 351mhz x 2 = 702
oc'd ram = 380mhz x 2 = 760 repeatable and benchable i could sometimes do 382mhz x 2 but with artifacts and with Cat 4.3 the VPU recover kicks in.

After 9800PRO Xtreme with Xmicro ramsinks - the surprise
stock ram = 351mhz x 2 = 702
oc'd ram = 393mhz x 2 = 786 and can barely just bench at 398mhz x 2 = 796 with artifacts and VPU recover is happy and doesn't show it's ugly head!

Using infra-read thermometer i measured the ramsinks under 3dmark load to over be between 33-36C!

so with just stickying on old Xmicro TI4200 Vivo's ramsinks on 6/8 9800pro ram chips, my ram max oc went from 380x2 mhz to 393+ x 2 mhz! no volt mods, no extra thermal tape need at all!

==============
Part 2

just finished some benching (same windows session) and

before ramsinks:
max oc'd = 483/760

after ramsinks:
max oc'd = 486/792

gonna reboot and do a fresh benchie or two

Update: just did a same sessions windows bench for 3dmark2003 340 build @ 483/786 = 7,300
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2340206

broke my previous high score by nearly 200 points

Update 2: rebootd pc and ran @ 483/792 = 7,306
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2340335

=============
Part 3

latest run @ 483/792 = 23,142
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7730882

this is with DX9.0b and Cat 4.3

suffering low car scores sigh

Part 4

something funny has happened, i decided to put the 4th remaining xmicro ramsinks on the front side lower ram chips on 9800pro xtreme

Put them on and slotted the card into AGP slot only to find out the ramsink aligned to snuggle itself right on top of the AGP retention lever in the lock position ...

now i'm having a hard time getting the card out of the AGP slot as the ramsink prevents the lever from going back up/out LOL... guess have to remove the ramsink

Anyway, decided to leave the 4th ramsink on and leave the card in the AGP slot for some benchies. The 4th ramsink installed as allowed my ram to benchmark @ 405mhz x 2 now!

The 4th ramsink really did the trick

3dmark2003 @ 486/805 = 7,353
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2340848

ranked #8 for single score per user results on 3dmark2003 ORB for A64 + 9800PROs with futuremark approved drivers (Cat 4.3 + DX9.0b)



And finally 3Dmark2001 @ 488/805 = 23,215
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7731277



these xmicro ramsinks off my old ti4200 vivo are doing wonders... reached new high = 23,426 http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7732999



hmm i changed to DX8.1b and CAT3.10 and only got a few more points and that was probably because i could now manage an extra 1HTT frequency 10x228HTT for the benchmark

= 23,505
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7734880

eva2000

new high = 23,800 now http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7737897

groovetek

well look, i can come over, and help you get the card out, and then take the card, lol... promise i will run it at 405mhz 24/7!

Tedy

i want this card!!!

DRAGON

Meh, my old 9800 Pro must have been a good clocker then.

It used to run 400Mhz on the RAM all day everyday with no ramsinks.....

I just wish someone hadn't of killed it (and no, it wasnt me)

fxr91

My 9800 Pro does awesome on air

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3597970

FX53 @ 12.5 x 200, Asus A8V, Gecube 9800Pro R360 Edition @ 503/440, room temp 33*C, entire system air cooled (no ram sinks), no vmods to card or mobo

Good ol' Hynix 2.8ns

eva2000

woah is that another new 9800Pro or same old one ?

fxr91

Another new one It is the Gecube 9800Pro "R360 Core" edition. It shows up as a 9800XT, sits on a 9800XT PCB but was sold as a 9800Pro. Got it second hand as the other one had a problem. Just died for no apparent reason (no mods, nothing) Another case of random ATI core death...

When I was able to bench at 440 on the ram, I was in total shock And I just realised I did these speeds and test runs with VPU Recover ON, which I normally disable as it kills max clocks