5870m undervolt help

Hello i wanted to undervolt my GPU because my temps seem rather high at the moment 85C-90C while playing games like MW2, BC2, WoW, etc. Someone told me you can undervolt your GPU to lower the temps a little using the AMD Clock tool. I opened it up and noticed that i can't undervolt it but i can increase the voltage, am i using the right program? I tried the newest one and it gave me an error something about not finding any devices, and i tried another one for the 5870. Is there a mobile version i need to download?

Thanks,

 

You want this version. But you can't undervolt with it, only change the clocks. There's a good chance if you undervolt, it could become unstable as well.

The temp you seeing is probably the MemIO temp, which the GPU tool sees as "TSS 1". It's normal for it to get near 100 sometimes, as long as the core (TSS 0) and shader (TSS 2) are under 85, you're good to go.

Google ATI +"MemIO temp" if you want more info.

 

So GPUs can be undervolted as well? I only heard of CPUs being able to, and I UVed my CPU a lot (my temps dropped with 9 degrees). Is it risky to UV a GPU?

 

It's only risky if you don't exactly know what you will be doing. It involves Vbios extracting&editing, and Vbios flash. Generally speaking, yes, it's much riskier than Undervolting a CPU. As the worst you can get while undervolting a CPU is BSOD, while you can totally brick your GPU while undervolting it if you don't know what you are doing or you are not careful with the voltages/clocks.

 

Huuy, i recommend you dump your bios to a file using something like gpu-z then use RBE to edit the voltages.

inside RBE there's a wizard which can help you do this.

then flash your own (modified) bios to your card.

my 5870m is undervolted to 1.05 (down from 1.15) and is running fine. i suggest you don't go too low too quickly otherwise you will find yourself unable to boot. the first sign of errors that your voltage is too low is driver restarts under windows 7/vista

 

Alright thanks, yeah my MemIO temps do show as the highest, Hwinfo32 shows my temps as

GPU Thermal Diode - 97C
GPU TS0 (DispIO) - 80C
GPU TS1 (MemIO) - 97C
GPU TS2 (Shader) - 87C

Would those temps be aright?

 

If those are your gaming temps those are about normal

 

Yeah those temps are after playing BF:BC2, MW2, I might replace the thermal paste since i am still using stock.

Anyone know what thermal paste would be the best, AS-5 or AS ceramique? I won't be able to buy any online at the moment and i only have those 2 to pick from.

Thanks,

 

AS5 if you only have those to choose from.

 

If you check my signature, you will see I have the 9600m GT as well.
I undervolted it by using a gpu BIOS flash.

Can it be dangerous?
Depending on what you're doing.
If you follow the instructions for undervolting the gpu, then no harm will come to it.
It will merely reduce the power consumption and still operate at maximum clocks under stress, only with the undervolt operational, there will be about 8 to 10 degrees C reduction in heat.

 

Unfortunately that doesn't happen to all cards. Some cards, especially mid range cards like 9600M GT and 4670(from what I have seen) benefit greatly from undervolting. These cards will have a huge temp drop(sometimes >12 C) after undervolting. However, undervolting doesn't help some cards as much as 9600M GT/4670 etc, take my 9800M gs for example, undervolting only shaves off the load temp like 1-2 C, which is very disappointing.

 

Well this thread has inspired me to test it out myself. I have the week off and nothing to do, so what the hell. My MemIO is usually around 100*C at 800/1100.

As long as you write down your flashing steps, you can't permanently brick your card. You just have to blind flash it to fix it.

First step is to find a way to the dump the vBIOS.

edit: The newest GPU-z (0.4.6) will do it.

 

Huh well i just replaced the thermal compound and my temps went down a little except for the memIO

GPU Thermal Diode : 102C
GPU TS0: (DispIO): 75C
GPU TS1: (MemIO): 102C
GPU TS2: (Shadoer): 80C

Not sure why the MemIO went higher, would these temps be alright i know the graphics card doesn't turn off until it hits 110C, but if it was a constant 100C-102C while playing games could this damage my card?

Thanks,

 

yes certainly.. did u mess about with the thermal pads covering the memory as that seems to be the problem.. the memory is running too hot..

 

No i didn't move any of the thermal pads, i was told that the memIO doesn't show the temp of the memory and it's just a controller in the GPU die, I applied thermal compound using the line method on the GPU die. The reseller used a thermal pad that also covered the black tape around the GPU die, not sure if i should put some past on that.

 

I just ordered some IC Diamond 7 to see how that goes, i tried both AS5 and AS ceramique both had the same temps so i think i need a thicker paste, i also ordered a copper shim, ill see how that works out

 

I've got my vBIOS setup at 1.1v from 1.15. Hopefully I'll have a enough time to do extensive before and after testing tomorrow. If it's stable above 800/1100 at 1.1v, I'll try going to 1.05v.