ASUS 4890 Voltage Help

1092 Views 19 Replies 3 Participants Last post by halifax1, Nov 25, 2009

halifax1

Discussion Starter · Nov 25, 2009

Hey guys,

I bought this ASUS EAH4890 that supposedly says it comes with "Voltage Tweak" technology allowing me to increase the voltage of the card for better overclocking.

What exactly am I supposed to use to do that?

I have tried RivaTuner with a file I downloaded and yet when I enable it, it gives me an error saying there's no valid voltage regulator on GPU0.

I've tried VoltageFactory, and when checking for the I2C numbers, they all throw out "invalid".

I've tried ASUS SmartDoctor, which lets me move the VCore from 1.30 all the way up to 1.40, yet when I check in HWMonitor, my VCore is still set to 1.30.

What program am I supposed to use to increase the voltage since the reason I bought this card was specifically for the fact that it told me I can increase the voltage, yet I am getting no luck being able to do that.

Thanks.

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tehmaggot

· #2 · Nov 25, 2009

Are you sure that it's showing the GPU's voltage in HWmonitor? That may be your CPU voltage. Since this card advertises voltage tweaking (all reference 4890s should be able to do it), I'd assume the proprietary software would work fine.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 25, 2009

2

Yes, it's the voltage directly under GPU. In SmartDoctor, I have it all the way to the right, and it shows 1.4v.

Here:

See, it shows 1.40v at the top as well on the slider. It's currently "active" at that voltage according to the program, yet according to HWMonitor, this is what is shown:

There it is still showing 1.30v, as if it's not been changed and I do not understand at all. I bought this card specifically because it mentioned voltage tweaking, and yet I'm not able to do that.

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stevenma188

· #4 · Nov 25, 2009

Try running something GPU intensive. I believe it auto throttles back to 1.3V when at idle.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 25, 2009

Is there something I can use to view the voltage while in something like a game?

Also, I tried to use GPUTool, and I get an error when starting the program. Anybody know how to fix that? All it does it tell me it has to close and shoots out an AppCrash.

tehmaggot

· #6 · Nov 25, 2009

Gotcha. It may only be applied when in-game, have you tried opening Rivatuner, enabling the VT1103 plugin, and allowing it to monitor in the background? The VT1103 plugin differs from the popular VT1156, in that it can only monitor and not change voltages.

I'd try enabling the VT1103 plugin in Rivatuner, set it to monitor in the background, and open up a game after your voltage changes in SmartDoctor have been applied.

I have my doubts that this will work, since HWMonitor is displaying "Max" as 1.3, but I suppose it's worth a shot.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehmaggot

View Post

Gotcha. It may only be applied when in-game, have you tried opening Rivatuner, enabling the VT1103 plugin, and allowing it to monitor in the background? The VT1103 plugin differs from the popular VT1156, in that it can only monitor and not change voltages.

I'd try enabling the VT1103 plugin in Rivatuner, set it to monitor in the background, and open up a game after your voltage changes in SmartDoctor have been applied.

I have my doubts that this will work, since HWMonitor is displaying "Max" as 1.3, but I suppose it's worth a shot.

That plugin is currently checked in RivaTuner, yet when I try to view my voltage, I'm not able to via the monitor.

I've right clicked and tried to go to "More", yet it's blanked out so it's impossible for me to view my voltage in RivaTuner unless I have done something wrong..

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tehmaggot

· #8 · Nov 25, 2009

Interesting.. My guess is that Asus decided to use a different voltage regulator than reference 4890s, but chose one that still lets you change voltages (with their software). I'll look into it and see what I can find.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 25, 2009

Even if I can only change the voltage with their program, it doesn't change the fact that it doesn't actually seem to be changing the voltage unless there is a program where I can check to see if it increases when it's not idle.

Edit: Am running ATITool right now to put load on the GPU, and yet in HWMonitor it still displays 1.30 and that's it. Nothing more. It never increases, yet still in SmartDoctor it's showing it set at 1.40v.

This is really ridiculous.

tehmaggot

· #10 · Nov 25, 2009

I just tested ATITool, and it does indeed bump my voltage up to the 3D setting. I believe this is either a problem with their software, or a conflict with some other software on your PC. Do you have all of the recent VC++ redistributables installed?

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 25, 2009

I'm pretty sure I have everyone possible installed.

I dumped my BIOS with GPU-Z and opened it in RBE, and in the Information potion, it gives me an error saying "You have not connected one of your power connections" or something like that.

Could this be a reason why I'm having a problem..?

I know for a fact my 6 pin and 8 pins are both plugged into the card.

Edit: Nevermind, I think that's just a factory message.

In the BIOS editor program.. my drop-down menus only let me choose a MAX of 1.30v..

Maybe this is the reason why I cannot increase it? It's only showing me being allowed to have it at 1.30.

If my max voltage is what it comes at stock, then what the hell is the point in marketing the card for "voltage tweak"?

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tehmaggot

· #12 · Nov 25, 2009

The "error" for power connectors is normal. That just allows you to change what is displayed on screen when your card discovers you aren't using the appropriate connectors.

Unless the previous owner edited the BIOS, that shouldn't be the cause. If it allows you, I suppose bumping it up wouldn't hurt anything. Just make sure the BIOS is still in good shape before you flash it (since some dumping utilities only get "x" number of kb, before they call it quits).

Edit: This is assuming that you bought the card used. If you bought it new in box, I doubt the BIOS is the problem.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 25, 2009

It was brand new from Newegg.

tehmaggot

· #14 · Nov 25, 2009

When I open HWMonitor, it doesn't even show me voltages related to my GPU. I believe this supports my theory of your card having a different vReg than the VT1156.

I'm at a loss for ideas, though. I've never had an Asus card, let alone use their SmartDoctor software. Have you tried different versions of SmartDoctor?

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 25, 2009

The only version I've tried is their latest version.

I guess I could try another version of it, but pretty annoyed that I bought a card stating Voltage Tweak and I cannot even do that.

tehmaggot

· #16 · Nov 25, 2009

If any of the cards should be able to do it, it's the ones labelled "Voltage Tweak". Most, if not all reference design 4890's can do it with the VT1165 plugin for Rivatuner. I can't help but believe it's anything other than some kind of configuration problem. I suppose you could try creating a ticket with Asus, if you haven't already.

stevenma188

· #17 · Nov 25, 2009

have you tried using GPUTools from TechPowerUp. It seems to work better for me than SmartDoctor for OCing the card.

halifax1

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenma188

View Post

have you tried using GPUTools from TechPowerUp. It seems to work better for me than SmartDoctor for OCing the card.

I get an error when I use that program on Windows 7 x64.

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tehmaggot

· #19 · Nov 25, 2009

Odd, GPUTool runs for me

I'm on Windows 7 x64 as well (Ultimate), at the moment..

What version of the ATi drivers + Catalyst are you running? I'm running CCC 9.10 and driver version 8.661 (truncated).

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halifax1

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 25, 2009

I'm on 9.10 CCC right now, and was on 9.11 earlier but I thought I was having problems with it.

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