Memory Voltage Mod - Resistor Method (Continued)

Turn off your computer and remove your card. Put your card in a clear and brightly-lit work space. Take a look at the same area outlined below.

This time, take a close look at the two points shown in the picture below, the pins 5 and 7 of the ISL6522CB voltage regulator.

You will need to connect a wire from pin 5 to a variable resistor and connect the other end of the resistor to a pin 7. Pin 7 is actually the ground point, so you can choose any other alternative ground point you want.

Again, the choice of resistor determines the starting voltage (with the resistor set to the highest resistance). The 10,000 Ohm variable resistor will start with a slightly higher voltage while the 20,000 Ohm variable resistor will start with a slightly lower voltage. If you want to start with a higher memory voltage, you should use a 10,000 Ohm variable resistor.

Incidentally, using a 20,000 Ohm variable resistor offers a slightly reduced risk of burning your card's memory chips should you accidentally reduce its resistance too much at one go.

After you have soldered the wires and double-checked them, remember to set the variable resistor to the highest resistance! Forgetting this step may cost you your card!

Then turn on your computer and measure the memory voltage again. The multimeter will record a higher memory voltage, even with the variable resistor set to its highest resistance.

Now, turn off your computer and give the variable resistor a slight turn to reduce the resistance a little. Then, turn on your computer and measure the memory voltage again. The multimeter will show an increase in the memory voltage. Repeat these steps until you attain your desired memory voltage.

Please try to keep to a maximum memory voltage of 2.9V. Although some insane modders have successfully kept their memory chips running beyond 3.0V, I recommend you keep below 3.0V.

Some of you may be wondering if it is possible to adjust the voltage "on-the-fly" - adjusting the variable resistor with the system turned on. Yes, that is possible. However, I strongly discourage you from doing that because an accidental twist of the variable resistor may inadvertently raise the voltage way too high and kill the memory chips.

Since this mod increases the thermal output of your memory chips, I recommend you add ramsinks to keep them cool.