How-to: Pencil mod your HD 3870!

dark2099 · May 16, 2008

So I am trying to mod my VisionTek 3870 (just one for now, only have the 1 TT Duo Orb) but it seems the R1222 Resistor isn't there or something so I can't measure the resistance.

Picture of the whole area (huge pic)

http://www.prairiejoes.com/tpu/backside3.jpg

dark2099 · May 17, 2008

Sorry to double post but no one can help me?

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

You do not have an R1222. That means that you will have to try the second pencil mod, in yellow:

I haven't tried it. I'm going to with this card, though.

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

so where is the first mod again, because there is a possibility there may have been a overlook of the resistor, also not all boards are designed the same, for all we know the specific resistor can be located somewhere else.

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

Ok, now I just need to get my DMM to read the resistance.
Pic of my DMM, if you can see can you tell me which resistance setting to use?

http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0053450-zoom.html

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

If memory serves me right, 20k ohms for resistance (bottom left section), and 20 under the V with 3 dots and a line (top left section) for voltage.

I would try the second one, but wait for Random Murderer to look at your card to see if there's another mod. I'll send him a PM.

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

well if your shooting for resistance, use the Ohms, but if your shooting for Voltage, use the VDC Setting, Never Shoot Resistance with power applied, you can smoke the meter doing that or even damage the component your shooting.

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

Well I set it to the 200 setting for Resistance and touch the black cable to a metal part on my pc, and the red to the area I am supposed to test and the display shows nothing.

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

your not shooting it right.

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

Ok, so that confused me even more (no offense) but what exactly does that mean, and how do I shoot it properly?

Dr. Spankenstein · May 18, 2008

Danish had it right.
If you are trying to measure voltages, set the DMM to 20V (~10:30 position).
For resistance set your DMM to the 20k Ohm (~7 o'clock position).

If you are checking resistance, you will want to toch the leads to either end of the resistor you are checking. The proceedure you outlined 2 posts up is for checking voltages.

Be careful and make double-sure what you are doing around these sensitive components.

Many a brave card has given their lives needlessly in the name of fumbled DMM explorations...

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

never Shoot Ohms (Ω) with Power Applied, you will kill the Meter and possibly the component your shooting, shoot only voltage with power applied also make sure its set to DC and not AC (~)

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

Dr. Spankenstein said:
Danish had it right.
If you are trying to measure voltages, set the DMM to 20V (~10:30 position).
For resistance set your DMM to the 20k Ohm (~7 o'clock position).

If you are checking resistance, you will want to toch the leads to either end of the resistor you are checking. The proceedure you outlined 2 posts up is for checking voltages.

Be careful and make double-sure what you are doing around these sensitive components.

Many a brave card has given their lives needlessly in the name of fumbled DMM explorations...

When you say touc the leads to either end of the resistor what exactly do you mean, like where do I touch the negative lead and where do I touch the positive lead?

Random Murderer · May 18, 2008

DanishDevil said:
You do not have an R1222. That means that you will have to try the second pencil mod, in yellow:

I haven't tried it. I'm going to with this card, though.

he's exactly right. you have no r1222, so you're only option for penciling is to do the second mod.
if you want, you can just do the solder mod.

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

I realize that the 2nd is my only option, I currently am having difficulties getting my DMM to properly read the resistance from that measuring point.

Random Murderer · May 18, 2008

dark2099 said:
I realize that the 2nd is my only option, I currently am having difficulties getting my DMM to properly read the resistance from that measuring point.

set it to 25k ohms.

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

Can I use the 20k setting (I don't have a 25k setting), and how should I have the leads, the negative touching a metal part of the case while using the positive to measure, or....

Random Murderer · May 18, 2008

dark2099 said:
Can I use the 20k setting (I don't have a 25k setting), and how should I have the leads, the negative touching a metal part of the case while using the positive to measure, or....

20k, yes. you should use the lowest setting that is still higher that what the resistor is. to read the resistance, touch one lead to one point and the other lead to the other point.

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

Use the 20k settings. Let me snap a few pics of the proper way...

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

yet its silk screened on there, thats very odd.

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

eidairaman1 said:
yet its silk screened on there, thats very odd.

What's silkscreened?

dark2099 · May 18, 2008

I think I figured it out (but will recheck after you post pics Danish). The readout was 2.36 if that sounds normal.

eidairaman1 · May 18, 2008

dark2099 said:
So I am trying to mod my VisionTek 3870 (just one for now, only have the 1 TT Duo Orb) but it seems the R1222 Resistor isn't there or something so I can't measure the resistance.

Picture of the whole area (huge pic)

http://www.prairiejoes.com/tpu/backside3.jpg

This Image he posted has the R1222 Resistor Silk Screen but for position i cant see it, very fuzzy.

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

This is how you test resistance:

(Note: The orientation of the red and black contacts does not matter when measuring resistance.)

And here is how to measure the resistance of R1222:

Closeup:

You want each tip to be in contact with the metal part of the resistor on each end. That way, a small current generated by your DMM passes through the resistor from tip to tip, and the DMM measures the resistance.

Here is how to measure the resistance of the second pencil mod:

Closeup:

This one's simple. Touch each tip to each metal dot, and read your DMM.

Here is how you measure voltage:

Hope this helps! I plan on doing a full walkthrough on TechFuzion sometime soon.

DanishDevil · May 18, 2008

eidairaman1 said:
This Image he posted has the R1222 Resistor Silk Screen but for position i cant see it, very fuzzy.

Ok gotcha. Well they probably had some PCBs left over and decided to change the component layout. Silly companies trying to keep us from drawing on our video cards :roll:

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How-to: Pencil mod your HD 3870!

dark2099

dark2099

DanishDevil

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

dark2099

DanishDevil

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

dark2099

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

dark2099

Dr. Spankenstein

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

dark2099

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

dark2099

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

dark2099

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

DanishDevil

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

DanishDevil

dark2099

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

DanishDevil

DanishDevil

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