Volt Mod Guide: NVIDIA 8600GTS

A volt mod is a hardware based modification, a hard-mod, and they commonly bridge two points and allow an effectively higher voltage through to the desired component. On a GPU, this desired component is generally either the core voltage (GPU vcore) or the memory voltage (GPU vmem). On a motherboard a volt mod may fix or lesson vdroop, increase vcore, increase vdimm or increase vMCH (chipset).

The bridging of two points is commonly done in one of three methods. These methods include soldering voltage regulators between the two points and then tweaking to obtain a certain voltage, connecting two points with a conductive ink pen or connecting two points with a graphite trail from an everyday 2B pencil.

The ability to use such a low-tech mechanism, such as a 2B pencil, to increase performance headroom is generally the key draw card for many individual’s move into hardware voltage modifications.

As already touched upon, voltage modifications can allow for increased performance. This is predominantly the reason why most hardware volt mods are done. Additional reasons to perform a volt mod may include the need to improve a connection that is giving an otherwise underwhelming voltage supply.

For example, a motherboard may state the CPU vcore as being set to 1.35v; however the digital multi-meter (DMM) reading states an actual voltage of 1.31v when the 1.35v setting is enforced via the BIOS. In this instance a volt mod could theoretically be incorporated so that the lack luster 1.31v actual reading will be increased to correctly relate to a 1.35v reading as per the BIOS set level.

Volt mods are commonly incorporated by those seeking to break a certain performance barrier. For example, a volt modder may setup a volt mod so that the 1.35v setting within the BIOS reads a DMM stated actual voltage of 1.42v. This is commonly used to obtain a higher voltage input with the hope of a possible increase in stability at higher frequencies.

Aside from the performance gains, there is the satisfaction of a job well done when a volt mod functions appropriately and gives the desired return.

These two reasons are generally the core of why enthusiasts volt mod hardware.