Improving my GF2 2D immage quality with a G400 RF Filter

The system I used :

Mainboard : ABIT BX133 RAID

Processor : Celeron 1.0A@1500Mhz (Tualatin 256Kb L2 cache)

Cooler : copper based EP5-6H11 8x8 SUNON PTB1 fan

RAM : 256mb SDRAM Corsair PC150 2-2-2

VGA : ASUS V7700 (200/333Mhz default)@275/430 Mhz (w/o GPU overvolt)

The story :

I was satisfied about my GF2 performance except for immage quality .

I really loved my old G400 2D, so i decided to remove the RF filter of my ASUS V7700 to improve the output signal.

I also decide it would have been better simply changing the RF filter capacitors and coils with some good MATROX's one

Then I grabbed them from a died G450 VGA ,changing the 3rd level GF2 filter with a 3rd level G450 one.

The result was good but still far from my beloved G400 so I needed another step....

The project :

I red there were some difference from an RF filter kind to another .

Expecially all VGA with a good output signal (as G400-G200 are) implement a sharpen RF filter level (the 5th level) using more capacitors and coils.

So I also needed a new PCB for my filter to put in a large number of components...luckyly i found a new donor (a died G400 SH)

Some Pictures :

Here you are the differences between a 3rd level and a 5th level filter :

The second pics show the filter i wanted to use istead of the first.It offers a sharpen frequency cut and a better signal

So I got the "donor" card and cut away what i wanted ...eheheheh...

Then i desoldered the GF2 RF components and prepare some pieces from an IDE cable....

And this is the final result ,the G400 RF filter on the V7700 !!

Note that the piece of G400 PCB is insulated from the GF2 PCB , so I provided a ground signal with an additive wire (the red one)

from the V7700 GND to the G400 filter GND contacts (it's important for a correct workability!)

Very nice mod., isn't it?

Final words :

After this mod my V7700 is finally very near to my G400 immages and my eyes are very happy and relaxed now!

I never seen any kind of buzzness or other problems on video after this mod.

Disclaimer :

Even if i'm very satisfied I don't suggest u to mod your VGA if you can't afford the probability of damaging it!

Remenber also that you'll need a good 2D donor VGA to use a better RF filter on your weak 2D card, not a cheap model!

have fun!

Cheers

Andrea

belinassu@libero.it