Shader's Scope: A Deep Dive into the Shunt-Modded Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090
Nvidia's RTX 5090 outperforms the RTX Pro 6000 in tests following a shunt modification, drawing a significant 800W. Interestingly, the consumer-grade flagship manages to inch past the $10,000 Professional model, despite the costly power adjustment.
Standard warning: Shunt modding can be a teeth-grinding recipe for disaster. If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it. You may wind up with a dead, pricey piece of hardware. That said, let's dive into the thrilling tale of the shunt mod that pushed an Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 past the $10,000 RTX Pro 6000 like a bat out of bloody hell.
Getting Your Fix: Shunt Modding Explained
Shunt modding calls for surgical strikes on the GPU's PCB (printed circuit board). This process can result in your precious hardware ending up as toast, so approach it as carefully as a pyromaniac handling a lighter in a fireworks factory. That being said, Der8auer, a renowned overclocking god, managed to pull this stunt off without a hitch—so maybe you'll catch lucky, too. Just don't hold your breath.
Shunt modding works by tweaking the resistors from the power connector, tricking the control circuitry into thinking less juice is flowing to the PCB than there actually is. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. Remember that jumper on your car's dashboard that controls the engine light? Now imagine if you knocked it loose while you were zooming down the highway, and suddenly the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Except, instead of an engine light, your GPU is now biting the dust.
But here's a quick rundown: using WireView, a separate piece of hardware, you can observe the actual power draw, while also monitoring pin sensing on the 16-pin power input for extra safety measures. This way, you'll have a decent idea of how much juice your GPU is really pulling.
Picking the Perfect Candidate: What Makes the Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 a Suitable Subject?
Der8auer was patiently awaiting a capable AiO card to test his shunt mod experiment. The reasoning behind this choice is that the card, with its superior cooling system, should have an easier time handling the increased power draw. That's where the Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 comes into play.
How does it fare on its own, before the mod? Der8auer first ran some base assessments, observing that the RTX 5090 consistently hit the standard 600W power target under load. It remained relatively quiet throughout, keeping its temperatures in check. But Der8auer couldn't help but wonder if the 600W limit was hampering the GPU's overclocking potential.
Enter the shunt mod—a decision that would either pay off big or come back to bite him.
The Mod Job: Cutting the Card Up, Rewiring the Resistors, andintroducing Wireview
Armed with a X-Acto knife and a healthy dose of caution, Der8auer cut open the LC, mobilizing his surgical skills to mod the PCB. Then came the resistor replacements, which would convince the controlling circuitry to let in more electricity—enough for a hefty 800W power limit.
Thanks to the mod, the GPU was now able to handle a theoretical 30% higher power draw without batting an eye. As a sidenote, the Astral LC cards were equipped with pin sensing on the 16-pin power input, which was handy for keeping tabs on the GTX's power intake.
Shunt Mod Results: Power Draw Up, Performance Boost, and a Slight Dose of Skepticism
Once the mod was in place, WireView reported a power draw of around 660 to 700W during modest benchmark loads. This stood in stark contrast to GPU-Z's readings, which pegged the power consumption at around 500W. The mod had given the RTX 5090 an astounding 15 to 20% more power headroom, making it a true powerhouse.
During subsequent benchmarks, the modded GPU demonstrated incredible performance, but consumed a whole lot more power than both its unmodded counterpart and the professional RTX Pro 6000. Ultimately, the mod outperformed the RTX Pro 6000, but only barely. While Der8auer was pleased with the results, we have to ask—is the potential performance boost worth the considerable increased power draw and subsequent risk of damaging the GPU? That's for you to decide.
But that's not all, folks! Stay tuned for more tech thrills, geeky news, and juicy reviews as we continue to stay on the bleeding edge of tech innovation. And remember: unless you know what you're doing, shunt modding is like playing with fire—best to steer clear and leave the high-tech tinkering to the pros.
- In the world of high-end technology, while discussing the shunt-modded Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090, it's essential to acknowledge the presence of other popular gadgets. For instance, the mod could possibly impact the battery life of smartphones connected to the system.
- As enthusiasts delve deeper into the intricacies of technology, expansion of their gadget collection is inevitable. This may eventually include the latest smartphones and other smart devices that can sync and benefit from additional power supplied by the modified RTX 5090.
