HIS 6950 IceQ X Turbo 2gb

[acebmxer]

Well I finally got this card in the mail yesterday after waiting almost 8 weeks from winning it in a Giveaway over at Tweaktown.

http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-611.shtml

The card was supposed to be the 1gb version. Lucky me they sent the 2gb version of the card.

I was wondering if anyone has tried to unlock the shaders on this card? It does not have a bios switch so only 1 bios.

I first tired to remove the O.C limits in the bios with RBE1.28 and reflashed the bios with ATI winflash. rebooted and keep getting BSOD 0x3b. Would boot fine in safe mode and would boot fine in win7 (none safe mode) only if i unistalled the drivers in safe mode. If I removed the drives allow it boot normal and install drivers reboot would get bsod. Reflashed original bios and everything is ok. I had to use unofficial overclock in MSI afterburner.

I can Push the card from 840/1280 @ 1.131v to 940/1480 @1.25v

It has passed MSI Kombustor, 3dmark 11 but 3dmark vantage is giving me trouble. Keeps locking up.

Anyone else try these card out? Can the shaders be unlocked? If shaders can not be unlocked what are the chances of bricking the card from flashing the modded bios? I have back up gpu. Just dont want to brick the card.

[acebmxer]

Any way here are some pics.



Here is Stock settings 3dmark Vantage.


Here is Stock settings 3dmark 11


Overclocked 940/1480@1.25v 3dmark 11

[acebmxer]

Finally got Vantage to pass. Needed little voltage increase.

[acebmxer]

bump anybody?

[EzyRyder]

Those numbers look ok to me. That is as decent overclock as you are going to get from a non-reference card. Most reference cards (v1) can reach those numbers with less vcore but I suspect that is to do with the Volterra VRMs. With my reference cards I get the following stable results:

HIS AMD 6950 - Unlocked shaders - 950/1325 on 1.2V
ASUS AMD 6950 - Unlocked shaders - 985/1325 on 1.2V

You can trying using W1zzards BIOS scripting tool in order to try and unlock the shaders. You can't really use RBE to unlock the BIOS reliably, unless you have a reference v1 board, as that option is only for reference cards.

[acebmxer]

I was gonna try W1zzards scripting tool if/when I do it.

What you do guys think the chances are that if the shaders dont unlock it will flash ok and still be usable just with the shaders still locked?

[jas420221]

I have the Turbo X but have not tried unlocking it. I was wondering this myself.

[acebmxer]

I knew there had to be someone out there with this card other then me. Now just need someone who has attempted to unlock it.

[MacClipper]

Can read my old thread here, should be using the same PCB but from earlier GPU batches which can unlock.
http://forums.vr-zone.com/hardware-d...d-sharing.html

[acebmxer]

So if i pull the cooler off and the pcb matches good chance it should unlock?

[MacClipper]

If yours is from the new core batch then very much lowered chances, the IceQ 6950 series came out later and most likely have the newer cores which are hw locked. You can post the 1st 4 digits of your serial no. here if you want, anything after March is prob. locked.

Anyway, tried 2 IceQ X Turbo X cards previously and both failed to unlock.

[acebmxer]

If yours is from the new core batch then very much lowered chances, the IceQ 6950 series came out later and most likely have the newer cores which are hw locked. You can post the 1st 4 digits of your serial no. here if you want, anything after March is prob. locked.

Anyway, tried 2 IceQ X Turbo X cards previously and both failed to unlock.

First 4 numbers are H110 or 1106 if you don't include the "H"

The 2 cards that failed to unlock what happend? were they bricked or still functioned just with locked shaders?

[MacClipper]

Yours is a super new June batch...

Attempted new batch cards still work, just no additional unlocked shaders, just enjoy your card even if it can't unlock (very small boost anyway).

[acebmxer]

Ok thx for help. I think i might try it any way. idk

[MacClipper]

Oh yes, pls do try unlocking your June card and post results here anyway.

[acebmxer]

Finally got the guts to flash it. Flash went well rebooted and still have display. But no extra shaders ohhh well still a very awsome card.

[EzyRyder]

I have the unlocked shaders and its a 3%-4% boost tops anyway. They are great cards at high resolution and you have a decent overclock in any case which matters most IMO

[acebmxer]

Yes this is a very great card.. What makes it so great is that I got it for free

I was thinking if I was to remove the cooler on this card is Tuniq TX-2 ok to use?

[Jseb]

I have the HIS Radeon HD6950 2GB IceQ, really keen to unlock it. Mines a June model too, if you figure out how to do it I'll donate you a bitcoin .

[acebmxer]

I have the HIS Radeon HD6950 2GB IceQ, really keen to unlock it. Mines a June model too, if you figure out how to do it I'll donate you a bitcoin .

I really wish it could be unlocked but I have not been successful at it.

The one thing I can suggest if you have some TX-2 thermal paste or better to remove the 4 screws that hold the heat sink onto the gpu and replace then thermal paste. Doing so on my dropped about 1-2c at idle and full load. Possible that there was not enough on their to begin with or just crappy stuff. Either way it helped drop temps.