Enhance your 6950=unlock to 6970!

[STEvil]

Had to whip out paint really quick.

Edit- Do I have any idea what it is or does? Nope.
I just know they aren't 100% identical.

Looks like that bit of extra circuitry is for changing voltage to something or for voltage tracking of another item (probably that square chip to the right), so likely VCCD/VPLL/etc or something.

At the most it means a couple mhz clock difference potential mostly.

[Andypro1]

Thats also a common AMD problem. It happens with my 6870 and I saw a youtube video with several comments saying that they see the same thing. I wouldn't worry about it.

I assume that the "artifacts" look like this?

Ah, yes that's exactly what it looks like. Thanks for the heads up.

I have an update on my situation - I went ahead and reflashed my Sapphire 6950 with a 6950 bios with all the shaders unlocked instead of the 6970 bios, and all that artifacting is gone.

I suppose it could be a driver issue, but this solved it too. The speculation at the Techpowerup forums is that problems creep in due to using the tighter 6970 memory timings. At any rate, I now have a perfectly functioning card with 6970's shaders, clock, and memory speeds.

[flopper]

Ah, yes that's exactly what it looks like. Thanks for the heads up.

I have an update on my situation - I went ahead and reflashed my Sapphire 6950 with a 6950 bios with all the shaders unlocked instead of the 6970 bios, and all that artifacting is gone.

I suppose it could be a driver issue, but this solved it too. The speculation at the Techpowerup forums is that problems creep in due to using the tighter 6970 memory timings. At any rate, I now have a perfectly functioning card with 6970's shaders, clock, and memory speeds.

same here.
all my artifacts are gone just locking up the shaders.
seems the memory timings screwed it all up.

I just would like a voltage tool, cant run much higher than 870mhz before I run into powerissues.

[Mad Pistol]

Looks like that bit of extra circuitry is for changing voltage to something or for voltage tracking of another item (probably that square chip to the right), so likely VCCD/VPLL/etc or something.

At the most it means a couple mhz clock difference potential mostly.

Oh crap.

What if that circuitry is a way for the manufacturers to tell if the card has been flashed to a 6970, giving them evidence enough to void your warranty. Perhaps it's triggered if the voltage is raised by the new bios.

Now I really want to know what that crap is on the 6950. Somebody with a computer engineering degree please figure that one out.

[Loque]

Oh crap.

What if that circuitry is a way for the manufacturers to tell if the card has been flashed to a 6970, giving them evidence enough to void your warranty. Perhaps it's triggered if the voltage is raised by the new bios.

Now I really want to know what that crap is on the 6950. Somebody with a computer engineering degree please figure that one out.

they look like tinny surface mount resistors and capacitors, can't see what they are linked to..

[blindbox]

Ah, yes that's exactly what it looks like. Thanks for the heads up.

I have an update on my situation - I went ahead and reflashed my Sapphire 6950 with a 6950 bios with all the shaders unlocked instead of the 6970 bios, and all that artifacting is gone.

I suppose it could be a driver issue, but this solved it too. The speculation at the Techpowerup forums is that problems creep in due to using the tighter 6970 memory timings. At any rate, I now have a perfectly functioning card with 6970's shaders, clock, and memory speeds.

Where did you get a 6950 bios with all shaders unlocked?

[Final8ty]

Where did you get a 6950 bios with all shaders unlocked?

I've been waiting ages to get admin activated to repost this to you guys:

A guy on techpowerup made a batch script which modifies your stock 6950 bios file to unlock the shader cores but keeps all clocks and voltages identical, and vram timings too .

http://www.techpowerup.com/wizzard/Mod_BIOS_HD_6950.zip

Unzip the script, save your bios file to the folder where you put the script as "original.bin". Run the script and you should get a "modded.bin" file, then just flash it as normal and reboot.

This unlocks the locked cores but keeps the 6950 clocks, the 6950 voltages, and most importantly the 6950 vram timings. I used a 6970 bios before and it worked fine but have been using this method. Was solid in heaven and i just plowed through a few games of bc2 with it.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...&postcount=521

[kuroikenshi]

double post (deleted)

[kuroikenshi]

they look like tinny surface mount resistors and capacitors, can't see what they are linked to..

and so few of them, one should be able to bypass those? maybe someone who knows about pcb's in depth...

[ITEM]

Bios modding done. 1536 Shaders unlocked.

Heaven bench without error.
stock 1408 Shaders normal tesselation 1920x1080 4x aniso, AA off mode: 1118 score
stock 1408 Shaders extreme tesselation 1920x1080 16x aniso, 8x AA mode: 540 score
mod 1536 Shaders normal tesselation 1920x1080 4x aniso, AA off mode: 1162 score
mod 1536 Shaders extreme tesselation 1920x1080 16x aniso, 8x AA mode: 555 score

3DMark 2011 without error.
1408 Shaders
3DMarkScore: P4570
GraphicsScore: 4459
PhysicsScore: 5175
CombinedScore: 4629

1536 Shaders
3DMarkScore: P4653
GraphicsScore: 4524
PhysicsScore: 5311
CombinedScore: 4789

FurMark Stability test done. More than one hour test: OK

Memory and GPU temperature is the same.

[Loque]

Bios modding done. 1536 Shaders unlocked.

Heaven bench without error.
stock 1408 Shaders normal tesselation 1920x1080 4x aniso, AA off mode: 1118 score
stock 1408 Shaders extreme tesselation 1920x1080 16x aniso, 8x AA mode: 540 score
mod 1536 Shaders normal tesselation 1920x1080 4x aniso, AA off mode: 1162 score
mod 1536 Shaders extreme tesselation 1920x1080 16x aniso, 8x AA mode: 555 score

3DMark 2011 without error.
1408 Shaders
3DMarkScore: P4570
GraphicsScore: 4459
PhysicsScore: 5175
CombinedScore: 4629

1536 Shaders
3DMarkScore: P4653
GraphicsScore: 4524
PhysicsScore: 5311
CombinedScore: 4789

FurMark Stability test done. More than one hour test: OK

Memory and GPU temperature is the same.

hmm.. that's a very small increase for 9% more shaders, a full 6970 bios seems to get better performance with same clocks no ?

[Dezmen]

CCC Power settings issue?

[Tuvok-LuR-]

same here.
all my artifacts are gone just locking up the shaders.
seems the memory timings screwed it all up.

I just would like a voltage tool, cant run much higher than 870mhz before I run into powerissues.

you need an asus 6950 bios + smart doctor utility
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...5&postcount=68

1ghz on my 6950 @ 1.3v


anyway overvolting doesn't seem to help that much, my core could do 940mhz @ 1.175v, 1000mhz @ 1.3v and 1025mhz @ 1.4v

[ITEM]

hmm.. that's a very small increase for 9% more shaders, a full 6970 bios seems to get better performance with same clocks no ?

The 6970 bios is not stable for me on the same clock speeds, but this is perfect.

I think the VRAM timing is the problem!

[jakefalcons]

hey can anyone help me out im almost sure my switch is broken what do i need to short out or is there anyway i can bypass the bios switch?

[zalbard]

hey can anyone help me out im almost sure my switch is broken what do i need to short out or is there anyway i can bypass the bios switch?

RMA it?

[Tuvok-LuR-]

hey can anyone help me out im almost sure my switch is broken what do i need to short out or is there anyway i can bypass the bios switch?

I don't know if it's your case, my switch was sitting flat with no part to operate with fingers, I managed to move it with a toothpick

[jakefalcons]

well the switch did move back and forth but did nothing. i kinda messed up the switch in the process so i took the cover off and even grounding the contacts directly i cant seem to get it to work theres 3 contacts inside the switch and i tried grounding the 2 on the side enable writing togethor and it doesnt work either i have no idea what combination of contacts you have to ground of if my card is just a pos -_-

[hurleybird]

I now have two XFX '6970's working in CF

Much faster than the 'ole lone 5870 for eyefinity!

However, I need to get me one of those discontinued extra long CF bridges ASAP. The ruckus the first card (which is completely blocked off) makes is out of this world. Brings new meaning to the word dustbuster, thank God for studio heaphones with decent isolation! Not doing any overclocking at all until I can separate those cards more, that's for sure.

Thank you AMD for letting these things be unlocked. you very much for discontinuing the longer CF bridges and making cards that have no airflow when used in CF.

[Rick Hunter]

you need an asus 6950 bios + smart doctor utility
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...5&postcount=68

1ghz on my 6950 @ 1.3v

anyway overvolting doesn't seem to help that much, my core could do 940mhz @ 1.175v, 1000mhz @ 1.3v and 1025mhz @ 1.4v

Thanks for the tips! I did the same to my Gigabyte 6950 and am getting similar results:

930 @ default volts with 6970 bios

With modded asus 6950 bios + smart doc:
1000 MHz @ 1.26v << running this for hours in MW:LL (Crysis)
1020 MHz @ 1.3v << 20 MHz for .4 volts = not worth it imo.

[Loque]

Thank you AMD for letting these things be unlocked. you very much for discontinuing the longer CF bridges and making cards that have no airflow when used in CF.

err... do they all come with a small crossfire bridge ?

are the 5000 series bridges compatible with 69x0 ones ? :p

hell no @ running crossfire with the two cards kissing each other T_T

[STEvil]

stuff a chunk of eraser between the edges of the card or something. Yeah, ATi's been screwing that up for years..

[jakefalcons]

ok finally got my card flashed to a 6970 turns out i have one of the ones that throws an error so i had to use the special batch file from techpowerup and i had to short my switch to the one position. while i was at it i put some artic silver on the core. you guys think artic silver would work on the memory or does it need the thick thermal pads?

[SubZero.it]

Leave the pads on memory

[STEvil]

ok finally got my card flashed to a 6970 turns out i have one of the ones that throws an error so i had to use the special batch file from techpowerup and i had to short my switch to the one position. while i was at it i put some artic silver on the core. you guys think artic silver would work on the memory or does it need the thick thermal pads?

Do not use conductive thermal interace materials on memory chips. If it drips or moves around it can cause short circuits.

Keep the pads or use stacked aluminum/copper tape.