Unleash the Gladiator (RV670): 862MHz GPU Clock Limit Fixed

The Stilt · 11-20-2007, 01:25 AM

As some of you may have noticed there is a strange limit in GPU frequency on RV670 based card.
The maximum stable frequency seems to be around... exactly at 862MHz...

I have seen some wild speculation about a driver problem or a GPU limitation.
All wrong.

Lets put it this way:

There is a mean bouncer standing outside of your favorite bar (863MHz).
Bouncer´s name: is PLL VCO Divider

The frequency of GPU internal PLLs are changing with GPU frequency.
At certain points the PLL must change it´s divider to maintain the frequency at correct range.
If the divider is not changing for some reason the frequency of the PLL will raise too high and it will flip.
This is what happening at 862MHz.

It is pretty much the same thing on cars.
To reach higher speeds you need to put in a bigger gear.

The problem can be easily fixed by updating the new bios.
Unfortunately I don´t have a bios for HD 3850 cards, but it should also be available soon.

HD 3870 PLL VCO Fixed Bios v010.071

Fr3ak · 11-20-2007, 01:30 AM

Great find! You are a genius

I can send you a 3850 BIOS if that helps you.

The Stilt · 11-20-2007, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr3ak

Great find! You are a genius

I can send you a 3850 BIOS if that helps you.

The problem was fixed by AMD graphics department, not by me

SF3D · 11-20-2007, 01:41 AM

Great find and thanks for sharing this information.

P.S Missäs mahtaa olla minun XFX680i?

Fr3ak · 11-20-2007, 01:47 AM

Thank you for posting anyway

I just didnt think AMD would fix something that helps us to overclock their cards better

Sampsa · 11-20-2007, 01:49 AM

Great! Now I just need my Radeon HD 3870s

Cooper · 11-20-2007, 02:33 AM

Now we need to have proper BIOS flashing tool

RPGWiZaRD · 11-20-2007, 02:36 AM

OMG now I'm looking forward to O/C results.

G H Z · 11-20-2007, 03:02 AM

Great work Stilt

Now if they could just fix the 1143MHz memory limit (2900's) as well.

Jupiler · 11-20-2007, 03:04 AM

As Cooper asked, which flashing tool can be used for this card?
Might be usefull for current (and future) 3870 owners, so that they don't use the wrong tool and possibly destroy their cards.

LowRun · 11-20-2007, 03:04 AM

This is very good news, thank you The Stilt

Can't wait to see some updated OC results.

Miwo · 11-20-2007, 04:19 AM

This is great news to wake up to.

When I get home from work today, I will flash my 3870 with this BIOS (which tool to use right now?). I got my card yesterday, and the first thing I did was replace the Stock Cooler with an Accelero S1, and strapped a 140mm Yate Loon to it. I've been running RTHDRIBL overnight at 857/1200 MHz, and my Load Temperatures are 40C with this cooler. Will post more pics and results after I get back from work today

HousERaT · 11-20-2007, 04:52 AM

Now, let's see how high these things can clock.

Spuggi · 11-20-2007, 05:26 AM

tried to flash with winflash from bartpe disk an atiflash in dos from bootdisk, winflash says "no ati gfx detected" and atiflash says "ERROR 0FL01 ADAPTER NOT FOUND"

So any ideo how to flash the damn bios?

SKYMTL · 11-20-2007, 05:27 AM

Like has already been mentioned; posting the BIOS is one thing but actually flashing the card is another.

So many responses and a BIOS flash tool has not been posted.

Spuggi · 11-20-2007, 05:29 AM

It was worth a try, so we know it won't work with atiflash and winatiflash :P

STaRGaZeR · 11-20-2007, 05:36 AM

Yeah, where is that utility

Miwo · 11-20-2007, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spuggi

tried to flash with winflash from bartpe disk an atiflash in dos from bootdisk, winflash says "no ati gfx detected" and atiflash says "ERROR 0FL01 ADAPTER NOT FOUND"

So any ideo how to flash the damn bios?

Just curious, but what version of ATI Winflash / ATIFlash did you try to use? http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads..._Flashing/ATI/ has versions dated 9/10/2007, Winflash 1.26.1 and ATIFlash 3.43.

The versions linked to in the bios flashing thread in the mods section here seem to be a lot older

SKYMTL · 11-20-2007, 05:49 AM

I don't think the Techpowerup version is set up to detect the RV670-based cards.

The best thing to do is to go through DOS IMO....

Spuggi · 11-20-2007, 05:53 AM

hiho,
i tried atiflash 3.43 from dos boot cd, getting the error, now i'll try the newer winflash version, but i don't think it'll work

SKYMTL · 11-20-2007, 05:56 AM

Funny....BIOS posted....no way to get it to work. So close, yet so far away. :P

Spuggi · 11-20-2007, 05:57 AM

Ok, newest Winflash also not working ^^

The Stilt · 11-20-2007, 05:59 AM

I will upload the flasher as soon as I have the green light...

SKYMTL · 11-20-2007, 05:59 AM

Looks like we will need updated software then. Are you under XP or Vista?

Maybe you should have waited to post the BIOS then too? You got all our hopes up.

Spuggi · 11-20-2007, 06:00 AM

look above your post

i use xp