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6950 Owners: Was Your Unlock Successful?
- Thread starter XacTactX
- Start date
Congratulations to those who were able to unlock their 6950 cards.
To those who weren't able to, I'll give you a little tidbit so you don't feel bad. 1408/1536 = 0.917. You only lost out on ~8% more maximum performance, because getting 6970 speeds is a combination of clocks and stream processors. Plus, you're not doing something major outside your warranty, and you have a kickin' GPU anyway.
Is this unlocking them a warranty voider?
I will be based on the answer from the question above. My 6950's are in the mail!
I would think so, considering you are modifying the BIOS. I don't know of any manufacturers who allow you to modify the BIOS and stay under warranty. That is of course, only if you don't get to flash it back for some reason.
EDIT: I did not, and never do mean for my statements to be end-all be-all facts. I only say this to lean towards the side of safety, because after all the end result is an 8% increase in performance. I would not want someone to attempt this flash and irreversibly damage his GPU, especially a new $300 one which would then be without a warranty.
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defaultluser
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But then they have the BIOS switch which will boot from a default read-only BIOS. There really is no risk attempting this hack!
Godmachine
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To those that can't flash through Winflash easily I highly recommend trying through an elevated command prompt. I was unable to flash until I did this.
Also a word of warning (you should put this in the OP post) some people that have flashed have had there memory hosed by doing this flashing method. Even after flashing back to the original BIOS they still experienced artifacts and were unable to flash into pre-artifact condition. This also voids your warranty if you want to send it in , though I'm not sure how they could check to see if this what you did considering you can flash the original BIOS back before hand.
Do not attempt this unless you can deal with the possibility of a screwed card as the end result. The 6950 and 6970 only really differ in memory types (the 8 pin power connection on the 6970 is merely there as a precaution it doesn't actually draw more power from the extra 2 pins) , the 6970 has faster ram and therefore its tolerance is made to take the higher speed.
Also a word of warning (you should put this in the OP post) some people that have flashed have had there memory hosed by doing this flashing method. Even after flashing back to the original BIOS they still experienced artifacts and were unable to flash into pre-artifact condition. This also voids your warranty if you want to send it in , though I'm not sure how they could check to see if this what you did considering you can flash the original BIOS back before hand.
Do not attempt this unless you can deal with the possibility of a screwed card as the end result. The 6950 and 6970 only really differ in memory types (the 8 pin power connection on the 6970 is merely there as a precaution it doesn't actually draw more power from the extra 2 pins) , the 6970 has faster ram and therefore its tolerance is made to take the higher speed.
CaptNumbNutz
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I think someone needs to edit these 6970 bios' and make a custom unlock bios for the 6950. Basically take the 6970 bios and edit the clock values back to 6950 defaults. That would allow people to atleast get the unlocked shaders and then overclock from there to attempt to reach 6970 speeds.
Couldn't these same people have caused the same issue by simply overclocking the memory?
Edit: Looks like there's a way to mod the 6950 bios to enable the extra shaders, but not change clocks or voltages. Might be the safer way to go and overclock manually.
Also, can you post links to accounts of these people having this issue?
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Godmachine
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The forum thread are Techpowerup is where this is being discussed currently. And Anandtech has a big forum thread going as well where some users have experience issues with pushing the memory speed after flashing the BIOS and being stuck with artifacts regardless of what they do.
Also depending on what BIOS you flash to the card (since the Sapphire one works for most but not all some people have used different BIOS's from there own card's brand from a 6970) it will also flash the same clocks as the 6970 so this is likely where this issue is coming from. I flashed my XFX with a 6970 BIOS because the Sapphire one refused to work. This in turn also flashed the XFX 6970's clocks.
Either way despite the high success rate and how easy it is to flash the cards with the dual BIOS switch people need to keep in mind that doing this does void the warranty (but again I'm not sure how they could figure out if you flashed it or not if you reflashed the original) so just be cautious.
Where?
I just noticed this tonight while playing some games earlier. My card failed to unlock so I reverted back to stock bios. Was getting artifacts at 840/1325 which I've never had any pre-flash. Also L4D2 crashed twice (display driver error) tonight while trying to get a game going.
Done and working.
notarat
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So how are your temps looking dook?
I already have my black pearl set up with a 120mm fan pulling air in from the mesh on the right side, directly above my video cards to provide additional cooling if it turns out it's needed, though I don't think it will be...My 4870s were downright chilly and I believe my 6970s will be no different
75C full load on the top card at 60% fan speeds in Metro, 5040x1050 high/AAA/no DOF. About 60C on the bottom card.
I believe that this is much more playable with 6970s than 6950s.
Yes, there is............ I just did it to both my Sapphire 6950's.
I just flashed both my Sapphire 6950's using W1zzard's batch files but I substituted the 6970 .bin (unlock) file with rui0317's unlocked Sapphire 6950.bin file. (Sapphire.HD6970.2048.101124 - renamed to unlock)
rui0317's Sapphire unlocked 6950 file:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39827&d=1293648822
W1zzard's Batch files: Winflash
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1920/HD_6950_to_HD_6970_Flashing_Tools.html
to use this:
- Unpack the W1zzard's Batch files onto your desktop in a folder called "winflash" and extract it in that folder.
You will see 2 files - (flash_back_to_6950) and (flash_to_6970) and a folder named "winflash".
The winflash folder contains the ATIWinflash program. At the bottom of the files list there is a .bin file named "unlock".
The "unlock" file is the 6970 bios... and that is the file you need to replace with the "unlocked 6950 bios file for your card. Then rename to "unlock" of course.
Once you have replaced the original "unlocked" file with your unlocked 6950 file you just need to go back to the batch files and click the "flash_to_6970" to run the Flash utility
The unlocked 6950 files:
Unlocked Sapphire is linked above...
Unlocked ASUS 6950 bios
http://forums.techpowerup.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39832&d=1293653393
Unlocked Powercolor 6950 bios:
http://www.techpowerup.com/wizzard/Mod_BIOS_HD_6950.zip
Unlocked XFX 6950 bios:
http://www.overclock.net/attachment...hread-shaderunlock.xfx.hd6950.2048.101206.zip
Many Thanks to W1zzard and rui0317 over at techPowerUp for all the work they have done!!!!!
Here's the link to the Thread:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=137136
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Sorry fellas, got distracted before I could put links together backing up the unlocking claim.
Didn't see this above, but besides downloading pre unlocked bios for your specific 6950 here's a script to create one for you. Dump your stock bios and edit it. This appears to unlock all shaders and will leave clocks and voltages 6950 stock (I'm assuming ram timings too if those are different on the 6970)
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=2137880&postcount=406
Didn't see this above, but besides downloading pre unlocked bios for your specific 6950 here's a script to create one for you. Dump your stock bios and edit it. This appears to unlock all shaders and will leave clocks and voltages 6950 stock (I'm assuming ram timings too if those are different on the 6970)
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=2137880&postcount=406
yea did that, worked for me.
previous bios all artifacted one card badly.
this worked like charm running 2 cards with unlocked shaders 870mhz.
Yup, my HIS 6950 unlocked fine.
It's overclocking well too, haven't pushed it to its limits yet but I've been running it at 920/1400 just fine with no issues thus far.
Very, very pleased with this card. I had actually placed an order for a 6970 but canceled it and ordered the 6950 instead because I just had a feeling it'd be an OC winner but I had no idea I'd basically be buying a 6970.
There's such a huge feeling of satisfaction when you pull something like this off. I remember when I unlocked my Nvidia 6800 and nearly reached GT speeds I got this same sense of satisfaction. Like your card is the little engine that could.
It's overclocking well too, haven't pushed it to its limits yet but I've been running it at 920/1400 just fine with no issues thus far.
Very, very pleased with this card. I had actually placed an order for a 6970 but canceled it and ordered the 6950 instead because I just had a feeling it'd be an OC winner but I had no idea I'd basically be buying a 6970.
There's such a huge feeling of satisfaction when you pull something like this off. I remember when I unlocked my Nvidia 6800 and nearly reached GT speeds I got this same sense of satisfaction. Like your card is the little engine that could
.Ok, thank for the links and that. I have already flashed my 6950 and it is working great. I am running it at 880Mhz gpu and 1375Mhz mem clocks. I haven't got any articifacts in any games or benchmarks yet.
So what I am wondering is should I reflash my 6950 using the new method? Does it work better for the cards? or is it just safer? or is this only for people who have aritfiacts after doing it the old way?
Wish I could change my vote to unlock working. I got my card to unlock the extra shaders using the dump bios/php method. Current clocks are 820/1250. For some reason 1325mhz memory doesn't work anymore. It's BSoD city. 830/840core artifacts but 820 is fine.
Would it be possible for a mod to do this?
well you got one of those chips that just wasn't cut out to be a full fledged 6970. At least you still get the extra shader performance ^_^. Thats why I have downloaded a XFX 6970 bios for my 6950 and have modified the core/mem clock speeds back down to the 6950 level.
Another update: It's not good at all. Seems the card is failing. I put my clocks back to stock and there's still some artifacts and I'm getting random bsod's even doing nothing (idling at desktop). It seems really random though. I played L4D2 about an hour or so and there were no problems. Woke up today to find the OS crashed.
I just flipped the switch back to default bios and just hope all these problems don't ever appear again.
I just flipped the switch back to default bios and just hope all these problems don't ever appear again.
Ok after flipping the switch back I still have the same issues. The pc now hardlocks when any Flash/video acceleration is playing. Bummer. I guess the card is done. I'm going to get an exchange at Newegg. Do I have to pay shipping both ways for a replacement?
Flashing to the inappropriate BIOS voids your warranty.
My bet is the ram damage people have been poopooing on
But don't tell people you're gonna exchange this. It's technically wrong considering the mod and you're gonna get a lot of backlash from people here.
Unlocked and fully stable at 890//1375, +20% Voltage boost in CCC, using the Asus 6970 bios.
I have an Asus 6950, which, like several others here, I chose over the Asus 6970 because I expected it to be a champ OC'er. Haven't been this pleased with a purchase since my old Radeon 9500 -> 9700 softmod years ago.
I have an Asus 6950, which, like several others here, I chose over the Asus 6970 because I expected it to be a champ OC'er. Haven't been this pleased with a purchase since my old Radeon 9500 -> 9700 softmod years ago.
junior_mint
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I flashed my 6950's while in CF. 1st I disabled CF then ran the flash and noticed that it flashed the secondary card. So I took out the secondary card ran the comp with 1 card and flashed it.
Now both cards are running 6970 speeds. I am using XFX 6950's
Yay, I actually get to vote. My MSI unlocked with no problems. I did have to execute the BIOS update via the command prompt, but it only took a few minutes and worked like a champ.
Running Furmark under Stability with Xtreme Burning Mode at 1920x1200 (native res) with 4x AA for 30 minutes showed no glitches or graphical anomalies.
Running Furmark under Stability with Xtreme Burning Mode at 1920x1200 (native res) with 4x AA for 30 minutes showed no glitches or graphical anomalies.