Flashing VGA Bios with a different brand ?

[Gigi]

ok, I have this problem with my Sapphire 4870 1GB video card; it has a certain issue with PowerPlay feature( games crash all the time because of it).

So, I asked Sapphire if they had a BIOS update for this card, so they sent me an update, but it turned out that it was the one I already had installed(ATI Winflash) , so problem is not solved ( it turns out it's a known issue with Sapphire, and they don't want to fix it.)

so, I'm just wondering is it safe to flash my video card with a BIOS from a different brand name ? Like will I damage it ? or fry it ? or is it safe to do ?

 

[nafets]

Post up your current BIOS here, so we can see what's wrong with it.

You could reflash your card with your current BIOS (altered/fixed), before messing with an alternate brand BIOS.

 

[Gigi]

OK, my current bios is here:
Sapphire48701GBbios.zip


I don't exactly know what's wrong with it, but I was able to stop the crashes (ATIKMDAG.sys has stopped responding, games freeze with no responce, BSODs etc) partially by creating a profile in CCC that sets my card's speed to 750/900 constant, so PowerPlay is not doing anything(messing with speeds). Since PowerPlay is coded in BIOS, I figured it's purely a BIOS issue, plus Sapphire's 4870 512mb editions have the same issue and they were able to solve it by updating the bios. But only if I knew what they did in that BIOS update, so I could do the same to my card.

But, you know it might not be a BIOS issue in the first place. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thnak You.

 

[n0tiert]

OK, my current bios is here:
Sapphire48701GBbios.zip


I don't exactly know what's wrong with it, but I was able to stop the crashes by creating a profile in CCC that sets my card's speed to 750/900 constant, so PowerPlay is not doing anything(messing with speeds). Since PowerPlay is coded in BIOS, I figured it's purely a BIOS issue, plus Sapphire's 4870 512mb editions have the same issue and they were able to solve it by updating the bios. But only if I knew what they did in that BIOS update, so I could do the same to my card.

But, you know it might not be a BIOS issue in the first place. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thnak You.

it depends on different things:

Ram Type
Voltage
default layout of PCB

btw. did u tried a stronger psu yet ?

 

[Gigi]

it depends on different things:

Ram Type
Voltage
default layout of PCB

btw. did u tried a stronger psu yet ?

My RAM is Corsair XM2 4GB 1066Mhz 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1 rated
All components are running at mobo's default voltages/speeds

And my PSU is Corsair 550W which is more that enough for my system.

Intel E8400 @ 3.0Ghz /Thermaltake Ruby Orb heatsink
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L
Vista HP 64-bit SP2


Do you think this might be that my voltages are in fact under/above of what they should be, and that is what is causing everything ?

 

[n0tiert]

My RAM is Corsair XM2 4GB 1066Mhz 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1 rated
All components are running at mobo's default voltages/speeds

And my PSU is Corsair 550W which is more that enough for my system.

Intel E8400 @ 3.0Ghz /Thermaltake Ruby Orb heatsink
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L
Vista HP 64-bit SP2

i was talking of the gfx card ram type/brand

some boards use Hynix or Samsung

 

[Gigi]

i was talking of the gfx card ram type/brand

some boards use Hynix or Samsung

I don't know any of that.

 

[n0tiert]

I don't know any of that.

check your card for that

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/index.php?page=1&architecture=ATI&manufacturer=Sapphire&model=HD+4870&interface=&memSize=1024


TPU´s Bios Collection use at your own Risk

 

[Gigi]

check your card for that

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/index.php?page=1&architecture=ATI&manufacturer=Sapphire&model=HD+4870&interface=&memSize=1024


TPU´s Bios Collection use at your own Risk

I already have the latest BIOS installed from here.

 

[n0tiert]

I already have the latest BIOS installed from here.

Well try to get rid of all old Ati drivers...
Reinstall and check then ...... disable AI
and go with stock settings

 

[Gigi]

Well try to get rid of all old Ati drivers...
Reinstall and check then ...... disable AI
and go with stock settings

already tried that X10 times.

 

[n0tiert]

already tried that X10 times.

strange.... i use the 4870x2 and the beast runs like hell
how old ist your card ? try RMA it

 

[Gigi]

strange.... i use the 4870x2 and the beast runs like hell
how old ist your card ? try RMA it

it's 1 month old.

 

[n0tiert]

it's 1 month old.

RMA it then .... last try would be in friends pc if same errors occour RMA it

 

[Gigi]

You know, RBE has a feature, which is called Superior PowerPlay <- is this a normal power saving feature(called PowerPlay) that ati cards have ? If I disable this, what will happen ?

 

[nafets]

"Superior PowerPlay" enables a lower 2D IDLE voltage, that wasn't available on earlier "voltage locked" HD4870 BIOSes.

Your BIOS has it enabled, which is fine. The voltage is always 1.2625v in 2D and 3D for you.

The only thing that could be changed in the BIOS is to set 2D GPU/MEM clocks to 750/900. If you are having downclocking problems during 3D usage, that would stop it. You'd then reflash your card with the updated BIOS.

Rather than messing with your card's BIOS, the better fix is to just use Rivatuner or ATT to lock your card in at 750/900, during 3D usage. You've already done this with CCC, which works fine too.

PowerPlay is controlled by the driver in response to GPU usage. You can't turn it off, but you can bypass it by using any of the above methods.