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AMD 6950 unlocking to 6970 crossfire issues

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I've got 2 MSI 6950 Twin Frozr III's 2 GB PE/OC editions. I'm thinking about unlocking the shaders to a 6970. However I have had issues in the past with flashing BIOS's to video cards with drivers not working, BSoD, etc. Are there any know issues crossfire not working after flashing the cards to a 6970 or any issues with the cards themselves causing BSoD, etc? Any help would be appreciated.
 
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I don't think so but its a risk to try. Personally I wouldn't. 2x 6950 are fast enough. You can brick the cards. At least back up the BIOS if your going to try
 
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Hi

+1 Jester 2x 6950 should be fast enough

but on the other hand if feel have to try to unlock and flash

First
Make a backup of both of the vga cards vbios

[Note: do not assume both cards are the same because they share the same name; manufacturers often make small amendments to the PCB revisions]

Download and run GPU-Z here
Example
Extract vga bios.jpg
Select: vbios chip icon
Select: save to file [VbiosName].rom [don't mix these up]
Do this for each card individually, one vga card at a time.
[**it is not best practice to flash vga cards while installed in crossfire so remove one from the system]

{Not heard of or seen evidence of crossfire not working after flashing; **not to say there are not cases out there. However there is always a RISK involved, as mentioned in the OP from experience already gained.}

Note: MSI 6950 Twin Forzr III 2GB PE/OC is NON-Reference PCB Layout
Example
MSI-HD6950-TwinFrozr-III-2GB-PCB_85253.jpg
**Later models and some non-reference design layout HD6950's are hard locked/laser cut

*If the vga card can be unlocked will only be able to use RBE
Open the extracted copy of vbios to modify in RBE_1.28
Select Additional features
Select 6970 shader count & Save BIOS [** if shaders can be unlocked]

go here http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/browse.php?c=21
download - HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool - v2.1.8 & Windows 98 System Files
click Primary Download unzip the files to a folder on your HDD; make sure your USB Memory stick is attached to your PC; open HP USB Disk
Storage Format Tool v2.1.8 ; select Create a DOS start-up disk/ select: using DOS system files located at: (these are the files you have just downloaded): browse to the files in win98boot; then start the process.

Download latest version of ATIFlash here [*may require an older version]
Add atiflash and 6950 [VbiosName].rom to the usb flash drives root directory

**Uninstall any AMD drivers for the vga card before flashing

Set the motherboard bios to boot from usb *press F8 during boot; select from boot menu *if option is available; this should boot to a win98 dos prompt

Type at the dos prompt - dir to view the content of the flash drive

Type at the dos prompt; atiflash -i 0 command to see if adapter is at this address and is recognised

Type at the dos prompt; atiflash -unlockrom 0 to unlock the gpu in adapter 0 [Note: 0 is the primary card PCIe slot one & 1 is the secondary PCIe slot two][*may be required]

Type at the dos prompt; atiflash -f -p 0 [VbiosName].rom [Note: 0 is the primary card PCIe slot one & 1 is the secondary PCIe slot two][*onboard vga = 0 if recovering from bad flash]

reboot once finished and remove the flash drive

reinstall AMD Catalyst Drivers

Note: test each card individually for stability; as shaders are not guaranteed to be stable if unlocked

atb

Law-II
 
Last edited:

brandonwh64

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!
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Do as law said, Just save your bioses and use the RBE to unlock the shaders only and then reflash. If your bios is locked you will have to do the bios pin trick to flash those cards.
 

fullinfusion

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I highly doubt that GPU will unlock to 6970 shader.o_O Non reference were laser cut so good luck anyways.. Never hurt to try..
 
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