Dual Bios for AMD Radeon R9 280 Double Dissipation (R9-280A-TDFD)

[tdxloki]

Hi,

Using the googles I cannot seem to find information for this card about support for dual bios. Does anyone know if this card has a dual bios switch? Thanks!!

 

[Deleted member 67555]

XFX?
If so, yes it does.
Mine does anyways.

 

[tdxloki]

XFX?
If so, yes it does.
Mine does anyways.

Yes, XFX. Thanks for the reply. This is not the "Black Edition" or "280X" flavors - just plain vanilla R9 280 (model number R9-280A-TDFD).

I am considering flashing the bios in hopes that I can lower the fan speed when the GPU is idle to below ~1050 rpm (20%). I can set it to greater than 20% at idle, e.g., 50%, with software (Radeon Setting, MSI Afterburner) but any setting below 20%, i.e., 5%, baselines at ~1050 rpm or 20%.

I have not flashed the bios yet (my bios version 015.047.000.001.000000) but I am considering using this bios http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/168802/xfx-r9280-3072-141117.html.
I just thought if the card has dual bios it is insurance against me accidentally bricking my GPU.

I have a GIGABYTE Motherboard GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 (rev. 1.0)

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Welcome to TPU

first things first *Make a Backup of the Original Vbios*
Use GPU-Z or similar app to make a backup of your vga bios.

Select: save to file
[Tip: keep a copy or two on removable media]

use VBE7.0.0.7b if possible to edit a copy of the original Vbios rather than flashing a random rom file
Warning: using vbe7 to edit Vbios will disable UEFI-GOP rom profile

Next:

**If you are able to access windows with a spare vga card or on-board vga; Uninstall any AMD drivers for the vga card before the flash process**
Create a bootable flash drive
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 - http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...sh 3.99.html

copy atiflash and [VbiosName].rom to the usb flash drives root directory

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 [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] [Note: when booting from on-board vga / igp also = primary position 0]

reboot once finished and remove the flash drive

reinstall AMD Catalyst Drivers

Note: if using a dual bios card Do Not flash the card while switch is in position #two (2)

atb

Law-II

 

[Deleted member 67555]

Yes, XFX. Thanks for the reply. This is not the "Black Edition" or "280X" flavors - just plain vanilla R9 280 (model number R9-280A-TDFD).

I am considering flashing the bios in hopes that I can lower the fan speed when the GPU is idle to below ~1050 rpm (20%). I can set it to greater than 20% at idle, e.g., 50%, with software (Radeon Setting, MSI Afterburner) but any setting below 20%, i.e., 5%, baselines at ~1050 rpm or 20%.

I have not flashed the bios yet (my bios version 015.047.000.001.000000) but I am considering using this bios http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/168802/xfx-r9280-3072-141117.html.
I just thought if the card has dual bios it is insurance against me accidentally bricking my GPU.

I have a GIGABYTE Motherboard GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 (rev. 1.0)

Yup...
At idle all I can hear is my PSU fan...
You must have higher standards than me...LOL

 

[tdxloki]

Yup...
At idle all I can hear is my PSU fan...
You must have higher standards than me...LOL

"Higher standards", ha ha, very good, nothing but perfection for me! just tinkering...

Thanks for the input!

 

[Deleted member 67555]

I've been tinkering with the fan settings for overclocking in individual games...

It gets up to the level of a small jet engine LOL...

Mine does not overclock very well...
980/1350 max with 100% fan and +14% voltage..

Still a decent card tho

 

[tdxloki]

Hi

Welcome to TPU
Law-II

Thanks!

You provided me a super awesome road map, thanks. (I read something very similar to your guidelines pinned at the top of the Radeon forum!)

If you have spare minute, I have two very quick follow up questions:

1.

Warning: using vbe7 to edit Vbios will disable UEFI-GOP rom profile

Law-II

What does this mean exactly and why is it a warning? Sorry about bluntly asking, but I am a bit uninformed here. If you send me away to read more that is perfectly fine but I am just trying to get a rough idea, thanks.

2.

Note: if using a dual bios card Do Not flash the card while switch is in position #two (2)

Law-II

Ok, this freaked me out a bit because I was fully expecting to flash position #2 assuming that I am currently using position #1. Why should I not flash position #2? Does position #2 contain a default BIOS?

Thanks again for the information and help!

 

[Law-II]

Hi

What does this mean exactly and why is it a warning? Sorry about bluntly asking, but I am a bit uninformed here. If you send me away to read more that is perfectly fine but I am just trying to get a rough idea, thanks.

UEFI-GOP makes up part of the Vbios "Fast Boot" features that were introduced with Windows 8.1 and in unison with a compatible UEFI enabled motherboard would boost boot times to windows and enable encryption/security features

Ok, this freaked me out a bit because I was fully expecting to flash position #2 assuming that I am currently using position #1. Why should I not flash position #2? Does position #2 contain a default BIOS?

position #1 is primary boot for Vbios [in most cases /*Not All; position #2 is the default Vbios backup] when things go wrong the usual advice is for the switch to be placed in position #2 boot to video or DOS Prompt switch back to position #1 and then flash the backup

Note: to my knowledge Sapphire have used dual bios features for different reasons and have used position #2 for advanced overclocks and UEFI-GOP, there may be other manufacturers using similar practices

atb

Law-II