How to unlock 16 pipes in my Sapphire X800Pro VIVO Limited Edition?

[pHaSE-5]

Tried Gigabyte bios, and many other bioses using the modified version of Flashrom (as showed in W1zzard article), but I always have 12pipes, with the CPU/RAM clocks changed...

When I flashed ATI.X800PROVIVO16P.256.Samsung20_040730.bin which seems to me the best solution for my card (PCI-E, 20ns RAM), I got black-screen, and I must restore my backup using a standard PCI card.

Plaese, give me any suggestions!!!

Thank you in advance!

 

[Tzer]

Did you try to flash it with X800XT bios?

 

[pHaSE-5]

Yes, actually I'm using that bios, but no 16pipes...Only got the 500/500 clock upgrade...

I post here my original Bios, if you or anyone else can understand if my card is locked or not...

-- RaBiT v.1.7.2 build 390 --
> RaBiT driver v.1.0.5 is loaded
Readed from file: 56320 bytes, ROM len: 56320 bytes
-- Analyze ROM BIOS --
> HEADER offs: 0x1F0
> PCIR struct offs: 0x214
> HEADER2 offs: 0xAEA2, 23 items
> SCRIPTS offs: 0xB778, 69 items
> CRC table offs: 0x239
> CLOCK table offs: 0xB3B4
Core clock is 475.00 MHz
Memory clock is 450.00 MHz
Reference clock is 27.00 MHz
> Connectors Layout table offs: 0xB468
Port = 1, Conn0 type = VGA
Port = 0, Conn2 type = STV
Port = 2, Conn4 type = DVI-I
> TV table offs: 0xB420
> Multimedia table: at 0xAEDC, Rev.1
> Hardware table: at 0xAED0, Rev.2
hw_a: 0x350F, hw_b: 0x0201
> VESA BIOS Extension 3.00, Rev. 9.04 info:
Vendor: (C) 1988-2003, ATI Technologies Inc.
Product: R423, Rev. 01.00
OEM: ATI ATOMBIOS
Memory size: 256 Mb
> ASIC Config:
0x75 = 0xE0, 0x74 = 0x01
0x7B = 0x08, 0x7A = 0x60 (0x00000860)
-- ROM BIOS info --
Desc: R423 XTP 113-A31944-101 BR#9012 A12 DDR3 BIOS Rel9.4.1.11
Info: 113-A31944-101, 13A31944.101, 08/25/04,10:29:55
Radeon family: Radeon X800 series
-- Parsing hardware scripts: --
> INIT0 script at 0xB802
-- Found hardware registers values: --
> SCLK_CNTL(0x00000002)
> M_SPLL_REF_FB_DIV(0x01464304)
> MCLK_CNTL(0x00001212)
> MC_TIMING_CNTL(0x69668234) at 0xD948
> MC_CNTL(0x00000062) at 0xBAEE
> MC_SDRAM_MODE_REG(0x10430000) at 0xD955
> MC_CHP_IO_OE_CNTL_CD(0x5FC05FC0) at 0xBEC7
> MC_READ_CNTL_CD(0x082A082A) at 0xBEB2
> MC_READ_CNTL_AB(0x082A082A) at 0xBEAB
> MC_REFRESH_CNTL(0x00007000)
> MC_CHP_IO_OE_CNTL_AB(0x5FC05FC0) at 0xBEC0
> CONFIG_MEMSIZE(0x10000000) at 0xBFAA
-- In BIOS memory timings --
tWL = 1.5
tCL = Reserved
tCMD = 0 clock
tSTB = equals tWrL
tRcdRD = 7
tRcdWR = 4
tRP = 5
tRAS = 6
tRRD = 6
tR2W = CL + 2
tWR = 7
tW2R = 1
tW2Rsb = Use tWR Rule
tR2R = 3
tRBS = CL + 2
tERST = CL - 1
tQSREQ = CL - 2
tDQM = WL - 1
tDQS = WL - 1
tDQM_Adv = 1 clock earlier for WL 1 clock and more
tDQS_Adv = 1 clock earlier for WL 1 clock and more
-- Additional hardware info --
MCLK source select: MPLLCLK/2
SCLK source select: SPLLCLK/2
SDRAM specific: 2**12 rows, 512 columns
SDRAM dynamic CKE is Enabled
! Video settings is partially supported
-- User changes followed --

One time, and I don't remeber which file I've flashed, I saw 16pipes in ATITool...but when I've tried to flash back for obtaining my original settings with 16pipes I lost the mod...

 

[pHaSE-5]

Here is the fuses (but what is the FUSES?) .

CONFIG_DIE_FUSES 0xEFF3BFFF
CONFIG_SUBSTRATE_FUSES 0xFFFFF71E
CONFIG_ROM_FUSES 0x660
GB_PIPE_SELECT 0x12B84

Any other user got a card like mine's?
There's something I can do to unlock the extra-pipes?... or must I give up???

 

[dolf]

Unfortunately your fuses shows that you will remain with only 12 pipes. About giving up - I have spent months trying to find way to unlock but unfortunately didn't succeed.
Sorry :shadedshu

 

[pHaSE-5]

Thank you Dolf for your interest!
The strange thing is that one time I saw 16 pipes... For real, I wasn't drunked! Wondering about what kind of bios and flasher I had used that time...
Maybe next days I'll flash some other files...just for playing...
Yesterday I also flash one ATI x850xt pe, and the card starts correctly, 12pipes clocked @ 520/560... I did not benchmark 'cause it surely hangs after few seconds!
Now, clocked @ 500/500 it do 11480 in 3DMark03.
Next monday I'm gonna buy an ATI Silencer Rev 5, and I'm gonna overclock a bit more...
Now my goal is to reach (if possible ) 12000 in 3DMark03, no matter if the card has 12 or 16 pipes...
As usual, any kind of suggestions are welcome!

 

[pHaSE-5]

Today I swapped the stock cooler with a better silenced Artic Cooling...

I was surprised to see the GPU...
Dolf, or anyone else is watching this thread, can give some infos about my GPU?
Does it has Laser-cut? Is it truly an R423 as ATITool says, or is another kind of GPU?

Thank you!

 

[pHaSE-5]

And look at this!

I've captured this picture after some overclocking experiment...
The 3D view of ATITool hangs, and after, looking in the setting, it shows

Chip Name: M28GL
Active Pipelines: 16

Please! Anyone give some opinions about it!!!

 

[5-Clicks]

Here's the cut bridge:


(Click on the image to see the arrow)

BTW, what camara did you use to take that pic? my Canon A85 doesn't like close ups

 

[pHaSE-5]

So, let's do a little summary:

1) My card is built by an R423 with laser cut on the die.
2) Cards with laser cut cannot unlock the extra pipes only by flashing new bioses :shadedshu

Can I do any hardware mod to by-pass the laser cut? Can I find around here some sheets that explain how to do this kind of job?

p.s. My camera is a Konica-Minolta G530, very good with close shoots

 

[dolf]

It is pure R423. The fuse results shows that even if you connect left bridge the pipes will remain 12. This is it. If you have time and you are curious to see what will happen do the connection (only the last digit in CONFIG_SUBSTRATE_FUSES will be changed to F) but the pipes will be again 12. Captured 16 pipe indication most probably is a mistake.

 

[pHaSE-5]

Thank you again Dolf...
So...I definitely lose... :shadedshu
I've equiped my card with Artic Cooling Silencer Rev. 5 (look so great! ), but, also with better temperatures, I cannot go over 500/500 MHz with an ATI X800XT bios mounted on...
This evening I'm gonna try to overclock with other bioses, including my factory default Bios...

 

[dolf]

Usually 12 pipes core can be overclocked much higher than 16 pipes unless it is not "lame horse". With XT BIOS you have more aggressive memory timings (respectively lower overclock). It is better to change timings on the XT BIOS (same like on PRO but to keep XT extras) or to return to PRO BIOS.
For example on my X800XT PE with 1.6ns (600MHz) memory I can overclock to max. 590MHz with these XT timings .

 

[v7100]

For a laser cut core, what is required fuse in order to unlock to 16p by connecting the left bridge? Does this one feasible?

CONFIG_DIE_FUSES 0xEFF37FFF
CONFIG_SUBSTRATE_FUSES 0xFFFFF71E

It is pure R423. The fuse results shows that even if you connect left bridge the pipes will remain 12. This is it. If you have time and you are curious to see what will happen do the connection (only the last digit in CONFIG_SUBSTRATE_FUSES will be changed to F) but the pipes will be again 12. Captured 16 pipe indication most probably is a mistake.

 

[noneed4me2]

my own 2 cents, if atitool is showing 16 pipes try this test http://www.vr-zone.com.sg/?i=2891&s=8 just google for Rthdribl and idf you run this test with no problems and Atitool says 16p, maybe you don't have the on die cut cause looking at your pic its hard to see if their is a cut between the dots, but maybe thats just me.

 

[pHaSE-5]

For a laser cut core, what is required fuse in order to unlock to 16p by connecting the left bridge? Does this one feasible?

CONFIG_DIE_FUSES 0xEFF37FFF
CONFIG_SUBSTRATE_FUSES 0xFFFFF71E

Hoping for you that it will be possible... You got only one digit different from mine...

 

[pHaSE-5]

Usually 12 pipes core can be overclocked much higher than 16 pipes unless it is not "lame horse". With XT BIOS you have more aggressive memory timings (respectively lower overclock). It is better to change timings on the XT BIOS (same like on PRO but to keep XT extras) or to return to PRO BIOS.
For example on my X800XT PE with 1.6ns (600MHz) memory I can overclock to max. 590MHz with these XT timings .

Start thinking my card is a lame horse... :shadedshu

Tried to flash ASUS X850Pro Bios, for 2.0ns 507/540...
My computer boots, and complete 3DMark2003 @ 11200 point with a lot of artifacts...
With ATI X800XT 500/500 I got 11480, cannot overclock more, but completely clear graphic, and rock solid performance... 71.4 fps in Doom3 @ 1024x768 Hi detail... And no noise due to Artic Cooling Silencer...Maybe vey soon I'm going to play more with games and less with modding & overclocking issues...

By the way... I got one more question:
In Doom3, I've noticed some graphic glitches when I turn the view (and when I strafe) horizontally... I have Vsync disabled, and default setting for Catalyst 5.11 drivers...
I'm pretty sure that it isn't any kind of artifact, but it have some to do with some setting...

Do you have any kind of suggestion?

 

[pHaSE-5]

.. 71.4 fps in Doom3 @ 1024x768 Hi detail...

With 2xAA...

 

[noneed4me2]

i seemed to have this issue when i first setup, i enabled v-sync and it stopped, i have doom 3 set to high quality in 800/600. but i have played it in 1024/768 without issues.

 

[v7100]

you timings is way too tight. There are few version of timings, i.e. tRAS at 14 and 6. Make sure you not running tRAS 6-8. Use tRAS 14 version and start tighten the timings from there

Start thinking my card is a lame horse... :shadedshu

Tried to flash ASUS X850Pro Bios, for 2.0ns 507/540...
My computer boots, and complete 3DMark2003 @ 11200 point with a lot of artifacts...
With ATI X800XT 500/500 I got 11480, cannot overclock more, but completely clear graphic, and rock solid performance... 71.4 fps in Doom3 @ 1024x768 Hi detail... And no noise due to Artic Cooling Silencer...Maybe vey soon I'm going to play more with games and less with modding & overclocking issues...

By the way... I got one more question:
In Doom3, I've noticed some graphic glitches when I turn the view (and when I strafe) horizontally... I have Vsync disabled, and default setting for Catalyst 5.11 drivers...
I'm pretty sure that it isn't any kind of artifact, but it have some to do with some setting...

Do you have any kind of suggestion?

 

[pHaSE-5]

you timings is way too tight. There are few version of timings, i.e. tRAS at 14 and 6. Make sure you not running tRAS 6-8. Use tRAS 14 version and start tighten the timings from there

You are right! The BIOS I'm using now has tRAS 6...
This evening I'll try to put @ 14 and do some overclock!
Thank you!

 

[pHaSE-5]

i seemed to have this issue when i first setup, i enabled v-sync and it stopped, i have doom 3 set to high quality in 800/600. but i have played it in 1024/768 without issues.

Mee too! I enabled V-Sync and now it goes without any kind of glitches! Thank you!
Also mine after setup set 800x600 resolution, but as told before, it goes very smooth also in 1024x768x2FSAA (over 70 fps in timedemo1, that for me is enought!)

About the laser cut, the picture don't show it clearly, but my card got it.
I trust what dolf said...Must give up about unlocking 16 pipes...

 

[noneed4me2]

glad doom 3 is fixed the graphics on that game really is amazing. Sorry about the mod, though your card is still an amazing card in its own right. I mean with overclocking you can still get to be around x850 pro speeds, which is also a 12p card and in about every article i have read the r423 seems to get really high praise and it has vivo to boot. Please post where you got it so maybe if others still wanna try for unlocking maybe they can still find it elswhere. It makes sense though that ATI would stop this, how would they sell there remaining high end cards with the new r520 cards out? I know my next card will be an x1800 or better, cause my gto will have to last me awhile (my wife would freak if i dropped 250+ on a new graphics card after i just got this one. its funny though that the Sapphire GTO2s still manage to get sold moddable, but the price of these cards is higher now so maybe that has something to do with it. When you overclock post your results, i have read people that don't mod tend to get their clocks higher, and don't forget to connect the power cord on the card if you plan to overclock. i troll alot so if you need help i should be around

 

[pHaSE-5]

Until now I got very few time to do some stuff...

Did only this try:
Editing of ATIX800XT Bios, changed tRAS time from 6 to 14. Saved and flashed the new Bios, and after reboot... BLACK SCREEN...
Flash back using a PCI card the retail Bios
3DMark03 score 10050
Flash again ATIX800XT Bios
3DMark03 score 11480

Next time i'll do some tries by editing the retail Bios, hoping Black Screen never comes out...

By the way... I'm wondering about voltages and overclocking...
I got an Abit motherboard. I can change North Bridge and PCI-E bus voltage by uGuru setup, from 1.5 to 2.0Volts... There is a relation between this voltage and the overclock capability of my VGA?
And also...
I've pushed my P4 520 from 2800 to 3570, using 255x14 FSB...
May I have more chance of overclocking VGA by using some other FSB values?