R9 290 BIOS editing / flasing?

[abundantcores]

My CPU. Powercolor PCS+ R9 290 http://www.powercolor.com/Global/products_features.asp?id=523

VBE7 does not work, unfortunately.

A few things i want to try.

# Increase the Memory Voltage independently of vCore volts.
Memory and Core volts seem to be tied together. if i can find an overcloking app to increase Memory volts independently from core that would be great.

# Try different BIOS, see if anything is better.
Anyone have one of these and tried different BIOS?

# Unlock it to a 290X

Any info would be appropriated.

 

[eidairaman1]

If there is nothing wrong with the card do not flash it less you love having an expensive brick on your hands

 

[Outback Bronze]

Hi.

I'm unaware of any apps that can run memory voltage independently.

I'm using Atiflash to flash the bios.

I did flash my cards with the Asus 290x bios and was unsuccessful unlocking them. Only the very first 290s seem to unlock.

I have Asus reference cards and was able to get 25mhz more overclocking on the cores at stock volts using the original reference ATI bios.

I'm not sure weather your card is reference or uses a custom PCB so id say you would want to investigate a little first before you start flashing.

I too am waiting for some kind of app like VBE7 for my 290s.

Here check this unlocking thread: http://www.overclock.net/t/1443242/the-r9-290-290x-unlock-thread

Cheers.

 

[abundantcores]

The card works well, its never given me a problem.

I run it 1100/1400, 24/7, temperatures are about 70c

The highest stable overclock i had managed to get out of it was 1150/1400. it needed the full +100mv for that, anything more and it flickers, artefacts...you name it
Its a bit deflating when i see friends with reference cooled 290's benching over 1200/1500, mine just can't seem to do that.
I don't think its the card, i think its Powercolors BIOS.

Another thing, it runs 1040/1350 with +50mv out of the box, if i have the volts unlocked in MSI AB and hit the reset button on MSI AB it will it will reset those +50mv to 0 and Black Screen, which means i have to go into Windows safe mode to sort it out. thats one reason i want to edit the BIOS, i just don't think powercolor put enough volts on the memory independently from the core.

I like the card a lot, but i feel it could be even better with a better BIOS or some tweaks.

As for the PCB, aside from huge Heat Sinks on the VRM's it looks the same as the reference board. see pics, also a Heaven 4 (Maximum Settings) Bench.

 

[eidairaman1]

Different pcb and ram used. There is a point of diminishing returns when overclocking. No matter how cool or stable the card is. So honestly leave it alone before you break it and come crying to us when you broke your expensive toy.

The card works well, its never given me a problem.

I run it 1100/1400, 24/7, temperatures are about 70c

The highest stable overclock i had managed to get out of it was 1150/1400. it needed the full +100mv for that, anything more and it flickers, artefacts...you name it
Its a bit deflating when i see friends with reference cooled 290's benching over 1200/1500, mine just can't seem to do that.
I don't think its the card, i think its Powercolors BIOS.

Another thing, it runs 1040/1350 with +50mv out of the box, if i have the volts unlocked in MSI AB and hit the reset button on MSI AB it will it will reset those +50mv to 0 and Black Screen, which means i have to go into Windows safe mode to sort it out. thats one reason i want to edit the BIOS, i just don't think powercolor put enough volts on the memory independently from the core.

I like the card a lot, but i feel it could be even better with a better BIOS or some tweaks.

As for the PCB, aside from huge Heat Sinks on the VRM's it looks the same as the reference board. see pics, also a Heaven 4 (Maximum Settings) Bench.

 

[abundantcores]

Different pcb and ram used. There is a point of diminishing returns when overclocking. No matter how cool or stable the card is. So honestly leave it alone before you break it and come crying to us when you broke your expensive toy.

Thanks for you input.

PS: '290 Sapphire Vapor-X' in your System Specs, they are a stunning looking thing, i like the Cooler design on them.

 

[Outback Bronze]

The card works well, its never given me a problem.

I run it 1100/1400, 24/7, temperatures are about 70c

The highest stable overclock i had managed to get out of it was 1150/1400. it needed the full +100mv for that, anything more and it flickers, artefacts...you name it
Its a bit deflating when i see friends with reference cooled 290's benching over 1200/1500, mine just can't seem to do that.
I don't think its the card, i think its Powercolors BIOS.

Another thing, it runs 1040/1350 with +50mv out of the box, if i have the volts unlocked in MSI AB and hit the reset button on MSI AB it will it will reset those +50mv to 0 and Black Screen, which means i have to go into Windows safe mode to sort it out. thats one reason i want to edit the BIOS, i just don't think powercolor put enough volts on the memory independently from the core.

I like the card a lot, but i feel it could be even better with a better BIOS or some tweaks.

As for the PCB, aside from huge Heat Sinks on the VRM's it looks the same as the reference board. see pics, also a Heaven 4 (Maximum Settings) Bench.

Hi there.

These are the pictures of my cards. Your card look pretty reference to me from what I can see.

I've highlighted some different bits on your PCB, but these to me just look like mounting points for your cooler, they are on the piss and are don't look like part of the PCB. Maybe just pads for the cooler.

What do you think?

Have a good look at the pics. Tell me if you see anything different.

If it was me id have a go at flashing but am in no way responsible for bricking your card!

Sometimes the only way to get ahead is by taking risks, but ill leave that with you.

Again just make sure what you really want to achieve. If you've never bios flashed video cards before id start with something a little cheaper.

Cheers.

 

[abundantcores]

The layout of the components is identical, even the colour of the PCB is the same, AMD's usual matt-black.

But aside from yours having Hynix IC's and mine Elpida, is looks like my VRM Capacitors are a different type, certainly they are a different colour, the power input Caps are the same, but the Core and Memory VRM caps are blue on mine.
In terms of BIOS i don't know what if any difference that would make, but it is evidence that the PCB's are not identical, so who knows what else on it is a different type.

 

[Outback Bronze]

The layout of the components is identical, even the colour of the PCB is the same, AMD's usual matt-black.

But aside from yours having Hynix IC's and mine Elpida, is looks like my VRM Capacitors are a different type, certainly they are a different colour, the power input Caps are the same, but the Core and Memory VRM caps are blue on mine.
In terms of BIOS i don't know what if any difference that would make, but it is evidence that the PCB's are not identical, so who knows what else on it is a different type.

Yes true, the caps are different I did notice that but PCB wise they are the same.

I leave it with you buddy.

 

[abundantcores]

Yes true, the caps are different I did notice that but PCB wise they are the same.

I leave it with you buddy.

Thanks. i'm not going to risk it just now, i don't have enough info to be sure of anything.