Flashing BIOS on 295x2 Sapphire

[SAFX]

I've got the Sapphire 295x2 (non OC version), can I flash its BIOS to this version?
http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/157762/sapphire-r9295x2-4096-140414.html

...and to flash successfully, based on my research, are these steps correct?

atiflash -unlockrom 0
atiflash -unlockrom 1

atiflash -f -p 0 oc.rom
atiflash -f -p 1 oc.rom

I'm more concerned about the flashing process because I read on overclock.net that each gpu should be flashed with separate "master" and "slave" rom files. I don't understand that at all, I'm flashing to a BIOS contained in one ROM file, not two separate files... hoping someone can clarify.

 

[Cybrnook2002]

Hmm good question. I wonder, does the 295x2 have 4 bios's in total? There is a switch on the side of the card that with switch master to slave.

But what I am thinking, when the switch is on master, are two bios's read, one for each gpu.

Then, when you flip the switch to the slave bios (or typically ln2 bios) are two separate bios's then loaded? Making a total of 4?

 

[Bad Bad Bear]

I've got the Sapphire 295x2 (non OC version), can I flash its BIOS to this version?
http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/157762/sapphire-r9295x2-4096-140414.html

...and to flash successfully, based on my research, are these steps correct?

atiflash -unlockrom 0
atiflash -unlockrom 1

atiflash -f -p 0 oc.rom
atiflash -f -p 1 oc.rom

I'm more concerned about the flashing process because I read on overclock.net that each gpu should be flashed with separate "master" and "slave" rom files. I don't understand that at all, I'm flashing to a BIOS contained in one ROM file, not two separate files... hoping someone can clarify.

Hey mate,

Contrary to popular belief flashing your cards Bios does not increase it's overclocking headroom (unless your looking at LN2).

Just keep to available GPU software to overclock and be done with it. You also run the risk of bricking your card if all components on the PCB are not identical.

Sorry to be a 'Boo Bear'. Nice card btw.

 

[SAFX]

Hey mate,

Contrary to popular belief flashing your cards Bios does not increase it's overclocking headroom (unless your looking at LN2).

I get that, and honestly, my preference is to avoid software-based OC'ing (I enjoy OCing cpus more than gpus),
If the flash works, I go from 1018/1250 to 1030/1300, that's all the OC I want for the gpu,
Are you aware of any such successful bios flashing for this card?

 

[Solaris17]

As far as I understand it requires both a MASTER and SLAVE and this is a bad idea. you can attempt to flash 0 with the one from the GPU DB (Likely the person dumped just card 0) and see if that works.

 

[SAFX]

Hmm good question. I wonder, does the 295x2 have 4 bios's in total? There is a switch on the side of the card that with switch master to slave.

But what I am thinking, when the switch is on master, are two bios's read, one for each gpu.

Then, when you flip the switch to the slave bios (or typically ln2 bios) are two separate bios's then loaded? Making a total of 4?

What is the purpose of that switch? Is there a backup bios I can use by switching?

 

[Cybrnook2002]

What is the purpose of that switch? Is there a backup bios

Like I was trying to say, normally you have the normal Bios (master) and then a more OC friendly LN2 Bios (slave)

But my thought process here is does each position actually have 2 x bios's behind it since the card has 2 wired together GPU's.

Please don't take this as gospel, this is just my thought process. But what I would "think" is maybe if the switch is in master position, you would need to flash both 0 and 1, then reboot. Now you master switch side would have both GPU's on the OC bios(es). Then when you flip the switch on the side, you would switch over to the 2 x LN2 bios(es) that came bu default.

So you technically could flash either bank (master or slave), but I am thinking you might has 2 x Bios slots per bank, make sense?

EDIT: Seems both banks are identical on the 295x2 (From MSI version):
"In the image above you can see a small switch to the far left on the side of the PCB. This is the R9 295X2’s dual BIOS switch. Unlike the R9 290X, this doesn’t enable a Silent or Uber mode. Just two identical BIOS, which is still handy if anything goes wrong when flashing the BIOS."

So, seems there is some safety built in if you bork a Bios bank. However I agree with the above. Just software OC the card. No need for a BIOS flash for this.

 

[Bad Bad Bear]

I get that, and honestly, my preference is to avoid software-based OC'ing (I enjoy OCing cpus more than gpus),
If the flash works, I go from 1018/1250 to 1030/1300, that's all the OC I want for the gpu,
Are you aware of any such successful bios flashing for this card?

Cool, cool I get ya. As you're looking at just a wee bit of a overclock i'd strongly suggest just keeping to software overclocking whether you like it or not. I'm not trying to be belligerent to you in any way however, your method of overclocking is illogical and not needed in this circumstance.

All the best though.

 

[the54thvoid]

Cool, cool I get ya. As you're looking at just a wee bit of a overclock i'd strongly suggest just keeping to software overclocking whether you like it or not. I'm not trying to be belligerent to you in any way however, your method of overclocking is illogical and not needed in this circumstance.

All the best though.

What they said^^. You're not being at all sensible flashing a BIOS for what is a 1% overclock on core and 4% on memory. Utterly pointless.

 

[SAFX]

Cool, cool I get ya. As you're looking at just a wee bit of a overclock i'd strongly suggest just keeping to software overclocking whether you like it or not.

I respect your constructive criticism

...Cybrnook2002 and you are likely correct, I'm leaning towards OCing in MSIAF, jesus, after researching how to flash the BIOS for 3 hours, I totally lost sight of the miniscule increase in core/memory clock speeds the new bios actually provides! 1013 --> 1030? HELLO! not a big deal

sometimes you need strangers to open your eyes, lol, thx

 

[SAFX]

What they said^^. You're not being at all sensible flashing a BIOS for what is a 1% overclock on core and 4% on memory. Utterly pointless.

I agree with what you said, agreeing with what they said, so we're all in agreement?

 

[patrico]

hey,, yeah big risk for not much return, I wouldn't risk it mate nice card btw better off using software to oc the card

 

[SAFX]

Like I was trying to say, normally you have the normal Bios (master) and then a more OC friendly LN2 Bios (slave)

But my thought process here is does each position actually have 2 x bios's behind it since the card has 2 wired together GPU's.

Please don't take this as gospel, this is just my thought process. But what I would "think" is maybe if the switch is in master position, you would need to flash both 0 and 1, then reboot. Now you master switch side would have both GPU's on the OC bios(es). Then when you flip the switch on the side, you would switch over to the 2 x LN2 bios(es) that came bu default.

So you technically could flash either bank (master or slave), but I am thinking you might has 2 x Bios slots per bank, make sense?

EDIT: Seems both banks are identical on the 295x2 (From MSI version):
"In the image above you can see a small switch to the far left on the side of the PCB. This is the R9 295X2’s dual BIOS switch. Unlike the R9 290X, this doesn’t enable a Silent or Uber mode. Just two identical BIOS, which is still handy if anything goes wrong when flashing the BIOS."

So, seems there is some safety built in if you bork a Bios bank. However I agree with the above. Just software OC the card. No need for a BIOS flash for this.

This is basically what I just found as well, but thank you for the explanation nonetheless, it's confusing!
...my understanding is as follows:

The switch acts as a primary and backup BIOS selector.
In each position, a master and slave BIOS exists for gpu1 and gpu2, respectively.
If one were to flash the bios, it should be done in either primary or backup position, but not both, to allow for reverting to the old bios.
When flashing the bios, two ROMs are required, master and slave, flash slot 0, then slot 1, done.

Is that accurate? I don't plan on doing it at this point, but it's good to have the knowledge

thx

 

[patrico]

hey have a look at this

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159

explaned well for a single card but im really not sure about a dual gpu

 

[Cybrnook2002]

This is basically what I just found as well, but thank you for the explanation nonetheless, it's confusing!
...my understanding is as follows:

The switch acts as a primary and backup BIOS selector.
In each position, a master and slave BIOS exists for gpu1 and gpu2, respectively.
If one were to flash the bios, it should be done in either primary or backup position, but not both, to allow for reverting to the old bios.
When flashing the bios, two ROMs are required, master and slave, flash slot 0, then slot 1, done.

Is that accurate? I don't plan on doing it at this point, but it's good to have the knowledge

thx

Yes, I think we are on the same page.

Only thing, I am quite sure we are misusing the term master and slave here, or at least it could easily be confused.

Top down, you have a switch on the side of the card setting the card to either master (main) or slave (backup) bios settings.

THEN, each of those BIOS banks (Master or slave) will now also internally have its own master and slave bios, respectively 0 and 1 for GPU's 0 and 1. At this point, I would think it's the same bios you would flash to each. Leaving the primary switches slave bank (assuming you flash directly to master) untouched, so you have a fall back.

 

[SAFX]

Yes, I think we are on the same page.

Only thing, I am quite sure we are misusing the term master and slave here, or at least it could easily be confused.

Top down, you have a switch on the side of the card setting the card to either master (main) or slave (backup) bios settings.

THEN, each of those BIOS banks (Master or slave) will now also internally have its own master and slave bios, respectively 0 and 1 for GPU's 0 and 1. At this point, I would think it's the same bios you would flash to each. Leaving the primary switches slave bank (assuming you flash directly to master) untouched, so you have a fall back.

Ah, understood, learned a lot today! thank you