Vega 56 to 64 BIOS flash - Need advice

[nnick]

I picked up a Vega 56 a few months ago, and up until no,w I've been undervolting and overclocking within the default limits, which has given a nice performance boost, but I find myself greedy for more performance.
I am considering flashing the Vega 64 BIOS to extract even more performance, but I want advice on how to do it from people who know better.

Below you will find a screenshot of the GPU from GPUz, along with the sticker on the backplate of the GPU

I have also found the BIOS on TPU's Collection using the upload feature

Gigabyte RX Vega 56 VBIOS

8 GB HBM2, 1590 MHz GPU, 800 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Using this, I assume this BIOS would work, but I'm not completely sure.

Gigabyte RX Vega 64 VBIOS

8 GB HBM2, 1630 MHz GPU, 945 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

My card also lacks the BIOS switch feature for multiple BIOSes, and I do not have a CPU with integrated graphics.
This, along with the fact that I do not have another PCIE slot for another GPU if the flash were to somehow go wrong, makes it quite risky to flash the BIOS.

So would using an SPI Flasher be the safest option? Getting one of these might prove to be a bit expensive because of my location, so I would rather not go this route.

I also read about some people using a USB drive and then flashing the GPU with that method and not using windows for the flashing at all. Would this be a safer way of flashing? Would I be able to reflash the original BIOS using this method if something were to go wrong?

Upon reading the sticker on the back of the GPU, I see that this is actually a Vega 64 card, but for whatever reason, someone installed the 56 BIOS onto it. This explains the extra shaders and TMUS that I've always wondered about.
With this new information, I am now even more eager to flash the BIOS as I am missing out on Vega 64 performance!

 

[io-waiter]

Step one wold be to ensure a backup of the current bios and also that you have access to a in case of emergency GPU if the flash goes bad and you need to reflash.
As for what specific firmware and how to flash it I have no Vega experience, but I'm curious to why it was flashed with a Vega56 bios, mining, hw issue or just a mistake?

The Gigabyte looks to be this card https://www.gigabyte.com/Graphics-Card/GV-RXVEGA64GAMING-OC-8GD/support#dl
There are some guidance there, but I'd await further guidan here before flashing, especially due to it having a 56 FW.

 

[nnick]

Step one wold be to ensure a backup of the current bios and also that you have access to a in case of emergency GPU if the flash goes bad and you need to reflash.
As for what specific firmware and how to flash it I have no Vega experience, but I'm curious to why it was flashed with a Vega56 bios, mining, hw issue or just a mistake?

The Gigabyte looks to be this card https://www.gigabyte.com/Graphics-Card/GV-RXVEGA64GAMING-OC-8GD/support#dl
There are some guidance there, but I'd await further guidan here before flashing, especially due to it having a 56 FW.

really hoping it isn't a hw issue that made a previous owner have to flash the BIOS. Will await replies from the people with more knowledge before I try anything

 

[eidairaman1]

really hoping it isn't a hw issue that made a previous owner have to flash the BIOS. Will await replies from the people with more knowledge before I try anything

If you decide to persue this, go back into gpu-z go to advanced tab and look for memory timings, also go to amdbios, get screenshots from both

 

[Bagerklestyne]

I did it eons back (when mining crypto was still a thing) to mine - pretty sure I used ATIWinflash

I didn't get much of a gpu step up, it held slightly higher clocks, but the memory, which is stock @ 800mhz, capped at 945mhz under the 56 bios, would run all day and slightly undervolted at 1100mhz, so it didn't add a lot to gaming but increased my mining rate by about 40% for less power usage.

 

[eidairaman1]

I did it eons back (when mining crypto was still a thing) to mine - pretty sure I used ATIWinflash

I didn't get much of a gpu step up, it held slightly higher clocks, but the memory, which is stock @ 800mhz, capped at 945mhz under the 56 bios, would run all day and slightly undervolted at 1100mhz, so it didn't add a lot to gaming but increased my mining rate by about 40% for less power usage.

Winflash is no longer supported

 

[Bagerklestyne]

Winflash is no longer supported

What about VMing a windows 7 version to do it ?

 

[io-waiter]

What about VMing a windows 7 version to do it ?

The Win7 guest would then see the virtual machines graphics and not the underlying host unless we get into having bypass or direct access for the guest. I would much much rather boot some DOS based utility and flash from there or use the Gigabyte utility (if it allows for crossflashing).

Using supervisors or running legacy modes I would only do if it was proven and recommended.

The Gigabyte card does not appear to have dual bios so having a backup card and plan is likely a good idea =)
Lets hope @nnick tells us how it went.

 

[nnick]

Sort of forgot about this thread, but I did end up performing the flash, and it seems it was successful
I have, however, run into a new issue with my PC, somewhat randomly, completely and suddenly turning off

I am considering both the GPU because of the V64 bios, and also a second-hand SSD I picked up recently.
I think it would be unlikely for the SSD to be the culprit, as it wouldn't make sense for the PC to only suddenly turn off while playing a game?

The reason I say these shutdowns are somewhat random is because it does not happen in every game, and it seems it isn't linked to how heavy the game is to run.
I have experienced these random shutdowns mostly in the games League of Legends, cs2 and now Fortnite.
I have, however, been playing quite a bit of Cyberpunk, and the sudden shutdowns do not seem to be present in this game, even though it is a demanding title

If you decide to persue this, go back into gpu-z go to advanced tab and look for memory timings, also go to amdbios, get screenshots from both

It's not really relevant now as I've already done the flash, but I can't seem to find the memory timings tab in GPUZ advanced? I do see the AMD BIOS, though

 

[io-waiter]

Try adjusting the power limit down -20% and see if it goes away, the Vegas had power spikes that not all power supply like. What psu do you have?

 

[nnick]

Try adjusting the power limit down -20% and see if it goes away, the Vegas had power spikes that not all power supply like. What psu do you have?

I also considered the PSU at first, but I didn't see the crash happening in benchmarks where power draw was high (over 300W). I have a 600W psu, so I guess it is cutting it a bit close.
I'm going to run the card with just an undervolt and no extra boost or memory clock and see how that is. I thought I could easily get the same overclock that others reported with the Vega 64, but maybe this card is getting on in age and can't do those numbers anymore

I will update on stability after a bit of testing

 

[AVATARAT]

The difference between Vega 56 with 64 bios won't be much bigger, the better option is to just extend the power limit with MPT and optimize all 7 states to be maxed out.
I don't remember if you can touch the VRAM timings to tighten them up, you can check.

 

[nnick]

The difference between Vega 56 with 64 bios won't be much bigger, the better option is to just extend the power limit with MPT and optimize all 7 states to be maxed out.
I don't remember if you can touch the VRAM timings to tighten them up, you can check.

Yes, if i compare my benchmarks from when I had the 56 bios running on the card to the 64 no,w the difference is only about 7%. Would tightening memory timings not affect stability negatively? or do I misunderstand