Guide to tweaking HD4870 cards (tools, BIOS links, etc)

[LuxZg]

( this is english translation of my original posting - http://forum.pcekspert.com/showthread.php?t=118175 )

Legend:
green text - recommended programs
red text - VERY important warnings
bold and/or underlined - every paragraf, program name, or important information

This post was ment to be a place containing all the important informations regarding tweaking HD4870 graphics cards, with an accent on those built on referent design.
Most of informations contained here can also be used in tweaking HD4850 cards, but will NOT be described separately.

What did NOT enter this guide:
- anything regarding CrossfireX systems - because I don't have two cards.. Unless you want to donate me one (kidding )
- how to use RivaTuner 2.10 - because I don't have much time anymore, and ATT "just works"; if I get time I'll probably write a tutorial regarding Vista x64 + Rivatuner
- detailed guide about complete BIOS editting of HD4870 cards with RBE 1.14 - in following text you have info about adjusting fan speeds, and lowering voltages, but there is lots more you can do with this program. On the other hand, you can find a link to RBE's own VERY GOOD guide, so for all the rest of details you can read that one; if I ever get time (and will) I'll maybe write a HD4870-only RBE guide, but so far it's not in plans


Problems with HD4870 cards:
- why are they heating so much in 2D/3D, and how do I solve it?
- does Powerplay work? Powerconsumption is too high in 2D!
- how can I overclock over limits set in CCC Overdrive?
- how can I downclock this card under same limits?
- can I rise voltages without hard modding?
- can I lower voltages?
- where can I find another BIOS?
- how can I extract my original BIOS, and how can I tweak it?
- how to flash my card with a new/editted BIOS?

NOTE - DirectX​

Because we all need DirectX, and because some of the programs require latest version to work properly (Ati Tray Tools) please update your DirectX
You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3-4676-481A-BFAA-5C15D1D7199D& displaylang=en (this is latest version at this moment, 7.9.2008, version 9.24.1400, and it supports all MS operating systems from Win2000, including Vista, all server versions, and all Service Packs).
Also, for future reference, last version should always be around top on this link (MS official download) - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?DisplayLang=en&nr=20&categoryid=2&sortCriteria= date . Pay attention to versions, because dates are know to be wrong sometimtes!

Overheating​

HD4870 cards based on referent design (which is still most of the cards available at this moment) have same cooler that pushes the air over the card and out of the case, and in turn cooling GPU, memory and voltage regulation modules (VRMs).
Factory settings for fan included in cooler are set to keep the card in 70-90C range, both in 2D (idle) and 3D (load). Since noone likes this, this was one of the first things that was solved on these cards by user tweaks. Ofcourse, over time more effective and advanced ways to do so were found, and they all require some tools. So let's first get to know the TOOLS.

Tools
(all of these should work with all HD48xx cards!)
​

I'll divide these tools in several categories:
1. official driver and its Ati Catalyst Control Center (CCC)
2. card monitoring tools
3. software overclocking/downclocking tools
4. BIOS & flashing tools
You will notice that these categories are not very strict, since a lot of these tools can be used for multiple things, but they are here sorted according to their primary role (by my opinion).

1. Driver, installation, deinstallation (cleaning)

a. Driver is simplest part of this guide, and also most important. All you have to do is go to http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html - select your OS (XP, Vista, etc), Radeon series, and finaly Radeon HD4870 series. Click GO, and you'll be redirected to download page which contains last driver and „Catalyst Software Suite“ version which you should install and that's it.
For this guide, most important parts will be Overdrive and Profiles/Profiles manager (which you can access by opening Advanced version of CCC). Through those you can partly overclock/downclock your cards, and by a bit of "hacking" - adjust coolers fan as well.​

b. If you don't have a clean OS install, and you previously had ATi or nVidia card/driver installed, it is recommended to deinstall existing drivers through Add/Remove Programs, and than additionaly cleaning the remaining files/settings in Safe Mod with Driver Sweeper - http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/ - file download and additional quick-guide can be found on this download page, official forum, and in program itself. But basicaly you need to install it, reboot and keep pressing F8, enter Safe Mod, turn it on, select all nVidia/ATi graphics drivers (don't deinstall your chipset driver if you have nForce or ATi motherboard ), and than just clean it.​

2. Monitoring tools

a. GPU-Z – last version is 0.2.7, and official download of this free tools is here -> http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
This program shows all data about your cards, including all currently known temperature sensors (3x GPU-Dispio, Memio, Shaders; and 3x VRMs), how many ampers your card currently draws, etc.
Secondary use is that on the first page (when you turnon the application)you have a line saying „BIOS version“ and a black&green button besides it (showing a picture of chip with an arrow) and when you clock on it you have an option „Save to file…“ for your BIOS. Choose that option, after about 10s a window will open offering to save a RV770.bin file, save the file to a safe place on your disc, and that is your BIOS backup. I advise you to make several copies, as soon as possible, and before you do anything else BIOS-related ​

b. Lavasof Everest (beta) – last version is „EVEREST Ultimate Edition 4.60 Final“, I've found it here -> http://soft.softoogle.com/ap/everest-ultimate-edition-build-download-369.shtml (seems like this link always contains latest version, including betas!) - program is a trial version, and you have to buy it for full functionality. Once you enter serial key, everything is unlocked.
This program also shows shader/memio/dispio temperatures of GPU chip, as well as VRM temperatures. Display of current (ampers) is blocked in trial version, so you have to register to see it.
Advantage of this tool vs GPU-Z is that it offers very good logging tool (File->Settings->Logging), but since GPU-Z was promised to get it's own logging tool, you will no longer need this program (unless you have other use for it )​

c. Gainward ExpertTool - direct link to version 6.4 ->> http://www.gainward.com/support/XPRT_64.zip
Last version should always be here, you'll see it right away ->> http://www.gainward.com/support/support_uk.html
I haven't used it, but according to expreview.com version 4.0 (?) has 48xx series support (link to the original article and download ->> http://en.expreview.com/2008/08/16/tools-update-experttool-v40-enable-fan-control-on-hd-485048 70/ ). If you really want to try it, I recommend using official version from Gainward website, but I would rather advise to use following application (ATT), as ExpertTool is pretty limited in it's functionality.​

c. ASUS Smart Doctor - works ONLY with cards that have ASUS ID (see below under RBE functions).
Program can be downloaded from ASUS FTP/HTTP sites - ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/vga/app/ / ftp://dlsvr.asus.com/pub/ASUS/vga/app/ - aim for the latest version ->>
first direct official link to v.5.23 (FTP02); second direct official link to v.5.23 (HTTP); third direct official link to v.5.23 (FTP); alternative download v5.23 - Rapidshare link (ASUS downloads are VERY slow, so I recommend Rapidshare link, but first check official HTTP/FTP sites if this is indeed latest version!; also - I'm not sure which version is newest, as lower version is sometimes with a newer date!)​

3. Programs for overclocking/downclocking

a. Ati Tray Tools (beta) – current version is Ati Tray Tools Beta v1.5.9.1284 and always last beta can e found here -> http://cid-a50350ea7a969f0c.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/attsetup.exe

Also, complete history of this beta (and downloads of most versions) since it gained HD4xxx series support can be found here ->> http://sna696.helloweb.eu/ray/history.html

You can use this tool to almost completely remove ATi CCC, monitor your cards, but what is most usefull to us is under „Hardware“ menu -> „Overclocking settings“, and „Auto overclocking“. Those two allow you to setup 2 profiles with all important working parameters of your card (GPU & memory frequencies, fan speeds, and with the right BIOS - voltages as well) and after that you can set it up so those profiles are exchanged automaticaly in 2D & 3D modes as needed. Since version v1.5.9.1284 you have experimental Crossfire support as well!
Before using, please update DirectX as stated in the begining, just to make sure everything is fine.
Also, for those on Vista 64-bit, important notification - ATT doesn't have a signed driver which Vista x64 demands. So you'll have to use this little tool to install and run ATT on this OS - ReadyDriver Plus -> http://citadel.x10hosting.com/readydriverplus/ (Rapidshare link for backup - http://rapidshare.com/files/141870646/SetupReadyDriverPlus1.1.exe ). Now, if you only have Vista - no problems whatsoever. If you have dual boot with XP, but you boot to Vista by default, also no problems. But if you want to have XP as default, you'll have some problems since this program (installed by just clicking "next-next-next") will make Vista as your default OS. In that case, you'll also need a free utility EasyBCD ->> http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1 , install it, and setup your XP as default OS again. But make sure you have it all setup right, cos you could make ReadyDriver not work as well. Play around a bit, you'll get it.. I had it setup so first OS is Vista, than XP, and ReadyDriver Plus in the end, but having XP marked as "default".

Btw, as for ATT in general - over here you'll find a FAQ ->> http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=199274 So run through it, so you get to know it a bit better ​

b. AMD GPU Clock Tool – to tell the truth, I haven't used it.. Last version is here -> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1128/AMD_GPU_Clock_Tool_v0.9.8.html
You can also use it to overclock/downclock, monitor some parameters like temperatures, but I think that ATT does it better, so I won't bother writing any guides for it.​

c. RivaTuner v2.10 - http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=rivatuner
I haven't used it YET, but I plan to as soon as I get some time. Still, it has my recommendation from earlier expirience with this tool, and other thing is that it works fine on Vistom 64-bit without additional setups or problems (has signed driver so everything is fine). Last version is here ->> http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163 - and a detailed guide will come one day probably. If there are any volounteers, feel free to post it in this thread
​

d. ATiTool currently DOES NOT SUPPORT HD4xxx series, so DO NOT use it for any overclocking or settings! You can use it as an "artifact scanner", but it won't work for me so I gave up and won't be writing how to do it (can't get the program up and running at all and forgot how it all goes)...​

4. BIOS tools

a. RBE which stands for Radeon BIOS Editor, is a leading tool for HD48xx BIOS editting.
Last version (1.14) is here ->> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1177/TechPowerUp_Radeon_Bios_Editor_v1.14.html
Also, I recommend you to read official RBE tutorial which is over here ->> http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=69114
This is also official RBE forum, so read it an learn a bit before starting to play with it.​

b. AtiWinFlash is used for flashing BIOS from Windows, which most of the people won't recommend, but if you don't want to bother with bootable floppies, USB keys etc, this is the tool to do it. Last version (2.0.1.2) is here ->> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1122/Winflash_2.0.1.2.html
This way of flashing has its limitations as well, so for these situations you should still use the following program.​

c. AtiFlash is used in DOS, and last version is 3.60 ->> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1123/ATIFlash_3.60.html
You will need to create a bootable floppy driver or USB key (boot CD is fine as well, just a bit of an overkill ). You'll find more details later in the guide when we start flashing BIOS.​

Overheating - continued​

Now that we have all the tools, we can start solving our first problem - temperatures.
(..to be continued i next post..)

 

[LuxZg]

Continued:

Overheating - continued​

SOLUTION #1:

First solution requires only Catalyst driver with CCC. So if you want to change your fan speeds follow this:

- Start CCC by right-clicking Desktop, and selecting line where it says "Catalyst Control Center" (from now on "CCC"). You can't miss it, it has red ATi logo next to it.
- Setup all your settings like resolution and so on, so we can save them
- To save, click “Profiles” on top, and select “Profiles Manager..”
- Select "This profile includes: all Catalyst Control Center settings" radio button
- Give it a name (on top of the window) and save it by clicking "Save"; I advise you to save it 3 times: once naming it "default" (just for backup), name second “3D”, and third "2D" - these are example names, you can name them anything ofcourse
- In Windows Explorer go here: C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\ATI\ACE\Profiles (for Vista that's C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\Profiles )
- You'll see profile names that you've saved ("default.xml", "2D.xml", "3D.xml")
- Leave "default.xml" alone, this is for backup Open other two in Notepad (right-click on file, Open with.. -> Notepad) and by the start of the text you'll find a piece looking like this

<Feature name="FanSpeedProtocol_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedProtocolProperty" value="Percent" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="25" />

- Modify -> <Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
to -> <Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Manual" />
Info: you can leave "Automatic", but "Manual" is a better solution for idle (2D) temperatures

- Modify -> <Property name="Want" value="25" />
to -> <Property name="Want" value="55" />
Info: you can put in any value between 0 and 100 instead of "55", that's percentage of fan speed. But for a stock NON-OVERCLOCKED cards 50% is a minimum for use in "3D" profile, while 30% is recommended for "2D" profile. For cards overclocked to ~800/1100 you have to rise it to at least 60%!!

- Save .xml files and close them
- Start CCC if you've closed it, or just get back to the window, and again click on the “Profiles” button, i sad ćete imati u listi profila "default", "2D" i "3D". Kad odaberete taj koji smo u ovom primjeruand you'll see those 3 profile names there. If you select the one I called "3D" you should hear the fan spinning up instantly (its pretty loud). If you select "default" or "2D" it shoul get quiet again.

NOTE: CCC will remember last loaded profile when rebooting computer, so you don't have to select it every time. But if you switch 2D/3D you'll have to switch profiles manualy or keep it on "3D" all the time.WARNING - DO NOT START ANY GAMES WHILE IN "2D" PROFILE!! This means, ANY profile that has fixed fan speeds under 50%! Also, if you have a small case, or a lousy airflow, add 5-10% just in case! MONITOR YOUR TEMPERATURES UNDER LOAD WHEN SETTING THIS UP!


SOLUTION #2

Waaaay easier, better, and more effective solution (specialy if not in Vista x64) is to use ATi Tray Tools.

 

[LuxZg]

I've finished translating first part containing tools. If you have any other usefull tool - please post a link here so I can add it to the first post! Thank you!

 

[4870's@over]

Hi,
Today I edited the clock's 2D of my 4870 to fall to 900 (2D, 3D 1150).

More when it jumps from 2D to 3D image of the monitor "flash" (the same way when you change the clock from memory by CCC).

How to resolve this?


Sorry for my bad english.

 

[LuxZg]

You can't resolve it in BIOS. You need to get the clocks back so they are same in 2D and 3D, than install ATT (Ati tray tools) and use this program to change the clocks between your 900(2D) and 1150 (3D).

This is a problem of GDDR5 memory, and every time when card changes clocks you get flickers.

I'll try to translate the rest of my posts today, at least untill that part, so you have a complete solution.. I'm sorry that I'm so slow in traslating, I don't have much time last several days

 

[4870's@over]

You can't resolve it in BIOS. You need to get the clocks back so they are same in 2D and 3D, than install ATT (Ati tray tools) and use this program to change the clocks between your 900(2D) and 1150 (3D).

This is a problem of GDDR5 memory, and every time when card changes clocks you get flickers.

I'll try to translate the rest of my posts today, at least untill that part, so you have a complete solution.. I'm sorry that I'm so slow in traslating, I don't have much time last several days

I am using google to translate the words, is horrible.

Sorry,