AMD BIOS Signature Check re-enabled with ReLive, Locks out Polaris BIOS Modders

[dorsetknob]

Why the ROM also has a signature is down to UEFI implementation of secure boot.

AMD ROMs are hybrid ROMs, there is Legacy section which sets up cards for clocks/voltage, etc, then you have the UEFI/GOP module which the motherboard bios will look for when CSM is disabled so a pure UEFI environment is setup. Now the UEFI/GOP must authenticate the Legacy section, if it does not:-

Does this mean if you set your card to legacy (and overclocked /v modded ) it will load these Drivers using a non UEFI motherboard
or are you Still Stuffed up the proverbal Rectum

 

[gupsterg]

Simple answer you are still stuffed up the proverbial rectum .

The driver only checks the Legacy section signature, you modify that section of ROM for clocks, voltage, etc and if you don't update signature to reflect changes you get no driver load. Regardless you have UEFI or Legacy motherboard and/or disable/delete UEFI/GOP module in vbios making it Legacy only vbios.

 

[deu]

To the people acting up over this:

Imagine you're AMD: You are to put out a new driver/utility that will dynamicly alter the frequency of a given GFX; IF someone have modded a BIOS and set a higher 'default=xxxx', then your utility when trying to moderate the mhz according to the given game will either criple the performance in the game and create an outrage (both by AMD-boi and the green-camp of sh**-talk) EVEN worse the OC modded bioses will pushes this OC mhz up and your utility adds 10% extra to give best performance = BSOD. They have NO idea of know what a modded bios does; I could make a modded bios that was coded in a way that would work normal and well WITHOUR chill, but with it turned on recked the GFX. I am 100% AMD appreciate the OC'ers and modders and what they have done with the optimizations but the fact is that some functions require version control to be able to ensure the experience. modders can do what they have always done, but at own risk. So either you accept the change or you accept the change and mod around it but b****fits is not an option (unless you want to come off as a child.)

 

[Bones]

Why are AMD being such killjoys? It's your card, you're free to do what you want with it.

Simple - Fewer warranty claims.

 

[qubit]

Simple - Fewer warranty claims.

Sounds very likely. Still, it's just in their interest, not ours. It wouldn't surprise me if NVIDIA do the same.

 

[W1zzard]

It wouldn't surprise me if NVIDIA do the same.

NVIDIA Pascal BIOSes are properly locked down, you can't flash them to the card if modified.

 

[R-T-B]

NVIDIA Pascal BIOSes are properly locked down, you can't flash them to the card if modified.

Another reason for me to stay on Maxwell then.

 

[AsRock]

Why are AMD being such killjoys? It's your card, you're free to do what you want with it.

Replacing the cards costs money. Sure their are honest people out there but i bet most go for the RMA and scream they been done wrong if they do not get a replacement.

Sounds very likely. Still, it's just in their interest, not ours. It wouldn't surprise me if NVIDIA do the same.

I thought the newer nV cards were temp regulated ?.

 

[sutyi]

...and for about 99.9% of Polaris users life goes on.

To be honest a better way would've been to just disable the Chill feature for the ones rolling with a modded BIOS. Graying out the option unable to enable it in the control panel and making a hover-over bubble notification why it is disabled. Or better yet if the installer detects a modded BIOS it prompts the user that the Chill feature will be disabled because of the non-conformant BIOS on the card.

 

[wiak]

i suspect this signature thing is on in the WHQL drivers, the hotfix/betas might not have it

 

[renz496]

Another reason for me to stay on Maxwell then.

part of the reason most likely because of warranty stuff. but i also think they double up their BIOS and firmware security because of fake card issue. i have seen this happen with kepler based card.

 

[gupsterg]

To the people acting up over this:

Imagine you're AMD: You are to put out a new driver/utility that will dynamicly alter the frequency of a given GFX; IF someone have modded a BIOS and set a higher 'default=xxxx', then your utility when trying to moderate the mhz according to the given game will either criple the performance in the game and create an outrage (both by AMD-boi and the green-camp of sh**-talk) EVEN worse the OC modded bioses will pushes this OC mhz up and your utility adds 10% extra to give best performance = BSOD. They have NO idea of know what a modded bios does; I could make a modded bios that was coded in a way that would work normal and well WITHOUR chill, but with it turned on recked the GFX. I am 100% AMD appreciate the OC'ers and modders and what they have done with the optimizations but the fact is that some functions require version control to be able to ensure the experience. modders can do what they have always done, but at own risk. So either you accept the change or you accept the change and mod around it but b****fits is not an option (unless you want to come off as a child.)

Did you know that stock factory ROMs tend to have pretty high GPU MHz OverDrive limits (which WattMan would use)?

Spoiler

Hawaii stock ROM left window, Fiji stock ROM lower right, Polaris upper right.

i suspect this signature thing is on in the WHQL drivers, the hotfix/betas might not have it

Nope, like previously posted Polaris launch driver til v16.9.1 regardless of WHQL/hotfix, etc had ROM signature verification.

 

[Jim Bryant]

Would not Surprise me if AMD did launch a DMCA cease and desist campaign on ^^^^^^^

They can't. In fact, if someone wants to do a complete reverse engineering of the BIOS they can now in the USA. The Library of Congress has spoken.

 

[dorsetknob]

They can't. In fact, if someone wants to do a complete reverse engineering of the BIOS they can now in the USA. The Library of Congress has spoken.

Its one thing to be legaly allowed to reverse engineer something
but to use anything you learn in another product or same product AND MAKE THAT PUBLICLY DISTRIBUTED/AVAILABLE will no doubt run you straight into patent/trademark laws or even Anti Terrorist Security laws
East Texas has built quite a legal trade in patent /trademark law
its the legal Trade's first or second Stop for lawsuits Especialy for IT.

 

[Furbacca]

What is it with AMD lately? First i find out they turned off GCN 1.0 card's with April's and higher driver updates, now this. Day ago i just inserted UEFI/GOP code in my original Gigabyte 7970 ghz bios so i can boot quickly into Windows 10. The card is going strong and is amazing overclocker.

 

[Jeremy Jenson]

Hey, i might need your help in my mod. I have done till step 10 when you said that if i reboot the driver signature enforcement will go back to normal. But the thing is, the graphic card is already uninstalled. So im not sure whether i have to install the graphic with the power running or reboot to install it. I have already tried plugging in the graphic after clean uninstall the current driver, my screen goes black and there isnt any signal coming in.
Kinda need your help in abit

 

[Caring1]

Hey, i might need your help in my mod. I have done till step 10 when you said that if i reboot the driver signature enforcement will go back to normal. But the thing is, the graphic card is already uninstalled. So im not sure whether i have to install the graphic with the power running or reboot to install it. I have already tried plugging in the graphic after clean uninstall the current driver, my screen goes black and there isnt any signal coming in.
Kinda need your help in abit

Then start your own thread asking for help, with specific details of the issue and steps you have tried already.
Please don't hijack an existing thread.

 

[nguyehung]

is this mod nesesery for the next AMD driver?

 

[kruk]

The process has been extremely simplified with the new version of AMD/Ati Pixel Clock Patcher (1.4.4) https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-AMD-ATI-Pixel-Clock-Patcher

1. Download the program
2. Rename it to atikmdag-patcher-bios.exe
3. Run the patching process
4. ????
4. Profit!!!

 

[davidm71]

Was wondering if I mod an XFX Rx 460 RX-460P4DDGR bios the driver will not install? How come Saphire's Nitro is factory unlocked and that works with the driver? In that case can I take the bios from that card and flash it onto the XFX Rx460 and expect it to work?

Thanks.

 

[kruk]

Was wondering if I mod an XFX Rx 460 RX-460P4DDGR bios the driver will not install? How come Saphire's Nitro is factory unlocked and that works with the driver? In that case can I take the bios from that card and flash it onto the XFX Rx460 and expect it to work?

Thanks.

DO NOT FLASH BIOS ACROSS DIFFERENT VENDORS, BECAUSE IT WILL PROBABLY BRICK YOUR CARD!

IIRC every official BIOS gets signed by AMD and the driver checks this signature. Sapphire probably got permission from AMD for unlock, therefore the cards BIOS is signed.

 

[davidm71]

Haven't even bought the card yet so if it bricked I would just return it, but thinking of passing because even with the mod the 1050Ti is so much faster for almost the same amount of money.

Still tempted though. Looks like a fun project but this AMD driver signing BS and enforcement of such makes it not worth the effort.

 

[kruk]

If you don't have the card yet, you must know that not all cards unlock. Signing is there to prevent inexperienced people burning/bricking the GPUs. It's not really a problem anymore as patching the driver has become really easy - see my post above.

 

[eidairaman1]

Was wondering if I mod an XFX Rx 460 RX-460P4DDGR bios the driver will not install? How come Saphire's Nitro is factory unlocked and that works with the driver? In that case can I take the bios from that card and flash it onto the XFX Rx460 and expect it to work?

Thanks.

read my signature to avoid kicking yourself in the balls

 

[davidm71]

Well its not my first rodeo flashing modded bios's and was looking for a fun project. Thing is if I pick up this card and Mess it up I can always return it.

Just the performance numbers aren't that great if you ask me..

Thanks