MSI AB, Sapphire R9 290 VaporX BIOS mods

[eidairaman1]

Well as of today I finally got back into overclocking GPUs after almost 10 years of hiatus.

I have the latest version of AB installed and I am currently using Crimson Relive 16.12.1 drivers.

AB settings that are enabled are in this image:
http://img.techpowerup.org/170507/capture001-20170507.jpg

Well Low and Behold, I can adjust core voltage but memory voltage adjustment is grayed out.

http://img.techpowerup.org/170507/capture002-20170507.jpg

Since that option is grayed out does that mean I have a non programmable voltage controller for the memory, or am I missing a key item somewhere else?

I have tried doing research and some had a report of voltage control working in sapphire trixx but not in AB, so I'm asking the gurus of AB here for some help.

Thanks

 

[ziddey]

Memory voltage is not adjustable on the majority of 290s. Not really a big deal since it's the memory controller that's usually the limiting factor and not the memory itself.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1564219/modded-r9-390x-bios-for-r9-290-290x-updated-02-16-2016

 

[eidairaman1]

Memory voltage is not adjustable on the majority of 290s. Not really a big deal since it's the memory controller that's usually the limiting factor and not the memory itself.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1564219/modded-r9-390x-bios-for-r9-290-290x-updated-02-16-2016

what's the link for?

I'm not necessarily doing bios flashing unless if there is a major benefit to it, I have a custom PCB card by the way so the layouts are different from reference.

here is my GPU z info

http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/17/05/07/p96.png

 

[ziddey]

You'll see much more benefit to running the 390 mc bios and tighter timings than just overclocking the memory. The card has a dual bios, so there's no risk. FWIW, I have the tri-x which is the reference pcb, and the vapor-x bios works fine as well.

 

[eidairaman1]

You'll see much more benefit to running the 390 mc bios and tighter timings than just overclocking the memory. The card has a dual bios, so there's no risk. FWIW, I have the tri-x which is the reference pcb, and the vapor-x bios works fine as well.

I'm not seeing a Saphire 390/390X/Nitro bios on that link thus far, I'm on page 6 so far. I was also comparing the 290 and 390 speeds to each-other on several brand sites, the fastest Factory overclock on the GPU is 1080, but I noticed the Ram is at 6000 now for the 390/Xs.

I'm presuming this is a guide

This is my PCB for clarification (1030/1400)
http://img.techpowerup.org/170507/capture003-20170507.jpg

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I had a 390 not a 290 it flashed easy enough , still does in a mate's its memory is at 1500 quad pumed to 6000 so i would expect it to actually be different memory not just clocked higher, you would have to find the right bios.
Yours might be locked ,you can unlock via command though.
I never waterblocked my 390 and 1150 was about the max i ever got but 24/7 1080 was stable enough to fold.
And after reading up a bit im definitely going to try crazy memory timings on my bios but as far as im concerned you get the most compatible memory timings from your stock bios and its possible to mess with just the top memory straps timings on polaris , doing thats playing it safe/clever as it doesn't preclude it working if the top strap fails to work, itll still boot for the next round , however I only can be sure of it working on polaris as i have not tried before to do it so haven't awared myself of earlier tools to do the same.
Afaik even a bios flash might not oc memory as many of the last few generation amd cards are in reality hardware voltage locked via simple circuit method despite many looking like you can in reality most oc the imc at best.

 

[eidairaman1]

I had a 390 not a 290 it flashed easy enough , still does in a mate's its memory is at 1500 quad pumed to 6000 so i would expect it to actually be different memory not just clocked higher, you would have to find the right bios.
Yours might be locked ,you can unlock via command though.
I never waterblocked my 390 and 1150 was about the max i ever got but 24/7 1080 was stable enough to fold.
And after reading up a bit im definitely going to try crazy memory timings on my bios but as far as im concerned you get the most compatible memory timings from your stock bios and its possible to mess with just the top memory straps timings on polaris , doing thats playing it safe/clever as it doesn't preclude it working if the top strap fails to work, itll still boot for the next round , however I only can be sure of it working on polaris as i have not tried before to do it so haven't awared myself of earlier tools to do the same.
Afaik even a bios flash might not oc memory as many of the last few generation amd cards are in reality hardware voltage locked via simple circuit method despite many looking like you can in reality most oc the imc at best.

Yup as memory voltage is locked out. When bios flashing, do you happen to have the card in uefi or csm?

Any idea what aux voltage does?

 

[ziddey]

Aux is for the integrated memory controller. I've found overvolting it to not offer much benefit. It's said that 1.03v is the sweet spot, which I believe the vapor-x already runs at.

 

[eidairaman1]

Aux is for the integrated memory controller. I've found overvolting it to not offer much benefit. It's said that 1.03v is the sweet spot, which I believe the vapor-x already runs at.

good to know I'll double check my stuff when I'm at home.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Ill try a few bios when i get home , can't personally recommend a bios editor for Hawai ill have a look unless someone else knows already

 

[eidairaman1]

Ill try a few bios when i get home , can't personally recommend a bios editor for Hawai ill have a look unless someone else knows already

Yeah definitely a new project for me.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1604567/polaris-bios-editing-rx5xx-rx4xx/1470#post_25922169

Been looking here for starters, hawii bios readers out there so right away you could download and look at a few comparable roms for similarity or difference.

 

[eidairaman1]

yeah my voltage for die and aux are set as offsets, not definitive voltages.

this is my SKU if it helps with anything.

11227-04

found more Info, as per this review this card uses SK Hynix Ram.

"sixteen 2Gb SK Hynix memory chips with the part number H5GC2H24BFR-T2C, which are rated to run at 6Gbps"

https://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2014/06/05/sapphire-radeon-r9-290-vapor-x-oc-review/1

 

[eidairaman1]

well this is mind boggling- will definitely have to take time reading all of this information to cook up a modded hawaii 290/X bios for my card.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1561372/hawaii-bios-editing-290-290x-295x2-390-390x

 

[eidairaman1]

well for those still following this I am a little Mixed up, it would appear my stockrom has all these Memory straps in it,

Strap end 400MHz (40 9C 00) , Range = 150-400MHz
Strap end 800MHz (80 38 01) , Range = 401-800MHz
Strap end 900MHz (90 5F 01) , Range = 801-900MHz
Strap end 1000MHz (A0 86 01) , Range = 901-1000MHz
Strap end 1125MHz (74 B7 01) , Range = 1001-1125MHz
Strap end 1250MHz (48 E8 01) , Range = 1126-1250MHz
Strap end 1375MHz (1C 19 02) , Range = 1251-1375MHz
Strap end 1500MHz (F0 49 02) , Range = 1376-1500MHz
Strap end 1625MHz (C4 7A 02) , Range = 1501-1625MHz
Strap end 1750MHZ (98 AB 02) , Range = 1626-1750MHz

Note: HEX values in brackets are as they would be in VRAM_Info timings section without endian conversion, etc.

to include these straps
200MHZ (20 4E 00)
250MHz (A8 61 00)
600MHz (60 EA 00)

whats Interesting is when I use the HxD hex editor tool

it finds these straps in multiple areas by their hex code
example 40 9C 00 which is for the 150-400MHz range, etc etc

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture001-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture002-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture004-20170523.jpg

just examples, I am unsure where to start to adjust the strap sequence as there are multiple entries but in different offsets

These are the bios reader screens for additional info
http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture005-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture006-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture007-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture008-20170523.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/170524/capture009-20170523.jpg

 

[eidairaman1]

@infrared, @theoneandonlymrk

this is my stock bios files and what I have found and learned so far from this link

http://www.overclock.net/t/1561372/hawaii-bios-editing-290-290x-295x2-390-390x#

I have 2 note pad files aswell for hex conversions I have done already.

under editing GPU/Ram Clock spoiler

Then onto Memory Timings Modding--> Memory Controller Straps/Frequency Range

I pretty much want to implement The Stilt Timings for Hynix AFR, I presume this is what you are talking about @ziddey ?

 

[infrared]

Sorry for delay, it's been a looong time since I've done any hex editing and bios modding... I got my head round it in the end!

Ok, I found all the straps and timings and noted the address for each of them. The timings change at the 1250 strap (1001-1250), so I've copied the new hynix afr timings in for this and all following straps. Saved, then opened and saved in HawaiiReader to correct the check sum.

Are you editing voltages as well as clocks, or keeping it simple for now? I hope the timings make a difference

 

[eidairaman1]

Sorry for delay, it's been a looong time since I've done any hex editing and bios modding... I got my head round it in the end!


Ok, I found all the straps and timings and noted the address for each of them. The timings change at the 1250 strap (1001-1250), so I've copied the new hynix afr timings in for this and all following straps. Saved, then opened and saved in HawaiiReader to correct the check sum.

Are you editing voltages as well as clocks, or keeping it simple for now? I hope the timings make a difference

Since im brand new to bios mods im keeping it simple so i dont smoke my card lol. Doing the hex conversions is the easy part, locating where to inject the code into the offsets is the hard part.

 

[eidairaman1]

@infrared, once i learn more on this after completing this stuff, I want to implement these timings into another stock file to have 2 separate ones to prevent confusion lol.

Adding 390/X MC Timings (v3.1) to a 290/X & 295X2 ROM

thats the next major step after this initial mod