290 non X flashed with 290X bios

[CobraXP]

Can a 290 be flashed with a 290X bios to unlock the card? I did this a few years ago with a set of 6950s and they are still working awesome till this day. I just ordered a Sapphire R9 290 and was hoping it is flashable to 290X bios.

Thanks,
CobraXP

 

[Ja.KooLit]

Can a 290 be flashed with a 290X bios to unlock the card? I did this a few years ago with a set of 6950s and they are still working awesome till this day. I just ordered a Sapphire R9 290 and was hoping it is flashable to 290X bios.

Thanks,
CobraXP

dont get your hopes too high. after the 6950 to 6970 saga, AMD would not make same mistake again. I think.....

but better wait for the "professional" people to do it. I'm sure others will be so eager to try.....

by professional means who are willing to risk their cards without worrying to brick it

if somebody give me a 290, i will try why not

 

[CobraXP]

I am hoping the first 290s out are rushed and can be flashed lets hope and see

 

[W1zzard]

no, the shaders are not locked via bios, I checked on my press board

 

[CobraXP]

no, the shaders are not locked via bios, I checked on my press board

So no other way to unlock it? There are physical differences then?

Thanks,
CobraXP

 

[Deleted member 24505]

/thread end

 

[W1zzard]

So no other way to unlock it?

probably with an electron microscope or other multi million dollar equipment

 

[CobraXP]

probably with an electron microscope or other multi million dollar equipment

LoL.. gotcha. Thanks for the info W1zzard. One can only hope

 

[Sasqui]

probably with an electron microscope or other multi million dollar equipment

Remember the Radeon 9800 series... there was one or two microscopic caps and traces on the GPU PCB that separated the non pro from the XT, and one more step to the $1000 workstation FireGL ...if I recall correctly. I'm sure there's much more to the 290.

 

[W1zzard]

Remember the Radeon 9800 series... there was one or two microscopic caps and traces on the GPU PCB that separated the non pro from the XT, and one more step to the $1000 workstation FireGL ...if I recall correctly. I'm sure there's much more to the 290.

Yes, these are not lasercut on top of the GPU side. They can be cut on the bottom of the GPU or cut using fuses that can be blown electrically during production

 

[Sasqui]

using fuses that can be blown electrically during production

Nuked shaders!

 

[qubit]

This reminds me of my AIW 9800 SE I bought way back in 2003 for the great price of £160. It had 4 pipelines disabled, but it could be softmodded or hardmodded to the full 8. There was just no guarantee that they would all work, but I was one of the lucky ones.

With 4 pipelines it performed pretty well, but with 8 it went like a rocket! Half-Life 2 played really well on it.

I eventually hardmodded it using the instructions on TPU.

And yes, I still have it and yes it still works.

 

[Durvelle27]

Guy on OCN claiming to have flashed a 290 with 290X BIOs with success

 

[Jstn7477]

Guy on OCN claiming to have flashed a 290 with 290X BIOs with success

As far as I know this doesn't accomplish much. I'm pretty sure cadaveca or someone has used 7970 BIOSes on 7950s without issue, though I could certainly be wrong.

 

[manofthem]

Guy on OCN claiming to have flashed a 290 with 290X BIOs with success

See, I'd be willing to try but.....

Yes, these are not lasercut on top of the GPU side. They can be cut on the bottom of the GPU or cut using fuses that can be blown electrically during production

I'll take W1zz's word on it. As he's the one who showed us the path on the 6950 unlock, I've learned to trust his judgement

 

[claylomax]

You don't need to flash it, just buy it pre-flashed:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-014-VX&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752