Controlling fan speeds for 3850..

[ShadowFold]

Rivatuner doesn't work(like it ever does). The fan fix for the HD 4000's doesnt seem to work either. The "smart fan speed" on my HD 3850 is crap or its broke. Its trying to run 14% while under full load so it overheats.

 

[Kursah]

What version of Riva you using? I've yet to ever have an issue with Riva, either ATI or NV...I must just be lucky lol, that and I usually wait for a while after a product release before getting it...usually! LOL.

I'm doing some google, it seems Riva is the popular recommendation...I don't know if ATI Tool .27 Bx can do it? I have no experience with these cards, but from what I'm reading it does seem their fan speed is locked in BIOS to a certain speed...similar to my 9600GT, it's pre-set locked at 30% and the only fan speed adjustment I can do is a locked percentage...I set it to 50%, not very audible but a lot more effective.

Is that an IceQ version? Or vanilla?

 

[ShadowFold]

What version of Riva you using? I've yet to ever have an issue with Riva, either ATI or NV...I must just be lucky lol, that and I usually wait for a while after a product release before getting it...usually! LOL.

I'm doing some google, it seems Riva is the popular recommendation...I don't know if ATI Tool .27 Bx can do it? I have no experience with these cards, but from what I'm reading it does seem their fan speed is locked in BIOS to a certain speed...similar to my 9600GT, it's pre-set locked at 30% and the only fan speed adjustment I can do is a locked percentage...I set it to 50%, not very audible but a lot more effective.

Is that an IceQ version? Or vanilla?

Iceq, Riva 2.3 and it works for me in XP but not Vista.

Sory if I type weird I have the KB in my lap, im on SFmini

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Wolf had the same problem with his 4870, he ended up using one program to OC the card and then a manual fan controller to adjust the fan speed.

 

[intel igent]

why not use ATi tool? you can find it on the download's page

 

[Kursah]

Iceq, Riva 2.3 and it works for me in XP but not Vista.

Sory if I type weird I have the KB in my lap, im on SFmini

You getting the issue with signed drivers by chance? I know Cold Storm is having similar issues except with OC-ing under Riva with an 8400GS...I don't have issues and neither does my G/F's rig...both on Vista. But it seems a few others are...Riva 2.3 eh? I'm on 2.09...you mean .03?

 

[ShadowFold]

ATi tool always stays in the task bar.. never actually launches no matter what version. This is with Cat 8.7 the latest.

 

[intel igent]

ATi tool always stays in the task bar.. never actually launches no matter what version. This is with Cat 8.7 the latest.

have you posted in the ATi tool thread? have you asked W1zz if he could be of any help?

he did write the proggy AFAIK

just my $0.02

 

[Kursah]

ATi tool always stays in the task bar.. never actually launches no matter what version. This is with Cat 8.7 the latest.

Uninstall both, reastart, press F8 before/during Windows Boot, choose Disable Driver Signing and install again...that might help...maybe run as administrator?

ATI Tool works perfectly for me, .26-.27 bx's...

 

[boogah]

Well if you really want to have it permanently fixed use RBI to set the fan speed you want the flash the bios back to the card. I had to do it for my MSI 3870 that was stuck at 80%

 

[intel igent]

Well if you really want to have it permanently fixed use RBE to set the fan speed you want the flash the bios back to the card. I had to do it for my MSI 3870 that was stuck at 80%

good point and fixed

 

[ShadowFold]

Is it safe? I CANNOT KILL THIS CARD. Its the ONLY card I have capable of any kind of gaming.

 

[boogah]

It's pretty safe to do if you do it in the right order.

programs you'll need

RBE
ATI Winflash

both can be downloaded in the download section.

run ATI winflash n save you default BIOS to a folder.

open RBE and load that bios file.

Click the fan settings tabs

then change the fan speed in there.

when you are done click the save bios it will be a different name

go back to ATI winflash and load the new bios file you just saved then program button

it should take about a min the mouse and everything will be frozen until it is done so don't try to restart the computer or turn off the power.

when it is done it will say that it has flashed it successfully and u'll need to restart.

so restart and try out your new fan settings. If you are not satisfied edit the original bios again... but always start from the original.

 

[Kursah]

Is it safe? I CANNOT KILL THIS CARD. Its the ONLY card I have capable of any kind of gaming.

Well then you'd better be confident in your video bios skills! I used to flash my 1950pro when it was my ONLY PCI-E card lol! I even had one flash that sent it beserk with nothing more than a few green lines across the screen...fortunately I wrote down every step I had to do to flash (obviously not in windows hehe), and was familiar with flashing so the other steps to getting to the DOS style prompt at boot...I was lucky...I just about was dead in the water on that one! Many are not as fortunate, and blind flashing really does suck!

Maybe Google ATI Tool not working in Vista or something along those lines and see if someone has a solution for ya, you might waste more time trying different things for a possible solution, but it shouldn't turn your card into a brick since you won't be messing with BIOS....but VGA Bios isn't really that bad dude...dunno on the 38xx series tho. But I've flashed x1950pro's and xtx's mostly in my experience. So take my words with a grain of salt.

 

[ShadowFold]

Can you do it from windows? I dont feel like hooking up my floppy

 

[Kursah]

You could just make a bootable DOS CD too ya know!

That's how I did it...and it allowed NTFS (google, find Dos bootable CD w/NTFS) so I just stuck my backup saved bios and the new edited bios on C:\ for easy access with the ATIFlash.

You could use ATIWinFlash I have probably flashed my xtx over a dozen times in XP and Vista using that utility...it should work for ya! Just make sure you're not doing something to possibly cause a freeze or crash or something like that...you'd could brick it up just as easily!

I've been successful with it though!

 

[boogah]

Can you do it from windows? I dont feel like hooking up my floppy

just follow my steps on post #13

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Utilities/RBE/
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1122/Winflash_2.0.1.2.html