HD 2900 Series Overclocking and Feedback thread

[badsykes]

For future 2900 series
for today 8800 series..

 

[EastCoasthandle]

I have updated the OP with photos of R600 with the Maze4

 

[Wile E]

Sweeeet!!! Thanx EastCoast. All I wanted to know is if I could use the stock heatspreader with a water block, to save money on ramsinks. My next upgrades are now a 3x120mm rad and a gpu block.

 

[MarcusTaz]

oh well I took the plunge, if it does now own up to my expectations fleybay it shall go.... Just to let you boys know I got the Diamond HD2900XT for 341.99 and here is how.

www.buy.com has the diamond make for 399.99.

http://www.buy.com/prod/Diamond_Rad...press_x16_Video_Card/q/loc/101/204584591.html

I then got a 7% coupon for the memorial day weekend, get it here:

http://www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp?prid=80261253&adid=17581&dcaid=17581

that will bring the cost down to $371.99

Then I applied for the buy.com visa and the 1st purchase gets you $30 more off to a total of:

$341.99



Hope this helps some of you get a sweet deal...

 

[MarcusTaz]

I have updated the OP with photos of R600 with the Maze4

Eastcoast can you direct me to your link of pics? Not sure what the "OP" means...

 

[Wile E]

Eastcoast can you direct me to your link of pics? Not sure what the "OP" means...

OP= Original Post.

He just means the first post in this thread.

 

[MarcusTaz]

Cool thanks, oh and that deal you can get free shipping and no tax.... w00t!!!

 

[MarcusTaz]

I have updated the OP with photos of R600 with the Maze4

Eastcoast nice pics man. Hey that backplate on the GPU you used electrical tap as an insulator from the surface mount components? Hey man do you have plans to maybe use like an epoxy resin for that plate to ensure nothing pokes through the tape and short circuits?

 

[Wile E]

Couldn't you technically just use the stock back-plate for the block?

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Eastcoast nice pics man. Hey that backplate on the GPU you used electrical tap as an insulator from the surface mount components? Hey man do you have plans to maybe use like an epoxy resin for that plate to ensure nothing pokes through the tape and short circuits?

You notice that huh? That neoprene material is very important, if the metal comes into contact with any live components you may mess up your video card. I've had that for about a year and I found 1 hole in it. I didn't want to take any chances and the replacement for it (comes as a kit) does cost more then I expected. I figured electrical tape is a cost effective solution.
As far as epoxy resin goes, no not at all right now.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Couldn't you technically just use the stock back-plate for the block?

The stock backplate's screws are not removable. And, the Maze4 base plate fits just fine.

 

[MarcusTaz]

Cool man, but just to let you know the epoxy resin is a very inexpensive solution. I mean the black vinal tape works and all but if you are an anal nut like myself then all ya have to do is put that plate on a work surface and just give it a couple of coats of resin and wala... insulated and hard, no pokey through.... :>)))

 

[MarcusTaz]

Hey no one commented on my deal... I hope some people see it... Maybe I will make a new thread. Also the http://www.theinquirer.net posted an article on the whole UVD fisaco... Read it here:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39884


It is sad to see AMD/ATI getting bashed on this but after reading this article I think they are to blame..

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Hey no one commented on my deal... I hope some people see it... Maybe I will make a new thread. Also the http://www.theinquirer.net posted an article on the whole UVD fisaco... Read it here:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39884


It is sad to see AMD/ATI getting bashed on this but after reading this article I think they are to blame..

I read it and it's a good deal . And I honestly don't feel sorry for them. That's an important feature if you are into HTPC HD/BR). For regular DVD its just fine but the whole issue with UVD is that it can decode HD/BR with a very slow CPU. Look at the links below for examples:

TESTBED
http://tinyurl.com/2va6xh

Results of Behind Enemy Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinXP
http://tinyurl.com/355abx

Results of Open Season Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinX
http://tinyurl.com/345g33

Results of X-men Last Stand Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinX

Now are there a a lot of people with a 2800+? That's not really the point here, the issue is that UVD does in fact decode HD/BR with little effort from the CPU.

 

[noneed4me2]

Just confirmed the card does not have UVD= video decode acceleration logic:

http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/12552


Man I am torn on whether to get this card or not... I have 2 mobo's both Asus:

A8N32SLI-Deluxe
A8R32MVP-Deluxe

If I go Nvidia, it would be the 8800GTX and I would keep the Nvidia Chipset mobo
But if I go 2900XT of course I would use my crossfire mobo and sell the other platform.

Either way I have to sell one and I just cannot make my mind up...

Help

I have the A8R32 mvp deluxe, good board. Don't use 0701, stick with 0602, the manual memory dividers don't work. Only the Auto settings work and they set the ram at 133 only, at least everyone I have talked too using this bios has said they have the same issue.

 

[MarcusTaz]

I have the A8R32 mvp deluxe, good board. Don't use 0701, stick with 0602, the manual memory dividers don't work. Only the Auto settings work and they set the ram at 133 only, at least everyone I have talked too using this bios has said they have the same issue.

Dude thanks so much, since flashing I cannot OC for crap... Thanks for the heads up, flashing back to 0602....

 

[Wile E]

I read it and it's a good deal . And I honestly don't feel sorry for them. That's an important feature if you are into HTPC HD/BR). For regular DVD its just fine but the whole issue with UVD is that it can decode HD/BR with a very slow CPU. Look at the links below for examples:

TESTBED
http://tinyurl.com/2va6xh

Results of Behind Enemy Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinXP
http://tinyurl.com/355abx

Results of Open Season Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinX
http://tinyurl.com/345g33

Results of X-men Last Stand Line using AMD 2800 + 1.6 WinX

Now are there a a lot of people with a 2800+? That's not really the point here, the issue is that UVD does in fact decode HD/BR with little effort from the CPU.

But who in their right mind is gonna put a 2900 in such an underpowered system?

 

[EastCoasthandle]

But who in their right mind is gonna put a 2900 in such an underpowered system?

A lot of people who HTPC do so on a budget. What you need to take into account is the fact that this review shows NO (let me repeat that NO) video card decoding of any kind. This is not an issue of using a slow CPU. It's an issue that there is NO video card decoding using a single die, cpu. Therefore, you can take a good guess how much CPU usage maybe using a dual/quad core (IE more processors). The more CHEAPER video card with UvD reduces cpu usage down to 5%. Something is wrong here. I I hope that drivers will fix this and get it down to <20% but that remains to be seen.

 

[Wile E]

I see exactly where you're coming from, Eastcoast. It should definitely offload some video processing, but my only point is that you should have a cpu that's perfectly capable of playing HD content before you even consider this card. Therefore, it shouldn't keep you from enjoying HD content.

I'm a little upset it doesn't offload anything, it would be very nice. It's just not a necessity.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

I see exactly where you're coming from, Eastcoast. It should definitely offload some video processing, but my only point is that you should have a cpu that's perfectly capable of playing HD content before you even consider this card. Therefore, it shouldn't keep you from enjoying HD content.

I'm a little upset it doesn't offload anything, it would be very nice. It's just not a necessity.

CPU's were not design (specifically) to play HD/BR. That's the problem. People get stuttering, skipping problems if the HD/BR player becomes to dependant on the CPU.

 

[MarcusTaz]

Do we smell a Class Action Lawsuit against AMD/ATi for this debacle? I mean who is to blame, the ATI partners or AMD/ATI? If people bought this card for a HTPC for this reason for the UVD, then did then not buy the card under false pretences? Just thinking outloud here...

 

[lane]

Why? cause shop don't read spec of the card?... All review over internet have say the UVD is only for 2600-2400 cards.. (not Daylitech, when you lift NDA, forget to get info or invit by AMD/ATI, Intel or nividia (in the case it was an Nvidia nda))..

Guru3D on 12 May.. write the UVD is only for 2600-2400, basically the 2900 don't need it like the 2600-2400.. spec given by AMD about the 2900XT have never mention the UVD, but HD Avivo2.. to understand too..actually the 8.36-8.37 and beta 8.38 don't use the Avivo HD for decode Blue ray/HDCP, HDMI.. but only CPU... Catalyst will implement it only on 7.5 (so official 8.38).. Clubic. com same... and all other review i have see talking about the 2900XT, have say same.. this was the info they have got from AMD, or reading the spec of the card..

At same time: on AMD site, the spec of R600 series mention each time, the 2900XT don't use the UVD, but only the new HD Avivo 2..

n AMD talk about R600 Some shop have make the exact misstake i have make reading the April annouces of the UVD, when they was talking about the R600 series.. ( so it was more with our new generation card, if ready we will implement the UVD..)..

Is the reason they have not release the 2600-2400 at same time of the 2900XT?.. certainly the UVD was the last feature announced, and i can think they have got not enough time for do a new PCB for the 2900... But on the low model and specially on the Laptop GPU's.. this feature will be really great..

 

[Wile E]

CPU's were not design (specifically) to play HD/BR. That's the problem. People get stuttering, skipping problems if the HD/BR player becomes to dependant on the CPU.

I haven't tried BluRay, but HD-DVD plays flawlessly for me using PowerDVD 7.3. (Note: I'm not arguing, just giving my own experiences for sake of comparison.) Last time I tried I was clocked at 2.6GHz, never tried lower. CPU usage was very high, but not high enough to cause problems.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

I haven't tried BluRay, but HD-DVD plays flawlessly for me using PowerDVD 7.3. (Note: I'm not arguing, just giving my own experiences for sake of comparison.) Last time I tried I was clocked at 2.6GHz, never tried lower. CPU usage was very high, but not high enough to cause problems.

How high? And which cpu/video card are you using?

 

[Wile E]

Around 40% usage at 2.6GHz on my Brisbane X2 4000+ and 2900XT.