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HD4850 modded bios working with cat 8.8!

Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
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Processor i5-750 - 200x20 - 4.0ghz - 1.280V - 1.29 VTT
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3 - F8f BIOS
Cooling Xigmatek HDT-S1283 - Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm
Memory 2x4GB Super Talent DDR3-1066 @ 1200Mhz - 1.5V
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon 5850 @ 950/1175 - 1.17V
Storage 1tb Caviar Black
Case Cooler Master Storm Scout
Power Supply OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro
Software Windows 7 x64
I just used RBE 1.15 to mod the bios on my asus 4850, and I've tried both 8.9 and the 8.10 betas. I'm using the signature file that ups the overdrive limits and I'm running the max 1.158V. Couple issues though.

When I look at the reported gpu voltage (HWmonitor), it never goes above 1.12V. In power save mode it's at 1.05, and then during a game or something it goes up to 1.12 and that's it. That was the same voltage it went to before I flashed the bios. When I acquire the bios from my card now, it has what I put in, 1.158V for everything except the power save states. Is this because of some kind of vdroop in the card? I think the voltage has been upped though, because my vid card is stable at much higher clocks.

My other issue is that I keep getting the video driver resets. I'll be playing certain games (PURE, occasionally GRID) and the game will pause for a second while the video driver fixes itself in windows (Vista 64). I tried switching from the 8.9 Cat's to the new 8.10 betas and it helped some but it still happens. I had been running at 725/1100, but still had problems at 700/1100. I have good cooling, accelero s1 with 2x120mm fans. I was wondering if my instability is from the card not getting a high enough vcore, or if it may be driver issues. I'm running a modest power supply, ocz 500w, and I overclocked my q6600 as well. I'll see if I can add my specs to my sig.
 

BAGZZlash

RBE Author
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
587 (0.10/day)
I just used RBE 1.15 to mod the bios on my asus 4850, and I've tried both 8.9 and the 8.10 betas. I'm using the signature file that ups the overdrive limits and I'm running the max 1.158V. Couple issues though.

When I look at the reported gpu voltage (HWmonitor), it never goes above 1.12V. In power save mode it's at 1.05, and then during a game or something it goes up to 1.12 and that's it. That was the same voltage it went to before I flashed the bios. When I acquire the bios from my card now, it has what I put in, 1.158V for everything except the power save states. Is this because of some kind of vdroop in the card? I think the voltage has been upped though, because my vid card is stable at much higher clocks.

My other issue is that I keep getting the video driver resets. I'll be playing certain games (PURE, occasionally GRID) and the game will pause for a second while the video driver fixes itself in windows (Vista 64). I tried switching from the 8.9 Cat's to the new 8.10 betas and it helped some but it still happens. I had been running at 725/1100, but still had problems at 700/1100. I have good cooling, accelero s1 with 2x120mm fans. I was wondering if my instability is from the card not getting a high enough vcore, or if it may be driver issues. I'm running a modest power supply, ocz 500w, and I overclocked my q6600 as well. I'll see if I can add my specs to my sig.

When using Overdrive to overclock, the voltages from the powerplay table do not kick in.
Try disabling overdrive and overclocking using powerplay only instead. Your second problem will vanish then almost surely.
 
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
34 (0.01/day)
Processor i5-750 - 200x20 - 4.0ghz - 1.280V - 1.29 VTT
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3 - F8f BIOS
Cooling Xigmatek HDT-S1283 - Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm
Memory 2x4GB Super Talent DDR3-1066 @ 1200Mhz - 1.5V
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon 5850 @ 950/1175 - 1.17V
Storage 1tb Caviar Black
Case Cooler Master Storm Scout
Power Supply OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro
Software Windows 7 x64
So I should disable overdrive in CCC, and I should set things up like this?

 
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
34 (0.01/day)
Processor i5-750 - 200x20 - 4.0ghz - 1.280V - 1.29 VTT
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3 - F8f BIOS
Cooling Xigmatek HDT-S1283 - Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm
Memory 2x4GB Super Talent DDR3-1066 @ 1200Mhz - 1.5V
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon 5850 @ 950/1175 - 1.17V
Storage 1tb Caviar Black
Case Cooler Master Storm Scout
Power Supply OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro
Software Windows 7 x64
I used the flash from the settings I posted above, and everything seems to be doing what it's supposed to - the voltages are now correctly set, the clock speeds switch to the correct values, furmark runs with no artifacts, and my gpu temps always stay below 50.

Only thing is, I keep getting the driver resets still. I've noticed this while testing PURE and GRID, it happened to me before with bioshock as well. I'm starting to think it may be a driver issue, I can't think it would be something else as I can be playing a game, it will pause for a moment to a black screen, and after vista resets the driver I continue with the game as if nothing happened.

I'm pretty sure any 4850 would be able to 725 at this voltage, correct me if I'm wrong. My card wasn't the greatest o/c'er at stock voltage, I would see an occasional artifact running above 680 core in games, although furmark would show nothing. I'm currently trying out the 8.10 betas, although I had similar driver resets with 8.9 as well. Should I try older drivers first? Does it matter that I'm running the signature file with 680/1050/800/1300 if my default speeds are not 680/1050?
 
Last edited:

BAGZZlash

RBE Author
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
587 (0.10/day)
I don't think it's a driver issue.

I'm pretty sure any 4850 would be able to 725 at this voltage, correct me if I'm wrong.
No, not too many 4850 can do that in terms of being "rock-stable". 725 MHz is 100 MHz or 16% more than stock. That's a lot! Look at this one or this one or this one or this one or this one. None of them were able to do such a huge clock increase.

My card wasn't the greatest o/c'er at stock voltage, I would see an occasional artifact running above 680 core in games
That seems to be pretty much it. The voltage increase is not so big, you know. If you would like to push it a little further, try a hard volt mod (which is really easy to apply and completely removable).
 
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
34 (0.01/day)
Processor i5-750 - 200x20 - 4.0ghz - 1.280V - 1.29 VTT
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3 - F8f BIOS
Cooling Xigmatek HDT-S1283 - Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm
Memory 2x4GB Super Talent DDR3-1066 @ 1200Mhz - 1.5V
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon 5850 @ 950/1175 - 1.17V
Storage 1tb Caviar Black
Case Cooler Master Storm Scout
Power Supply OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro
Software Windows 7 x64
You're definitely right. Kind of sad, I was hoping for better clocks from this card, but I've put it back at 700/1100 and it runs rock solid stable so far at 1.158V. Still great performance.

I'll think about the hard mods later when the games call for it, or I might swap with a buddy's 4850 to see if I can get better clocks.

I have to say though, the RBE software is top notch, and quite painless to use. No hiccups whatsoever, I gotta give props because not too many programs out there are offered to overclockers, and this program has a lot of thought put into it. Thanks again for your work.
 
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