How to enable additional shaders on Radeon HD 6950

[obsoletepower]

Okay so I installed the 10.12a hotfix from AMD and the crashing seems to be less now. However, I still cannot play games like CoD Black Ops and BF BC2 due to extreme artifacting.

*edit* I am using the Sapphire Tweak Utility and I was able to reduce the clocks to their 6950 stock values. Still the same.

 

[Mastroz]

Okay so I installed the 10.12a hotfix from AMD and the crashing seems to be less now. However, I still cannot play games like CoD Black Ops and BF BC2 due to extreme artifacting.

I have a question. how do I move the memory clock slider to less than 1375? It will not go any lower in ATI Overdrive. Should I be using another app for this?

U have the power slider up to 20% and fan speed up??

 

[obsoletepower]

U have the power slider up to 20% and fan speed up??

Definitely.

 

[bystander]

I thought I should add my experience so far with the updated BIOS.

It works great up to 890 GPU clock. After 890 GPU clocks, I start having driver crashes. The good news is the Memory Clock at 1375 has no issues.

3dmark 11 went from 4600 with maxed 6950 clocks, to 5300 with stock 6970 clocks.

I'd also like to mention that when my system did lock up with 900 GPU core, my temps were never above 75C. I assume this may be a voltage issue or something else...anyone care to give me advise if there is something I can do, as temps do not seem to be the issue?

 

[Mastroz]

Definitely.

Try 0% and fan at 50%

 

[Mastroz]

Is your clock at 880?

 

[obsoletepower]

Try 0% and fan at 50%

I just tried this and running 3DMark11 and the display driver crashed. 3DMark11 won't run.

 

[obsoletepower]

Is your clock at 880?

Yes. GPU clock is 880 and Memory is at 1375.

 

[obsoletepower]

Every game I run will cause the display driver to crash.

 

[bystander]

I just tried this and running 3DMark11 and the display driver crashed. 3DMark11 won't run.

The only thing I could do, when having the same issue, was back off the GPU clock until it would run. Luckly for me, that was at 890, but you may have to drop it lower.

Temps were NOT an issue, so I wonder if someone might suggest a better solution.

 

[trialsin]

+1 to Sapphire 6950s successfully flashed. I replaced the BIOS today and set the clocks to 6970 levels. I got a big performance jump and there's no artifacting in games. Thanks for the writeup!

 

[Mastroz]

I'd back the 1375 down a tad maybe... How are your temps??

 

[obsoletepower]

I'd back the 1375 down a tad maybe... How are your temps??

I cannot, ATI Overdrive minimum is 1375. I can't go any lower.

Since I have the fan at 70% they are not bad. Idle is 38 and load.....I don't know since I cannot run any games or even FurMark.

 

[bystander]

I cannot, ATI Overdrive minimum is 1375. I can't go any lower.

Install MSI Afterburner, it will allow you to lower it. It will also end up lowering the amount ATI Overdrive allows.

 

[Mastroz]

Yeah I'd try what bystander said... What are your temps like??

 

[obsoletepower]

Yeah I'd try what bystander said... What are your temps like??

Idle is around 38C but I cannot test the card under load because it will crash the app.

 

[obsoletepower]

I lowered the GPU clock to 800 and Mem clock to 1250. Those are stock 6950 settings. It makes no difference. Apps still crash.

 

[Mastroz]

hmm, weird.... whats your clock at on the card? 880? or 800?

 

[obsoletepower]

hmm, weird.... whats your clock at on the card? 880? or 800?

I put it to 800.

 

[bystander]

If it won't allow you to run at stock 6950 clocks, this leads me to believe that you may have actually run into a card that had a reason to disable some shaders.

 

[obsoletepower]

If it won't allow you to run at stock 6950 clocks, this leads me to believe that you may have actually run into a card that had a reason to disable some shaders.

Is there no fix for this?

 

[bystander]

I don't know. Hopefully someone else can enlighten us.

 

[bystander]

Is there no fix for this?

If you are just looking to get the card working again, you can always flash your saved bios back. That should put you back to where you started at least.

 

[obsoletepower]

If you are just looking to get the card working again, you can always flash your saved bios back. That should put you back to where you started at least.

Oh yeah I have done that no worries

 

[Andypro]

I tried lowering my memory clocks back to 6950 stock (1250MHz). That didn't help my artifacting unfortunately. Keep the suggestions coming.