VBE7 - vBIOS Editor for Radeon HD 7000 series cards

[Tatty_Two]

It's Asus hd7970-dc2t-3gd5, stock clocks are 1000 core 5600 memory. I can also add that I know for sure that it works perfectly at 1020 at 1102mv (with old driver gputweak worked properly and I downvolted it as much as it let me), could probably allow even more clocks at that voltage but I'm not sure, just didn't need that much. I believe it's been below stock for a year or more, all the time

Before you replied I went searching in our database using the device ID and Bios details and determined the card was an Asus Top edition, sadly every bios I tried (and there were a few matching) had a locked Bios.
The only way I can see that it might work is to use another Asus Bios, maybe the Matrix but whilst specs apart from clocks are similar comes with some risk.

 

[Amber Shade]

Before you replied I went searching in our database using the device ID and Bios details and determined the card was an Asus Top edition, sadly every bios I tried (and there were a few matching) had a locked Bios.
The only way I can see that it might work is to use another Asus Bios, maybe the Matrix but whilst specs apart from clocks are similar comes with some risk.

I've heared matrix bioses work fine on dc2t, soo whould be worth a shot? If anything, I'll just put it on shelf and buy a 580, though that's an.. unpleasant outcome

 

[Tatty_Two]

I've heared matrix bioses work fine on dc2t, soo whould be worth a shot? If anything, I'll just put it on shelf and buy a 580, though that's an.. unpleasant outcome

Well, I can't really answer that for you but there are likely 3 outcomes...……………..

1. It works
2. It won't flash
3. It will flash but bricks the card

So the risk is only number 3, you may have to force flash it if it has a different device ID, best to be certain from the descriptor that the memory is the same type and the power setup is the same.

 

[Amber Shade]

Well, I can't really answer that for you but there are likely 3 outcomes...……………..

1. It works
2. It won't flash
3. It will flash but bricks the card

So the risk is only number 3, you may have to force flash it if it has a different device ID, best to be certain from the descriptor that the memory is the same type and the power setup is the same.

There are 2 bioses so it's operational either way, and I should be able to reflash it anyway using another card to boot? The question is, could you change the clocks in the bioses in question, or is it dead locked. Newer RX cards seem to idle at 300 core 300 mem? Maybe memory clock is the key

 

[Tatty_Two]

There are 2 bioses so it's operational either way, and I should be able to reflash it anyway using another card to boot? The question is, could you change the clocks in the bioses in question, or is it dead locked. Newer RX cards seem to idle at 300 core 300 mem? Maybe memory clock is the key

Just checked, the Matrix Bios remains locked at #4 but is unlocked on the others at both clocks and voltage.

 

[agent_x007]

I bought myself a ASUS R9 270X 4GB, and I wanted to tweak it's clocks/voltages with this editior.
Everything went smoothly, until I changed my memory clocks to 1500MHz (6GHz effective).
I'm pretty sure it's driver going crazy when two different memory clocks are present at different profiles, because I couldn't change 3-rd profile frequency or UVD 4-th profile

Can someone help me change memory clocks ?
Here's how I want vBIOS to look like (left default, middle + right moded, with UVD profiles not shown here - but all changed to 1500MHz memory clock as well) :

Would like VDDC set to 1,144V (so around -0,05V vs. default).
Thank you !

 

[Tatty_Two]

If I remember correctly from by time using VBE7 to Mod my old 280X, your problem lies with #3 in terms of memory, the driver I think it's the driver rather than a VBE7 limitation) will ignore any memory increase in a low power state, so maybe leave #3, change the rest and see if it holds, otherwise, if there is a limit before powerplay "goes nuts" try modding the memory clocks at #3 in 50mhz increments to see if you can go further before powerplay "goes nuts" ...…………….

Edit: Found from OP

There are some limitations though...

• You cant change 2D / UVD voltages
• You cant set 2D / UVD clocks higher than the values stored in BIOS (these limitations are intentional, without these limits powerplay would go nuts...)
• The following voltage regulators are fully supported: CHL822x, CHL8214, UP1637, UP1801, ST6788A, VT1556M
• For unknown voltage regulators, you can select voltage from a predefined table.

 

[agent_x007]

I thought it was meant as core clocks, not memory clock ?

I can't change memory clock on third profile (ie. after I click anywhere, that value drops to 1400).
When I set 1500MHz as memory freq. in 4-th + 5-th profiles only (and after I update GPU with those settings), I get weird frequncy drops/switch between 1050/1500 and 450/1400 during unigine superposition test
Clocks usually change every few seconds.
From 1050 to 450 to 1050 to 450 again (same with memory clock from 1500 to 1400 to 1500 and back to 1400).
I assumed it was memory clock issue on uvd profile, since all other profiles had them at 3D clock values (not counting 3-rd one.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Try this, don't know if you matched UVD for minimal conflict prob no difference but it's worth a try...…………..

 

[agent_x007]

Keeps switching

 

[Tatty_Two]

Last try, 2 changes, give it a go...……………..

 

[agent_x007]

Same as other one... frequency jumps around

 

[Tatty_Two]

Clearly the limitation relates to UVD and memory and I don't think you are going to achieve your goal, when I modded my 280X I only did so as I was getting random crashes in games so I added a little voltage which did the job, worst case scenario, could you not touch the memory, but through VBE7 increase power limits etc, play around with any voltages/Graphics speeds and then just use something like Afterburner for making some profiles that add a memory overclock? I know that is far from ideal and will only help with a fraction of where you wanna be.

 

[agent_x007]

I guess I will have do that
But I prefer my cards to work as I want them (Pascal and newer are one thing, but I though GCN1.0 was easier to get moded).

 

[Tatty_Two]

I guess I will have do that
But I prefer my cards to work as I want them (Pascal and newer are one thing, but I though GCN1.0 was easier to get moded).

The only other thing I can think of which is a bit radical is to try a force flash to a 7950 (I think that was the previous gen equivalent card or was it the 7870 lol) and see if the driver/Bios would give you more flexibility with customising/tweaking in VBE7.

 

[agent_x007]

Won't that fail because of 4GB VRAM (timings) ?
Not sure if there is 4GB 7870...

 

[n1k]

@Tatty_One That's some good memory you have there (your grey matter). It's been about 6 years since I tried tweaking the settings of my R9 280X so I'm a bit foggy on the details.

@agent_x007 I believe I only tried to undervolt the card as I was using it for Crypto mining with the card going full tilt 24/7 so tried to reduce the heat and save some electricity. I was able to reduce the Volts from: 1.200V down to 1.131V when the core was at 1100Mhz and RAM at 1500Mhz. I only changed "Powerplay : State 1 - Performance" setting #6 and #0. I don't see a #6 on your screenshots so I don't know if that's of help to you or not?

# Rom modified to have Powerplay : State 1 - Performance
#6 1100
v 1144

#0 1020
v 1131


My results from cgminer (a Crypto Currency Mining software):

GPU 1: 711.0 / 712.5 Kh/s | A:86 R:1 HW:0 U:8.85/m I:20
71.0 C F: 64% (2274 RPM) E: 1100 MHz M: 1500 Mhz V: 1.131V A: 99% P: 20%
Last initialised: [2014-01-01 02:38:32]
Intensity: 20
Thread 1: 713.5 Kh/s Enabled ALIVE

@agent_x007 Out of curiosity what method are you using to flash your cards?

I was following info/guide at:
# Trying to undervolt at 1100Mhz
# Ref: http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/10/undervolting-in-linux-via-modified-bios/
# Ref: http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/vbe7-vbios-editor-for-radeon-hd-7000-series-cards.189089/

I needed to flash the rom in DOS using a bootable USB stick as for it didn't work in either Linux or Windows:
# Using rufus_v1.4.1.exe - http://rufus.akeo.ie/downloads/ make FreeDOS bootable USB stick
# Copy atiflash_417 and backup ROMS to a folder on USB stick.
# boot USB stick in dos and now the flash commands work
atiflash -p 2 2.orig.rom

Note: take backup roms before you flash anything as trying to find a stock ROM or what you previously had online can be difficult. Thankfully the R9 280X has two ROMs. I had to use the little switch on the card to boot into the backup rom, then switch it back to restore the ROM that I botched up when attempting the flash in Linux.

 

[eidairaman1]

Won't that fail because of 4GB VRAM (timings) ?
Not sure if there is 4GB 7870...

I could probably find you a comprable bios

Gre a gpu-z screenshot with the stock unmodified bios

 

[Deleted member 193706]

Make sure you flash with ATI winflash and not ATI flash which is the newer software, only change the vram clock on the "0 clock" option, there's no need to change the others, add some +power limit if your overclocking the core also and this won't change in bios, you need to manually change power limit in MSI afterburner after you flash, before this, like you I changed vram to 1500 and it kept defaulting to standard 1400. I also changed vcore from like 1178 to 1200 just to be sure, though you may get away with standard voltage

 

[agent_x007]

Make sure you flash with ATI winflash and not ATI flash which is the newer software, only change the vram clock on the "0 clock" option, there's no need to change the others, add some +power limit...

Those two, combined with dropping VDDC to 1,132V in vBIOS (in both #0 and #4 profiles), resulted in this :

IT WORKS !!!
Or at least result is at where it should be at least
VDDC get's spikey (along with VRM not sure why yet), but the same thing was happening on default vBIOS as well so that's OK.

Here's default score at 1120/1400 in profile #0 and 1050/1400 as profile #4 :

 

[eidairaman1]

Those two combined, with dropping VDDC to 1,132V in vBIOS (in both #0 and #4 profiles), resulted in this :
View attachment 142523
IT WORKS !!!

Default score :
View attachment 142524

Upload that bios to the gpu-z database and put in description it is your custom ram time/clock mod.

Push the core speed up too on a separate bios even

 

[agent_x007]

I want to test this more before uploading it.
Those spikes are weird, but this GPU was never repasted since it's purchase, and I think they may be connected with it ("don't remove or void warranty sticker" still in place on screw) OR it's simply a driver bug (I don't know yet) - still, they were present on stock settings as well so not mod fault.
Either way : I don't want to push clocks, I only want to undervolt at this point.

This card is NOT meant for mining or pushing highest clocks.
I want to get it to most stable and efficient point possible (ie. 1050MHz @ lowest x.xxxV VDDC).

Exact settings used :

I DID NOT touched UVD or anything else.

PS. I always flashed this card with atiwinflash v287.

 

[eidairaman1]

I want to test this more before uploading it.
Those spikes are weird, but this GPU was never repasted since it's purchase, and I think they may be connected with it ("don't remove or void warranty sticker" still in place on screw) OR it's simply a driver bug (I don't know yet) - still, they were present on stock settings as well so not mod fault.
Either way : I don't want to push clocks, I only want to undervolt at this point.

This card is NOT meant for mining or pushing highest clocks.
I want to get it to most stable and efficient point possible (ie. 1050MHz @ lowest x.xxxV VDDC).

Exact settings used :
View attachment 142525
I DID NOT touched UVD or anything else.

PS. I always flashed this card with atiwinflash v287.

Being a 270x its warranty is probably expired already since they were around since 2013.

Also miners run way lower core clocks but screw with ram timings to point any game crashes on them

 

[agent_x007]

I now got it on "14 day warranty" from return policy of the original owner
In short : I bought it already, but I can send it back within two weeks if I don't like it (assuming I won't do anything to it).
I don't want return it at this point though (since it works fine), so the next thing on the "to do" list is stripping it down to see what's under the heatsink...

If someone is wondering, this is my card :



Also, card WILL drop to settings from profile #4 if it's pushed outside TDP/Power limits.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Glad you got where you needed to be in the end!