7870 flash to 270x

[ricochet1490]

I know this is an old card, probably not even worth asking this, but I'm curious to know if anyone specifically has done this.
The primary reason is to get native Directx 12 support for modern games only programmed with DX12. The chipset is compatible, but only officially supported to 11_1. Thus DX12 games aren't playable.
This doesn't appear to be possible through the amdvbflashWin.exe program. It stops you from loading the 270x bios because of a P/N mismatch.

I can open the 270x rom with hxd and change the line specifically where the VBIOS pn is located. But I'm not ballsy enough to change it, save it, and upload it. Unless one of you can confirm that's all I need to do to allow the gui version here to work.

I've tried to run it via command prompt, but that doesn't seem to work, the exe seems to crash continually if I'm running it in windows. It just lets me press key to continue through the exe and eventually crashes.

So I tried to make a bootable flash drive, but realized that probably isn't in the cards either as this machine isn't your typical build. It's an old mac pro tower from like 2009. So there isn't really a MB bios to launch the bootable disk from and the 7870 that's in there will run MAC os once it is booted, but it doesn't have mac uefi (or whatever it is) support to be able to select the boot drive from the beginning.
I don't happen to have another PC handy with the power to run this 7870 gpu to be able to power it from something like an old dell desktop.

Thoughts?

 

[eidairaman1]

Get a sticker pic from card back/side of heatsink, gpu-z screenshot please

 

[ricochet1490]

Here's the gpu-z.
I'll have to shut it down and pull the card to get an actual pic of it.

 

[eidairaman1]

Here's the gpu-z.
I'll have to shut it down and pull the card to get an actual pic of it.
View attachment 229342

That will help me verify a few things

This is a stock verified bios

ATI HD 7870 VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1000 MHz GPU, 1200 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Here are others, must have hynix ram to work.

TechPowerUp

Extensive repository of graphics card BIOS image files. Our database covers submissions categorized by GPU vendor, type, and board partner variant.

www.techpowerup.com

You need to check this.

TechPowerUp

Graphics card and GPU database with specifications for products launched in recent years. Includes clocks, photos, and technical details.

www.techpowerup.com

Your gpu has

 

[ricochet1490]

Here are the card images.

 

[eidairaman1]

Your gpu has Shaders: 1280 TMUs: 80 ROPs: 32

Here are the card images.

Diamond HD 7870 VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1000 MHz GPU, 1200 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

270 1024SP has less of the above.

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-r9-270-1024sp.c2679

 

[ricochet1490]

Your gpu has Shaders: 1280 TMUs: 80 ROPs: 32

Diamond HD 7870 VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1000 MHz GPU, 1200 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

270 1024SP has less of the above.

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-r9-270-1024sp.c2679

But I'm looking at the 270x.
Not the standard 270.
Presumably there is a difference?

This was the bios rom I downloaded thinking it was most similar. FWIW

ATI R9 270X VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1050 MHz GPU, 1400 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

 

[eidairaman1]

But I'm looking at the 270x.
Not the standard 270.
Presumably there is a difference?

This was the bios rom I downloaded thinking it was most similar. FWIW

ATI R9 270X VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1050 MHz GPU, 1400 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Im comparing stats

Pitcairn and Curacao are exactly the same by feature set, even DirectX 12 (11_1), you would just be changing the gpu name from Pitcairn to Curacao.

Pitcairn is a derivative of Curacao.

AMD Curacao GPU Specs

1280 Cores, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs

www.techpowerup.com

AMD Pitcairn GPU Specs

1280 Cores, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs

www.techpowerup.com

You can attempt it as long as the bios has your ram and video outputs contained in the files.

 

[ricochet1490]

Im comparing stats

Pitcairn and Curacao are exactly the same by feature set, even DirectX 12 (11_1), you would just be changing the gpu name from Pitcairn to Curacao.

Pitcairn is a derivative of Curacao.

Everything I've researched in the last week says that the 270x is a rebranded 7870. So you're 100% correct on that. The exception here is that the drivers for the 270x are written with native DX12 support. That's the error I'm getting when launching stuff only written in DX12.

My understanding was that the change to a 270x bios would install a driver that was DX12 recognized.

 

[eidairaman1]

But you must have a backup plan for disaster recovery

Everything I've researched in the last week says that the 270x is a rebranded 7870. So you're 100% correct on that. The exception here is that the drivers for the 270x are written with native DX12 support. That's the error I'm getting when launching stuff only written in DX12.

My understanding was that the change to a 270x bios would install a driver that was DX12 recognized.

See my previous reply

 

[ricochet1490]

But you must have a backup plan for disaster recovery




See my previous reply

I already used both the ati software as well as gpu-z to download a bios backup of the 7870.

It's the reflash that is giving me issues where it's saying the P/N is mismatched. I'm not sure how to overcome that....
I know just enough to be dangerous here and am not quite sure what the next steps are.

 

[eidairaman1]

Stock R 9 270X bios

ATI R9 270X VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1050 MHz GPU, 1400 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

1002 6810 1002 0B04

The stock 7870 is
1002 6818 1002 0B04

I already used both the ati software as well as gpu-z to download a bios backup of the 7870.

It's the reflash that is giving me issues where it's saying the P/N is mismatched. I'm not sure how to overcome that....
I know just enough to be dangerous here and am not quite sure what the next steps are.

Give me another moment

I already used both the ati software as well as gpu-z to download a bios backup of the 7870.

It's the reflash that is giving me issues where it's saying the P/N is mismatched. I'm not sure how to overcome that....
I know just enough to be dangerous here and am not quite sure what the next steps are.

I will guide you but the backup plan (spare gpu/igp/apu) is needed.

 

[ricochet1490]

Stock R 9 270X bios

ATI R9 270X VBIOS

2048 MB GDDR5, 1050 MHz GPU, 1400 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

1002 6810 1002 0B04

The stock 7870 is
1002 6818 1002 0B04



Give me another moment



I will guide you but the backup plan (spare gpu/igp/apu) is needed.

I have an older ati 2600 series 256mb gpu sitting here beside me that I just verified was still working earlier today. I have the room and PCI slot to install it, and it does work with the computer (it actually has that ability to function with the mac boot screens more naturally)

Does that sound sufficient?

 

[eidairaman1]

I have an older ati 2600 series 256mb gpu sitting here beside me that I just verified was still working earlier today. I have the room and PCI slot to install it, and it does work with the computer (it actually has that ability to function with the mac boot screens more naturally)

Does that sound sufficient?

Ok good, tons come ill prepared or go into panic mode so let me get a few links

 

[RJARRRPCGP]

I saw "GHz Edition". Looks like 7870 could indeed be what a 270X was and 7970 being what a 280X was. The former being R9 270X and the latter being R9 280X?

 

[eidairaman1]

I saw "GHz Edition". That could be what became the R9 280X.

No the 280X is a 7970GHz Edition, 280 is 7950.

270X is Curacao, 7870 is Pictairn

 

[ricochet1490]

I saw "GHz Edition". That could be what became the R9 280X.

I'm not 100% sure. but comparing

AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition Specs

AMD Pitcairn, 1000 MHz, 1280 Cores, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2048 MB GDDR5, 1200 MHz, 256 bit

www.techpowerup.com

and

AMD Radeon R9 270X Specs

AMD Curacao, 1050 MHz, 1280 Cores, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2048 MB GDDR5, 1400 MHz, 256 bit

www.techpowerup.com

They appear to be the same and from what I've read I think the 280x was the 7970?? Something to that effect.

^^ yeah what he said lol

 

[eidairaman1]

I have an older ati 2600 series 256mb gpu sitting here beside me that I just verified was still working earlier today. I have the room and PCI slot to install it, and it does work with the computer (it actually has that ability to function with the mac boot screens more naturally)

Does that sound sufficient?

Download this tool, unzip it, you will be doing a flash via windows command prompt.

AMDVBFlash / ATI ATIFlash 5.0.567 Download

AMD AMDVBFlash is used to flash the graphics card BIOS. The version released by ATI was called ATIFlash or just WinFlash. It supports all AMD Radeo

www.techpowerup.com

 

[ricochet1490]

I'll send screenshots of completion.

I've tried doing this some already, this process will be interesting to see if I missed anything in the readme or the pdf instructions.....

Download this tool, unzip it, you will be doing a flash via windows command prompt.

AMDVBFlash / ATI ATIFlash 5.0.567 Download

AMD AMDVBFlash is used to flash the graphics card BIOS. The version released by ATI was called ATIFlash or just WinFlash. It supports all AMD Radeo

www.techpowerup.com

step one. Done.

 

[eidairaman1]

I'll send screenshots of completion.
View attachment 229353

I've tried doing this some already, this process will be interesting to see if I missed anything in the readme or the pdf instructions.....


step one. Done.

Give me a moment.

Rename the unzipped bios file to 270X.rom

Move the AMDflash2 folder to just the C: drive

Move the bios file into the AMDflash2 folder

Open the start menu, type cmd, when cmd.exe appears right click it and hit "Run as administrator"

6. At the command prompt type in cd\ and press enter until only C:\> is on the screen.

7. Type in cd/AMDflash2 and press enter, you should see C:\AMDflash2>

8. At the C:\AMDflash2> prompt type in
amdvbflash.exe -unlockrom 0
(there is a space between the e and -unlockrom and 0)(0 is the number zero)
press enter and you will be prompted that the "ROM Unlocked"

9. At the C:\atiflash> prompt type in
amdvbflash.exe -f -p 0 270X.rom
(there is a space between the .exe and -f, and a space between -f and -p and 0)press enter.

Follow directions on screen and if flash is successful exit the command prompt and restart, windows should show up on screen.

I would suggest reinstalling gpu drivers afterwards

The version i told you to download is version 2.93 which supports the commands.

3.20 uses different syntax

I'll send screenshots of completion.
View attachment 229353

I've tried doing this some already, this process will be interesting to see if I missed anything in the readme or the pdf instructions.....


step one. Done.

 

[ricochet1490]

I'll give that a shot. I figured before I did anything I'd go ahead and make sure that all system updates were installed and ready to go. Didn't want any interruptions during that reboot.

I also have the latest version of AMD radeon software already downloaded just in case I have to turn the clock speeds back down the standard 7870 specs.

I'm already using the cmd prompt doing this so might as well stay there. But..... I wonder if you had the rom unlocked, would that allow the GUI version of the software to install bypassing the P/N mismatch requirement?......

Will report back on success or failure.

Give me a moment.

Rename the unzipped bios file to 270X.rom

Move the AMDflash2 folder to just the C: drive

Move the bios file into the AMDflash2 folder

Open the start menu, type cmd, when cmd.exe appears right click it and hit "Run as administrator"

6. At the command prompt type in cd\ and press enter until only C:\> is on the screen.

7. Type in cd/AMDflash2 and press enter, you should see C:\AMDflash2>

8. At the C:\AMDflash2> prompt type in
amdvbflash.exe -unlockrom 0
(there is a space between the e and -unlockrom and 0)(0 is the number zero)
press enter and you will be prompted that the "ROM Unlocked"

9. At the C:\atiflash> prompt type in
amdvbflash.exe -f -p 0 270X.rom
(there is a space between the .exe and -f, and a space between -f and -p and 0)press enter.

Follow directions on screen and if flash is successful exit the command prompt and restart, windows should show up on screen.

I would suggest reinstalling gpu drivers afterwards

The version i told you to download is version 2.93 which supports the commands.

3.20 uses different syntax

So before I get started here. The syntax for 3.20 and 2.93 inside the cmd prompt are different? Am I understanding that correctly?
Is it easy enough to just read the cmd prompt window for the right syntax?

Looking at the help portion of the software, it appears I actually want to use -fp to force the flash bypassing bios P/N Check?

 

[eidairaman1]

I'll give that a shot. I figured before I did anything I'd go ahead and make sure that all system updates were installed and ready to go. Didn't want any interruptions during that reboot.

I also have the latest version of AMD radeon software already downloaded just in case I have to turn the clock speeds back down the standard 7870 specs.

I'm already using the cmd prompt doing this so might as well stay there. But..... I wonder if you had the rom unlocked, would that allow the GUI version of the software to install bypassing the P/N mismatch requirement?......

Will report back on success or failure.


So before I get started here. The syntax for 3.20 and 2.93 inside the cmd prompt are different? Am I understanding that correctly?
Is it easy enough to just read the cmd prompt window for the right syntax?

Looking at the help portion of the software, it appears I actually want to use -fp to force the flash bypassing bios P/N Check?
View attachment 229354

Yes the -f was in 2.93. -fa, -fp are in 3.20.

If you do 3.20 you use amdvbflash.exe -unlockrom 0

Then amdvbflash.exe -fa -fp 0 270X.rom

 

[ricochet1490]

Yes the -f was in 2.93. -fa, -fp are in 3.20.

If you do 3.20 you use amdvbflash.exe -unlockrom 0

Then amdvbflash.exe -fa -fp 0 270X.rom

Perfect.
Yeah I couldn't find a reliable source for the 2.93 software for whatever reason, so we'll just run what we have here with 3.20.

Point of order with 3.2 being stand alone, Readme file was correct in that you also have to run the amdvbflashdriverinstaller to allow the amdvbflash work.

Now that I know what I'm looking at, the help file is pretty good.
I'll give this a shot today.

 

[ricochet1490]

Ok, so now that the site is back up, small update.

Complete failure. Using all compositions of - fa -fp and - p, it would flash the card. But no dice on the backside. Gpuz still saw it as a 7870. Amd software didn't recognize the card was there. Forcing other drivers did nothing.

Should I go out and find a copy of 2.93 instead of 3.2? I can flash it back using the original bios from 3.2 using the same commands and the card works great. Like it always did. So I don't know if it just can't be done with the rom file on hand, it can't be done period, or it can't be done with 3.2(or im not using it right)

 

[eidairaman1]

Perfect.
Yeah I couldn't find a reliable source for the 2.93 software for whatever reason, so we'll just run what we have here with 3.20.

Point of order with 3.2 being stand alone, Readme file was correct in that you also have to run the amdvbflashdriverinstaller to allow the amdvbflash work.

Now that I know what I'm looking at, the help file is pretty good.
I'll give this a shot today.

2.93 is archived here, under 3.20 you see an old version link