[Help] Problems with a Chinese RX580 8GB 2048SP

[N1MR0D]

Before anything, I know buying an RX580 from aliexpress isn't always (and almost never) the best choice, but being on very low budget and with the extreme markup for graphics cards in my country, it was the most sound choice available, specially considering I managed to grab it on 11.11 for $65.

I've been trying to solve the issue on my own for the past couple of weeks and I've made some progress. Initially I thought it was a drivers issue as the original problem was the system randomly freezing minutes after booting up or bluescreens. The problem persisted even on fresh windows 10 and linux installs so I figured the problem must be the BIOS, as chinese manufacturers modify these for crypto mining.

Here's a pic of GPU-Z on the original BIOS and the "GPU-Z Parameter" image the seller has on the product page

(Sorry for all the pictures of GPU-Z on my monitor instead of screencaps)

Did some digging and decided to flash this BIOS after confirming that the memory on my card was Samsung

Sapphire RX 570 VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

GPU-Z after flashing the 570 BIOS


After flashing the BIOS no crashes at all (until later). I used the PC like that for a couple days but when I tried gaming on it, the performance was extremely low (20fps on Cyberpunk 2077 720p on minimum graphics and 11%-15% gpu relative performance on userbenchmark). Not only that but when it does some hardware encoding for Parsec or Jellyfin it crashes. So I decided to try flashing a different BIOS. Currently I've tried the 570 BIOS, which I've already linked and this "veineda" BIOS. Both seem to work but with the extremely low performance issue.

veineda rx 580 2048sp VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

And I've also tried this "MLLSE" BIOS which performed noticeably better during the userbenchmark test but glitched and bluescreened before it ended. Will randomly bluescreen minutes after boot.

MLLSE RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

On further inspection I noticed that the memory has a "128" engraved on it, so I've been looking for a BIOS that supports samsung K4G80325FC memory and has "D00034 Polaris20 XL A1 GDDR5 128Mx32 4GB 300e/300m" in the product name like this BIOS, as opposed to the "D00033 Polaris20 XL A1 GDDR5 256Mx32 8GB 300e/300m" on the other ones I've tried. I still haven't found a suitable BIOS as all the ones I've found only support different memory (Micron, hynix). Could this actually be the problem or am I just making assumptions?

Lexindar RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I'll also try it in my friends PC in a couple days to check for compatibility issues it may have with my PC.

My knowledge is limited to what I've read while trying to fix this problems the past few days so any help is appreciated.

 

[Dr. Dro]

What's the code on the processor chip? That's vital to track down the precise subvariant of processor your card has. It might use an RX 470, 470D, or 570 chip as well, not necessarily the RX 580 2048SP's.

Real 580-2048SPs have the following number engraved on the packaging: 215-0910052

Be mindful that there's no guarantee that it will ever work correctly, you purchased a recycled card made of mining refuse parts, and that's a risk when you buy these unlicensed designs.

 

[N1MR0D]

What's the code on the processor chip? That's vital to track down the precise subvariant of processor your card has. It might use an RX 470, 470D, or 570 chip as well, not necessarily the RX 580 2048SP's.

Real 580-2048SPs have the following number engraved on the packaging: 215-0910052

Be mindful that there's no guarantee that it will ever work correctly, you purchased a recycled card made of mining refuse parts, and that's a risk when you buy these unlicensed designs.

Where exactly would I find the code?

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Nope, those are 256X32 packages. 8Gb each, so if you have 8 that makes it an 8GB card.

On the corner of the metal "frame" around the GPU die itself, there is a code like that. I can't see it in the picture you posted, whether it is just too bright or it has been removed I am not sure.

The code can be seen on the corner of the chip below (click to enlarge):

What that does is ensures that the BIOS is for Polaris 20 XL, rather than Polaris 10 PRO. The chips are only slightly different, but enough to cause issues with BIOS incompatibility.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Where exactly would I find the code?

Corner of the chip, same line as the "AMD" brand, just as Count said. Your camera flash covered it or I'd have told you outright

 

[N1MR0D]

Loos like the code is missing, any other way to identify the processor? If not, is there anything that can be done such as trying BIOS for Polaris 20 XL and for 10 PRO? What if we assume that it actually was an RX580 2048SP?

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

The original GPU-Z screenshot said the die was Ellesmere.

Polaris 10 PRO is a variant of Ellesmere, and is used in the RX 470. Polaris 20 XL, a variant of Polaris 20, is the right one for the RX 580 2048SP.

I am going to assume it is an RX 580 2048SP, and I found a VBIOS that matches the VRAM and ID from the original GPU-Z screenshots.

Sapphire rx 580 2048sp VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1286 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Dr. Dro]

Bloody Chinese counterfeit GPU manufacturers scraping off hardware identifiers... thankfully your GPU had a clue, it has "32360" written in one of the corners, which *should* indicate that this uses the processor core of an RX 570. I've looked up on Google for PCBs and all supposedly RX 580 2048SP cards I've found apparently have a "31939" in place of that number.

Those BIOSes are far more likely to work. The extremely low performance you are seeing may be attributed to the GPU power input shunt configuration, one of them is bound to work.

The original GPU-Z screenshot said the die was Ellesmere.

Polaris 10 PRO is a variant of Ellesmere, and is used in the RX 470. Polaris 20 XL, a variant of Polaris 20, is the right one for the RX 580 2048SP.

I am going to assume it is an RX 580 2048SP, and I found a VBIOS that matches the VRAM and ID from the original GPU-Z screenshots.

Sapphire rx 580 2048sp VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1286 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Yeah the problem Ellesmere is just the general family number, from the RX 470 to the 590 they all have this codename, and then there's the whole bunch of subvariants... AMD has absolutely zero control over the production chain on these, or they just don't bloody care. Polaris is going to feed the counterfeit/recycle GPU market until the stock depletes, and then they'll probably go the way of the dodo unless the BIOS security for Pascal and newer GPUs get cracked somehow.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Interesting thought. The RX 570 BIOS that he flashed appears compatible with his card except for the ID mismatch, so maybe that is the source of the issue.

Anyways, if the one above doesn't work, this one might.

AMD RX 570 VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1286 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I would try the Sapphire RX 580 one first, as the last RX 570 BIOS you tried didn't help much.

 

[N1MR0D]

Interesting thought. The RX 570 BIOS that he flashed appears compatible with his card except for the ID mismatch, so maybe that is the source of the issue.

Anyways, if the one above doesn't work, this one might.

AMD RX 570 VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1286 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I would try the Sapphire RX 580 one first, as the last RX 570 BIOS you tried didn't help much.

Thanks, I'll try these and come back with the results.There's no problem with the GPU clock being 1286MHz instead of 1284MHz? And just to confirm, the 128 engraved on the memory doesn't mean its 128x32 right?

Bloody Chinese counterfeit GPU manufacturers scraping off hardware identifiers... thankfully your GPU had a clue, it has "32360" written in one of the corners, which *should* indicate that this uses the processor core of an RX 570. I've looked up on Google for PCBs and all supposedly RX 580 2048SP cards I've found apparently have a "31939" in place of that number.

Those BIOSes are far more likely to work. The extremely low performance you are seeing may be attributed to the GPU power input shunt configuration, one of them is bound to work.



Yeah the problem Ellesmere is just the general family number, from the RX 470 to the 590 they all have this codename, and then there's the whole bunch of subvariants... AMD has absolutely zero control over the production chain on these, or they just don't bloody care. Polaris is going to feed the counterfeit/recycle GPU market until the stock depletes, and then they'll probably go the way of the dodo unless the BIOS security for Pascal and newer GPUs get cracked somehow.

Thanks, I don't really know much about this so I couldn't have figured out. The "GPU power input shunt configuration" refers to the power limits?

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

There's no problem with the GPU clock being 1286MHz instead of 1284MHz? And just to confirm, the 128 engraved on the memory doesn't mean its 128x32 right?

Yes and yes. You should be good to go.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Thanks, I don't really know much about this so I couldn't have figured out. The "GPU power input shunt configuration" refers to the power limits?

Power input type. Usually must match the amount of power connectors and same power delivery basic circuitry.

 

[N1MR0D]

Interesting thought. The RX 570 BIOS that he flashed appears compatible with his card except for the ID mismatch, so maybe that is the source of the issue.

Anyways, if the one above doesn't work, this one might.

AMD RX 570 VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1286 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I would try the Sapphire RX 580 one first, as the last RX 570 BIOS you tried didn't help much.

Power input type. Usually must match the amount of power connectors and same power delivery basic circuitry.

I tried both BIOS and both were stable but with the low performance issue. At this point I think it might be a hardware compatibility issue or just a bad card, but what bothers me is that this BIOS had good performance. Any idea why that was the case or what was the problem with that specific BIOS that made it crash?
VGA Bios Collection: MLLSE RX 580 2048SP 8 GB | TechPowerUp

It's still some days until I can test for compatibility issues so I'll keep trying to find a BIOS that works. Don't wanna keep bothering you guys with a problem that may not be possible to solve this way. If you could help me with some tips on what to look for and what to avoid on the BIOS internals I'll keep looking for a good BIOS and post if I manage to find anything. Either way, thanks for the help.

 

[Assimilator]

Before anything, I know buying an RX580 from aliexpress isn't always (and almost never) the best choice, but being on very low budget and with the extreme markup for graphics cards in my country, it was the most sound choice available, specially considering I managed to grab it on 11.11 for $65.

If you buy a product and that product does not work, it is not a sound choice regardless of how little you paid.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

tried both BIOS and both were stable but with the low performance issue. At this point I think it might be a hardware compatibility issue or just a bad card, but what bothers me is that this BIOS had good performance. Any idea why that was the case or what was the problem with that specific BIOS that made it crash?

The most obvious issue is that the BIOS you found uses Samsung FB memory, whereas your card has FC memory.

I can link a few of each, but not sure if any will help.

 

[Kodehawa]

It's also running at PCI-e 1.1 speeds. 16 lanes of PCI-e 1.1, not PCI-e 3.0. What I'm looking at is that on the original listing it also ran at 1.1 speeds. What is going on there?

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

It's also running at PCI-e 1.1 speeds. 16 lanes of PCI-e 1.1, not PCI-e 3.0. What I'm looking at is that on the original listing it also ran at 1.1 speeds. What is going on there?

It is a common symptom of a messed up VBIOS.

 

[Kodehawa]

It is a common symptom of a messed up VBIOS.

That's interesting. I'll make sure to remember it for future endeavors.

 

[pavle]

I tried both BIOS and both were stable but with the low performance issue...

What if you tried the RX470 BIOS? Just an idea. If it doesn't have performance issues (other than lower BIOS clocks), you can later adjust clocks and power limit with polaris BIOS editor.

 

[N1MR0D]

What if you tried the RX470 BIOS? Just an idea. If it doesn't have performance issues (other than lower BIOS clocks), you can later adjust clocks and power limit with polaris BIOS editor.

You mean assuming it's a Polaris 10 Pro instead of a 20 XL? I'm completely open to try it but I don't know what should I look for aside from memory compatibility

The most obvious issue is that the BIOS you found uses Samsung FB memory, whereas your card has FC memory.

I can link a few of each, but not sure if any will help.

I found this one that looks like it's almost the same aside from compatibility with FC memory so I'll try that

HP RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I'm also thinking about trying BIOS with lower clocks like this one, it should be fine right?

Mingzhou RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1206 MHz GPU, 1650 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

And lastly, if I wanna flash a BIOS from something like an RX470 like pavle suggested, what should I look for if I wanna avoid bricking my card as much as possible? Just memory compatibility?

 

[Dr. Dro]

You mean assuming it's a Polaris 10 Pro instead of a 20 XL? I'm completely open to try it but I don't know what should I look for aside from memory compatibility


I found this one that looks like it's almost the same aside from compatibility with FC memory so I'll try that

HP RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

I'm also thinking about trying BIOS with lower clocks like this one, it should be fine right?

Mingzhou RX 580 2048SP VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1206 MHz GPU, 1650 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

And lastly, if I wanna flash a BIOS from something like an RX470 like pavle suggested, what should I look for if I wanna avoid bricking my card as much as possible? Just memory compatibility?

If I were you, I would download a few RX 570 BIOSes and try these instead of any supposed 2048SP BIOS. I don't think this GPU sold to you is a 580-2048SP, but rather an RX 570. It's a very minute detail that ultimately doesn't matter performance-wise but at such a low level, minor differences can mean everything between being stable, underperforming or downright crashing. The search I did only showed GPU cores identical to yours in RX 570 boards. It seems to me that your success rate may be higher then, but the only thing you can do at this point is keep flashing, keep benching and see if you can find if some BIOS works. Time consuming, could be risky, but may work for you.

This nonsense of having no real way to ascertain what you really have is very common with counterfeit/unlicensed Chinese recycles like your graphics card. Even if your budget is exceptionally limited, it is wise to only buy graphics cards that were built by either AMD or by licensed AIB partners. In AMD's case, you may find the list of legit manufacturers here:

AMD Global & System Builder Partners Contact Information | AMD

 

[pavle]

You mean assuming it's a Polaris 10 Pro instead of a 20 XL? I'm completely open to try it but I don't know what should I look for aside from memory compatibility

And lastly, if I wanna flash a BIOS from something like an RX470 like pavle suggested, what should I look for if I wanna avoid bricking my card as much as possible? Just memory compatibility?

Well - I should have mentioned it before - it is imperative that you find out whether the card has got polaris 10 or 20 GPU on it and then find the closest matching BIOS. Memory, clockspeeds and shader count is usually enough to observe.
Edit: I went through RX 470 BIOSes and none is right, so that leaves RX 570 as in above post mentioned. Compare the card also by its physical arrangement if it's similar to any other picture here in the TPU database.

 

[N1MR0D]

A russian guy on the reviews of the graphics card suggested doing these changes to the original BIOS (one with good performance), for it to stop freezing. What do you guys think and how much will it hit the performance? a assume it's a decent trade-off for it to be stable and also perform above the bare minimum.



Here's a link I managed to find to the original BIOS that came with the gpu and a picture of the settings in the PolarisBiosEditor

Envinda RX 580 VBIOS

8 GB GDDR5, 1284 MHz GPU, 1750 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

 

[wywywy]

您需要卸载当前显卡的驱动程序，然后前往AMD官方网站下载驱动程序,It may also be damaged.Even Chinese people dare not buy it.The price is not too big, but the life span is unknown.

 

[N1MR0D]

So small update. I've been trying a lot of stuff and I think I've made some progress although I haven't been able to solve the issues.
First I modified the original BIOS as the russian guy suggested. This made a great improvement on stability, making random crashes almost disappear, but the PC would still BSOD in a weird glitchy way when I tried to run a game or a benchmark.


Thats the full monitor, notice how the BSOD is towards on the bottom left part of the screen and looks like multiple images overlaid. I also ran some tests with MSI afterburner on the background and noticed this unreal spikes in temperature when things started freeze and lag.


I tried to lower the core clock even more (down to 952 and later to 588) but there were no noticeable improvements on stability. Changes to the memory clock, voltage or powertune made no difference either. Changes to clocks and power limit in MSI afterburner only make the stability worse and the PC crash immediately upon opening a benchmark or game.

I noticed that BIOS that had Samsung FB VRAM would be the ones that had the expected performance but would crash, and the ones with support for FC VRAM (the ones on my card), were the most stable ones and wouldn't crash at all except on some very specific situations. The reason the performance is low on FC VRAM BIOS is because the GPU clock seems to be permanently stuck at 300MHz, even when under load. Do any of you guys know if there's a fix for this? I've been thinking about changing the minimum GPU clock value in polaris bios editor, but I'm not sure how to do it properly. Should I just replace the minimum clock value with the next one? ie. 300MHz 750mV with 588MHz 65282mV.


And lastly, what's with the frequency values in the POWERPLAY section of the polaris bios editor and why do they differ from the maximum values on the GPU and memory tables? These are the only values that haven't changed at all in any BIOS, what would happen if I lower them to the maximum values of the other tables?
Most likely I will be buying another GPU, but I wanna exhaust any possibility of fixing this one before doing so.