How to enable additional shaders on Radeon HD 6950

[brandonwh64]

Could be a software issue, make sure you cleaned the files out for whatever you installed

 

[w00tie]

i'll check that right away..

 

[brandonwh64]

i'll check that right away..

I installed Rivatuner once on my I7 rig when i had MSI afterburner (Just wanted to see what features i could use on it) and it would lock up the PC or i would loose video signal

 

[w00tie]

deinstalled trixx / afterburner .. reboot.. reinstalled afterburner after killing the afterburner service still running and everything works back.. damn software!

 

[w00tie]

oopsss..

since the moment i "unlock" afterburner .. i get my rig crashing.
I managed to get it working at 840/1325 but afterburner "unlocked" won't do it for me.. damn

 

[manofthem]

oopsss..

since the moment i "unlock" afterburner .. i get my rig crashing.
I managed to get it working at 840/1325 but afterburner "unlocked" won't do it for me.. damn

Does it happen when it's unlocked only or when you increase clocks beyond the normal limit?

If it happens as soon as you unlock AB, maybe uninstall that and try only Trixx to see if it locks your system also...

 

[w00tie]

well, as soon as afterburner is unlocked .. crash.
i'll try that 2morrow i'l keep you posted

 

[dannoddd]

I got my Asus 6950 unlocked running on the 6970 bios provided in the TechPowerUp! batch file. It hits 95*C under a gaming load, not furmark. Seems pretty hot.

The other thing I've noticed is that when I enable powertune, it doesn't downclock in 2D mode correctly, it leaves the GPU at 400 and the mem. at 1375. I've only got 1 monitor.

Has anyone else noticed the high temps and when enabling powertune not getting correct idle?

 

[manofthem]

I got my Asus 6950 unlocked running on the 6970 bios provided in the TechPowerUp! batch file. It hits 95*C under a gaming load, not furmark. Seems pretty hot.

The other thing I've noticed is that when I enable powertune, it doesn't downclock in 2D mode correctly, it leaves the GPU at 400 and the mem. at 1375. I've only got 1 monitor.

Has anyone else noticed the high temps and when enabling powertune not getting correct idle?

Those temps seem really high. My GPU gets to like 55-60*C with CoD BO, and between 60-maybe 70*C for a really graphically intense game. Did you set up a custom fan curve? If not, that's imperative.

 

[dannoddd]

I haven't set up a custom fan profile right now.
It very happily gets to about 95*c then the fan spins and drops it, then it repeats.
I played with an exchange table within the BIOS, but it basically did the same thing.
I've been looking to see if any of the 6950/6970 BIOSes have different curves but they're all the same. The curve is very odd on these cards, it looks like they're intentionally sacrificing temp for noise.

I just came from a 4890 -> 6870 -> to the 6950 then did the mod.
I was REALLY happy with the 6870 but am questioning the 6950 right now. I feel like
the powertune thing is probably just a driver bug.

Do you have a suggestion for the fan speed profile/curve?

I would like to keep it as silent as possible while maintaining at most 80*C

 

[manofthem]

I haven't set up a custom fan profile right now.
It very happily gets to about 95*c then the fan spins and drops it, then it repeats.
I played with an exchange table within the BIOS, but it basically did the same thing.
I've been looking to see if any of the 6950/6970 BIOSes have different curves but they're all the same. The curve is very odd on these cards, it looks like they're intentionally sacrificing temp for noise.

I just came from a 4890 -> 6870 -> to the 6950 then did the mod.
I was REALLY happy with the 6870 but am questioning the 6950 right now. I feel like
the powertune thing is probably just a driver bug.

Do you have a suggestion for the fan speed profile/curve?

I would like to keep it as silent as possible while maintaining at most 80*C

I don't remember why, but I had a similar problem with the clocks not going back down to normal 250/150. It's been fine since and I don't remember what did it. Do you have any OCing applications installed? I've used the custom fans in AB and Trixx, and both do a good job.

 

[DJManiac]

And with the 12-20%, its like you said, the only difference I see is in Furmark. When I try to use it in 3DMark11, seems that after the test it's set back to 0, no matter what program for OCing (trixx or msiab). Thanks for the tips

Hey manofthem! Confirm! Same here! After a rebbot slider is still on 20% but behave as its on 0%. Onyl after remove slider and save and again to 20% and save full power is back also in Furmark!
But this makes only in Furmark a difference in Scores!

Made a short 3DMark11 compare regarding slider 0% vs. 20% - Re-Checked with Furmark if the 20% are really on!

0% - P6075

20% - P6078

I think we can call it the same!

3DMark11, Kombuster, Games without throttling - Furmark WITH throttling.
(I cant check the CPU/MEM clocks while testing via G15 keybord and its LCD display)

Others found out the same. Already posted this on Afterburner Forum! (I'am Fluffi there )
But if its a AB issue or a CCC bug is not clear...

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3874424&posted=1#post3874424

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3873179&posted=1#post3873179

For me this is finished now! - I am happy as it now is with Afterburners FAN Curve, Unoff. OC AND PowerPlay working together in Beta7... RBE did the voltages! No need to use ATI Tray Tools for me anymore to do the OCings.

Only whish is know that RBE will support one day Custom FAN curve and custom Clocks. Then I can leave Afterburner also!

 

[w00tie]

ok,

I flashed the Sapphire 6970 bios and afterburner is now working like a charm..

So i guess it was a problem with the "shaders only" unlock bios.

 

[manofthem]

Hey manofthem! Confirm! Same here! After a rebbot slider is still on 20% but behave as its on 0%. Onyl after remove slider and save and again to 20% and save full power is back also in Furmark!
But this makes only in Furmark a difference in Scores!

Made a short 3DMark11 compare regarding slider 0% vs. 20% - Re-Checked with Furmark if the 20% are really on!

0% - P6075

20% - P6078

I think we can call it the same!

3DMark11, Kombuster, Games without throttling - Furmark WITH throttling.
(I cant check the CPU/MEM clocks while testing via G15 keybord and its LCD display)

Others found out the same. Already posted this on Afterburner Forum! (I'am Fluffi there )
But if its a AB issue or a CCC bug is not clear...

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3874424&posted=1#post3874424

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3873179&posted=1#post3873179

For me this is finished now! - I am happy as it now is with Afterburners FAN Curve, Unoff. OC AND PowerPlay working together in Beta7... RBE did the voltages! No need to use ATI Tray Tools for me anymore to do the OCings.

Only whish is know that RBE will support one day Custom FAN curve and custom Clocks. Then I can leave Afterburner also!

I remember wmbalock was talking about this same issue a while back. But I'm not too worried about it anymore, like you said. I did some runs last night on Heaven Benchmarks on different powertune settings, and it really made little difference.

What OC have you settled on for now?

 

[manofthem]

ok,

I flashed the Sapphire 6970 bios and afterburner is now working like a charm..

So i guess it was a problem with the "shaders only" unlock bios.

Thats weird that the shader only bios would do that. did you download the bios, or did you mod your own original bios? I modded mine and runs fine with AB.

 

[Erik9519]

Hi guys,does anyone know how to get away the error of smart doctor saying No graphic card information found with the 6970 Bios,and also how to get voltage control in msi afterburner?

 

[manofthem]

Hi guys,does anyone know how to get away the error of smart doctor saying No graphic card information found with the 6970 Bios,and also how to get voltage control in msi afterburner?

Don't know about smartdoctor. But you can enable voltage control in the settings. Click settings and on the first tab at the bottom are some options to check to enable, voltage control being one of them.
Make sure you have the newer version.

 

[w00tie]

Thats weird that the shader only bios would do that. did you download the bios, or did you mod your own original bios? I modded mine and runs fine with AB.

I used the Sapphire "shaders only" bios posted here...

 

[fullinfusion]

Just going to add my two cents here for you guy's having all sorta problems unlocking the shaders and getting things working the way it should.

#1 rule

After the flash in windows is finished and the pop up window shows flash complete.. DONT CLICK SHUT DOWN to complete... Select NO and then shut windows down with out restarting.

When the system shuts down, pull the cord from the PSU for at least 10 seconds and then plug back in and re-boot... the flash takes way better and things seem way more stable.

Just doing a reboot seems to corrupt things, not always but alot of the time... Yanking the power for 10-15 sec seems to be the way to go from my findings. Thus the software don't give headaches after that

 

[w00tie]

Just going to add my two cents here for you guy's having all sorta problems unlocking the shaders and getting things working the way it should.

#1 rule

After the flash in windows is finished and the pop up window shows flash complete.. DONT CLICK SHUT DOWN to complete... Select NO and then shut windows down with out restarting.

When the system shuts down, pull the cord from the PSU for at least 10 seconds and then plug back in and re-boot... the flash takes way better and things seem way more stable.

Just doing a reboot seems to corrupt things, not always but alot of the time... Yanking the power for 10-15 sec seems to be the way to go from my findings. Thus the software don't give headaches after that

You mean power off the rig while in windows after flashing?

 

[fullinfusion]

You mean power off the rig while in windows after flashing?

Yes, after Winflash flashes the card and it asks you to reboot! Dont! just click quit or later... what ever it says anyway just close it and shut the system down... dont restart, just shut down... clicky the switch off the back of the power supplie or if you have no switch then just unplug it for 10-15 seconds.

 

[w00tie]

Yes, after Winflash flashes the card and it asks you to reboot! Dont! just click quit or later... what ever it says anyway just close it and shut the system down... dont restart, just shut down... clicky the switch off the back of the power supplie or if you have no switch then just unplug it for 10-15 seconds.

Well since today i had a problem of freeze after 5mins gaming with the full unlocked bios.. so i flashed back the "shaders" only using your method..

I'll see what happend..

 

[fullinfusion]

Thats weird that the shader only bios would do that. did you download the bios, or did you mod your own original bios? I modded mine and runs fine with AB.

The HIS modded shader Bios works great for me. No problems with AB at all.

 

[w00tie]

The HIS modded shader Bios works great for me. No problems with AB at all.

Well its a bit too late right now, but i'll eventually give a shot tomorrow. I'll PM you for the right file if your ok with that.

do you run crossfire ?

 

[fullinfusion]

Well since today i had a problem of freeze after 5mins gaming with the full unlocked bios.. so i flashed back the "shaders" only using your method..

I'll see what happend..

Way are so many flashing these cards to the full unlock? there's only a few 6950's out there that can hold up to the added memory voltage. I guess Im one of the guys that cant afford killing this gpu just for 1-2 fps in a game or bench

For the time being just use unlocked shaders only, It's the safest atm. Wait for more info to be released and use google or what have you and search and read all the problems out there.