Graphics Flashing to XT? Overclocking to XT?

I don't completely understand the difference between ocing a 9800pro to 412/... (xt speeds) and flashing it to xt. Wouldn't it be the same? If flashing it is faster, could I overclock the flashed to xt card?

 

The 9800 XT has much more features, not sure what, probably some pixel shader things. I've got about a 300 point increase in 3DMark03 and still clock at my highest 9800 Pro overclock.

 

The difference is that the 9800Pro cards that can be flashed to 9800XT have the R360 core, which is the 9800XT core. The original 9800Pros came with R350 cores. Now, as far as clocking a 9800Pro up to XT speeds, you get a nice performance increase to be sure. But by flashing the BIOS of the 9800Pro to an XT BIOS, you not only get the overclocked performance, but you also take advantage of some enhanced shaders on the R360 core. On a 9800Pro, these are not enabled by default. That's why the flashed card performs better than just an overclocked card.

 

however, after flashing it, could I still oc it to 445/378?

 

Flashing to the XT bios probably provides more voltage to the core as well > higher stable OC.

 

what if i have a 350 core?

 

All you can do is overclock. Flashing to an XT BIOS would serve no point except to increase the voltage to the GPU core which would just generate heat. You can't get the shaders because they don't exist in the R350 core.

 

You have more than a good overclock with your card already, flashing with R350 can be done but the performance decreases and you get wierd objects on the screen.

 

I flashed my R350, I gained 20MHz on the memory (very bizarre, I don't expect anyone to be able to replicate this). The "wierd[sic] objects" probably refers to 3DMark03, where you do indeed get some funky wireframing effects in Procyon, Trolls' Lair and Ragtroll tests, most likely due to the shader path changes. I haven't noticed any differences in anything else though, 3DMark03 seems to be the only thing affected. As for performance, again 3DMark03 was the only test in which I saw any performance increase (at the same clocks of course, the extra memory MHz helped quite a bit), and only in those same tests, which leads me to believe that it's the wireframing that causes the performance increase. Other than that, you should definitely see no decrease in maximum attainable overclock when you flash to XT with either core, and perhaps a slight increase due to the extra voltage - but it's far more worthwhile on the R360, new shaders, temperature readings, and of course the increased default clocks

 

You should be able to, but when you flash the card to an XT, it also increases the voltage slightly, which in turn will create mote heat, which may mean slightly lower clocks, however, this can be solved with the Artctic VGA silencer.

 

yeah, I have the arctic VGA silencer

 

how can I tell temperatures of my gpu?

 

with a digital thermometer? (no, don't put it under the heatsink... you'll kill your card if you put it on the core - put it on the back of the card, directly behind the core)

If you've got a 9800 PRO PCB, you won't have the required temperature monitoring hardware on the PCB, so there's no chance of driver readings.

 

Once flashed, some cards let you monitor the temp in ATi tool. Doesnt work in ati panel though, and the overdrive feature also doesnt work.
I had a picture somewhere of the little chip that needs to be present on the back of the board for it to work. If i find it, ill post it up.

 

this
and this might help.but i swear there are better pics out there that show you lm63 .

 

Interesting, shame I don't have an R360 to test this on... my 9800 PRO is an All-In-Wonder.

LM63 is the same chip that is on my late Sapphire 9600 XT IIRC - this is going back about 6 months... I've had a lot of graphics tech in and outta my head since then but the name definitely rings a bell!

 

Thats the very fella! You got the memory of an elephant.


Hers the pic. Different to the one i had a while back. But nevermind.

 

if that's the case, it is possible to mod the LM63 temperature monitor on to the board, providing you have the exact same PCB as one that DOES have the LM63 chip... there are a few other components required IIRC, but I do know of someone who did successfully mod their 9600 XT to have temperature monitoring.

 

i just went to look for the chip and then realised id have to do 2 things
1: turn the computer off
2: take the artic off
I was about to look but i then saw the bloo fan in the way, nearly lost a certain part of my anatomy in the process
(my finger for those with overactive imaginations)