Just recieved an ATI 9800pro 128mb, now what?

[mobius]

Okay, I RMA'd my 9700pro because it was making noises, and they sent me the 9800pro today in the mail.

What can i do with this to get the most out of it?

Here are the stock speeds (using ATItool):

Core = 378
Memory = 337.50

Catalyst Version = 4.12
Device ID = 4E48
Chip Type = R350
Memory Bus Width = 256 bit
Active Pipelines = 8


I currently have stock cooling, but I will purchase new cooling if I can achieve much better scores.

Any ideas of what I can do?

[INSTG8R]

Depending on the Manufacturer you may be able to flash it to an XT BIOS(R360 core) if your planning to install extra cooling check the Core. I have a Sapphire 9800PRO with an XT core and it runs great on a "conservative" XT bios timing (398/338) on stock cooling(Tried higher ones but the RAM gets a bit to hot for my liking) 398/351

[mobius]

its an ATI

[INSTG8R]

Technically so it mine ;)
Graphics Card Manufacturer Built by ATI
Graphics Chipset RADEON 9800 XT
Device ID 4E4A
Vendor 1002

Subsystem ID 0002
Subsystem Vendor ID 1002

Bus Type AGP
Current Bus Setting AGP 8X

BIOS Version 008.017D.029.00
BIOS Part Number BK-ATI VER008.017D.029.000
BIOS Date 2004/03/30

Memory Size 128 MB
Memory Type DDR SGRAM / SDRAM

Core Clock in MHz 398 MHz
Memory Clock in MHz 338 MHz

Primary Display Yes

[mobius]

ok so what can i do? how would i flash this? Its an actual ATI card, not any other brand, not power by ati or anything.

ATI sent it to me today because i rma'd my 9700pro, so they sent me this 9800pro


what would i use to flash the bios to make it an 9800XT? is it worth it?

[INSTG8R]

Well Sapphire makes the Cards for ATI so I was not the least bit surprised that this is a BB ATI Card
I guess the first thing to do is get ATI Tool from this Site and dump the BIOS with it. then get RaBit which you can findHERE (http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?option=com_remository&func=fileinfo&filecatid=801) Load up the BIOS in RaBit and see what the BIOS ID is mine was R360 Hynix DDR 113-A07537-103 BIOS so I know its an R360 core. next you'll need an XT BIOS for 128M cards the Gecube one on this site is a good one but I used the Sapphire 9800XT 1 I found which is the one I am using(also Built by ATI ID's BIOS) D/L HERE (http://mbnet.fi/elixir/Radeon/XT/R360-128/Sapphire.9800XT.128MB.Hynix.bin) (Now I turned mine down as I said before using RaBit but this one is 412/364) tho I still think 364 on the Memory is high as 2.8ns memory is rated for 350. The GeCube bios is lower 398/351 and essentially the same BIOS try them both for yourself(but careful with the Sapphire its a HOT one)

My 3Dmark 03 scores at stock was 5700 or so with the Bios Flash I get 6100 or so with basically only a 20Mhz boost on the Core and using the R360 Intruction set

[mobius]

why so low? my 3DMark2001SE score was 18000

[INSTG8R]

that was 3dMark03 not 2001 ;) my bad I'll fix that

[R350np]

RaBit which you can findHERE (http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?option=com_remository&func=fileinfo&filecatid=801)
Does that mean, I can modify my Bios with RaBIT and reflash it with this new created? :rolleyes:

[15th Warlock]

Does that mean, I can modify my Bios with RaBIT and reflash it with this new created? :rolleyes:

No, it means you can use that program to check if your card has the R360 core, then you should look for the appropriate BIOS and flash it.
BTW, the only way to be 100% sure your card has the R360 core, is to use your Mark I Eyeball to check the core after removing the heatsink and cleaning the thermal paste from it.
Be warned though, doing this will invalidate the warranty (and so does flashing the BIOS anyway)
Another thing, I don't recomend using the stock Pro cooler after flashing, it just isn't good enough for keeping the R360 cool 24/7.

[mobius]

ok i downloaded that RaBit program and clicked on the "Logging" tab (because all others showed no information, this is what I have:

-- RaBiT v.1.7.2 build 390 started --
> RaBiT driver v.1.0.5 is loaded
-- Your ATi video adapter low level info --
Vendor: 0x1002, SubVendor: 0x1002 (ATI Technologies Inc)
Device: 0x4E48 (R300/R350), SubSystem: 0x0002
Chipset Rev. A10
CONFIG_XSTRAP.8P_DISABLE = 0x00
On Board EEPROM: ST M25P05/c (64 Kb)
Active pipelines: 8, GB_TILE_CONFIG = 0x00010017
MPP_TB_CONFIG = 0x01FF0080
-- Memory bus and clocking info --
Memory: 256 bits, DDR, 128 Mb
Chipset clock = 378.00 MHz
Memory clock = 337.50 (675.00) MHz
-- Active memory timings --
tWL = 1.5
tCL = 4
tCMD = 0 clock
tSTB = equals tWrL
tRcdRD = 5
tRcdWR = 3
tRP = 5
tRAS = 10
tRRD = 4
tR2W = CL + 3
tWR = 3
tW2R = 2
tW2Rsb = Use tWR Rule
tR2R = 2
MemRR = 29
tRFC = 17
tRBS = CL + 2.5
tERST = CL - 1.5
tQSREQ = CL - 1.5
tDQM = WL - 1
tDQS = WL - 1
tDQM_Adv = As specified
tDQS_Adv = As specified



What does that tell me about my card and what can I do with it to get the most out of it?

[Chem]

Boy you got me? What do you really need your card to do? Overclock it a little and get to gaming.

[INSTG8R]

well it looks like a 9800PRO but to really see the BIOS info you need to Dump your BIOS with ATI tool then load it in RaBit and see all of it there

[INSTG8R]

No, it means you can use that program to check if your card has the R360 core, then you should look for the appropriate BIOS and flash it.
BTW, the only way to be 100% sure your card has the R360 core, is to use your Mark I Eyeball to check the core after removing the heatsink and cleaning the thermal paste from it.
Be warned though, doing this will invalidate the warranty (and so does flashing the BIOS anyway)
Another thing, I don't recomend using the stock Pro cooler after flashing, it just isn't good enough for keeping the R360 cool 24/7.

I would agree with the Mark 1 Eyeball statement LOL but R360 BIOS is a pretty certain indication of an R360 core on a 9800PRO as if was an R350 there would be no reason to put a dumbed down XT BIOS there. I have looked at as many 128M XT BIOS's as I can find and the XT bios(Sapphires) I am currently using is basically the same BIOS strings with different versions and timings.
As for the stock cooling I would TOTALLY agree my case temps are pretty good anyway and Im not pushing mine past the clocks I set it at 398/338 and yes the card warm but it was warm to start with :eek: . My new MoBo and a fresh tube of AS5 should be here early next week and I plan on redoing my HS with it(along with every other HS in the house) LOL

[15th Warlock]

I would agree with the Mark 1 Eyeball statement LOL but R360 BIOS is a pretty certain indication of an R360 core on a 9800PRO as if was an R350 there would be no reason to put a dumbed down XT BIOS there. I have looked at as many 128M XT BIOS's as I can find and the XT bios(Sapphires) I am currently using is basically the same BIOS strings with different versions and timings.
As for the stock cooling I would TOTALLY agree my case temps are pretty good anyway and Im not pushing mine past the clocks I set it at 398/338 and yes the card warm but it was warm to start with :eek: . My new MoBo and a fresh tube of AS5 should be here early next week and I plan on redoing my HS with it(along with every other HS in the house) LOL

I just checked my card's original BIOS, and I get this:

R360 Hynix DDR 113-A07537-103 BIOS

So I think that somehow, this program recognizes which core your card has without having to actually remove the heatsink, guess you were right there ;)
About the heatsink, havent you thought about making a new heatsink yourself? I mean, you could grab an old P3 heatsink or K6 heatsink and use a drill to make some holes that matches the ones on your card, it has much greater surface area than the Pro stock cooler, and guess that if you use AS5 you should get very good results from it.
You should try making your own ramsinks too, I bought a big aluminum heasink at a hardware store and cutted it in eight pieces, (it was a long heatsink, and it wasn't too tall) then I glued them to the ram using a tiny drop of super glue at the corners and thermal paste in the middle, and they worked really great.

[INSTG8R]

yep thats my orginal BIOS string exactly which I replaced with this one:

R360 Hynix DDR 113-A18812-100 BIOS

tho I modded the timings down
This is the Gecubes XT BIOS string

R360 Hynix DDR 113-A18812-100 BIOS

I tried that one orginally as it has lower clocks 398/351 but decided on using the Sapphire one with the Gecubes Core timing and my cards stock Mem timings. I l had just intended to redo the Thermal Paste with "the good stuff" but I like your ideas. I find the stock HS currently gets good heat transfer and my case is well ventilated. when I get my new MoBo(soon I hope..Stupid Backorders!) I will have more room to "breathe" as I have only 3 PCI slots at the moment and the bottom 2 are filled(wireless card & Snd Card) the new one will have 5 so I can get some space between the Card and the PCI's. so I may consider bigger cooling soon

[mobius]

ok, i have dumped my bios, and loaded it with RaBiT and this is what shows up:

bios:

R350 Samsung DDR BIOS - P/N 113-A07502-106


I guess im outta luck when it comes to overclocking eh? I need the R360 core to go XT i think :mad:

[15th Warlock]

ok, i have dumped my bios, and loaded it with RaBiT and this is what shows up:

bios:

R350 Samsung DDR BIOS - P/N 113-A07502-106


I guess im outta luck when it comes to overclocking eh? I need the R360 core to go XT i think :mad:

No, you can always OC your card, maybe even to XT speeds with the proper cooling, it's just that you shouldn't try to flash your card.

[mobius]

why cant i flash it?

[INSTG8R]

well no reason to flash it cuz its only an R350 core(nothing to flash it to) but OC'in you can certainly do

[Chem]

That's what I was saying all along - Overclock that sucker and get to gaming already =] And don't be too mad becasue better video cards are always becoming cheaper to make room for even better video cards. The next card you buy will most lilely be an even better deal and more powerful. Keep the faith.

[Carl Cannabis]

I have the R360, with Hynix memory

No floppy, though, but I can boot from CD ROM. I have a 128 meg 9800 radeon pro I want to
overclock and mod to XT. I already installed a new Zalman heatsink and fan so I'm good to go there. :D

I'm a n00b so I just want to make sure I do it right.

Can you guys help me out?