Turn X800 Pro into X800 XT PE with Bios Flash

[MegaWorks]

***This mod works only with the AGP version***

PCI-E version is here

I found this info on tomshardware video forum, so enjoy it!

EDIT: According to pelikan, techpowerup.com softmod is much better than the mod I posted so try it out. Here's the link at techpowerup.

Unlike most x800 pro, Sapphire and other VIVO x800 pro cards, do not come with the pipelines laser cut, only disabled. All 16 pipelines are there with 4 disabled, to enable these pipelines to 16 allows better performance.

with x800pro bios @ 16 pipelines = +1000 over stock x800 pro in 3DMark
with x800XT bios @ 16 pipelines = +2000 over stock x800 pro in 3DMark

Before Proceeding
Make sure you have 1.6ns Samsung GRam.
This guide absolutely works, don't forget to underclock your XT to about 20Mhz lower than stock XT settings, it will run a lot more stable.
Also after the flash if your display does not post then remove the svideo cable from your video card if there is 1 plugged in, and reboot and it will post - i had the same problem. Running perfectly - it never goes above 52 C

Here a Link to ATi Tool with which you can check your pipelines and clock - http://atitool.ocfaq.com/

Heres a screenshot and proof it works

http://ottomans.home.comcast.net/mod.bmp

ATI RADEON X800 Pro VIVO > X800 XT

BIOS FLASH GUIDE

************************************************** ************************************************** ********

Equipment & files required

2 x floppy discs

DrDos boot disk creator: HERE
http://homepage.sunrise.ch/mysunrise...d/drdflash.exe
FlashROM 2.37 + floppy creator: HERE
http://homepage.sunrise.ch/mysunrise...Floppy2.37.exe
Gigabyte Flash utility & X800 XT BIOS: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers....n=5,0&at_a_time=50
Retail ATI X800 XT BIOS: HERE
http://paddy007uk.freeservers.com/VGAbios/X800XT.bin

**BEFORE FLASHING THE BIOS, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR OLD ONE**


************************************************** ************************************************** *******


To back up your BIOS: (Floppy 'A')

(a) Create a bootable floppy disc with flashrom on it by double clicking the Flasher+Floppy2.37.exe.

(b) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(c) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A prompt, type the following command line to back up your existing BIOS:

flashrom -s 0 backup.bin

You now have a file on the floppy disc named 'backup.bin' this is your original BIOS which you may require at a later date.

(d) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

************************************************** ************************************************** *******

To flash to the Gigabyte X800XT BIOS for enabling the 4 locked pipelines (Floppy 'B')

(a) Create a bootable floppy disc by double clicking the DrDos boot disc creator.

(b) Unzip the Gigabyte Flash utility & X800 XT BIOS, then place the files on the floppy disc.

(c) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(d) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A prompt, type the following command line to flash the BIOS:

GVF11 -p -f Ar80x256v.f1

(e) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

************************************************** ************************************************** *******

To flash to the ATI Retail X800 XT BIOS, for improved over clock (Floppy 'A')

(a) Insert floppy disc 'A' into into the floppy drive (leaving existing files in tact).

(b) Place the downloaded Retail ATI X800 XT BIOS ( X800XT.bin ) on to the floppy.

(c) Restart the PC with the floppy disc inserted & boot in DOS.

(d) Once activity has ceased you will be at the A prompt, type the following command line to flash the BIOS:

flashrom -p -f 0 X800XT.bin

(e) Remove the floppy disc & reboot the PC.

************************************************** ************************************************** ******

I recommend you retain the 2 floppy discs for future use.

If you have followed the instructions carefully you should have a fully fledged ATI Radeon X800 XT 520mhz core / 560mhz memory.

Due to the heat generated by the additional 4 pipelines your maximum core over clock is likely to be reduced by on average 20mhz

If you get artifacts after the mod, use this method to go back to X800 Pro:
(For users who used the Gigabyte bios)

"Several people have used a Gigabyte Bios and flashing tool to get around this, but for some reason you can not flash back to 12 pipelines with this method- if you have defective pipelines you keep them."

The method presented here uses a modified flashrom which does not preserve Bios settings.
This allows:

* flashing of any Bios
* going back to 12 Pipelines
* can not be detected

If you want to remove all traces of previous Bios flashes (for example if you flashed the Gigabyte Bios):
Use the Modified Flashrom to flash
the empty.bin to your video card, then flash the new Bios without rebooting. Be careful - if you don't flash a real Bios after flashing the empty Bios, your card will not work properly.

-gettinolder


Plz! report back your results in this thread.

Some useful links

raptor-mods

rage3d

hardforum

ocforums

hexus

futuremark forum

More info


Mega

[Cawchy87]

repost, but thanks for the full story on how to do that. I hope people who try this post back!

[MegaWorks]

no problem!

[MegaWorks]

bump!

[jhbball]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
repost, but thanks for the full story on how to do that. I hope people who try this post back!

i've done this. works like a charm. my card can't reach xt speeds without a vmod though


oh well, 16 piped x800 pro is good enough for me

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: jhbball

i've done this. works like a charm. my card can't reach xt speeds without a vmod though


oh well, 16 piped x800 pro is good enough for me

it worked CHEERS :beer: good to know that it worked.

Can you give us the comparison (benchmark)

[MegaWorks]

anyone else tryed it yet! I which I could but I don't have the money to buy X800 Pro for now

[GeneralGrievous]

It would be nice if they were available for $400. For those willing to do the flash, its a better buy than the 6800 GT IMO.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: GeneralGrievous
It would be nice if they were available for $400. For those willing to do the flash, its a better buy than the 6800 GT IMO.

I KNOW!, I hope the prices will go down in the upcoming months

[Childs]

I'm surprised anyone would flash the X800 Pro...its like a $400 card. If its disposable to you why not spend the extra $100 and get a XT? I've had my GT for like two weeks and just tonight enabled the coolbits thing. Didn't even move the slider, I just wanted to see what it looked like.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: Childs
I'm surprised anyone would flash the X800 Pro...its like a $400 card. If its disposable to you why not spend the extra $100 and get a XT? I've had my GT for like two weeks and just tonight enabled the coolbits thing. Didn't even move the slider, I just wanted to see what it looked like.

well I live in Canada, and the prices here are high for vid cards

[GeneralGrievous]

I'm surprised anyone would flash the X800 Pro...its like a $400 card. If its disposable to you why not spend the extra $100 and get a XT?

The XT is quite hard to find.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: GeneralGrievous

The XT is quite hard to find.

the X800 Pro is more available then the XT right?

[ponyo]

VIVO version was pretty expensive last time I checked after I first heard about the mod couple weeks back. It was lot more than $400 and more towards $500. Kind of puts the damper on the mod. I would just wait and get real x800xt considering some of these VIVO still need volt mod to reach stock XT speed.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: Naustica
VIVO version was pretty expensive last time I checked after I first heard about the mod couple weeks back. It was lot more than $400 and more towards $500. Kind of puts the damper on the mod. I would just wait and get real x800xt considering some of these VIVO still need volt mod to reach stock XT speed.

buy the oem version it's cheaper!

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: MegaWorks

buy the oem version it's cheaper!

If you think $450 is cheap, knock yourself out and get one. I wouldn't even buy true x800xt for $450 as I think even that's too expensive.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: Naustica

If you think $450 is cheap, knock yourself out and get one. I wouldn't even buy true x800xt for $450 as I think even that's too expensive.

I didn't say that the X800 Pro was a cheap card, I said that the oem version was cheaper then the retail one. I wouln't buy the GT if I could get the XT PE for the same price period!

[darkswordsman17]

Finding an OEM X800 Pro with VIVO would be pretty difficult.

BTW, ATi has confirmed that this is as simple as it sounds, but they also said that cards that have this done to them don't last long. This may or may not be them just saying that to scare people from doing this. However, the card requiring a volt mod to reach XT speeds shows that this might be a little true.

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: Naustica



If you think $450 is cheap, knock yourself out and get one. I wouldn't even buy true x800xt for $450 as I think even that's too expensive.

But a 6800GT OC isnt too much? Unless you got it far under MSRP, your logic doesnt make much sense.

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Finding an OEM X800 Pro with VIVO would be pretty difficult.

BTW, ATi has confirmed that this is as simple as it sounds, but they also said that cards that have this done to them don't last long. This may or may not be them just saying that to scare people from doing this. However, the card requiring a volt mod to reach XT speeds shows that this might be a little true.

but still 16 pipelines!!!

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah, you could at least get an X800 GT out of it probably.

I wish that nVidia wasn't so senile to not include VIVO on their cards. I mean, its got an onboard video processor for crissakes.

I have a friend who's waiting for my Gateway order to go through to get the X800XT PE, but i've thought of seeing if he'd rather do this instead, but every place that has the Pro VIVO cards wants $450 or more for them, and since its not guaranteed to work, I decided to pass.

[Gamingphreek]

Nvidia has VIVO on there boards. I have a 5900XT w/VIVO. HOwever it seemed like you were talking about next gen cards, i cant say as i haven't been searching for one but they are probably out there.

As to the Video Processor, still not enabled Nvidia has to enable it through software (driver) updates, unfortunately it hasn't happened yet.

-Kevin

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah, I meant the 6800 series.

Its kinda stupid how they've been touting this feature but haven't enabled it yet. Hopefully, they're spending this time making it something great.

I can only imagine how cool the Personal Cinema 6800 cards will be.

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

But a 6800GT OC isnt too much? Unless you got it far under MSRP, your logic doesnt make much sense.

I think a 6800GT for 399.00 including a copy of Far Cry is very reasonable. I believe eVGA was offering this. Not sure if they still are. Whoops! It doesn't look like eVGA is selling from their website anymore. Just listing "where to buy" vendors.

[Ackmed]

He has a BFG 6800 GT.