9800pro -> 9800xt

[gotensan01]

I read Adrian's guide on how to sofmod this card to xt. The problem is that I am running Windows XP. As far as I know, XP doesn't support DOS at all. Does that mean the only way I could flash the video bios is by installing windows 98 as a dual boot option?

 

[SickBeast]

You can still boot into DOS even if you have XP installed. Just make a bootable floppy in XP; choose "create system disk" when you format one (I'm pretty sure that's the option).

That said, be very careful when flashing to an XT. By most accounts it's not worth it. It's very risky and could potentially mean $200 out the window for you. ATi will not RMA a flashed card.

 

[gotensan01]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
You can still boot into DOS even if you have XP installed. Just make a bootable floppy in XP; choose "create system disk" when you format one (I'm pretty sure that's the option).

So you have to make a bootup disk just to get into dos? Then you insert the other disk with the bios and flash utility to deal with the flashing?

That said, be very careful when flashing to an XT. By most accounts it's not worth it. It's very risky and could potentially mean $200 out the window for you. ATi will not RMA a flashed card.

hmm, I thought if the flash does not go well you can put in a pci card to reflash old bios. Is this not true?

 

[PrayForDeath]

hmm, I thought if the flash does not go well you can put in a pci card to reflash old bios. Is this not true?

That's true, but ONLY if you have a PCI card, do you?

 

[freeject]

This is useless if you already have the card, but if you get MSI's 9800 pro, it's automatically read as a 9800xt in device manager. Then theoretically you just have to overclock to XT speeds and you've got a 9800XT (you might need to put better cooling on it). It works with the 128 version too

 

[SickBeast]

OP, you need to make a bootable floppy, then copy the flash utility onto it along with the BIOS .bin file. Boot from the floppy, save your old bios to the floppy (very important), then proceed to flash the new bios to your card. You should write down the commands you're going to use prior to attempting this.

 

[moonboy403]

flashing bios isn't as hard and as dangerous as you think
back when i had my 9800 pro......i kept flashing back and forth to xt and the original bio for testing purposes.....nothing ever happen....no problem...nada

 

[Dman877]

Originally posted by: freeject
This is useless if you already have the card, but if you get MSI's 9800 pro, it's automatically read as a 9800xt in device manager. Then theoretically you just have to overclock to XT speeds and you've got a 9800XT (you might need to put better cooling on it). It works with the 128 version too

Definitely don't need better cooling on the MSI card to hit XT speeds. The stock cooler is excellent.

 

[gotensan01]

Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
<blockquote>quote:
<hr>hmm, I thought if the flash does not go well you can put in a pci card to reflash old bios. Is this not true?<hr></blockquote>
That's true, but ONLY if you have a PCI card, do you?

yup, I actually just bought a really cheap one from FS/FT forum. I got it just for this purpose.

Originally posted by: SickBeast
OP, you need to make a bootable floppy, then copy the flash utility onto it along with the BIOS .bin file. Boot from the floppy, save your old bios to the floppy (very important), then proceed to flash the new bios to your card. You should write down the commands you're going to use prior to attempting this.

Oh, ic. So when I make the bootable floppy and I boot from it, it will automatically be in DOS mode. nice. I will post the results.

 

[gotensan01]

The flashing went well. I just needed to reinstall the catalyst after I was done. By sofmodding from a 9800pro to a 9800xt, my 3dMark03 score went from 5826 to 6542.

 

[Feep]

Don't mess with flashing this thing unless you have an actual need for more performance. In my opinion, the pro performs just fine on all current games, plus the increase to the xt is not all that substantial. and not worth the risk.

btw- if u think u need to install 98 to flash the card you deffinatley shoudnt be doing it.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Feep
Don't mess with flashing this thing unless you have an actual need for more performance. In my opinion, the pro performs just fine on all current games, plus the increase to the xt is not all that substantial. and not worth the risk.

btw- if u think u need to install 98 to flash the card you deffinatley shoudnt be doing it.

I guess you didn't READ this thread (did you?)

You do NOT need to install win98 to flash XP in DOS 😛

Flashing is NOT dangerous (almost ZERO risk if you KNOW what you are DOING). 😛

a 9800P > XT unlocks more than simple 0/C'ing.

it IS substantial (~10% more perf)

:roll:

 

[Feep]

Did u even read what i wrote. I said that since he didnt even know that you could flash it without installing 98 then he shouldn't be flashing at all. And there is a chance that flashing a vid card can skrew it over even if u know what your doing. I was probably wrong to say that it makes no difference. I should have said that the difference is not relevant for any current games. As the card begins to become more obselete it might make sense to flash it to better play the next generation games but right now it doesnt make much sense.