[H|ocp & HW360] R9-290 can be unlocked to 290X

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Borealis7

Platinum Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,901
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EDIT: sorry, HW360 only quoted the HardForum post. no credit deserved for this

came across this on my facebook feed this morning:
http://www.hardware-360.com/flash-the-r9-290-to-a-r9-290x-via-a-simple-bios-update/

this certainly is interesting, but i wouldn't do it on a reference cooler since you have to up the voltage.

now the question is, was this intentional? (it never is)
was it a screw-up? AMD going hunting with their friend and blasting a shotgun in their face? (the friend is the R9-290X ;) )
 
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3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
Shmee on our boards also flashed his Powercolor 290 successfully to a 290X. I'm not sure which bios he flashed his with.
 
Vesku

Vesku

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2005
3,743
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The risk factor is low due to the dual bios switch, yes? Is this 6950/6970 redux?
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
OCAHOLIC

Newer R9 290 not ulockable to 290X anymore?

A few days ago we reported, based on findings of Speedy1612 from PC Games Hardware forum, that the R9 290 can be unlocked to a fully fledged R9 290X via BIOS update. Apparently it looks like the latest mass production models are not unlockable anymore.

In the beginning it looked like chances for successful unlocking were at almost 100 percent when using a R9 290 graphics card from Powercolor or XFX. Underneath the coolers of these cards, there was a fully equipped AMD Hawaii GPU, which featured the product number 215-0852000, which is basically the chip AMD was using for the flagship R9 290X.

Rumors say, that this might either have been very clever marketing or AMD simply had to find a way how to cope with shortages.

After a few days investigation it looks like only R9 290 graphics cards, which have a chip from before the 38th production week can be unlocked. All cards with chips after production week 38 can't be unlocked anymore. AMD is still using Hawaii 215-0852000 chips on their R9 290 cards, but these GPU come with quality issues that a certain amount of shaders needs to be deactivated and meanwhile these "faulty" shader are cut off by laser cutting.

Source: PCGH
Click to expand...

Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Those who got one of these consider yourselves lucky, I guess.
 
Unoid

Unoid

Senior member
Dec 20, 2012
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I'd argue that AMD should not stop people from flashing. It's obviously the same silicon and will continue to be. If someone is smart enough/risky enough to flash for 150$ diff in performance, I say let them.

Market segmentation and all. Better to have someone buy a 400$ 290 to flash, instead of them buying an Nvidia.
 
Skurge

Skurge

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2009
5,195
1
71
Unoid said:
I'd argue that AMD should not stop people from flashing. It's obviously the same silicon and will continue to be. If someone is smart enough/risky enough to flash for 150$ diff in performance, I say let them.

Market segmentation and all. Better to have someone buy a 400$ 290 to flash, instead of them buying an Nvidia.
Click to expand...

I doubt anyone would NOT buy a 290 because you can't flash it. The performance difference is so small that if you were cross shopping with a similar Nvidia card and that less 5% boost would sway it, you probably are already buying the nVidia card anyway.
 
K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,250
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Skurge said:
I doubt anyone would NOT buy a 290 because you can't flash it. The performance difference is so small that if you were cross shopping with a similar Nvidia card and that less 5% boost would sway it, you probably are already buying the nVidia card anyway.
Click to expand...

I agree.

<---- Tired of waiting for the aftermarket cards....Rolls dice and ordered a XFX 290 earlier today.

Didn't go in with the hopes of flashing it to a 290x at all. If it's from older stock and does flash to a 290x then it's just xtra bang for the buck.

Noise? Guess I'll see. I'm sure it's somewhat being blown way out of proportion as most users say it's not too bad. I game with headphones anyways.
 
O

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
Unoid said:
I'd argue that AMD should not stop people from flashing. It's obviously the same silicon and will continue to be. If someone is smart enough/risky enough to flash for 150$ diff in performance, I say let them.
Click to expand...

I'd argue that AMD is a business and we will be stuck with a 7/10ths operational GV110 if they don't follow standard segmenting protocol.

Besides the fact that 290s aren't necessarily 290x that they cut down, as evidenced by the limited supply of 290x at launch, after a delay.
 
Gloomy

Gloomy

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2010
1,469
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I'm gonna try this. Let's see if I got more than I bargained for... :sneaky:
 
Skurge

Skurge

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2009
5,195
1
71
OCGuy said:
I'd argue that AMD is a business and we will be stuck with a 7/10ths operational GV110 if they don't follow standard segmenting protocol.

Besides the fact that 290s aren't necessarily 290x that they cut down, as evidenced by the limited supply of 290x at launch, after a delay.
Click to expand...

What delay?
 
O

OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
4
81
Damn, sounds like I missed the boat on this one.

I was going to try and unload my 3x 7970 and convert them to 2x 290 + waterblocks and then unlock and got nuts.
 
A

AlNasty

Member
Dec 24, 2004
48
0
0
I got the nerve to try the flash on my PC 290. I used the PC 290x bios. I may switch to the Asus Bios later for the volt unlock.

GPUZ now shows it as a 290x, all shaders, etc. Base clock 1030, mem clock 1250. I ordered a XFX the other day, hoping for another. At the very worse, I get BF4 and Crossfire 290's.

All scores jump a little, temps did not seem much different. Not going to try for anything higher until i loose the stock cooler.

I have a Artic Hybrid I am going to try out on it. All bolts up good, but short on heatsinks, and was looking for a local source for more...as well as thermal tape for a temp install to try everything out first.
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
AlNasty said:
I got the nerve to try the flash on my PC 290. I used the PC 290x bios. I may switch to the Asus Bios later for the volt unlock.

GPUZ now shows it as a 290x, all shaders, etc. Base clock 1030, mem clock 1250. I ordered a XFX the other day, hoping for another. At the very worse, I get BF4 and Crossfire 290's.

All scores jump a little, temps did not seem much different. Not going to try for anything higher until i loose the stock cooler.

I have a Artic Hybrid I am going to try out on it. All bolts up good, but short on heatsinks, and was looking for a local source for more...as well as thermal tape for a temp install to try everything out first.
Click to expand...

You can use the long thin sinks for the RAM that you don't have enough of the proper sinks for. It's explained in this post. http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35758743&postcount=60

Your Hybrid comes with 4 of them too. Hope that helps. :thumbsup:
 
2

24601

Golden Member
Jun 10, 2007
1,683
40
86
I couldn't hold out.

Open air cooler is pointless for my use case anyways.

I don't trust AMD/ATi AIB offerings anymore.

3 day shipping from newegg right now.

o.o

My thanksgiving gift to myself :p
 
A

AlNasty

Member
Dec 24, 2004
48
0
0
3DVagabond said:
You can use the long thin sinks for the RAM that you don't have enough of the proper sinks for. It's explained in this post. http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35758743&postcount=60

Your Hybrid comes with 4 of them too. Hope that helps. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I had a heatsink kit from a Gelid. Its almost a perfect selection of sinks. It had thermal tape, though the kit was short 1 strip :(. Some got fubar'd by me. Had to use a little 50/50 eopox/paste to get it done. I will start a new thread with a pic when its done. Had to modify one sink for the rear vrm's in the back near the exhaust. They are oriented in a T shape.
 
S

Smoblikat

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2011
5,184
107
106
If my 6950's didnt unlock to 6970's (I have 3 unlocked 6950's) then I would have bought an nvidia equivalent without a doubt. Price/performance is really all AMD has going for them.
 
K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,250
136
DooKey said:
Used it on my MSI 290s and no go. My 290s aren't unlockable.
Click to expand...

My XFX will be delivered on Wednesday which has about 50/50 chance it looks like.

Looking thru the threads I think zero MSI's unlocked.

290 to 290x isn't much more percormance clock for clock anyways. Think 4-5% diff.
 
Shmee

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
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Compatible adapters detected: 1
Adapter #1 PCI ID: 1002:67B0 - 1043:0466
Memory config: 0x5A0013A9 Elpida
RA1: F8000005 RA2: 00000000
RB1: F8000005 RB2: 00000000
RC1: F8000005 RC2: 00000000
RD1: F8000005 RD2: 00000000

reports from my unlocked 290 from powercolor
 
A

AlNasty

Member
Dec 24, 2004
48
0
0
I received my 2nd 290, this time a XFX that I ordered on the 21st from NE. I wanted the BF4 code, so I jumped on the XFX. I figured no loss if it did not flash.

It will not unlock. I read somewhere somebody ordered one on the 18th from NE and theirs would not unlock either. Guess original XFX stock is gone.
 
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