lookit wht i found

[zack86]

i dunno if this is true, but still.....



<< Don't be too dissapointed, all cards since the original GeForce2 (maybe even before) have issued "OEM" and "LE" versions of the cards that come clocked slower, that's why they are cheaper than the retail cards. But something you ought to know is that the hardware is always the same, they just come with a slower clocked BIOS version. All you have to do is (sometimes there's a simple tweak but most of the time it's just flash the BIOS on the card and replace it with the retail BIOS. Then your card will function at retail speeds and there is no extra heat because you aren't overclocking.. it was meant to go that fast. >>



i found this in one of the reviews at www.pricegrabber.com
can someone please check this out and confirm it?
thanx

 

[zack86]

hey, has anyone DARED to try this out as yet???!

 

[Brian48]

All the OEM GeForce2's I've bought have been clocked at regular speeds. Dunno about the ATI's though.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

<< Then your card will function at retail speeds and there is no extra heat because you aren't overclocking.. it was meant to go that fast. >> >>


That statement sounds illogical, why would the bios issuing the clock speeds be superior to using a utility in windows? If the memoy/core are underclocked their underclocked, right? It would stand to reason that " it was meant to go that fast" means that changing to retail speed with the utility accomplishes the same thing the bios flash would and you just wouldn't have the system booting with the card at that speed would be the only difference. Ofcourse <<my usual disclaimer> I'm open to new data as my logic may be flawed.

 

[rbV5]

It is true to some extent, It seems at least some ATI cards can be clocked higher after a bios flash...but...many of the OEM or Le versions also are physically different, they have slower ram installed, so YMMV.

 

[NicColt]

Here's how it work. (In simple terms)

When ATI for example make chips for the Radeon 275 core, they make chips in the 1000's and for those 1000 chips to be certified at 275 core they must past certain test, if they do they get to be certified at a 275 core and those Prime chips get Prime memory. about %10 don't meet the critirea or past the 275 core test, even though they can maintain a 275 core. Even though they were meant for a 275 core they get booted to the 250 core production where they pass with no problem. They are then called LE chips.

Some of these LE chips come from the 275 core line, so yes with a bios upgrade they can run at 275. But then again these chips get sold off cheap meaning that they also get slower ram to cut down on the price.

So upgrading a video bios on chips that don't meet certification and using slower ram can be done but just not recommended because of stability issues. If everyone who had LE cards would do this, some cards would just not work.

 

[zack86]

but do you guys think flashin the BIOS is worth a try??

 

[chickendinner]

gf2 are worth it but nothing too expensive, or if you cant get a replacement "soon".

 

[Theslowone]

I wouldn't trust everything you read, ati does have lower clock speeds with their oem cards, but geforce cards( all that I have bought or worked with) have been at the same speed as the retail.