MSI releases bios to unlock 6950 Twin Frozr III

[3DVagabond]

For those interested in non reference cards that will unlock. I recommend reading the entire article. It provides links for a guide written by MSI and the custom bios.

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/msi_r6950_twin_froz_iii_power_edition_unlocking,1.html

<snip>

From MSI:
It is a common misconception that MSI's 6950 Twin Frozr III Power Edition cannot be unlocked because it's not a reference design.

The fact is, despite sporting a fully custom PCB with Military Class II components and the epic Twin Frozr III cooler it WILL unlock to 1536 shaders.

That said, it will only unlock because MSI are so confident about the capabilities of the card that they wrote a custom BIOS themselves.

You must use MSI's custom BIOS and NOT any reference BIOS/bios editor otherwise you are at high risk of killing the card

Please download and read this guide first and then if you feel confident enough download the BIOS here.

Follow this guide and you will have 1536 Shaders AND an Unlocked Overclock Limit - but you do so at your own risk.

Apparently misinformed marketing staff.

Locked on OP's request
-ViRGE

 

[Mistwalker]

Awesome support from MSI, they clearly know what their clientele is looking for.

 

[RussianSensation]

Yup, this card is a great bang for the buck for those who want to flash to a 6970 but want an aftermarket cooler on their 6970 out of the box. Can't beat that for $285.

Pureoverclock had no problems unlocking it.

 

[OCGuy]

Very nice MSI.

Remember though, they aren't supporting this through warranty, so dont come posting about how terrible MSI tech support is for not replacing your card with borked VRAM.

 

[3DVagabond]

Hopefully manufacturers will continue to use this as a marketing tool. I don't mind if they only save it for their premium models. They are most likely to be able to handle a bit of O/C'ing and remain cool and quiet as well.

 

[dark79]

This was posted by an MSI rep and then later taken down when no one was able to unlock the shaders.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18278371

Ordered a Frozr II instead which should unlock using RBE.

 

[3DVagabond]

This was posted by an MSI rep and then later taken down when no one was able to unlock the shaders.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18278371

Ordered a Frozr II instead which should unlock using RBE.

Good find. There had to be some that worked. Two sites unlocked theirs. Anyway, it's obviously far from a shoo-in.

Here's an MSI reps response in the referenced thread.

Thanks for backing me up a bit Helios, I'm sorry if you got cards that don't unlock. I'm trying to get an official response from the guys that wrote the guide. My current understanding is that whilst the shader unlock does not work, due to issues beyond our control, the BIOS should still bypass AMD's artificial clock speed/power limits. This should make the card one of, if not the, most overclockable 6950s currently available.

You may be right about the laser cutting, I cannot think of any other explanation.

Needless to say that I did not intentionally mislead anybody. I merely answered a question to the best of my knowledge based on information that was at the time I received it, and to my knowledge still was, totally accurate.

For now I can offer those of you who bought the card since the announcement a free copy of Lara Croft: Guardian of light & Stalker: Call of Pripyat (trust me your invoice number & address details)