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Need BIOS/Instructions/Info for 9800NP to 9800Pro flash

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Hi guys,

Been gone awhile...finally got around to installing my Sapphire 9800NP into my rig. Beats the living CRAP out of my 4200Ti.
rolleye.gif


Anyway, I've installed Riva Tuner and am ready to test the card at 9800Pro speeds. The card has Samsung 3.2ns RAM, so I should be good to go.

Here's what I need, please:

What are the 9800Pro core/mem speeds?

Link to the BIOS/Flash utility/instructions for the flash.

Thanks very much. It's good to be back. :)

ps
*waits for newbs to say "Who the hell are you?"* :p
 

Viper96720

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2002
4,390
0
0
Flash Utility has a read me. Otherwise searching the net should be easy to find out how to.
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
This link has great instructions for flashing to a 9800Pro, but it seems to be down for a few days...

Link
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Thanks very much guys. :)

My experience with RivaTuner wasn't all that great though. :(

At stock (1.5v) AGP voltage, I got up to 378 core/330 memory. Any higher on either and I got tearing/artifacting. :|

I tried raising the AGPv to 1.6v and it made zero difference, unfortunately.

At stock voltage I can do 365 core/330 memory w/o any bad stuff whatsoever. Looped 3DM2003 for about a half hour and all was well.

I do not think flashing would be a good idea, do you? :eek:

Still, damn near Pro speeds for $250; not bad. Oh just for giggles, at 365/330:

3DM2K3 = 5444
3DM2K1SE = 16415

2.1GHz Athlon XP (10.5*200)
1024MB Corsair PC3200 C2
Epox 8RDA+

Any suggestions would be welcome. I am thinking I should just be happy with my weenie overclock and leave well enough alone, huh?
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
Well, those of use with the 9800NP with Infineon RAM chips have a similar problem. The Infineon craps out around 330-ish on the memory overclock.

Do you know yet what is your bottleneck - core at 378 or memory at 330?

The link I provided above will let you DL a modified BIOS for the Infineon chips that overclocks the card to 380 core and 325 memory. Supposedly, it also relaxes the memory timings, and you might be able to push the memory a little further. I haven't tried the modified BIOS flash yet for my 9800NP, as mine can do 380/325 using just RivaTuner.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Hi BW. Thanks for the help. :)

It's definitely the memory that craps out first, which surprises me a lot. It IS Samsung...the good stuff. I thought I got really lucky. :| Sh!t. I just got the card out of storage last week and this was the first opportunity I've had to play with it. I was expecting like, some mega-freakin' high clock. I could just throw the thing out the window. Bah, humbug! :p j/k

I can get the core to 400 with very, very minor "spots" on certain 3DM tests. At anything below 400, it's perfect. I down-clocked it to 365 b/c there really wasn't much of a diff, performance wise b/t 375 and say, 390 or so. More of a better safe than sorry thing. (ironic, since I AM OCing it....)

The memory, however, just sucks ass.
rolleye.gif
330 is dandy. 335 flakes out.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Bump b/c it's a rainy Saturday and I've nothing to do but try to blow up my new card. Suggestions?