New to the forums..need some help

[asdf242]

Hey guys,

New to the forums. I just bought a Sapphire "Fireblade Edition" X800 GTO2 from this site:

http://www.directron.com/x800gto2.html

Now, i did some reading around here about how the Fireblade editions were not GTO2 and were GTO only, and therefore not being able to unlock the extra pipes. But on this site, it clearly states it as a GTO2, along with the 16 pipelines in the specs as well. Is this a GTO2 card that wil be unlockable? Someone has said that the "fireblade" is just the codename for the GTO2's. Any truth to this? I really hope that the card that i bought is indeed the GTO2, and not the regular GTO.

Also, if this is indeed unlockable, would someone be able to explain how to flash the BIOS w/o having a floppy drive? How would i go about making a bootable CD, then flashing the BIOS? Sorry, bit of a overclock/modding noob, so please excuse my ignorance on the matter.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Madellga]

I am sorry to inform you that the Fireblade is a GTO version. This website has informed you wrongly. For this reason, you should be able to return it. Refuse the package delivery if possible.

Check out at:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/products/graphics_specifications.php?gpid=119

The fireblade version is a GTO with faster RAM chips, so you can overclock.

I don't know if the GTO is unlockable. This question was asked on this forum recently and it seems not be the case.

Good luck

 

[stelleg151]

Welcome to the Anandtech Forums!

Unfortunately, I believe the GTO's are based on the 420 cores, rendering them locked, aka not unlockable.
Sorry man, good luck returning it, or you could try demanding a real GTO2, if they have any it might be worth a shot, because the GTO2s are going quickly now that people are catching on.

Good luck

 

[asdf242]

I was afraid of that..

But how could this website blatantly advertise it as the GTO2 all over the page, along with the 16 pipeline specs? Wtf? It doesn't even look like it has a chance to be a typo, since it's listed as GTO2 quite a few times on the page.

Is there anything i should look for in the package/videocard to determine that it is indeed a regular GTO? Reason im saying this is because the picures they provide for the card look exactly the same as the GTO2 versions.

 

[Madellga]

If the Official website from Sapphire is not enough for you to believe, open the box, install the card and run ATITOOL to check the core.

Good luck again.

 

[gac009]

this site list the same item with the same model number, 100130L, as well as a link to the a site that shows how to mod it to an x850, and also if you look at the box it says x800GTO2 on the top left corner so I wouldnt lose hope. could be that the sapphire site simply hasnt been updated with the new GTO2 model, web updates cost money and maybe they diddnt think it was worth it or maybe its just too new a model. the R520s are on the site but I think they have been ready for that update for quite a while.

http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=13003&ad=pwatch#

 

[asdf242]

Thanks for the opinions guys...and Gac, hopefully you're right.

Just some more things: if the card i ordered was the GTO, wouldn't the packaging/card look something like this:

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=605081

Also, it states that the GTO2's have the 1.6 ns memory over the regular GTO's..

 

[gac009]

all sings point to a GTO2 IMO.

the sapphire website gives the description of the Fireblade with its 16.n ram under the GTO description, and then if you go to the Images of the GTO and select the first box art it clearly says GTO2 on it proving that there is a Fireblade GTO2.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/productfiles/119image1.jpg

 

[M0RPH]

Kristopher said in this thread:

The Fireblade is a different card. It is still R480 based, but I don't think it has the 6-pin power connector. I think Directron just got somet things confused.

If it's missing the power connector, it probably won't overclock as well.

 

[asdf242]

Update...

I have recieved the card today..i haven't installed it yet, but the package looks exactly like the ones the GTO2's come with. For example, take a look at Yuri's pics...click the one that is second from the top..

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1706133&enterthread=y

That pic shows EXACTLY what i got with my package..connectors and all. Im not missing anything that the second pic shows..and his is a GTO2.

Ill install the card and update some more.

 

[asdf242]

I can't even get my computer to boot after installing the card..

It tells me to select the correct boot device, then to reboot. I went into BIOS and set the default settings, but to no avail..i don't know what to do.

Any advice?

 

[curtisfong]

AGP cards won't have 6 pin connectors, but they will will have 4 pin connectors instead.

 

[asdf242]

Originally posted by: asdf242
I can't even get my computer to boot after installing the card..

It tells me to select the correct boot device, then to reboot. I went into BIOS and set the default settings, but to no avail..i don't know what to do.

Any advice?

Anybody? Could it be DOA?