Voltage Restrictions on R9 290X Lightning

[exar333]

Was reading TH's review of the new R9 290X Lightning, which look's pretty amazing all-around, honestly. Did see a troubling fact stated around that only 'professional' overclockers can increase the GPU voltage? Can anyone else confirm this? Is this just MSI doing this?

Hopefully not a new trend for all new AMD cards, I really like the ability to adjust those more than NV is currently allowing.

Excerpt: 'When the card is overclocked from 1080 to 1150 MHz, an increase of 6.5 percent, graphics performance increases by approximately four percent. The power draw increases by a mere five percent, showing that Power Tune does a good job. Unfortunately, in order to increase this card's GPU voltage, you have to register with MSI for a special license. This isn't given out freely; only professional overclockers can get their hands on it.'


Link: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/r9-290x-lightning-performance-review,3782.html

 

[lavaheadache]

Using afterburner, I can't set higher than +200 mv. Definitely a limiting factor with this card. I'm sure there are ways around it but I haven't tried as I can hit 1200mhz as is. +200 mv @1200 MHz at default fan speed, which is quite, barely gets out of the 60's. The cooler is that good.

 

[3DVagabond]

FWIW: WCCFtech has reported a bug involving the 290X Lightning and the 14.2/14.3 Beta drivers. Side fans don't run and the center fan gets locked @ 30%. There's a bit of Hyperbole in the article, for page hits I assume, but I figured anyone with a lightning would want to know.

http://wccftech.com/msi-r9-290x-lig...-side-fans-stop-working-catalyst-14-3-update/

 

[lavaheadache]

I went from 13.12 to 14.4 beta so I haven't seen the issue. Good to know though. Thanks

 

[Despoiler]

FWIW: WCCFtech has reported a bug involving the 290X Lightning and the 14.2/14.3 Beta drivers. Side fans don't run and the center fan gets locked @ 30%. There's a bit of Hyperbole in the article, for page hits I assume, but I figured anyone with a lightning would want to know.

http://wccftech.com/msi-r9-290x-lig...-side-fans-stop-working-catalyst-14-3-update/

There was a BIOS released to fix the issue. It's not a driver issue.

 

[Face2Face]

Use the Rbby tool to go higher. That's what I use to get beyond 1.2v on my 780 Lightning. If you want to go higher than +200mv then make sure the box is checked for +200core.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1398725/...s-on-lots-of-cards-some-with-llc-ab-b-19/0_50

 

[Fastx]

290x Lightning - also for over +200 mv
http://www.overclock.net/t/1472341/msi-r9-290x-lightning-thread/40#post_21937945

Well, if you want a higher core voltage, you can try this out:

Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarhell View Post

Guys its easy to give more volts on msi.

Just use /wi4,30,8d,10 for 100mv. The offset is 6.25 mv in hexademical. So on decimal is :16*6.25=100 mv. For 50mv you need 8. For 200mv you need 20( 20=32 on dec. So 32 * 6.25=200mv)

The easy way to do changes:

Create a txt on desktop. Write
CD C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner
MSIAfterburner.exe /wi4,30,8d,10

and then save as .bat file. Eveyrtime you start this bat file msi will start with +100mv

For 50mv: 8
For 100mv:10
For 125mv:14
For 150mv:18
For 175mv:1C
For 200mv:20

I wouldn't go over this point because
1)You are close to leave the sweet spot of the ref pcb vrms efficiency
2)These commands add 200mv on top of the 100mv offset through AB gui.That means 300mv

By default /wi command apply to current gpu only. So if you have 2 or more gpus you must use /sg command. That means the command line is something like that
ex:MsiAfterburner.exe /sg0 /wi4,30,8d,10 /sg1 /wi4,30,8d,10

If you want to go higher, here are some more values:

wi4,30,8d,xx

xx being:
30: 300mV
40: 400mV
50: 500mV

Also, Aux/PLL voltage adjusts the amount of voltage going through PCIe, for those who were wondering.

 

[Face2Face]

290x Lightning - also for over +200 mv
http://www.overclock.net/t/1472341/msi-r9-290x-lightning-thread/40#post_21937945

I have been looking for that post. I saw it somewhere in the past and couldn't find it again. I wanted to try this out on my card. Using the tool can be a little annoying, since I like hitting my saved profile and then jumping into a game. I am going to try this out. Thanks Fast for posting this.

 

[Fastx]

I have been looking for that post. I saw it somewhere in the past and couldn't find it again. I wanted to try this out on my card. Using the tool can be a little annoying, since I like hitting my saved profile and then jumping into a game. I am going to try this out. Thanks Fast for posting this.

NP

I saved that thread when I read it awhile back and if I remember correctly you posted in that thread.

 

[rtsurfer]

I am using the Rbby to go over the official 200mv for a while now.

I tried the other AfterBurner Hack but it doesn't work for me.

Maybe thay patched it in Beta19.

I am on Air so I don't go over 200mv except for Benching, so the tedious use of Rbby tool hasn't bothered me yet.

Also it is well known in the lightning thread at OCN that the fan control is borked on the 14.x betas.

So most of us are on 13.12.
Msi released a new Fan control at the start of this month which I just downloaded this morning.
Don't know if it works on the Betas now.

Also the current MSI fix the article is about leaves the fan on Auto.
You still need 13.12 for manual control of the speed on the fans.

 

[Face2Face]

NP

I saved that thread when I read it awhile back and if I remember correctly you posted in that thread.

I did, I just forgot where I read it ()

I am using the Rbby to go over the official 200mv for a while now.

I tried the other AfterBurner Hack but it doesn't work for me.

I am on Air so I don't go over 200mv except for Benching, so the tedious use of Rbby tool hasn't bothered me yet.

Yeah the Rbby tool is great for synthetic benches, but for gaming I find it annoying. I wish I could just hit my saved profile and BAM = +200 mv... This is why I just game @ +100mv @ 1306/1656... just being lazy... I guess.

 

[loccothan]

Hi I have XFX 7970DD GHz and can't change gRAM voltage any suggestions ?
And dont wanna Flash it ;-) with Flash can fly.
But i want on Norm Bios change the GDDR5 v so i can set 1700-1800 not 1650 ;-)

My stable OC now is 1200/1650 1260v +20% P - 86 cels
For long run i put 1180/1650 - 79 c
and for games Stock - 75 c

 

[lavaheadache]

Isn't this a 290x lightning thread?

Anyway, I wouldn't overclock a 7970 dd too much. Those coolers are infamous.

 

[exar333]

Interesting posts from everyone. I'm sure there will be some workarounds, but it is definitely disappointing to see MSI do this, especially on a 'super enthusiast' card like this. I would venture that most folks who are paying a premium for a already awesome card want to really push it...

 

[rtsurfer]

Interesting posts from everyone. I'm sure there will be some workarounds, but it is definitely disappointing to see MSI do this, especially on a 'super enthusiast' card like this. I would venture that most folks who are paying a premium for a already awesome card want to really push it...

As much as I would have loved Unlimited voltage from boot. You cannot blame a company to try an avoid a metric ton of RMAs because Joey decided to put the voltage slider at max to achieve the world's best OC.

Not everyone that has the money to buy this card will have the knowledge & respect towards its limits. Some people just buy flashy stuff because they can afford it. Even the 780Ti KINGPIN has an official voltage limit until you flash a unlocked BIOS ( Don't quote me on this, there was some initial problems about this & I didn't care to look at what happened. I just look at the benches which are just a BIOS flash away.)

True Enthusiasts always find a workaround anyways.
All in all I am fine with my card, I just wish they had done more Binning of the cores like EVGA did with the KINGPIN.

 

[3DVagabond]

There was a BIOS released to fix the issue. It's not a driver issue.

I don't put much faith in anything WCCFTech reports. I could see the spin that it was drivers and not an issue with the card, but it only happens with that one card. :sneaky: I just figured the issue was worth reporting so people would be aware, seeing as how we are talking about OV/OC the Lightning in this thread.

 

[exar333]

As much as I would have loved Unlimited voltage from boot. You cannot blame a company to try an avoid a metric ton of RMAs because Joey decided to put the voltage slider at max to achieve the world's best OC.

Not everyone that has the money to buy this card will have the knowledge & respect towards its limits. Some people just buy flashy stuff because they can afford it. Even the 780Ti KINGPIN has an official voltage limit until you flash a unlocked BIOS ( Don't quote me on this, there was some initial problems about this & I didn't care to look at what happened. I just look at the benches which are just a BIOS flash away.)

True Enthusiasts always find a workaround anyways.
All in all I am fine with my card, I just wish they had done more Binning of the cores like EVGA did with the KINGPIN.

I mostly agree, but requiring certification to OV the card is pretty crazy IMHO. It's one thing to have the user register the card and acknowledge something saying they understand the risks 'yadda yadda yadda' for over-volting, but to prevent it is just silly. I know you can't fix stupid, but this is overkill. Honestly, it is pretty misleading to tout the card as a overclocker's dream and then restrict this on the sly...personally I would be disappointed if I purchased this and found out I was limited. I would likely return it, on principle, even if there was a good workaround.

It would even be OK if they did something like Intel did with the K series allowing users to pay a small bit extra and RMA the card for any reason.


Oh well....

 

[rtsurfer]

Snip

Well to be fair you can do
200mv on Core
100 on Memory
& 50mv (or 100mv, not sure) on Auxiliary

With the 200mv on Core & whatever Max is on Auxiliary, GPU-Z shows that I am doing 1.325 V or something on my core.
The actual voltage on a DMM would be close to 1.35mv.

People don't want to use these Voltages on water.
Allowing it on AiR is pretty good in my book. And this is a far cry from NVIDIA's measly 1.21V.

But yeah they shouldn't be calling it OCers dream.

Allowing something like Intel would cost maybe $100 or more for a GPU.

I mean that custom PCB & Memory ain't cheap.
But this is just speculation, we don't know the actual BOM of these cards.

 

[Despoiler]

I don't put much faith in anything WCCFTech reports. I could see the spin that it was drivers and not an issue with the card, but it only happens with that one card. :sneaky: I just figured the issue was worth reporting so people would be aware, seeing as how we are talking about OV/OC the Lightning in this thread.

Regardless of fault cause, I agree it's good to give a heads up to any issue that could potentially break your hardware. I only responded with the fault cause so that the people that normally beat the drums of "AMD drivers suck" wouldn't use it to spread more FUD.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Related to the cooler/fan issue, it looks like the side fans aren't being reported, but are forced to the auto fan mode, while the center fan either matches them in auto or is locked at 30%.

 

[3DVagabond]

I mostly agree, but requiring certification to OV the card is pretty crazy IMHO. It's one thing to have the user register the card and acknowledge something saying they understand the risks 'yadda yadda yadda' for over-volting, but to prevent it is just silly. I know you can't fix stupid, but this is overkill. Honestly, it is pretty misleading to tout the card as a overclocker's dream and then restrict this on the sly...personally I would be disappointed if I purchased this and found out I was limited. I would likely return it, on principle, even if there was a good workaround.

It would even be OK if they did something like Intel did with the K series allowing users to pay a small bit extra and RMA the card for any reason.


Oh well....

It's a bit of a no win situation for MSI. They either warranty stupid or they try and protect themselves from it. The hardware has the capability. A work around will come.

 

[loccothan]

...

Anyway, I wouldn't overclock a 7970 dd too much. Those coolers are infamous.

Maby but i have lot of air in my Big Tower + Custom Wind System
So OC'ed XFX DD GHz has max 82-85 cels.
Normaly i dont even hear it ;-)
69-77 cels

Hmm that gRAM is Hynix so i know it OC really goood but how to change v ?