XFX 6800GT @ 350/900!?! Memory problem

[psychogmv]

Well, I´ll have to do this on weekend because I´m way from home now. But I´ll let you know.
Yesterday I tried overclocking it and I did 370/1100. I left it running 3DMark05 for about an hour continuously, and the maximum core temperature was 69C, and I didn´t have any lock ups or graphical jerkiness. So I think the memory is good. I flashed my card with a XFX BIOS which I found on http://www.mvktech.net/ and it is now defaulted on 350/1000. According to samsung website, there is no GDDR3 memory manufactured by them with latency higher than 2ns. So if it is GDDR3 it is 2ns!!! But as you said, it can be a bad RAM, but I don´t think XFX would do something like this. It would blow their reputation.

 

[sleepeeg3]

If XFX is claiming 1000MHz and shipping with another, RMA it to them and demand they replace it with what they advertised. That's bs.

Obviously, if you are able to hit decent clocks, then you might want to overlook that oversight...

 

[BF04]

question, the memory test

$ffffffffff ---------------------------------------------------
$ffffffffff NVIDIA specific display adapter information
$ffffffffff ---------------------------------------------------
$0100000000 Graphics core : NV40 revision A1 (16x1,6vp)
$0100000001 Hardwired ID : 0045 (ROM strapped to 0045)
$0100000002 Memory bus : 256-bit
$0100000003 Memory type : DDR (RAM configuration 07)
$0100000004 Memory amount : 262144KB
$0100000005 Core clock : 351.000MHz
$0100000006 Memory clock : 501.188MHz (1002.375MHz effecti...
$0100000007 Reference clock : 27.000MHz
$010000000b HW masked units : none

Was this ussing coolbits or rivaturner? I downloaded riva but not coolbits and Im trying to find out info exactly this for my new vid card, escpially how many pipes/shaders are active. If this is Rivaturner where in the program do you go to do this?

thx

 

[RealityTime]

I am in the process of trying to get an RMA # from XFX for my underclocked 350/900 GT. They are completely giving me the run around. Making absurd suggestions, like trying another driver version (lol), as well as suggesting I overclock to 1000 and see if there are any 'issues'. Of course when I reply asking for some assurance that I will be covered under warranty doing the overclock, I get a brief reply making another inane suggestion, avoiding the question. (three times I've done that particular run around) I am absolutely fed up with them. They are totally avoiding just giving me my well deserved RMA # for this misrepresented product. I'd love it if some of you other folks here with this ripoff GT would start conversing with XFX, demanding an explanation and resolution of this fraud. Obviously I am somewhat pissed, but this is really a disgrace. At least Leadtek as made it known that they are underclocking the GT's memory with some of them. XFX is not even aknowledging it. And obviously this has been a conscious choice on their part, as many of us have these bum cards.

 

[psychogmv]

I got this answer from www.xfxsupport.com:
[your initial question...] My card is being reported as only 900Mhz of memory clock, instead of 1000Mhz. I used both nVidia Forceware 61.77 drivers and the original drivers provided in the XFX cd with the same results. Does this card have a slower memory than the others GeForce 6800GT with 1000Mhz? Is the memory of my card rated only 2.2ns instead of 2ns? Does XFX produce cards with 900MHz of memory clock? If so, it should be stated in the box of the card that it is clocked lower than the others. I used RivaTuner and 3Dmark2005 and both report only 900MHz of memory clock. My system is: Athlon64 3000+, Chaintech VNF3-250, 512MB PC3200, WindowsXP professional with Service Pack2.

[Tony - 20/10/2004 16:48:58] Hi, please check with the coolbits utility to get accurate clocks. It should be 1000, but distributors sometimes set the clocks differently. It is possible the graphics clock is higher and the memory clock lower. But you can over clock, so the original settings are not so important. If you do overeclock, please ensure you reduce the clocks back at the first sign of instability. Regards Tony

From what I undertood, XFX just picks cards from other distributors and just apply their name on it. Maybe this is the cause of the discrepancy. But from what I understood, if you flash it with a BIOS that is 350/1000 it should be fine, although the guy who started the thread only got 940MHz maximum.

 

[RealityTime]

Originally posted by: psychogmv
I got this answer from www.xfxsupport.com:
[your initial question...] My card is being reported as only 900Mhz of memory clock, instead of 1000Mhz. I used both nVidia Forceware 61.77 drivers and the original drivers provided in the XFX cd with the same results. Does this card have a slower memory than the others GeForce 6800GT with 1000Mhz? Is the memory of my card rated only 2.2ns instead of 2ns? Does XFX produce cards with 900MHz of memory clock? If so, it should be stated in the box of the card that it is clocked lower than the others. I used RivaTuner and 3Dmark2005 and both report only 900MHz of memory clock. My system is: Athlon64 3000+, Chaintech VNF3-250, 512MB PC3200, WindowsXP professional with Service Pack2.

[Tony - 20/10/2004 16:48:58] Hi, please check with the coolbits utility to get accurate clocks. It should be 1000, but distributors sometimes set the clocks differently. It is possible the graphics clock is higher and the memory clock lower. But you can over clock, so the original settings are not so important. If you do overeclock, please ensure you reduce the clocks back at the first sign of instability. Regards Tony

From what I undertood, XFX just picks cards from other distributors and just apply their name on it. Maybe this is the cause of the discrepancy. But from what I understood, if you flash it with a BIOS that is 350/1000 it should be fine, although the guy who started the thread only got 940MHz maximum.

It's all irrelevant from my standpoint. Their name is on it, they are responsible for the product. It is by the strictest terms 'defective' to my mind. They will have to replace it.

 

[fzaba]

I am RMA'ing my card for the same reason, but am going through Buy.com and not XFX directly. Have you guys tried going through where you bought it from first?

 

[RealityTime]

I think needless to say all, DON'T BUY XFX!! Their product is misleading and support is abyssmal!~

 

[Ylide]

Here's my history with XFX support . Have fun reading it! They just go around and around...

[your initial question...] The memory of my card is clocked at 450/900MHz. Every 6800GT on the market is clocked at 500/1000MHz. On your website, you even wrote that the memory is clocked at 1000MHz. I tried using the overclocked registry mod to put it at the normal speed of 1000MHz, but it only went to 941MHz. Please adress this issue as soon as possible. I chose your card on top of all other manufacturers, please don`t make me change my mind.

[Support - 12/10/2004 12:35:34] Hi, the difference between the clocks purely depends on manufacturers BIOS release and does not reflect on the capability of the product. At the moment, all the 6800GT`s on the market are the same basic hardware spec. Indeed, the original clocks speeds are not so crucial as they are designed to be adjustable with the coolbits supplied. Surprised your memory clock only goes to 941 though, and would normally suggest a hardware limitation. Can recommend BIOS `optimal` defaults and ensure good case ventilation. If possible, use a dedicated power lead to the card and avoid a Y-splitter. Please ensure you have up-to-date mainboard BIOS and drivers installed before the graphics drivers. Regards Tony

[you - 14/10/2004 3:27:51] I have a D865PERLK motherboard with the latest BIOS, I have all the latest drivers, my computer case is going over 40-45oC inside, the card is connected to a dedicated power lead, I have a 430W Antec Truepower Power supply. I tried changing the power lead, with no difference. The store where I bought the card told me that you told them to make me update my nvidia drivers to 66.81. I`ve uninstalled fully (using Detonator RIP) the former drivers, reboot in safe mode, installed the new 66.81 drivers directly from download.nvidia.com and it doesn`t change anything. The store told me I should ask you for 66.81 drivers, maybe you would have a custom version. Any info on that?

[Tony - 15/10/2004 10:19:50] Hi, we (European Support Centre) have not been in contact with your store. We recommend 61.77 or 66.32 on this site, there is no proble, with these drivers. Also possible, your AGP voltage is slightly high. If you have the option in the BIOS, please ensure it is between 1.5 and 1.6v. Regards Tony

[you - 15/10/2004 18:1:53] Hi, I have a Intel D865PERLK motherboard, so AGP voltage is exactly at 1.5V in respect with AGP 2.0/3.0 standard and it cannot be changed. I have changed to every driver : 61.77, 66.32 (cannot be used from your site, it`s only for Gefore 6600 serie) and 66.81 with no change in the limitations of the card, I just cannot get the memory to 1000MHz.

[Tony - 18/10/2004 11:38:3] Hi, if not so, try BIOS `optimized` defaults and try increasing the AGP aperture size up to half your RAM. Regards Tony

[you - 18/10/2004 22:15:2] The configuration of my BIOS is optimal and I did try changing my AGP aperture size to every value possible, including half of my RAM.

[Tony - 19/10/2004 9:22:31] Hi, also worthwhile reducing the graphics clock, allowing you to increase the memory clock. Comparing performance should give you an idea of which setting is best, though please take care when overclocking, the hardware can be damaged if you arew not careful. Regards Tony

 

[Ylide]

The Last answer from "Tony" is very nice too! Downclocking graphic core to get memory up!

 

[RealityTime]

Originally posted by: psychogmv
Well, I´ll have to do this on weekend because I´m way from home now. But I´ll let you know.
Yesterday I tried overclocking it and I did 370/1100. I left it running 3DMark05 for about an hour continuously, and the maximum core temperature was 69C, and I didn´t have any lock ups or graphical jerkiness. So I think the memory is good. I flashed my card with a XFX BIOS which I found on http://www.mvktech.net/ and it is now defaulted on 350/1000. According to samsung website, there is no GDDR3 memory manufactured by them with latency higher than 2ns. So if it is GDDR3 it is 2ns!!! But as you said, it can be a bad RAM, but I don´t think XFX would do something like this. It would blow their reputation.

out of curiosty which revision of the XFX bios on www.mvktech.net did you use to flash your card ? Also what version of nvflash did you use ? and what process to perform the flash ?

 

[psychogmv]

Hi,
I used nvflash 4.42 with the following command nvflash -f BIOS.rom -p -u -2. The BIOS I´m using is the XFX 6800GT 256MB revision 04. Although this BIOS is older than the original that came with my card. The direct link is
6800GT rev04