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Problem flashing from 6950 to 6970

5K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  LA_Kings_Fan 
#1 ·
Hi everbody,

A few days ago i got my pc, it runs cool and quiet.
I heard that the 6950 can be flashed to a 6970.
so i tried it with the guide on how to do it at techpowerup.
But i keep getting problems.
If i want to load the bios image on winflash i get invalid vbios image or i get subsystem IDs mismatch.
I tried to look for other ways to unlock it.
I read on other forums and on techpowerup that you can use cmd to unlock the 6950 but everytime i try to type "cd %USERPROFILE%\desktop\winflash" and press enter. It will say ''the system cannot find the path specified.''

I got a radeon hd 6950 dirt 3 edition 2gb.

I hope you guys can help me
smile.gif
.
and sorry for my bad english.

Thanks.
 
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1
#6 ·
Not ALL CAYMAN GPU chip's will Unlock ... but 0% of the ANTILLES GPU chips will !

GPU-ZUnlocks.jpg


In General the Sapphire HD-6950 DIRT3 edition has around a 33%-50% successful report of Unlocking, so it's not unusual that yours doesn't unlock unfortunately.

I assume you tried the DUAL BIOS switch on it FIRST before you FLASHED it right ?
rolleyes.gif
I mean that IS the reason you buy these DUAL BIOS cards
tongue.gif
so if you DID NOT do this ... let us know maybe you still can get lucky and have an unlockable version, we'll see.

However if you just went and flashed it you might have really messed up your card, the reason the DUAL BIOS cards like the Sapphire TOXIC, Sapphire DIRT3, MSI PE/OC TF3, PowerColor PCS++ editions, and HIS (forget it's model off the top of my head?) are SO GREAT ... is that your card has TWO BIOS's on it. ONE is there as a SAFETY BACKUP so you can always return your card to default factory settings ... the 2nd BIOS is either a Factory installed unlocked BIOS in many cases or at least a 2nd BIOS the end user YOU, can play around with trying to FLASH and unlock the extra shaders and clock speeds of a 6970 Bios.

HOPEFULLY you didn't flash over the Factory Safety Bios that is usually in Position #1.
smile.gif


Anyways ... let us know exactly what you did and tried and maybe we can help you fix this and try and unlock it again.
smile.gif
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LA_Kings_Fan;15503154
Not ALL CAYMAN GPU chip's will Unlock ... but 0% of the ANTILLES GPU chips will !

In General the Sapphire HD-6950 DIRT3 edition has around a 33%-50% successful report of Unlocking, so it's not unusual that yours doesn't unlock unfortunately.

I assume you tried the DUAL BIOS switch on it FIRST before you FLASHED it right ?
rolleyes.gif
I mean that IS the reason you buy these DUAL BIOS cards
tongue.gif
so if you DID NOT do this ... let us know maybe you still can get lucky and have an unlockable version, we'll see.

However if you just went and flashed it you might have really messed up your card, the reason the DUAL BIOS cards like the Sapphire TOXIC, Sapphire DIRT3, MSI PE/OC TF3, PowerColor PCS++ editions, and HIS (forget it's model off the top of my head?) are SO GREAT ... is that your card has TWO BIOS's on it. ONE is there as a SAFETY BACKUP so you can always return your card to default factory settings ... the 2nd BIOS is either a Factory installed unlocked BIOS in many cases or at least a 2nd BIOS the end user YOU, can play around with trying to FLASH and unlock the extra shaders and clock speeds of a 6970 Bios.

HOPEFULLY you didn't flash over the Factory Safety Bios that is usually in Position #1.
smile.gif


Anyways ... let us know exactly what you did and tried and maybe we can help you fix this and try and unlock it again.
smile.gif
I'm new here and I'd like to ask a simple question without having to spam up the boards with a silly question that requires one word answers; so here goes my question.

When I get my Sapphire 6950 Dirt3 Edition, and I attempt to flash it, I should put it in the second BIOS setting? What happens if you do it on the first one?
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spinejam;15498203
Does GPU-Z list the 6950 "GPU" as an Antilles? If so, no unlock -- but you can still overclock it w/ sapphire trixx.
smile.gif
Oh yes, sorry.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LA_Kings_Fan;15503154
Not ALL CAYMAN GPU chip's will Unlock ... but 0% of the ANTILLES GPU chips will !

In General the Sapphire HD-6950 DIRT3 edition has around a 33%-50% successful report of Unlocking, so it's not unusual that yours doesn't unlock unfortunately.

I assume you tried the DUAL BIOS switch on it FIRST before you FLASHED it right ?
rolleyes.gif
I mean that IS the reason you buy these DUAL BIOS cards
tongue.gif
so if you DID NOT do this ... let us know maybe you still can get lucky and have an unlockable version, we'll see.

However if you just went and flashed it you might have really messed up your card, the reason the DUAL BIOS cards like the Sapphire TOXIC, Sapphire DIRT3, MSI PE/OC TF3, PowerColor PCS++ editions, and HIS (forget it's model off the top of my head?) are SO GREAT ... is that your card has TWO BIOS's on it. ONE is there as a SAFETY BACKUP so you can always return your card to default factory settings ... the 2nd BIOS is either a Factory installed unlocked BIOS in many cases or at least a 2nd BIOS the end user YOU, can play around with trying to FLASH and unlock the extra shaders and clock speeds of a 6970 Bios.

HOPEFULLY you didn't flash over the Factory Safety Bios that is usually in Position #1.
smile.gif


Anyways ... let us know exactly what you did and tried and maybe we can help you fix this and try and unlock it again.
smile.gif
Hi,

sorry that i didn't response so quick i was playing battlefield 3 the whole night
biggrin.gif
.

I woke up and i red the replies.
I turned my pc off and switched to the 2e bios (the furthest away from the Crossfire-bridge) and turned the pc on.

I tried the techpowerup one (with winflash) and sadly it still says subsystem id's mismatch
frown.gif
.

I appreciate your replies guys ^^.

Edit: Yup, yesterday i tried to flash on me 1e bios but it would never work. it would say subsystem id's mismatch or invalid vbios image and playing battlefield 3 after that i don't think my card is messed up.
thinking.gif


EDIT:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank33;15504622
im sure you just lost your guy...
Nope, they didn't lost me
biggrin.gif
.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dreadnought;15505853
I'm new here and I'd like to ask a simple question without having to spam up the boards with a silly question that requires one word answers; so here goes my question.

When I get my Sapphire 6950 Dirt3 Edition, and I attempt to flash it, I should put it in the second BIOS setting? What happens if you do it on the first one?
Actually it's NOT a silly question at all ... as MANY people don't know how to safely attempt unlocking these cards, and get confused by all the info around, and make the mistake of trying to FLASH these cards before they do anything ... The DIRT3 cards DO NOT NEED to be FLASHED to UNLOCK them ! the unlocked shaders are on the 2nd BIOS.

Here, just follow my simple ... Step-by-Step Guide to Un-Locking a DUAL BIOS Card w/ Switch, Thanks to LA_Kings_Fan
Quote:
Originally Posted by LA_Kings_Fan
Step 1 - Install the card, turn on your computer and windows will most likely install the current driver before you can even install the CD software that came with the card.
Step 2 - You can install the CD software, but to be honest the WIN 7 driver the system auto loads for you should work too, so you could skip to Step 3 I guess ?
Step 3 - With things running, install GPU-Z and/or TriXX software or both ... then open the programs to review the Factory defaults of your card, note shaders and Core clocks etc.
Step 4 - In GPU-Z or TriXX SAVE your factory BIOS of the card. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. You might just need it in case something goes wrong and need to reinstall the factory BIOS file in case position #2 Unlocked BIOS FAILS, and flipping the switch back to position #1 won't reload the original BIOS for some reason. THIS shouldn't happen, but better SAFE and SAVED than sorry and SOL.
Step 5 - Shut Down Windows and turn off your Computer.
Step 6 - FLIP the little Dual BIOS switch near the back plate / SLI Bridge area to position #2.
Step 7 - Turn on Computer and reboot up.
Step 8 - Re-open TriXX and/or GPU-Z and check your Shaders ... if it's 1536, CONGRATS your card UNLOCKED and you have a HD-6970 now no BIOS FLASH required it's ON the card from Sapphire ... if it's still 1408, Bummer dude no Factory Un-Lock , you could still then try FLASHING it to Unlock it, but YES this can be slightly risky and CAN void your warranty if you BRICK the card by Flashing it, most likely you have a card that Will NOT unlock, remember it's NOT Guaranteed.
BEFORE .......... VS. .......... AFTER
before.gif
after.gif


@ magek07

Yeah IF your DIRT3 card says ANTILLES in the GPU box ... then you WILL NEVER get your card Un-Locked sorry
frown.gif

231000d1317237461-sapphire-fan-club-6950.gif

That is a GPU-z from an OVERCLOCKED Sapphire DIRT3 edition card with the ANTILLES GPU Chip, it will show as a 6990 Bios yet NEVER UNLOCK.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by magek07;15506827
Cheers mate! i actaully didn't opened up gpu-Z on me 2e bios. i red your message above and switched to the 2e bios again and opened up gpu-Z.
My card is actaully already unlocked as you say
biggrin.gif
!
Thank you very much ^^!
Ah see BAM ! ... another satisfied customer
biggrin.gif
congrats on getting a 6970 for about $100 less
thumb.gif
 
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