Wrong clock speeds?

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 5, 2005, 02:54 PM

Hey people.
I know this is my first post in his forum, that's because I've never heard of it!
This forum looks great and I think it can help me alot and maybe I'll be able to tribute a little of my own wisdom :P

Well my question is this:
I own a Radeon 9600XT with 256MB by a creator that answers to the name of "SmartVGA".
This creator or whatever has (apparently) no web-site. The company I bought it from says the card should be running @ 500/300. So what's the problem? I ran a check with every program possible and it showed me a result of 406/216, way far from what it should.
I cannot replace the card because of the way I bought it (Long story) but I have noticed that the chip really is XT because it can be clocked to 500 easily without haing artifacts, it can even reach 550...
Is it possible that the clock speed is that low because it is 256 instead of the 128 the manufacturer said it has?
Is there a way for me to reach normal clock speeds for the memory as an XT should have like 600Mhz?

Second: According to my card type (9600XT), should I turn FastWrite on? (It is currently off)

EDIT:
Oh I forgot!
I have an option in the BIOS to change video memory type from US to USMC (I think these are the right initials). Is there a difference?

Ðamage™ · Jul 5, 2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

Hey people.
I know this is my first post in his forum, that's because I've never heard of it!
This forum looks great and I think it can help me alot and maybe I'll be able to tribute a little of my own wisdom :P

Well my question is this:
I own a Radeon 9600XT with 256MB by a creator that answers to the name of "SmartVGA".
This creator or whatever has (apparently) no web-site. The company I bought it from says the card should be running @ 500/300. So what's the problem? I ran a check with every program possible and it showed me a result of 406/216, way far from what it should.
I cannot replace the card because of the way I bought it (Long story) but I have noticed that the chip really is XT because it can be clocked to 500 easily without haing artifacts, it can even reach 550...
Is it possible that the clock speed is that low because it is 256 instead of the 128 the manufacturer said it has?
Is there a way for me to reach normal clock speeds for the memory as an XT should have like 600Mhz?

Second: According to my card type (9600XT), should I turn FastWrite on? (It is currently off)

EDIT:
Oh I forgot!
I have an option in the BIOS to change video memory type from US to USMC (I think these are the right initials). Is there a difference?

It might be possible that the manufacturer might have underclocked the card, but a simple ATi bios can fix that problem.. go here for that http://www.techpowerup.com/bios/ they have an amazing bios collection for your card and a "how to" for beginners installing their first vga bios. Your question about 256 compared to 128.. no that won't matter at all so don't even worry about that, thats not an issue. You can turn fastwrites on or off depends on your system, I've heard fastwrites should be turned off but again it all matters on your vga card and its compatability with games and such so do a litte experiment and see what gives you the best yield for stability and performance. Your question about US or "USWC" is a debatable topic that some people have different opinons about, I would tell you to enable the USWC option and I'll give you a link that explains it a litte better http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx...ar1=0&var2=164 Good luck bro and welcome to DH its a great place and I'll seeya around

daedal · Jul 5, 2005, 09:31 PM

Before you try to flash your BIOS as Damage metioned, be sure that you know what you're doing and that flashing your card's BIOS can result in serious damage so be prepared and read-up on it before you decide to take that step. Your clock speeds DO seem very strange however. Fastwrite is usually needed for the 9600 cards but give it a shot; it shouldn't affect your clock speeds whatsoever.

Is it possible that your card was bought from a shady online retailer or some sorts? I've seen some people be sold lower cards that have been modified to run at higher speeds. For example, if someone picked up a 9500 and overclocked/modified it to run as a 9600 and sold it as a 9600. Your system would read/pick it up as a 9600 too as the card's BIOS would have been changed.

I googled for a while but couldn't find anything about SmartVGA's 9600XT clock speeds but I'll keep looking.

nitrousoxide52 · Jul 5, 2005, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daedal

Before you try to flash your BIOS as Damage metioned, be sure that you know what you're doing and that flashing your card's BIOS can result in serious damage so be prepared and read-up on it before you decide to take that step. Your clock speeds DO seem very strange however. Fastwrite is usually needed for the 9600 cards but give it a shot; it shouldn't affect your clock speeds whatsoever.

Is it possible that your card was bought from a shady online retailer or some sorts? I've seen some people be sold lower cards that have been modified to run at higher speeds. For example, if someone picked up a 9500 and overclocked/modified it to run as a 9600 and sold it as a 9600. Your system would read/pick it up as a 9600 too as the card's BIOS would have been changed.

9600 BIOS are unique as they do not work on any other chip except the 9600 chips. So it must just be factory underclocked.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 5, 2005, 11:33 PM

Flash it with the same BIOS but right clock speeds.

domdomdom · Jul 6, 2005, 12:12 AM

hey
i've got a similar problem i think. i've got a 256MB 9600 pro and its running at 400/250(500) but i've looked up 9600 Pro's and they run at 300(600) for mem not 250(500)...anyone know whats goign on?
D

nitrousoxide52 · Jul 6, 2005, 12:26 AM

Flash with 9600xt 256mb stock BIOS, and now that I think about it, your card could have 9600np BIOS, so if you flash with 9600xt one's, it may open up the extra pipelines that you would be missing with the wrong BIOS. Same thing goes for dom, except use pro. I think you may be able to use 9600xt 256mb BIOS too, but I wouldn't risk it, but it's all up to you.

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 6, 2005, 05:12 AM

Gee folks, Thanks!!!
I never knew there these stuff!
I will try the bios flashing now, I'll tell you how it tourned out

and thanks again!

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 6, 2005, 05:48 AM

Folks i'm real sorry for making you crazy. I'm finding out a little more every second about my graphics card.
Apparently, it IS an XT core... but due to wrong BIOS, it thinks it has a Pro core...
(It thinks it has RV350 instead of RV360, even though it really has an RV360 - an XT core)

So, I'll try to find out the right bios for me (Thinking about ATI Bios, instead of any sepphire or other shit) and maybe it'll fix all my problems and crashes.

Thank you all guys!

Ðamage™ · Jul 6, 2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

Folks i'm real sorry for making you crazy. I'm finding out a little more every second about my graphics card.
Apparently, it IS an XT core... but due to wrong BIOS, it thinks it has a Pro core...
(It thinks it has RV350 instead of RV360, even though it really has an RV360 - an XT core)

So, I'll try to find out the right bios for me (Thinking about ATI Bios, instead of any sepphire or other shit) and maybe it'll fix all my problems and crashes.

Thank you all guys!

Hey Fridge, If you need any more help with the flashing of your ATi bios then head over here. I've written an article on the "how to" of flashing your ATi bios correctly.

ATi bios flashing: the proper way.

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 7, 2005, 03:15 AM

Thanks damage, but that's too late

I have flushed my ATI, and now it isn't working

It's like having a piece of plastic that's worth 160$... A very expensive piece of plastic

There is a gaurentee on it and I think they'll let me use it, we'll see...
So far the company doesn't answer, but no worries, she exists

By the way, is there any way to bring back the old bios? because when I start the PC with the ATI card I flushed, it doesn't show anything. absolutly nothing.
So obviously you understand why I cannot flush to the old one (I have it, just can't get it on the bios!)

Ðamage™ · Jul 7, 2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

Thanks damage, but that's too late

I have flushed my ATI, and now it isn't working

It's like having a piece of plastic that's worth 160$... A very expensive piece of plastic

There is a gaurentee on it and I think they'll let me use it, we'll see...
So far the company doesn't answer, but no worries, she exists

By the way, is there any way to bring back the old bios? because when I start the PC with the ATI card I flushed, it doesn't show anything. absolutly nothing.
So obviously you understand why I cannot flush to the old one (I have it, just can't get it on the bios!)

Hey Fridge, have you tried removing the card from the agp port and reinstalling it? That sometimes works, also if you have the old bios then just use that too flash back to original if that works.

How to recover from a bad BIOS flash: Use an old PCI card to boot your system while your AGP card with the corrupted BIOS is still installed. Your system should initialize the PCI card first. If this does not happen, remove the AGP card and turn the computer on with only the PCI card, go to your BIOS Setup and change the "Init Display First" option to "PCI". Now reinstall the AGP card. Your system should boot normally with the PCI card as primary display adapter. You can now re-flash the corrupted BIOS or use another one. Make sure you are flashing the right card by using the -i (ati) command line option.

Ðamage™ · Jul 7, 2005, 10:59 AM

Also I want the full specs of your ATi card, I'm going to get you the proper bios file, because I think you might have gotten the wrong one. I might be wrong but I'd still like to see what you flashed it with. Use my msn messenger reddrak@hotmail.com and send me the file if possible and we'll get this figured out bro. peace

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 8, 2005, 11:14 AM

BIOS flashing without a backup PCI card or integrated graphics is bad news.

If you can borrow someones system who has integrated graphics and an AGP Slot, you'd be in luck because then you could flash it.

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 8, 2005, 11:41 AM

folks, I have allready gave the card to the manufacturer to see what's wrong with it :X too late..
Any way, I have an on-board card that should work...
If the manufacurer says the card's gaurentee is void than I'll take it and reflush it with it's old bios and have me a lowsie ATI card :-\
I think they'll let me get a new one for I have a gaurentee. If this happends, than I'de like to switch it with an nVidia card, they have more support for games and stuff...
I know ATI are faster and so, but I still preffer nVidia.

Anyway, my card is a: SmartVGA Radeon 9600XT 256MB (Hynix memory, I don't know exactly which...)

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 8, 2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

folks, I have allready gave the card to the manufacturer to see what's wrong with it :X too late..
Any way, I have an on-board card that should work...
If the manufacurer says the card's gaurentee is void than I'll take it and reflush it with it's old bios and have me a lowsie ATI card :-\
I think they'll let me get a new one for I have a gaurentee. If this happends, than I'de like to switch it with an nVidia card, they have more support for games and stuff...
I know ATI are faster and so, but I still preffer nVidia.

Anyway, my card is a: SmartVGA Radeon 9600XT 256MB (Hynix memory, I don't know exactly which...)

nVidia does not have more support for "games and stuff", both ATI and nVidia design their cards with gaming in mind so I don't know where you'd get that idea.

NUCLEARWINTER · Jul 8, 2005, 01:01 PM

In Some Ways Nvidia Has More Support For "stuff". Nvidia Has Some Great Screen Savers!!! Ati Has A Very Few....and Maybe One Or Two Of Them Are Good. Im Surprised That With The Advancement Of The R480 Chipsets...they Would Want To Showcase Their Raw Power A Lil More. But Im A Straight Ati Man. I Sometimes Feel Like Nvidia Cares For The Little Guy A Bit More....hey Ati...aside From That Ss Of Ruby On That Bike In The Tunnel(pretty Sweet) Where Is The Eyecandy? We Spend Lots Of Money On Cards, So We Wanna Showcase Them To Ppl Who Don't Exaclty Like Seeing Antlion's Being Squashed By The Buggy In Hl2, Or Taking The Blue Flag And Returning It To Ur Flag Before Ur Flag Is Taken In Ut2k4. Wow That Was A Bit Of A Ramble..sorry

-Mr.Fridge · Jul 8, 2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

nVidia does not have more support for "games and stuff", both ATI and nVidia design their cards with gaming in mind so I don't know where you'd get that idea.

well, I got this idea for seeing the current ATI card I have giving me all the problems in the world while my neighbour's nVidia card doesn't give him any problem (And I'm not talking about speed, that is a different thing).
Maybe it's because I have a bad card (In repairs as we speak) but we shall see.

P.S.
Did anyone find me the Bios I need?

Ðamage™ · Jul 8, 2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

Anyway, my card is a: SmartVGA Radeon 9600XT 256MB (Hynix memory, I don't know exactly which...)

It'll be either Hynix 2.8 or 3.3, which ever one it is you can take a look at the card if you get it back.. and it will tell you right on the memory. I think you did an incorrect flash but hopefully the people you took it back to aren't smart enough to see that because once you flash your card your warranty expires. Good Luck bro and if you still want me to help you then just use my msn. peace

Ðamage™ · Jul 8, 2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Mr.Fridge

P.S. Did anyone find me the Bios I need?

we can't help with the bios unless you give us the correct memory.. Hynix? again it'll be 2.8 or 3.3.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 8, 2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ðamage™

we can't help with the bios unless you give us the correct memory.. Hynix? again it'll be 2.8 or 3.3.

XT's use 2.8ns, Pro's usually use the 3.3ns

Ðamage™ · Jul 8, 2005, 02:06 PM

Like I said.. if you get the card back then check the ram on your ati card and it will tell you.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 8, 2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ðamage™

Like I said.. if you get the card back then check the ram on your ati card and it will tell you.

I was offering a suggestion. I believe you'd send him the 2.8 one anyway because the 9600XT's have higher clocked RAM so its logical they'd use the lower latency RAM.

Ðamage™ · Jul 8, 2005, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

I was offering a suggestion. I believe you'd send him the 2.8 one anyway because the 9600XT's have higher clocked RAM so its logical they'd use the lower latency RAM.

Hex relax, the 9600 XT card has both Hynix 2.8 and 3.3. Do your research

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 8, 2005, 07:27 PM

I know it does. But I rarely if ever see XT cards that use Hynix 3.3 ram, the 2.8 achieves the higher clock speeds much easier so thats why they use it more often.

Not agitated, just trying to help the guy out.