XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/04 21:31Hi, I bought two XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO's in August as replacement for my GeForce 6800 and a GeForce 7600 GT for about $85. Fair price for a mid-range card. But I was a little bit disappointed about the performance. The GeForce 6800 reached about 9800 marks and the GeForce 7600 GT if I remember well above 13000 marks at 3DMark03. The new Radeon HD 2600 PRO reached about 10500 marks by default 600/700MHz.
A poorly improvment by comparison to a nearly three years older GeForce 6800. Also annoying, no fan control, poor overclocking, about 625/725MHz and up to now no tools available like RaBiT. So I had to be on my own and screwed a little with my HEX editor. One of the two goals, to raise the overclocking limit and to lower the fan speed I reached for I had achieved. With a modified BIOS the Radeon HD 2600 PRO will be detected as a XT, requires reinstall of the drivers. The Catalyst overclocking limit is now lifted up from 625/725MHz to a better and higher 850/850MHz. And all other settings remain unchanged. - Blue : GPU Clock 803801 = 800MHz, 084C01 = 850MHz - Green : Memory Clock 803801 = 800MHz, 084C01 = 850MHz - Yellow = Catalyst Control Center Oveclocking Limit - Blue : GPU Clock 60EA00 = 600MHz, F82A00 = 110MHz, 307500 = 300MHz - Green : Memory Clock 701101 = 700MHz - Red : GPU Voltage B004 = 1.2V, 1A04 = 1.05V Settings : Original XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO Settings : Overclock Tweak XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO Settings : Catalyst View XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO
The BIOS of my original XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO dated at 06/30/07 (26P7060.26)and the original XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO BIOS, you can download here on the downloads secrion is from 07/18/07 (26P7060.2A). Changes are, increased PowerPlay state 1 from 297MHz to 700MHz and performance level 1 from 400MHz to 700MHz. Now my question, can or shall I upload this modified BIOS file or do you have an objection? Thanks...
A currently incomplete listing of Catalyst overclock limits in the BIOS of the Radeon HD 2400/2600 series, so meaning the Overdrive overclocking limited by BIOS settings.
AMD/ATI Radeon HD 2400 Graphics Card Series... Card BIOS Settings --- Default Speed --- Clock Limit Speed - MSI - 2400 PRO DDR2 -------------- 525/800MHz --- No Limit/Tweak? - Sapphire - 2400 PRO DDR2 ------- 525/800MHz --- 600/1200MHz
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Mavke
Admin Admin
Posts: 14234
Karma: 360
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/05 23:03Well of course you can post the BIOS, but also post your original BIOS cause we want that as reference as well. And what would be nice if you could do some of these tweaks for our visitors so that they can as well enjoy this tweak by just flashing the BIOS. Great stuff mate and this will help a lot as RaBiT it still not ready and having some issues with the various BIOS's and particularities.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
cyberlon
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 24
Karma: 1
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 19:40Awesome, you are totally expert. Gonna try your guide, but how you count the 850 = 084C01? By HEX calculating we can get the number, but how to get the real amount. Sorry I don't know how to count.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Siggi
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 41
Karma: 4
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 20:14I have uploaded this BIOS file, now you wil have to wait for Mavke to make it available. And then you can all enjoy or see for yourself. Oh an your question Decimal 85000 = Hex 14C08 = 084C01. I hope that clarifies it... The modified BIOS is attached as mentioned the overclock limit is raised to 850/850MHz, and after flashing the card is detected as a Radeon HD 2600 XT version.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
cyberlon
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 24
Karma: 1
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 20:52Okay, I've got it. now... Thanks bro, now I know manual clock and can actually start my own overclocking setting.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Siggi
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 41
Karma: 4
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 22:17Well wait, it isn't so easy it seems to be. I would like it to be so easy, then we wouldn't need RaBiT. If you have a XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, I suppose so, I'm interested in some information. How much RAM is installed at your system, respectively was installed at this time you installed the drivers? What's the values of the registry entries DDCaps0017 and the aperture config? If you still have 3DMark03 and run CPU Test 2 and GT4 MotherNature, did you have noticed anything unusually?
It seems to me, that something going wrong with the memory management. With the latest Catalyst 7.10 drivers there was an improvement in comparison with Catalyst 7.9 and 7.8, but these problems still exist. I'm waiting for the next drivers release in a few days. If there is no improvement, I would like to get in touch with the ladies and gentlemen which are called Catalyst developers and ask a few questions. Probably waste of time, but maybe...
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Mavke
Admin Admin
Posts: 14234
Karma: 360
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 22:28Well the modified or tweaked BIOS has been added to the thread and no it won't come on the downloads section as that only contains original BIOS's. Just to make that clear that is why all working modified BIOS's can be shared on these forums. We will add your original BIOS's as well but that takes a bit extra time. Thanks for this though, you have done some great work and it will help a lot of tweakers.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
cyberlon
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 24
Karma: 1
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/06 23:37Yes, I have an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO same as yours bro. Where is DDCaps0017 located? Aperture config is where? What I know is I use the default option from the BIOS and everything is fine. Yes I am using Catalyst 7.10 on a Windows XP machine. Attached the registry details I could find, maybe it helps you.
About the clocking, I modified all the listed records you have pointed out but when flashing I cannot see the BIOS. Can't see flashing the display as normal and killed it just now. Luckily my SiS PC has a build in display adapter and let me plug in the card and flash back to the original BIOS... Mmm failure, maybe we just need to modify some of the addresses only?
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
cyberlon
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 24
Karma: 1
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/07 07:32Why I just modify some part only in HEX editor and the BIOS will be damaged? Do we need any special utility or other kind of HEX editor? I'm using HEX Workshop and flash it will become a damaged BIOS. Can you provide use some guide? My display card is capable on doing 830/830MHz memory. Can you make one for me or guide me how to not damage the BIOS? Thanks...
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Siggi
User Junior Boarder
Posts: 41
Karma: 4
Re:XpertVision Radeon HD 2600 PRO, and tweaked BIOS update? - 2007/11/07 18:24Have you meanwhile downloaded the Radeon HD 2600 PRO modified BIOS? Why you asked for a guide? Just flash the BIOS, and you best use ATIWinflash 1.2.6.1. By the way, my Radeon HD 2600 XT reached about 830MHz. Not more, but I'm pleased. Where is DDCaps0017 located? Aperture config is where? Simply search for this entries in the registry.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Galaxy 9800GT PCIe 512MB - Rev 01
