290 to 290x.

[ALXAndy]

Hey all. I have a Powercolor 290 and I want to flash it to a 290x.

However, apparently this card has the wrong memory but that doesn't matter.

I want to run the card in a MAC and OSX sees the 290x and works with it out of the box. It does not work with the 290, and after installing the drivers by force I am getting terrible glitches and artifacts.

So, I do not need the extra shaders or MHz, all I want is the DEV_ID.

So, I've heard mixed things. Some say it's easy, some say you can't do it. The ones that say you can say that all it changes is the DEV_ID to a 290x and works fine that way.

So, in summation.

1. Can I do it?
2. What bios would I need to use (name of manu please, link would be awesome).

Thanks guys.

Andy

 

[Orangey]

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/298443-r9-290-non-x-yosemited-help/

?

 

[ALXAndy]

Yeah that's the drivers I have to force on. But they don't work properly with the 290 non X. X is native...

I get massive tearing in Valley and then when playing games objects are like blocky crystals until I get up close to them, then they redraw and look OK.

I've heard you can alter the frame buffer, but as soon as you do that you need to use Displayport and I can't.

Easiest solution appears to be a flash, but not sure I can do it :S

 

[Orangey]

Well here is the 290X BIOS archive @ TPU:

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/...r=&model=R9+290X&interface=&memType=&memSize=

I have heard that flashing to an X does not brick the card. However standard disclaimer goes here.

If it's a reference design you can use pretty much any ref BIOS. Here's one with a slight OC (annoyingly they don't have a plain ref one listed):

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/147852/powercolor-r9290x-4096-131015-1.html

Here is the old flashing guide:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18552408

 

[old gamer]

what bios have you used, I had a asus bios on a vtx3d and it worked perfectly

 

[ALXAndy]

I tried an Asus bios on the second switch position earlier and it did not work. No display on boot.

I will try another on the first bios because I can always reflash it using a Nvidia if it fails.

Don't need an overclock, just the DEV_ID