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Can a custom BIOS prevent successful driver updates?

mks2005

mks2005

mks2005

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Joined
27 May 2004
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UK
Hi guys,

A while ago I purchased a second hand 4850 that has been volt modded and custom biosflashed to enable powersaving and a default clock of 780/1000.

Problem is I can't seem to get any drivers working on it apart from 8.7s (which were out when it was originally flashed). If I install the new drivers, it will blackscreen at the end of the installation. If I then reboot, it will blackscreen imediately as windows loads.

I have to go into safemode and remove the driver.

Only thing I can put it down to is the custom bios. I don't know much about them, so I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not this could be the cause of the problem, and how I could go about fixing it.

Cheers
 
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im pretty sure they dont support custom bios's

if you edit the bios manually its a different story - will have a look for some more info
 
I've heard of this. 8.9 onwards won't load on modded bios card. You need to flash the original bios to get it to work
 
Earlier versions of bios editors allowed you to use whatever voltage values you wanted. This meant that if they didnt match the voltages table, 8.8 onwards the drivers would give you a black screen as soon as the drivers loaded.

So either re-edit the bios with the latest RBE software, or reinstall 8.7 drivers.
 
ghost101 said:
Earlier versions of bios editors allowed you to use whatever voltage values you wanted. This meant that if they didnt match the voltages table, 8.8 onwards the drivers would give you a black screen as soon as the drivers loaded.

So either re-edit the bios with the latest RBE software, or reinstall 8.7 drivers.
Click to expand...

Thaks a lot! You're correct, it was actually the 8.7s im currently using.

Since the card is hardware volt modded (pencil mod), can the bios voltages be editted to their stock values and the card will run at the hardmodded voltage or do the bios settings require a (non-stock) value equal to this?

Sorry if that sounds confusing I'm kinda new at GFX card bios editting
 
mks2005 said:
Thaks a lot! You're correct, it was actually the 8.7s im currently using.

Since the card is hardware volt modded (pencil mod), can the bios voltages be editted to their stock values and the card will run at the hardmodded voltage or do the bios settings require a (non-stock) value equal to this?

Sorry if that sounds confusing I'm kinda new at GFX card bios editting
Click to expand...

It will be ok as long as the hardmodded voltage by itself is high enough for your clockspeed. Remember that the real voltage will drop a bit when you switch back to the stock bios.

Like i said before, just get the latest Radeon Bios Editor and redo the bios mod so that 1.158v is selected for wherever previously you edited. Also if you changed non 3d voltages change those to ones from the dropdown menu.
 
ghost101 said:
It will be ok as long as the hardmodded voltage by itself is high enough for your clockspeed.
Click to expand...

Could you clarify what you mean by that?

I've just loaded my current BIOS into RBE:




So should I just set the 1.4V to 1.158V? The hard volt mod will mean the card will run at the same voltage as before anyway, regardless of BIOS settings?
 
mks2005 said:
So should I just set the 1.4V to 1.158V? The hard volt mod will mean the card will run at the same voltage as before anyway, regardless of BIOS settings?
Click to expand...

Yes. Look at the bios table at the bottom left of the screen. 0.99v also isnt a standard voltage. That needs to be changed I think (although it may be fine if its within the table range, can't remember the exact issue).
 
ghost101 said:
Yes. Look at the bios table at the bottom left of the screen. 0.99v also isnt a standard voltage. That needs to be changed I think (although it may be fine if its within the table range, can't remember the exact issue).
Click to expand...

ok cool :)

any idea why these values would have been entered into the bios in the first place? I assume in error seeing as the card is hardware volt modded?
 
Just for reference, this is what I was giving to people who asked for an edited bios. Tested working with 8.8 onwards. Low coreclock because not everyone has a hard mod.

Untitled222.jpg
 
That's handy, thanks. So just to confirm again (sorry)... Could I literally set any values in BIOS for voltages and the pencilmod would overrule all of them?
 
Forget editing your bios as you will still have to flash your card anyway.

Simplest solution. Backup your current modded bios with gpu-z/RBE. Download the stock bios for your make of card. Flash with stock bios. Install latest drivers. Re-flash with your saved modded bios.

SImple as that. Saves editing and perhaps getting something wrong which might mess up your card.
 
Greebo said:
Forget editing your bios as you will still have to flash your card anyway.

Simplest solution. Backup your current modded bios with gpu-z/RBE. Download the stock bios for your make of card. Flash with stock bios. Install latest drivers. Re-flash with your saved modded bios.

SImple as that. Saves editing and perhaps getting something wrong which might mess up your card.
Click to expand...

Its not a solution though. His card won't work properly after he flashes again with this bios. He will get a black screen as soon as the driver loads.
 
ghost101 said:
Its not a solution though. His card won't work properly after he flashes again with this bios. He will get a black screen as soon as the driver loads.
Click to expand...

Thats what I thought :S

Are there not other people on here with voltmodded 4800s running 8.8+ ?
 
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