Unlocking/modding a 6950

[Gregry254]

I have read that the new models can't be unlocked by flashing a new BIOS but what about this thread where they talk about modding your existing BIOS to unlock the shaders?

1st, you'll want to save a copy of your existing bios. You can follow the bios flash guide steps 1, 3 and 4 to save your bios. This is just in case something doesn't work right (not all 6950 GPU's have fully function shaders). The flash instructions are here: instructinos
Just do steps 1, 3 and 4.

Next, download this: www.techpowerup.com/wizzard/Mod_BIOS_HD_6950.zip

Extract the script and copy over the original saved bios into the folder for this script. It needs to be named "original.bin"

Now run the script (it will tell you instructions) and follow the original flash instructions with the modified bios. ( instructions ) follow steps 5 through 9 with the modified bios created with the script ( modded.bin )

Anyone tried this? I am tempted to try it to get a free upgrade but scared I brick my card

 

[Gregry254]

Well that is me scared straight I think, because knowing my luck I would RMA it and get a bill for £225 lol

I was speaking to someone else recently who said that some of the cards don't have a dual BIOS switch, that the switch is infact for fan speed or something? Whats the story behind that?

 

[Gregry254]

In a moment of madness I tried it on the spare BIOS and . . . . I am now the proud owner of 1536 shaders

 

[Gregry254]

I just used the script/program I posted earlier to unlock the shaders on my existing BIOS.

 

[Gregry254]

But if I can find a BIOS from a 6970 Twin FrozR III I might be tempted to try it on for size too Since I can always fall back on the other BIOS.

Edit: Maybe not!

 

[Gregry254]

when did you buy the card? as amd are ment to have put a stop to this months back, if you bought it recently then guess you were lucky enough to get old stock.

I bought the card on the 4th from OCUK so I dunno about old stock?

Plus your not going to gain a great deal out of flashing a modded bios to the card, maybe 5% tops.

A 5% increase for free is still better than nothing

 

[Gregry254]

I'm on my second 6950. First one was flashed with 6970 bios and it broke. Artifacts everywhere. Second one has shaders unlocked and a 6950 bios and it works a treat.

Don't be greedy

Yeah after looking into it more and finding out that 6970 BIOS is bad for the card I am gonna stick with the unlocked 6950 BIOS

 

[Gregry254]

Yeah it is a FrozR III card I have, there is a small switch on it that you flick towards the front of the PC to get it to position 1 and go from there

 

[Gregry254]

I am 98.8798495% sure the FrozR has dual boot because I cocked up the first day I got it and had to flick the switch to the back to get it to boot, then I flicked the switch whilst it was on and flashed back the original BIOS into position one and then it would boot on both positions.

When I get home I will try flicking it back to position 2 and see if it still says 14** shaders instead of 15** just to clarify though.

 

[Gregry254]

Do you have to flash bios to overclock past CC 900/1300 limit?

I believe the only way to get around this is to flash a 6970 BIOS onto the card.

But I have seen people talking about Radeon Bios Editor? Not tried this my self so I am not sure what kind of options that gives.

Edit: Link

 

[Gregry254]

Does that work with non MSI cards too? just in case he doesn't have the FrozR.