Any 2GB Radeon 6950 cards unlockable to 6970?

[BBMW]

If there are, and there's a choice, which is the best quality?

 

[nanaki333]

i think only reference design 6950s can unlock, which are harder to get now. the unlocked shaders don't make that big of a difference and you'd be better off just oc'ing the 6950.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Technically, modifying a 6950's BIOS to have all the shaders enabled (6970) can be done with any 6950 card, 1GB or 2GB.

So I guess 'best' will be whichever one looks best in your eyes, all of them are capable to unlock those extra shaders unless there is truly a defect in the disabled shaders or the shaders have been cut per some unfounded rumor.

 

[RussianSensation]

If there are, and there's a choice, which is the best quality?

MSI Twin Frozr III for $285.

Review

 

[BBMW]

Ended up getting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127555

Looks like a reference design.

 

[Kenmitch]

Ended up getting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127555

Looks like a reference design.

If your card looks just like the photos it'll be a ref design. The AMD logo is what to look for.

 

[RussianSensation]

Ended up getting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127555

Looks like a reference design.

Yup, that card will unlock if it has the BIOS switch. My reference card does 77-78*C at 45% fan speed at 99% GPU load unlocked into a 6970. If you are comfortable with higher temps (85*C), you should be able to run it at 35% fan speed.

 

[bryanW1995]

The big deal with 2gb cards is that they have the dual bios, so if you f*** everything up you can just switch back to the factory bios.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

Technically, modifying a 6950's BIOS to have all the shaders enabled (6970) can be done with any 6950 card, 1GB or 2GB.

So I guess 'best' will be whichever one looks best in your eyes, all of them are capable to unlock those extra shaders unless there is truly a defect in the disabled shaders or the shaders have been cut per some unfounded rumor.

:thumbsup:

Not sure how that rumor started.

 

[3DVagabond]

MSI Twin Frozr III for $285.

Review

IMO, the Twin Frozr III, as you've suggested. Or, the Asus, EAH6950 DCII 2gig version, if you can find one. They've, apparently been discontinued at Newegg. Can't find a listing for one, anyway. Excellent quality, 3 slot custom cooler (might be bad in some peoples eyes, I guess?), eyefinity 6, and it does have the BIOS switch.

http://usa.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6950_DCII2DI4S2GD5/

 

[Orija]

What about the Twin Frozr II?

 

[RussianSensation]

What about the Twin Frozr II?

"We wonder because the reference boards all come with a second BIOS and a switch, that switch is not located on this PCB." ~ Guru3D.

 

[Orija]

Does that mean it can't be unlocked?

 

[3DVagabond]

Does that mean it can't be unlocked?

The switch doesn't make it able to unlock. It's just safer, because if the flash/unlock fails, you have the original BIOS to revert to and boot your system.

 

[Orija]

Otherwise?

 

[3DVagabond]

Your card might not be able to be recovered from the bad flash. Even if it can be saved you need a second card to boot your system from to try and flash your old card. Or some real heroics trying to force flash it from a bootable USB. I say heroics, because I wasn't able to do it with a card of mine that had a failed flash.

Keep in mind that the performance difference by simply unlocking the additional shaders isn't a lot. I just don't think it's worth the gamble without a card with a backup BIOS (like the ones I mentioned).

 

[Orija]

I see, thanks for all the help here and in the other thread.

 

[BBMW]

Where does the fabled BIOS flip flop switch live on the board?

 

[betasub]

^ Next to the finger for connecting crossfire bridge. It's a very small switch with positions marked 1 & 2 (1 = flashable BIOS, 2 = read-only BIOS). See AnandTech's article from the 6950/6970 release for pictures.

 

[note235]

Your card might not be able to be recovered from the bad flash. Even if it can be saved you need a second card to boot your system from to try and flash your old card. Or some real heroics trying to force flash it from a bootable USB. I say heroics, because I wasn't able to do it with a card of mine that had a failed flash.

Keep in mind that the performance difference by simply unlocking the additional shaders isn't a lot. I just don't think it's worth the gamble without a card with a backup BIOS (like the ones I mentioned).

i had this happen to me
but in the end my twin forzr 2 did unlock and its faster than my reference msi

 

[artvscommerce]

I was going to make a new thread but I thought I would just bring back this one. Does anyone know of any retailer still selling reference 6950s? I would really like to buy a second one that has the dual BIOS. I'm tempted to flash my existing one, but it already has the shaders unlocked, and i've read that unlocking the shaders and running it @ 6970 clocks is the better way to go since the 6970 memory timings are different which can potentially cause issues when flashing the 6950 to the 6970 BIOS. Can anyone offer any further insight on this?

 

[RussianSensation]

I was going to make a new thread but I thought I would just bring back this one. Does anyone know of any retailer still selling reference 6950s? I would really like to buy a second one that has the dual BIOS. I'm tempted to flash my existing one, but it already has the shaders unlocked, and i've read that unlocking the shaders and running it @ 6970 clocks is the better way to go since the 6970 memory timings are different which can potentially cause issues when flashing the 6950 to the 6970 BIOS. Can anyone offer any further insight on this?

Also, I agree that it's better to unlock your own card's 6950 BIOS, which maintains the same level of voltage and timings for the memory.

Besides the MSI TwinFrozr III, PowerColor PCS+ Vortex II also unlocks. Here is a review of that card. Neither of those cards are reference cards btw.

 

[lau808]

i read somewhere (sorry bad memory so no link) that the 1gb can not flash to 6970 bios as 6970 doesnt have a 1gb card. it makes sense so i assume this is true but will stand corrected if proved wrong. (to whever said any 6950 1gb or 2gb can unlock) um time for a noob question, unlocking is same as flashing new bios in this regards correct?

 

[3DVagabond]

Hardware Heaven also unlocked the Sapphire 6950 Dirt 3 Edition card.

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...s-card-review-3dmark-11-2nd-bios-flashed.html

:rant:
The 560ti in the charts is the Gigabyte 1GHz SOC. Just thought I'd mention it because I'm one of those anal types that gets aggravated when sites compare the highest O/C'd lowest availability card they can find against reference clocked competitor's cards.
/:rant:

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I was looking at cards the other day and saw that you can get a 6970 with a non reference cooler for less money than you can get a stock 6950.