Flash a new BIOS or play with downvolting for old card

[davide445]

Having since some time my Sapphire HD7950 Dual-X with Boost, I noticed today GPU-Z state my BIOS is

Version 015.029.000.002.000000
Build Date 2012-12-13 00:33

I find various entries for this card on BIOS DB

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios...l=HD+7950&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=

The most recent being this,

VBIOS Version: 015.042.000.003.000000
BIOS Build date: 2014-01-08 01:45:00
Date added: 2014-03-04 03:57:39

Rated for the FleX OC Boost model.

Will make sense to flash this new BIOS, or also maybe flash the R9 280 one

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/164942/sapphire-r9280-3072-140508-2

considering the R9 280 was in fact a rebadged 7950 w Boost with further +15Mhz as base clock?

Another option will be to play with downvolting that seems to be effective with this card lowering power consumption and so enabling more sustained boost. To goal is squeeze a bit more performance.

 

[Shmee]

Does that card have dual BIOS? If so, there isn't much risk at least.

 

[davide445]

Can't find any documentation about a dual BIOS, this is GPU-Z BIOS info

General
Version 015.029.000.002.000000
Build Date 2012-12-13 00:33
Part # 113-1E249100-S41
GPU TAHITI
Bus PCI_EXPRESS
Memory GDDR5
Bootup Message Tahiti B0 CR PRO2 C38640 GDDR5 3GB 500e/150m
Filename 24920C00.S41
Changelist 847658
Build # 247859
Config File SAPPHIRE_TAHITI_C38640_E24900_GDR5_3G\config.h

Memory Support
Entry 1 GDDR5
Autodetect
3072 MB
Entry 2 GDDR5
Hynix
3072 MB
H5GQ2H24AFR
Entry 3 GDDR5
Elpida
3072 MB
EDW2032BBBG

The card does have a boost button

That seems to be enabling a secondary BIOS with higher clock from other forums and some old reviews talk, but I dind't find any official documentation about this BIOS and how to access it (so to install on one BIOS and preserving the second).

Pushing the button show a BIOS
Version 015.030.000.001.000000
Build Date 2012-12-20 05:04
Filename 24920C0X.S41
Changelist 854915
Build # 249807


Any way to "backup" my current BIOS so that if I have any problem I can flash it back?

 

[Shmee]

Yes you can do that with GPUz. And if it has the boost button, I suspect that is the button to switch to secondary boost BIOS. So you should be safe from bricking card so long as you only flash one of the BIOS.

 

[davide445]

I've seen Techpowerup does have tool for flashing their Bios, will make sense to use this or there are better tools.
Also there are other BIOS databases or this one is reliable? First time approaching this topic so prefer to stay mainstream.