How to turn a Radeon 9500 into a 9700 Pro!!

[rui]

For those brave enought to try it (but it seems rather simple to do it):

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/story.html?id=1041719082

[Ramirez]

Hi,very useful info thanks.

Just one small correction,there's no need to replace the original
resistor that comes with the Radeon-9500 with a different one,
just move it to position 1-2 and you're done.
(I've got this info from the original overclockers.ru site)

Regards

[rui]

Thanks for the correction :)

But i have a question: I am a long time Nvidia user, but i am aware that the new ATI chips are very good :)
So, i am thinking of changing ,in a near future, to a 9700 non pro board (the price diference to the Pro board is somewhat significant here). But i read a lot of threads at www.rage3d.com and still couldn't clear my doubt.

They speak over there of overclocking the 9700 non pro board using the rage3D tweak utility. BUT some say that is only possible AFTER flashing the board with a new bios!

I am used to OC the nvidia boards only by software, never by using a new bios.

So, can anyone confirm that the 9700 non pro boards can only be overclocked by flashing a new bios, or can it be done by using some proggy like in the nvidia boards??

Thanks

[cult]

it depends from the manufactuer of the card.Some cards come with lower
clocked ram so you can overclock with software to a limit.If it has a good ram then flashing the bios enables you to overclock at even higher.

[rui]

Thanks for clearing this.

Do you have a 9700 non pro yourself? If yes, what brand? If no, do you know of someone that has overclocked without flashing? Sorry for asking so much questions, but i just wanted to be sure :)

[Ramirez]

Originally posted by rui
So, can anyone confirm that the 9700 non pro boards can only be overclocked by flashing a new bios, or can it be done by using some proggy like in the nvidia boards??
[/B]
Yes,it seems to be true,the only way to OC the 9700-none pro board
is by reflashing it with a tweaked bios by warp11,check out This (http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=33654157&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) super long tread at Rage3d forums.

Regards.

[rui]

And now the transform of radeon 9500 into 9700 can be (or will be) done by SOFTWARE:

http://www.guru3d.com/comments.php?category=1&id=1072

[cult]

No,I have a 8500,but I would go for a 9500 or 9700.These cards r0x and have a very good tvout(better than nvidia)

[rui]

Originally posted by cult
it depends from the manufactuer of the card.Some cards come with lower
clocked ram so you can overclock with software to a limit.If it has a good ram then flashing the bios enables you to overclock at even higher.

Can then i assume that, by using, lets say, rage3d tweak, i can overclock EVERY ATI 9700 non pro card, to at least a certain degree, without flashing the bios?

[auenf]

heh, you cant turn a 9500 into a 9700 Pro

the 9500 & pro has a 128bit memory bus, the 9700 & pro has a 256bit memory bus.

the 9700 & pro only differ by clock/mem speed

the 9500 & pro differ by clock/mem speed and rendering pipelines

getting the 9500 -> 9500 Pro by software is what they are on about, which is (theoretically) doubling your rendering speed, but getting from a 9500 to a 9700 will require some serious soldering ;)

Enf...

[Ramirez]

Hi rui, check this out.
Now you don't have to do this soldering trick anymore, just put some conductive glue between resistor leg #2 and the soldering gap #1, and voila you have a working R-9700 Card. (damn, it's getting better and better everyday, should I "betray" NVIDIA two? :))

[destemido]

i saw in www.hardocp.com that you needed to flash the bios... that is to prevent people from doing that... meaning ati wouldn't make so much money!!!
:devil:

[rui]

Ok, the new RivaTuner is out:

http://www.guru3d.com/files/rivatuner

According to they, it allows to Oc/ turn a 9500 128 into a 9700 by software.