9500 softmod

[zabomb4163]

is it impossible to overclock the black 9500's? If not, can you link me to guides on how to do it or explain how.

-thanks ahead of time

[Damian]

There is a difference between softmodding and overclocking. Softmodding a 9500np is to enable the 4 extra pipelines and enable a 256-bit memory bus, while overclocking is simplly changing the clock speeds of the processor and memory.

It's impossible to softmod a black 9500np, although I'm not sure about overclocking. I'm guessing that it's possible. Remember, however, that the 9500np is a pretty poor performer and is easily beaten by a ti4200.

[zabomb4163]

Damian- i may be incorrect on this. But i am pretty sure enabling the 256-bit bus was ONLY ever done by a mod to the card itself and the "softmod" was to overide the bios on the card that stopped you from overclocking it.

[GT2000]

No, Damian is correct, softmodding refers to unlocking the additional pipelines (which is done using a hacked driver file), unlocking the OC'ability of the card is done by simply flashing the bios with a modified one.

[zabomb4163]

what about the soder that people used on their 9500's?

[GT2000]

Oh yeah, brainfart..that makes your post partially correct as well, however there are two ways to unlock the additional pipelines, the softmod (that hacked driver), and the hardmod, which I don't know exactly what needs to be done in order to perform.

[zabomb4163]

http://www.maxdownloads.com/~ian/wizzard/

he says with the new layout you still endup with a 9500pro......9500pro is just the 9500 with 256-bit buss, correct?

[OC Noob]

and you can softmod a 9500 np with the 128 bit bus. If it works then you have all 8 pipes and a 128 bit bus. Turning a 9500 np ----> 9500 Pro:)

[q149]

OC Noob is correct.. u can still turn it into a 9500 Pro (8 pipelines 128 bit bus) But to overclock you must flash to a new bios..... like warp11's, just make sure you get one for the correct memory you have.

[zabomb4163]

Why does everyone want red 9500's if the new revisions can still become 9500pro's ?

[q149]

Because.... why would you want to take a chance to get a 9500 Pro when you can take the same exact chance to get a 9700 for the same price...

[TheNamelessOne]

The black PCB's will become 9500Pro's
The red PCB's will become 9700np.
Now do you see why?

[zabomb4163]

ohhhhh, i remember now

the four pixel pipelines can be reenabled using softmod
and the memory can be changed to 256-bit using a hardware mod

[james.miller]

no.

the red cards are perminatly 256-bit enabled - thats how the mod was first discovered. There was a difference in performance between the 128bit 9500non-pro's, and the 256-bit 9500non-pro's.

you're right about the 4 pipelines though.

[q149]

Nope, the memory is actually already 256 bit on the red pcb boards(advertised as 128). On the new black ones the memory bus is 128 bit that's why it turns into a 9500 Pro instead of a 9700 Pro.

[q149]

He beat me to it.. also i meant to say 9700 not Pro.

[zabomb4163]

so the red ones aren't really 9500np cards nor are they 9700's just kind of a cross between the to. No wonder they rule.

Saphire at newegg only way to get one with 256bit memory bus?

[james.miller]

exactly. you want to see how much they rule? go here:http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=198060
just a little faster than a gf4 ti;)

[TheNamelessOne]

Newegg is not the only way to get them. Myself and others have gotten good luck @ www.allstarshop.com, and the shipping is really fast and free I might add.

[zabomb4163]

the 4200 can be had for 110$ though compared to 150$ for the 9500

[taco_fox]

Originally posted by TheNamelessOne
Newegg is not the only way to get them. Myself and others have gotten good luck @ www.allstarshop.com, and the shipping is really fast and free I might add.

So which would have a better chance at getting a moddable 9500np? Newegg or Allstar?

[q149]

Yes, but a normal 9500np is so much faster than a Ti4200 with quality settings. The chance is the same, just make sure it is red PCB and memory in an L shape instead of a straight line. It's a gamble though, i just got one from Newegg and the mod was not successful.

[GT2000]

Yep, all I had read was 128-bit memory, and was confused when my 9500np kept reading as a 256-bit bus even after the mod was unsuccessful and I "undid" it, until I read this thread of course..

[SlyJavi]

I am one of the others TheNamelessOne mentioned. I just got one from Allstarshop.com and the mod was successful! :D

I'm running my Sapphire 9500 NP 256bit 8 pipe 'L' Red Board @ 378/310.

That's 53 Mhz above a stock 9700 Pro since 9700 Pros are @ 325/310. :cool:

[Cisco Kid]

question guys, will this card give me a chance on the soft mod as a friend wants to buy my 9500 Pro.

I have founbd out the card comes with the memory in L shape and it is red pcb as well. Do not laugh at the price as it is Canadian $'s

http://www.vibecomputers.com/index.cfm?loc=iview&if=n&vID=147015

cisco kid

[q149]

Yep, that should do it. If it is in fact the one pictured. As long as it's got the L shaped memory config on red pcb it has a 256 bit memory bus. If the memory is it a straight line it has a 128 bit bus but still has the extra pipelines so it will have a chance at being a 9500 Pro.

[Campster]

Originally posted by SlyJavi
I am one of the others TheNamelessOne mentioned. I just got one from Allstarshop.com and the mod was successful! :D

I'm running my Sapphire 9500 NP 256bit 8 pipe 'L' Red Board @ 364/310.

That's 39Mhz above a stock 9700 Pro since 9700 Pros are @ 325/310. :cool:

I got my 9500np yesterday (powercolour reb PCB, l-shaped memory). Unfortunately the softmod didnt work :(. At first i was mighty ****ed, and was going to take it back. But then I thought - why not try overclocking first. Luckily the card already came with an overclockable bios meaning I didnt have to void my warranty to try it. So I started the testing, and currently I'm running at 450core/330mem absolutely stable :D

This was enough for me to decide not to take back as, even though im not running all 8 pipes, I am performing about the equivalent of 9700np (a bit faster) so Im quite happy :D

The moral of this story - if your 9500np doesnt soft mod, overclock it to all heck and you'll be fine ;)

[zabomb4163]

well i'm ordering my 9500 from allstarshop today

-wish me luck

[TheNamelessOne]

Hey SlyJavi, is that oc stock with no extra cooling or mods? If so then how in the world did you get that crappy 3.3 infineon memory all the way to 310? My card seems to be a crappy ocer but I'll try taking off the fan and putting some as3 on the core to see if it helps.

[SlyJavi]

Yes, NameLess, right now this card is stock right out of the box. I have not added anything to it yet.

Once I opened up the 8 pipes, my stable OC lowered to 364/310 from 405/310. I'm thinking a Volt mod would help get this Core higher. I might try that down the road.
I thought everyone was getting 310 on their OC'ed 3.3 infineon memory? In the majority of the posts I have read, the 3.3 infineon memory maxed at 310 when OC'ed. And lo and behold when I OC'ed that was my max.

I plan on adding some Arctic Silver III to the Core and Ramsinks to the Memory. I will OC and benchmark further once I do. I'll keep you posted.

-----------> http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=859982

[TheNamelessOne]

From what I heard people were having trouble passing 300 on that memory. And when I asked if ramsinks will help the response was probably not because the memory doesn't really get hot it's just reached its limit. I've heard volt modding the memory might help but I'm a bit scared to do that sort of thing.