9500 Pro Locked Bios...Now What?

[ZachM]

Ok, I figured out my Sapphire Radeon 9500 Pro has a locked bios because at 325/300 there was no score increase in 3D Mark 2003. Now I want to get an unlocked bios so I can OC. When I open up W1zzard's overclocking tool it links me to this (http://www.ocfaq.com/softmod/bios.php) page saying my bios may be locked. First question, should I just use the ATI bios? They don't have a Sapphire 9500 Pro bios listed. Could someone walk me through the process of switching to the new bios? I have never done this before so I want to know what to expect, and what to watch out for. I heard this can potentially ruin the card, and if that happens I am s.o.l.

Thanks

[ColtIce]

you can always try the riva tuner patch script.if your not opposed to re-installing your drivers i can walk you through it.

[ZachM]

What does the patch do? Unlock it without putting a whole new bios on it? Elaborate and link me please.:)

[ColtIce]

well you can get riva tuner from guru3d and it works just like doing the softmod to the 9500np.i learned how to do it from a thread there because the documentation for riva tuner sucks.heres a quick run down on how to do it.uninstall the old drivers,reboot,unpack the new drivers(don't install yet)when asked if you want to install hit cancel,launch riva tuner,hit the power user tab,in the lower left corner there is a folder with a gear on it called open patch script click it,open patch scripts/ati/atiantioverclockingprotection,for xp/2000 click win2k,point it to the the ati.sys file where you unpacked your drivers,apply.close riva tuner goto where the unpacked/patched drivers all and install them.reboot,overclock and test.

sorry the post is long and kinda rambles

[johnm]

Replaced ut ini. FPS are over a 100 again. I lost my favorites spots+settings.Checked every thing but the setting made by the sites i played on.
Thanks for the help

[ZachM]

I can't find the file to point the patch script to. It wants atimtag2.sys file, but I can't find it. Can you not do this on the Cat 3.10s?

[ColtIce]

http://www.ocforums.com/vb/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=211994
just like doing the softmod but skip step 2 andstep 5 you patch instead of delete if there is no atimag.sys patch the atimag.sy_ you can choose what file to patch from the drop down box(riva tuner) when your browsing to find the file to patch

[TruckyJ]

Read this: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178819

You'll have to replace the bios. Its all laid out how to do it in that thread (thanks to SNES!!!). You'll have to figure out the RAM type of your card in order to download the right bios for your card.

This worked very well for my card, and I saw very large gains in the OC dept. Best of Luck.

[ColtIce]

i've seen the riva tuner patch script work on a locked BBA 9700pro.

[TruckyJ]

Originally posted by ColtIce
i've seen the riva tuner patch script work on a locked BBA 9700pro.

I've never heard of a 9700pro that was locked. Only non pros.

[ColtIce]

my brother in laws is

[Milkman]

Read this Thread Here (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178819) it will explain what you need to do and where to get what you will need, hope this helps:)

-Milkman

[ZachM]

I ran the patch script with the 3.9 cats and it worked. The 3.10s didn't have the atim2tag.sys or the atitag.sy_, or Riva Tuner couldn't see it. Anyways it OCs with the patch script so I don't think I'll do anything to the bios.

[ColtIce]

cool i'm glad it worked out for you