[homer77]

Here are the steps I used to flash my MSI X1800XL to X1800XT

1. Make sure you have SIX phase inducators and 1.2ns memory. How to tell if you have 1.2ns memory? If you see something like this on the memory chip, K4J52324QC-BJ12. More importantly, the last 2 numbers tell you the timing.

2. You will need ATITool and/or overclocker. Atitool can help you adjust volts/frequency, and overclocker can tell you the memory volt more accurately than AtiTool. Here is a screen shot of atitool with xl bios.


As you can see, it has 500/500 and a Device ID of 7109.

3. Don't bother trying to test the memory at 725MHz, because the card will lock up way before that, around 630MHz. MSI X1800XL has tighter memory timing than X1800XTs. (See below) ***If you don't feel comfortable flashing to higher speed without first testing to see if the memory can reach that speed, then do not continue. I am not responsible if the card will not run at 700mhz.

4. You will need atiflash, and x1800xt bios. I used Sapphire x1800xt bios from techpowerup here. MSI X1800XT bios HERE.*DO NOT use the winflash!!! It will not flash the bios completely. You will get errors when trying to install the new driver.

5. Copy atiflash and xt bios (rename the bios to x1800xt.bin or something simple) into a bootable floppy disk and boot into dos.

6. Find out which adapter ID your x1800xl is by typing atiflash -i. see below


For me, it's showing as adapter 0

7. Once boot into dos, type the following command atiflash -newbios -p -f adapter_id_here your_new_xt_bios_here.

I used atiflash -newbios -p -f 0 x1800xt.bin because my adapter # is 0.

8. After program completes, reboot!


Success!!!

9. Install new ati driver.

10. viola! You now have a X1800XT!!!


It's now showing 600/700 and Device ID of 7100.

***** For those who has "adapter not found" error, download ATI Flash 3.09 here!

Download ATI Flash 3.09 and follow step 7 again.


--Update 06/22/2006--
Changing mem volt on atitool does indeed changes the mem volt on the card. Thanks to zork for verifying this.
You can also measure the card itself if you have the multimeter to be sure by looking at this picture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I jumped on the MSI x1800xl deal hoping it is a X1800XT in disguise.

Here I will post my impressions and the attemp and problems of flashing the bios to XT.

I will first post some pictures in regarding the card.

The card itself.
Another view. As you can see it has 6 phase inductors.

The core.

The samsung 1.2ns memory. It is very hard to see, but it is Samsung 543 K4J52324QC-BJ12.

The stock heatsink compare to x1900xtx stock heatsink.
Back side. As you can see, its pretty much the same one except for graphics.

[homer77]

For stock speed on a opty 165 running @ 2.8ghz, I was able to score 7882 on 3DMark05.

So now I followed the instruction here to flash to xt bios. But I cant find any xt bios on that page, so I just download the XT one from TechPowerUp.

I then tried to test for XT speed before flashing to the actual XT bios. However, I can never raise the memory higher than 620MHz before it freezes. I have no problem raising the core to 640MHz with 1.3V.

I figure, the memory timing on XL is probably tighter the XT. So, I downloaded a Sapphire X1800XT from TechPowerUp hoping this will resolve the memory timing issue. After succesfully flashing with winatiflash with the new XT bios, I was very happy and restarted the computer hoping everything is will work properly. Unfortunately, knowing my luck, it wasn't a very smooth process.

After rebooting windows, it failed to detect the proper video driver. I thought no big deal, i'll just remove the driver and reinstall it. However, After removing the driver and restarted window, I still had problem installing the driver. It will not detect my newly flashed video card. I then tried to use winflash to flash back to xl bios. Immediately when I opened the program, screen went all pick and frooze. I then had to boot into dos and flash the bios back this way.

In order to verify that xl does have different timing than xt, I downloaded Rabit and read the timing from the sapphire xt bios and msi xl bios, and here are the result from it:

X1800XL
Device ID = 7109
SubSystem ID: 0B12
SubVendor ID: 1002
CAS latency (0x8) = 08
RAS to CAS RD delay (0x1) = 01
RAS to CAS WR delay (0x1E) = 1E
Row Precharge time (0xD) = 0D
Row activate to Row active CMD time (0x9) = 09
Read to Write Turnaround time (0xF) = 0F
Memory Refresh Rate (0x3B) = 3B
Refresh Row Cycle Time (0x60) = 60


Sapphire X1800XT
Device ID = 7100
SubSystem ID: 0B12
SubVendor ID: 1002
CAS latency (0xA) = 0A
RAS to CAS RD delay (0x9) = 09
RAS to CAS WR delay (0x1E) = 1E
Row Precharge time (0x2) = 02
Row activate to Row active CMD time (0xA) = 0A
Read to Write Turnaround time (0xF) = 0F
Memory Refresh Rate (0x46) = 46
Refresh Row Cycle Time (0x1) 01

I am not too familiar with the video card memory timing, so I will ask people here to give me some help. If i change the XL timing to match with the XT timing, will that setting work? another word, if i changed the timing, you think I can reach 700MHz memory? which is the speed on both HIS and Sapphire XT.

Also as you can see, the Device ID is 7100 for both XT, but 7109 for XL. I wonder if that has anything to do with bad flashes?

P.S I also did some search online, and people also having problem with the XT bioses. I believe only the mod MSI bios will work.

I was able to push the card to 660/625 @ 1.35V/2.135v and got 9942 on 3dmark05. Shouldn't be a problem getting it pass 10k.

[homer77]

update*

i change the memory timing to the xt timing mentioned above.

i then up the volts to 1.35/2.15v and was able to get 650/675. however, the 3dmark05 score is lower than the tighter setting for xl even though memory speed is higher.

screenshot here

i think i'll flash back to the original xl bios with the tigher setting and up more volts to both core and memory when i get a better cooling.

with a little bit more tweaking, i think i can get 10k on 3dmark05 no problem.

[deathman20]

Dang so close to 10k. Is there any way maybe drop the core speed on the XL bios to up the ram speed?

I know I got 9838 3DMarks with I think the 6.3 cats w/ 625/729. CPU was at only 2.68Ghz also. But your memory should go much higher I have the 1.4ns ram which is well good for 700Mhz if im not mistaken.

What volts do you have the ram set for? Mine for 730 was set at 2.2V MVDDC and 2.0V for MVDDQ. Although you have faster ram it should easily break 700Mhz.

Truely if you can figure out why your ram won't go higher. Ram is a big player in the 3D Mark score I found out on the video card with these cards.

[homer77]

I think I found the problem. ATITool doesn't read and adjust MVDDC correctly. Even though its reading it as 2.097, when I used overclocker to check, its still showing mem volt as 1.8v.

So I used overclocker to up MVDDC to 2.1 and MVDDQ to 2.05, and it can now run 725MHz without any problem.

I now broke 10k on 3dmark05 with 655/725. I got 10037.

I think there is still more room to go on this card.

[Super Nade]

I ordered one today. Does your card come with 1.4ns GDDR3 or is it 2.0ns ?

[homer77]

1.2ns

[deathman20]

Originally Posted by homer77

I think I found the problem. ATITool doesn't read and adjust MVDDC correctly. Even though its reading it as 2.097, when I used overclocker to check, its still showing mem volt as 1.8v.

So I used overclocker to up MVDDC to 2.1 and MVDDQ to 2.05, and it can now run 725MHz without any problem.

I now broke 10k on 3dmark05 with 655/725. I got 10037.

I think there is still more room to go on this card.

I could get near 900Mhz on my ram with Overclocker but I got much lower scores then I did with ATITool. Be warned just make sure you watch your results with it, since it does reduce the timings on the ram.

If you can double check with a volt meter to make sure that its it is applying the right voltage.

[g0dM@n]

We need an msi x1800xt 512mb bios...

i remember d94 had that same exact card (i believe), but sold it... gonna ask him if he could ask the person he sold it to.

[homer77]

i m trying to get the bios from techpowerup forums. i believe couple peeps over there has the bios.

[g0dM@n]

Originally Posted by homer77

i m trying to get the bios from techpowerup forums. i believe couple peeps over there has the bios.

host it if you find it. thx!

[homer77]

I just received the bios from a member over at TechPowerup.

Here it is. i didn't have a chance to try it yet, an i m heading out this afternoon. i'll try it later tonite and post the results.

here is my 3dmark05 run with 700/800 losing timing. 10264

[g0dM@n]

that bios is MSI?

[homer77]

i believe so.

[homer77]

ok, i just flashed my xl with that bios. but windows still cant recognize the card after the flash. i m probably doing something wrong, but i dont have time to look at it now until later tonite.

[EternalX]

Originally posted by: LordGestle
Success!!!
I recently unlocked 16pipes on a X800PRO to an X800XT and I remember seeing something about a modified flashrom used to clear the old bios of the entire configuration. I went to the article on techpowerup and noticed there was a hidden command "-newbios" if you are using atiflash.
I was using atiflash -f -p 0 newbios. This does not flash everything and the same for winflash.
To truly flash the card you need to use atiflash -newbios -f -p 0 newbios.bin.
Instructions found here.
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...ing/vidcard/34

After that I'm now able to install drivers using the ATI CC and the card is now a true X1800XT.
Time for some benching and I will report back in this same thready.

***Edit***

[homer77]

which bios are you using to flash to xt?

[homer77]

update*

i was able to flash my xl with sapphire xt bios.

you have to use atiflash under dos with the following command in order for the flash to work:

atiflash -p -f 0 your_new_xt_bios_here

[homer77]

i was able to push the newly flashed x1800xt to 720mhz/840mhz on 1.445/2.2/2.13 volts. i think this is the max my card can go on air cooling.

i m getting pretty bad 3dmark05 score since my spare rig has pretty bad oc.
its a p4 520 on abit ni8 (pretty bad overclockability, can only get max 225fsb stable) running at 3.08ghz.

i might get a 805D soon to replace the 520, hoping the lower fsb can get me better oc results.

most likely i'll just run my xt at 650/750 daily use, and not pushing it that far.

[deathman20]

Whats its score in 05 just curious?

[g0dM@n]

Originally Posted by homer77

update*

i was able to flash my xl with sapphire xt bios.

you have to use atiflash under dos with the following command in order for the flash to work:

atiflash -p -f 0 your_new_xt_bios_here

Well, what did you do the first few times? That's the only way I ever flash my ATI cards... never tried a diff way... nvidia through dos also.

[homer77]

Originally Posted by deathman20

Whats its score in 05 just curious?

getting around 7200 on p4 3.08ghz with 720/840

i checked orb and score seems about right...

[homer77]

Originally Posted by g0dM@n

Well, what did you do the first few times? That's the only way I ever flash my ATI cards... never tried a diff way... nvidia through dos also.

i used winflash before instead of under dos.

[g0dM@n]

Originally Posted by homer77

getting around 7200 on p4 3.08ghz with 720/840

i checked orb and score seems about right...

7200 in 05? I thought you linked ove 10K a few posts up... or you're saying it's 7200 at stock XL settings.

[homer77]

10k was with opty 165 @ 2.8ghz.

7200 was with p4 520 @ 3.08ghz.

the xt is going to my spare rig which is running on p4. i think i need to upgrade this one with better cpu/mb combo. i can barely get to 3.1ghz on the abit ni8.

[EternalX]

damn thats a big difference. I guess intel just sucks that bad. I am planning on buying a conroe 2.4 so that should help a bit.

[deathman20]

Originally Posted by EternalX

damn thats a big difference. I guess intel just sucks that bad. I am planning on buying a conroe 2.4 so that should help a bit.

To give a comparison between Homer77's low score, my old X1800XL at stock speeds was pushing 7300-7400ish with my CPU @ Opty170 @ 2.6Ghz.

[EternalX]

well i just ran my 7800gtx clocked at 490/1250 and I got 7820. I dont really care much for scores, I only got into the benchmarking to compare myself against others of the same/like specs to see if there are issues with my system. I know that the new x1800xt will look good playing cs:s and bf2, and thats what I really care for. I did have a x800pro and I loved the nice graphics. I was always a bit disasppointed when I went to the dark side, but now I have seen the light again.

[homer77]

Originally Posted by deathman20

To give a comparison between Homer77's low score, my old X1800XL at stock speeds was pushing 7300-7400ish with my CPU @ Opty170 @ 2.6Ghz.

That's the score I got for XL stock speed with my opty 165 @ 2.8GHz as well.

My p4 is definitely a huge bottleneck for this card.

[The_NME]

Originally Posted by homer77

i was able to push the newly flashed x1800xt to 720mhz/840mhz on 1.445/2.2/2.13 volts. i think this is the max my card can go on air cooling.

Which Sapphire are you using? Theres two at TechPowerUp... the one I tried didnt work too well.