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AMD GCN GPU Disabled Stream Processors Unlockable with Software
Interesting news, it seems that if you own a recent GCN based Pro series GPUs from AMD (Hawaii Pro / Fury Pro / Tonga Pro / etc) is now possible to unlock, at least some of the disabled parts on the GPU.
Over at the OCN forums a user called tx12 released a little utility called CUinfo and this tool can be used to read information about active and disabled CU units in Hawaii, Tonga and Fiji. Basically the tool reads out the GPU core configuration, which can be altered and then flashed back into the BIOS with another tool and some modification. The current status of the tool is that it only reads out info, and you will have to edit and re-flash the BIOS yourself.
Cards like R9 Fury non-X, R9 390, R9 285 could be enabled with more CUs, I say COULD, as there are two methods used by AMD, laser cuts (prevents this from working at all) and through firmware, which would be this methodology.
Be warned though, GPUs are binned, defective CUs could be disabled for a reason, if you enable them ... who knows that will happen. Basically you will be gambling with your graphics card.
Source: OCN Forums
fantaskarsef
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#5137285 Posted on: 08/06/2015 12:13 PM
Somewhat similar to the infamous 6950 and 6970 thing, which sometimes worked, but later they used binned chips and it was no longer possible to unlock them.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was only a minor number of unlocks.
Somewhat similar to the infamous 6950 and 6970 thing, which sometimes worked, but later they used binned chips and it was no longer possible to unlock them.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was only a minor number of unlocks.
davido6
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#5137303 Posted on: 08/06/2015 12:39 PM
seems alot off fury cards can be unlocked to the x looking good this
seems alot off fury cards can be unlocked to the x looking good this
Matt26LFC
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#5137304 Posted on: 08/06/2015 12:39 PM
Somewhat similar to the infamous 6950 and 6970 thing, which sometimes worked, but later they used binned chips and it was no longer possible to unlock them.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was only a minor number of unlocks.
Yeah I did that with my two 6950's didnt seem to help much though with my cards.
Be interesting to see what happens when peoples start trying this.
Somewhat similar to the infamous 6950 and 6970 thing, which sometimes worked, but later they used binned chips and it was no longer possible to unlock them.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was only a minor number of unlocks.
Yeah I did that with my two 6950's didnt seem to help much though with my cards.
Be interesting to see what happens when peoples start trying this.
Undying
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#5137307 Posted on: 08/06/2015 12:43 PM
Anyone with Tonga Pro tried to unlock Tonga XT? Card exist in mobile, maybe you'll end up with unique desktop GPU.
Anyone with Tonga Pro tried to unlock Tonga XT? Card exist in mobile, maybe you'll end up with unique desktop GPU.
Fox2232
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#5137308 Posted on: 08/06/2015 12:44 PM
Yeah I did that with my two 6950's didnt seem to help much though with my cards.
Be interesting to see what happens when peoples start trying this.
People will still get Fury X for its cooling. And Fury popularity will rise as people like good chance HW lottery.
Yeah I did that with my two 6950's didnt seem to help much though with my cards.
Be interesting to see what happens when peoples start trying this.
People will still get Fury X for its cooling. And Fury popularity will rise as people like good chance HW lottery.
BedantP
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#5137345 Posted on: 08/06/2015 01:22 PM
Damn. Red camp's winning!
Tell me again why NVIDIA does not make any mistakes?
Damn. Red camp's winning!
Tell me again why NVIDIA does not make any mistakes?
fantaskarsef
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#5137363 Posted on: 08/06/2015 01:49 PM
Damn. Red camp's winning!
Tell me again why NVIDIA does not make any mistakes?
Where's the red camp winning? Last time we checked they had declining market share in GPUs, and if this is true AMD is missing out on sales / revenue in the next months, I'm afraid they're only working towards their own demise if this unlocking will become widespread...
Nvidia on the other hand does not allow simple firmware unlocking, if you buy a cut down chip it will stay a cutdown chip, and if you want more they make you buy the more expensive card.
Still, good news for the USERS so far.
Damn. Red camp's winning!
Tell me again why NVIDIA does not make any mistakes?
Where's the red camp winning? Last time we checked they had declining market share in GPUs, and if this is true AMD is missing out on sales / revenue in the next months, I'm afraid they're only working towards their own demise if this unlocking will become widespread...
Nvidia on the other hand does not allow simple firmware unlocking, if you buy a cut down chip it will stay a cutdown chip, and if you want more they make you buy the more expensive card.
Still, good news for the USERS so far.
Loophole35
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#5137373 Posted on: 08/06/2015 02:05 PM
From what I've seen all Tonga's are laser cut.
Anyone with Tonga Pro tried to unlock Tonga XT? Card exist in mobile, maybe you'll end up with unique desktop GPU.
From what I've seen all Tonga's are laser cut.
signex
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#5137379 Posted on: 08/06/2015 02:13 PM
They still do this crap? why? just why...
They still do this crap? why? just why...
xIcarus
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#5137437 Posted on: 08/06/2015 03:34 PM
Potential sales. There are people who will buy it and try to unlock.
Also free marketing, plain and simple. Cards are getting some attention.
If I had a company I wouldn't avoid doing this. Think about the fact that they probably save a bit of money by not physically cutting down the chips. After they find out that people figured out the chips are not cut down, they just start cutting them down. Easy win-win scenario between the company and the user.
They still do this crap? why? just why...
Potential sales. There are people who will buy it and try to unlock.
Also free marketing, plain and simple. Cards are getting some attention.
If I had a company I wouldn't avoid doing this. Think about the fact that they probably save a bit of money by not physically cutting down the chips. After they find out that people figured out the chips are not cut down, they just start cutting them down. Easy win-win scenario between the company and the user.
WareTernal
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#5137462 Posted on: 08/06/2015 04:27 PM
Yep, my 285 looks like every other one at OCN - hard locked.
Hilbert said "GCN based Pro series GPUs from AMD (Hawaii Pro / Fury Pro / Tonga Pro / etc)", but I didn't see any mention of "pro" gpu's in the original article.
What card is using Tonga Pro?
From what I've seen all Tonga's are laser cut.
Yep, my 285 looks like every other one at OCN - hard locked.
Hilbert said "GCN based Pro series GPUs from AMD (Hawaii Pro / Fury Pro / Tonga Pro / etc)", but I didn't see any mention of "pro" gpu's in the original article.
What card is using Tonga Pro?
schmidtbag
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#5137469 Posted on: 08/06/2015 04:38 PM
That doesn't make any sense, considering the R9 285 was the only GCN 1.2 GPU in it's generation. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering why AMD would intentionally crop out something when there was never a higher-end version of the chip.
Not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly haha.
From what I've seen all Tonga's are laser cut.
That doesn't make any sense, considering the R9 285 was the only GCN 1.2 GPU in it's generation. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering why AMD would intentionally crop out something when there was never a higher-end version of the chip.
Not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly haha.
theoneofgod
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#5137470 Posted on: 08/06/2015 04:39 PM
That doesn't make any sense, considering the R9 285 was the only GCN 1.2 GPU in it's generation. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering why AMD would intentionally crop out something when there was never a higher-end version of the chip.
Not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly haha.
If it's true, the answer is, it's AMD.
That doesn't make any sense, considering the R9 285 was the only GCN 1.2 GPU in it's generation. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering why AMD would intentionally crop out something when there was never a higher-end version of the chip.
Not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly haha.
If it's true, the answer is, it's AMD.
waltc3
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#5137483 Posted on: 08/06/2015 05:04 PM
Interesting article...! Got an R9 380 on the way...
Interesting article...! Got an R9 380 on the way...
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
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Interesting might give this a try when i get home i have the R9 290 but it's one of the first cards with custom cooling from MSI kinda interested if i can unlock the other processors, it's still plenty fast enough but hey, more the merrier!