Possible FIX for hd4870 freezers

[Simmos]

how i solved my freeze problem:

 

!Important to note for this solution is that this works ONLY for the Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB DDR5!This is because this solution requires a BIOS update of the card, which is provided by Sapphire.So, to make sure you have the correct card, it's easiest to consult the box where the card came in. On the box you will find a green sticker with some barcodes and some serial numbers. The BIOS update is only applicable if on your sticker the serial numbers are:PN 188-01E85-001SA SKU# 11133-00-20R Also you can check these settings in the ATI CCC:Original BIOS on board with date: 24.07.2008 BIOS version: 011.006.000.003.000000 If all of this checks out for your card the BIOS update can be done. To do the BIOS update we will need a few things:The BIOS update from Sapphire, http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/support/drivers.php An alternative download from RapidShare, http://rapidshare.com/files/14833927...rking.zip.html ATI Win Flash, for easier BIOS updating in Windows, http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...h_2.0.1.2.html With both these we can perform the BIOS update. Note that it is also possible to flash the card via the regular ATI flash but I decided to go for the WinFlash solution. As it doesn't require the creation of a Boot Disk. The steps to undertake to flash the BIOS.First, make sure to end all applications which do something with the GFX card (such as RivaTuner or any game) Install ATI WinFlash to a "simple location" (fex. C:\WinFlash) Unzip the contents of the BIOS update into a folder Copy/Paste the file named 1e8501sa.002 from the folder where you extracted the BIOS update, to the ATI WinFlash install folder Click on the Start menu and select Run Type in "cmd" (without the quotes) and press OK Browse to the install path of ATI WinFlash (fex. C:\WinFlash) Run the BIOS update by executing: atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002 Wait until the flashing finishes, should it fail do NOT reset, yet try to flash again If it worked, reboot your system. A note about the WinFlash utility, if your card is not in the top slot, or if you want to update two cards you can do so by changing the command line. The third parameter in the list is the PCI-E slot (the 0), where 0 is the top slot, and where 1 is the PCI-E slot below it. So if you were flashing your card in the second slot the command line would look like: atiwinflash.exe -f -p 1 1e8501sa.002Edit:Flashing the 4870 in DOS, with a bootable USB stickAs Maeror had an issue with his card where he could not flash it in Windows anymore, I added this section as well. This details flashing your 4870 BIOS via a DOS boot. It requires you to have a USB stick which you can use to create it as a bootable "disk".Also please note that this solution requires the ATIFlash utility! This is not the ATIWinFlash utility, which I mentioned in the other Flash solution. The ATIFlash is a DOS only program and needs to be run from there. It can be found in the BIOS update that is downloaded from the Sapphire website.The instructions to do this are as follows:Create your USB boot stick in windows with USB Boot drive (HPUSBFW), found at: http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/HPUSBFW.zip Download the boot files and extract them to a folder of your choice from: http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/USB-Boot.zip Run the HPUSBFW program. Select the correct USB device from the drop-down menu, set file system to FAT32 and check Create a DOS startup disk. Then browse for the extracted boot files (now in the folder of your choice) and press start to begin formating it. Copy ATIFlash and the BIOS file to the USB stick under Windows Restart the computer Enter the Motherboard BIOS (by pressing the Delete key at startup) and set the first boot device to the USB stick that you created Save that settings in the MoBo BIOS and exit Your PC will then automatically boot to DOS Flash with the command as described: "atiflash -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002" (without the quotes). And then wait till it prompts you that you need to restart the PC When rebooting, go back to your MoBo BIOS and change first booting device back as it was before 

 

[okei]

old

[Kili]

anybody can confirm that it works?

[Moorchi]

IT WORKS!!

 

Thankyou so much for this! YOU ARE A GOD

Edited December 5, 2008 by Moorchi

[heliumftw]

can someone post the links pls? cos they dont work for me cos all i see is this: http://rapidshare.com/files/14833927...rking.zip.html

 

i need the full link...!!

Edited December 5, 2008 by heliumftw

[JeddyH]

OP fix the links

[kahur]

http://rapidshare.com/files/148339275/Sapp...orking.zip.html

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1122/...sh_2.0.1.2.html

 

fixed links

 

 

Edit:

Thanks man...it realy works

Edited December 5, 2008 by kahur

[GamerJerome]

i have a nvidia 9600gt as grafical card so it wont work for me ?

[FunGt]

i have a nvidia 9600gt as grafical card so it wont work for me ?

 

!Important to note for this solution is that this works ONLY for the Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB DDR5!

[Shutupanddie]

Alright, I can't get this to work. Would you mind describe it a little better?

 

I've downloaded and extracted both ATI WinFlash and the BIOS update. But where are you supposed to write in the following: atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002 ?

 

I installed ATI Winflash in C:\Winflash and copied the BIOS file; 1E8501SA.002 into the same folder. I wrote cmd after clicking "Run..." but what to do next?

 

Any help is highly appreciated.

[Simmos]

 

Alright, I can't get this to work. Would you mind describe it a little better?

 

I've downloaded and extracted both ATI WinFlash and the BIOS update. But where are you supposed to write in the following: atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002 ?

 

I installed ATI Winflash in C:\Winflash and copied the BIOS file; 1E8501SA.002 into the same folder. I wrote cmd after clicking "Run..." but what to do next?

 

Any help is highly appreciated.

 

 

I wrote cmd after clicking "Run..." but what to do next

 

Browse to the install path of ATI WinFlash (fex. C:\WinFlash)

 

Run the BIOS update by executing: atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002

Wait until the flashing finishes, should it fail do NOT reset, yet try to flash again

If it worked, reboot your system.

 

if u dont know how to browse, then here are some examples:

you are in: C:\Users\Admin type in cd .. (and press enter)

your new location is C:\Users\

to go in a folder write cd foldername like cd WinFlash then the new location is: C:\Users\WinFlash

[GamerJerome]

is there also a way to fix freezing problems with a nvidia ?

[Alsi55]

Cheers Simmos, that totally worked for me. You are a legend.

[Shutupanddie]

I did as you said, Simmos.

 

C:\WinFlash\atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002 and pressed enter.

My computer hanged for a while, seemed like it was working, then suddenly a blue screen turned up saying there was some kind of error with ati2dvag and that it was in an "infinite loop" (?)

It advised me to restart, if I hadn't gotten that message before, so I did. And now I don't get anything up when starting my PC, just a black screen. Any tips?

Edited December 5, 2008 by Shutupanddie

[Kili]

Similar happened with me...

Now, we have to reinstall the vga bios, but... how? i can't...

[Shutupanddie]

Exactly. Please let me know if you figure something out.

 

 

Help?

 

[villin]

I did as you said, Simmos.

 

C:\WinFlash\atiwinflash.exe -f -p 0 1e8501sa.002 and pressed enter.

My computer hanged for a while, seemed like it was working, then suddenly a blue screen turned up saying there was some kind of error with ati2dvag and that it was in an "infinite loop" (?)

It advised me to restart, if I hadn't gotten that message before, so I did. And now I don't get anything up when starting my PC, just a black screen. Any tips?

uhhh... I really hope you have a sapphire 4870 512mb ddr5... none of the other models...

 

sounds to me like you literally ruined that card.

[Shutupanddie]

Yep, I've got that one. I checked the original box it came in + the bios in the ATI CCC.

It sure looks like it's ruined. I followed the instructions carefully and used the officially released bios, so it'll probably be no problem getting a new card.

[Kili]

Me too...

Search in google how to flash and recover you vga.

 

Good luck

[ignarukih]

Thanks for the guide Simmos.

 

My problem is as follows: I use atiwinflash with the command line modifiers just as you suggested. BUT. When it runs, I get a "flashing" dialog box with a meter that repeatedly ticks over, and claims that it may take longer than a minute. I come back five hours later after my gig, and it's still going. I look on catalyst and the bios is still the same version. Nothing appears to be happening. If I try to restart, it appears that atiwinflash.exe is still operating, and prevents my system from rebooting for a few minutes. Luckily after rebooting my card is functioning normally.

 

I have the Catalyst 8.12 beta drivers for my 4870.

[Simmos]

if u cant flash your bios in windows try to do it in DOS "Flashing the 4870 in DOS, with a bootable USB stick" (read the instructions above)

 

 

[ignarukih]

Cheers, I've been trying that, but the links you provided ie: http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/HPUSBFW.zip

and http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/USB-Boot.zip are no longer working. The first shouldn't be too hard to find, I'll post a link when I manage to track it down. I don't even know what's in the second though so that's gonna be a lot harder.

 

If you could post those again you'd make at least one 4870 owner very happy. Thanks anyway!

 

Edit: Sorry to spam but I found the following files: http://www.4shared.com/file/37575961/e16da...PUSBFW.html?s=1 for the first .zip, and these instructions for creating a pure DOS boot USB including a download link for a similar? set of DOS files to cover second .zip that Simmos provided.

 

Please don't take my instructions over Simmos' because I am a huge noob and am trying this pretty experimentally, it just might be a help to some of you guys if it works. I'll post if it does/doesn't.

 

Edit #2: It worked. I used Simmos' system with my links (above) and the BIOS flashed in DOS with no problems. Now to see if that stops my accursed GTA crashes!

 

Edit #3: I'm in business! Thanks Simmos. This game actually rules as well.

Edited December 7, 2008 by ignarukih

[kami91]

can i flash my sapphire 4870 if some of my bios number isnt matches with that?

cause the first said: SKU#11133-00-20R

and ive got:SKU#11133-00-40R

is that 20R or 40R plays?

thx

[fungus303]

i want more info about this bios, is it modded or have someone else modded it? is it for ASUS/SAPPHiRE and so on?

 

the bios im running now is the one sapphire released on their support page!

 

Sapphire Radeon HD4870 512mb DDR5 <--thats my card! Please reply! ( i know how to flash bios )

 

 

 

 

 

! REMEMBER TO ALWAYS FLASH IN DOS !

[fungus303]

forgot to tell:

 

 

Video BIOS Information Adapter0

Version 011.010.000.002

Part Number 11X-1E8501SA-001

Date 2008/09/08 06:32

Vram Type GDDR5

[fungus303]

Yep, I've got that one. I checked the original box it came in + the bios in the ATI CCC.

It sure looks like it's ruined. I followed the instructions carefully and used the officially released bios, so it'll probably be no problem getting a new card.

just search google for the ORGINAL bios or send email to sapphire and you will get the old bios back.... you CAN fix your card easy, just get a motherboard with 2 PCI-E slots, and put the (if you got or can borrow) your old card, dosent matter if its nvidia or ati card, just so you can go in WINDOWS (get picture)!

 

Then re-flash IN DOS!!!!!! NEVER EVER FLASH IN WINDOWS! ALWAYS FLASH IN DOS!

 

And your card is back 2 normal, done this like 10 times when i tried to flash my sapphire radeon HD4870 512mb DDR5, to a ASUS bios. So no panic, just get the old original bios back and re-flash it in dos, and woiiila, your card works 110%

[fungus303]

checked my box, and it matches, but i dont find this on sapphire's webpage????

[fungus303]

LOL im drunk, i found it, well let's try ffs if this works, then i will buy you beer for the rest of your freaking LIFE!

[fungus303]

forgot to tell:

 

 

Video BIOS Information Adapter0

Version 011.010.000.002

Part Number 11X-1E8501SA-001

Date 2008/09/08 06:32

Vram Type GDDR5

After flashing

 

Video BIOS Information Adapter0

Version 011.010.000.002

Part Number 11X-1E8501SA-001

Date 2008/09/08 06:32

Vram Type GDDR5

 

Now time to install GTA4 and check if it works

[GigaMatt]

Hi! Have I to uninstall my video card drivers before flashing bios? Sorry for my bad english!

Thanks!