290 BIOS Unlocking

[byalexandr]

I heard that you can unlock the cores on a 290 to make it a 290X, so I did some research, and it turns out that my 290 (XFX reference 'Core Edition') is locked, meaning I can't unlock the cores. Is there anyway to unlock the card so I can unlock the cores? Free performance, ya know.

 

This is what I'm talking about:

 

 

Those '1's in the first strings mean my card is a locked, standard 290. This is the GPUZ specs, in case you need it or something:

 

 

Any way I can unlock it so I can put those sweet extra cores to work (after I get a new PSU, of course)?

[Knaj]

I have an R9 290 as well. I'm interested in this.

[Necrodead]

Only very early 290's were 290x's with locked shaders, not every card unfortunatly, and I think it was mostly, if not all, reference cards.

[byalexandr]

I have an R9 290 as well. I'm interested in this.

You can check if it's locked or not, use the Hawaii tool. If it's not, simply flash it with a 290X BIOS and you've got a 290X.

[byalexandr]

Only very early 290's were 290x's with locked shaders, not every card unfortunatly, and I think it was mostly, if not all, reference cards.

I have a reference card.

 

 The 290s I heard that were able to be unlocked was from the first batch but they rectified that shortly after.

I know, but I'm asking if there is any way to un-rectify that.

[App4that]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1443242/the-r9-290-290x-unlock-thread

[byalexandr]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1443242/the-r9-290-290x-unlock-thread

This was my reference, sorry forgot to mention. I did the test to see if my card was locked and it was, I am asking if I can unlock it so I can make it a 290X.

[Necrodead]

This was my reference, sorry forgot to mention. I did the test to see if my card was locked and it was, I am asking if I can unlock it so I can make it a 290X.

No, because it is not just locked, it literally does not have the extra shader cores that the 290x has. If its locked you only have a 290.

[Necrodead]

•  

• Run Hawaii Info. If the numbers don't look like either one of these, then your card is locked. Any results other than the results below means your card is locked. Your Hawaii Info results HAS to match either one of these in order for your card to be unlocked to a 290X.
• More info on Hawaii Info HERE.

Code:

RA1: F8000005 RA2: F8010000RB1: F8000005 RB2: F8010000RC1: F8000005 RC2: F8010000RD1: F8000005 RD2: F8010000

Code:

RA1: F8000005 RA2: 00000000RB1: F8000005 RB2: 00000000RC1: F8000005 RC2: 00000000RD1: F8000005 RD2: 00000000

 

 

 

From "The R9 290 -> 290X Unlock Thread"

http://www.overclock.net/t/1443242/the-r9-290-290x-unlock-thread#

 

 

[byalexandr]

No, because it is not just locked, it literally does not have the extra shader cores that the 290x has. If its locked you only have a 290.

Oh wow, they actually got rid of them? What a shame. Thanks for the answer though, that's what I was looking for. Too bad I don't have a 290X on my hands.

[Necrodead]

Oh wow, they actually got rid of them? What a shame. Thanks for the answer though, that's what I was looking for. Too bad I don't have a 290X on my hands.

Yeah, I feel the same. However I do have a quite old reference 290 I haven't checked yet, I just don't feel comfortable flashing the BIOS yet, lol.

[byalexandr]

Yeah, I feel the same. However I do have a quite old reference 290 I haven't checked yet, I just don't feel comfortable flashing the BIOS yet, lol.

Do it! I'll trade you mine if you don't want to flash it lol.

[Necrodead]

Do it! I'll trade you mine if you don't want to flash it lol.

Haha, I'll certainly take a look tomorrow when I get home with the Hawaii tool. (night shift at work >.>)