Failed vBIOS flash - r9 280x

[The Last MeMe]

I have been having some issues with my second r9 280x so i attempted to flash the bios as some people online were saying this fixed the issues i was having. I must have flashed the wrong version or something but the GPU no longer will display an image. The good news is that i do have a second 280x that works fine. So i am wondering if there is anyway i can wipe the BIOS on the card that is not working properly. Also if someone could link me a version of the BIOS they know works that would be great! Thanks!

[Patrick Bateman]

I have been having some issues with my second r9 280x so i attempted to flash the bios as some people online were saying this fixed the issues i was having. I must have flashed the wrong version or something but the GPU no longer will display an image. The good news is that i do have a second 280x that works fine. So i am wondering if there is anyway i can wipe the BIOS on the card that is not working properly. Also if someone could link me a version of the BIOS they know works that would be great! Thanks!

think you just bricked your card mate

[Morgan MLGman]

You didn't specify which R9 280X exactly is that. I see that's Sapphire but there were versions with different coolers AFAIK

It needs to be exactly the same bios. The card might be beyond repair though. You need to try and flash another one if it doesn't have dual bios but it might not work. You should try though

[don_svetlio]

RiP 280X

[don_svetlio]

You didn't specify which R9 280X exactly is that. I see that's Sapphire but there were versions with different coolers AFAIK

It needs to be exactly the same bios. The card might be beyond repair though. You need to try and flash another one if it doesn't have dual bios but it might not work. You should try though

Different coolers, different PCBs and different BIOSes

[byalexandr]

You need to unbrick your card, and to do that you need another system.

[multifrag]

If it doesnt have multiple bios you will have to unsolder the bios chip and manually rewrite it. So take to a shop. They should have everything

[The Last MeMe]

You need to unbrick your card, and to do that you need another system.

I have a second GPU so i can still use my computer

 

RiP 280X

The good news is that it basically was a brick anyways. It was crashing my entire computer while doing any sort of gaming. By crashing i mean turning my screen completely brown and generally screwing it up otherwise. 

You didn't specify which R9 280X exactly is that. I see that's Sapphire but there were versions with different coolers AFAIK

It needs to be exactly the same bios. The card might be beyond repair though. You need to try and flash another one if it doesn't have dual bios but it might not work. You should try though

It is the Sapphire Dual-X card. I am downloading GPU-z right now so that i can get you the rest of the information you need. Although now that it is bricked im not sure i will be able to.

[SkilledRebuilds]

Wow... guys... Do you not know there ARE usual recovery methods to try, even if they fail, there are options to try.

I've brought back a single bios card before...after bricking it.

 

You can unbrick some cards using the onboard iGPU to boot and then reflash the 2nd adapter (Dedicated gpu) with your 2nd bios or one you downloaded.

It's not always 100% that ATIflash will see it, but I've heard MANY instances where it works fine.

 

As above states...

You can also (if you have it) use the dualbios, there should be a dipswitch on the PCB and once you flick it, loading bios #2,.. load into windows, use gpu to backup that bios, then force flash that onto the other switch position.

[Goldensapling]

GGWP

I'm pretty sure you've got yourself a new drink coaster

[The Last MeMe]

Wow... guys... Do you not know there ARE usual recovery methods.

I've brought back a single bios card before...after bricking it.

 

You can unbrick some cards using the onboard iGPU to boot and then reflash the 2nd adapter (Dedicated gpu) with your 2nd bios or one you downloaded.

 

As above states...

You can also (if you have it) use the dualbios, there should be a dipswitch on the PCB and once you flick it, loading bios #2,.. load into windows, use gpu to backup that bios, then force flash that onto the other switch position.

Would you be able to further explain the first part? How would i go about doing so.

[SkilledRebuilds]

Would you be able to further explain the first part? How would i go about doing so.

THE "I DUN GOOFED MY GPU FLASH" GUIDE

1) You will need to find a display adapter from somewhere to act as a temporary video output until you can get your PCI-E card functioning properly again.

*You can also use onboard video if you motherboard has an IGP. The method for switching to it should be similar to the one outlined below.

2) Once you have found an alternate GPU solution go ahead and open your case. Remove the retention bracket of your PCI-E card and take the card out of your system. Remember to ground yourself first by touching the metal part of your case before handling any components in order to avoid damaging your components.

3) Once you have taken your PCI-E card out

4) Hook up your monitor's cable to the appropriate output on your display device (igpu) and boot up your computer. (Without the dedicated installed, it should default to iGPU and display the screen to access the bios)

5) Right after you post, enter your BIOS by pressing the appropriate key. Find the setting in your BIOS which sets the primary display adapter. On my motherboard, this is found under Advanced -> Chipset Configuration , although it may be different for your motherboard.

6) Change your primary display adapter from PEG to igpu/onboard/whatever its called that makes sense. This step will let you POST with your bricked graphics card inserted as the Power-on Self-test will not fail due to the incomplete BIOS present on your PCI-E card because you have switched the primary display to onboard.

7) After you have changed the primary display adapter setting, shut off your computer and insert your PCI-E card back in. You might want to put the retention bracket back on to make sure the card doesn’t get bent.

8) Boot up your computer again and hopefully it will POST if you have done Step #5 correctly. Continue on into Windows. (Note:generic Windows display drivers will serve fine for the purpose of this guide).

9) Download your favourite BIOS flashing software. (Eg. ATIFlash for ATI users and NVFlash for nVIDIA users)

10) Copy the folder with the software in into the root of the USB drive (or even a folder, we can do this in Windows, so no need for bootable dos disk. Make sure to rename the folder to a name with a max of eight characters due to the limitation in DOS (Cos we are using the CMD Prompt)

11) Find your backup or download an original BIOS for your graphics card and copy it into the SAME FOLDER as your flashing software and give it a name that is also under eight characters and easy to remember.

12) Search and open the Command Prompt and alsi right click and run as administrator, Navigate to your drive with typing d:\ or e or f.... whatever is your flash drive.

Then type 'CD folderyoucreated' without quotes whatever folder has the flash tools.

13) Finally, you can go ahead and flash your old BIOS. (Using ATIFlash, first find the adapter number done by using “atiflash –i”, then you can flash by “atiflash –f –newbios –p [adapter number] [bIOS_filename].ROM”).

* Make sure the BIOS file you are flashing has a *.ROM extension. If it doesn't, ATIFlash will not recognize it.

14) Shut down your computer using your power button.

15) Reboot and then go back into the BIOS. Change the primary display adapter back from igpu to PEG. Save BIOS settings then shut down.

16) Switch your monitor cable from the onboard card back to your PCI-e card.

17) Boot up your computer and you should now be running back on your original GPU again.

Again this is not a 100% way to get your card back, this is an option that MAY work.

Beats throwing it out without trying right?

GL, these steps are simple enough that most people who know a little bit can follow, or if you ask questions about it, other users could help.

[-rascal-]

According to Sapphire's website, there is only one Dual-X variant of the R9-280X...and it has a dual BIOS switch.

It is the "S" logo beside the Crossfire connection fingers.

Spoiler

Courtesy of 'Legit Reviews.'

 

Some of the older cards (i.e. HD 7970) had a toggle switch instead of a button, but they work exactly the same.

Spoiler

[Cheddle]

 

snip

 

Good post.

[xAcid9]

I have been having some issues with my second r9 280x so i attempted to flash the bios as some people online were saying this fixed the issues i was having. I must have flashed the wrong version or something but the GPU no longer will display an image. The good news is that i do have a second 280x that works fine. So i am wondering if there is anyway i can wipe the BIOS on the card that is not working properly. Also if someone could link me a version of the BIOS they know works that would be great! Thanks!

Card come with Dual BIOS, can't you flip the BIOS switch?

[The Last MeMe]

THE "I DUN GOOFED MY GPU FLASH" GUIDE

1) You will need to find a display adapter from somewhere to act as a temporary video output until you can get your PCI-E card functioning properly again.

*You can also use onboard video if you motherboard has an IGP. The method for switching to it should be similar to the one outlined below.

2) Once you have found an alternate GPU solution go ahead and open your case. Remove the retention bracket of your PCI-E card and take the card out of your system. Remember to ground yourself first by touching the metal part of your case before handling any components in order to avoid damaging your components.

3) Once you have taken your PCI-E card out

4) Hook up your monitor's cable to the appropriate output on your display device (igpu) and boot up your computer. (Without the dedicated installed, it should default to iGPU and display the screen to access the bios)

5) Right after you post, enter your BIOS by pressing the appropriate key. Find the setting in your BIOS which sets the primary display adapter. On my motherboard, this is found under Advanced -> Chipset Configuration , although it may be different for your motherboard.

6) Change your primary display adapter from PEG to igpu/onboard/whatever its called that makes sense. This step will let you POST with your bricked graphics card inserted as the Power-on Self-test will not fail due to the incomplete BIOS present on your PCI-E card because you have switched the primary display to onboard.

7) After you have changed the primary display adapter setting, shut off your computer and insert your PCI-E card back in. You might want to put the retention bracket back on to make sure the card doesn’t get bent.

8) Boot up your computer again and hopefully it will POST if you have done Step #5 correctly. Continue on into Windows. (Note:generic Windows display drivers will serve fine for the purpose of this guide).

9) Download your favourite BIOS flashing software. (Eg. ATIFlash for ATI users and NVFlash for nVIDIA users)

10) Copy the folder with the software in into the root of the USB drive (or even a folder, we can do this in Windows, so no need for bootable dos disk. Make sure to rename the folder to a name with a max of eight characters due to the limitation in DOS (Cos we are using the CMD Prompt)

11) Find your backup or download an original BIOS for your graphics card and copy it into the SAME FOLDER as your flashing software and give it a name that is also under eight characters and easy to remember.

12) Search and open the Command Prompt and alsi right click and run as administrator, Navigate to your drive with typing d:\ or e or f.... whatever is your flash drive.

Then type 'CD folderyoucreated' without quotes whatever folder has the flash tools.

13) Finally, you can go ahead and flash your old BIOS. (Using ATIFlash, first find the adapter number done by using “atiflash –i”, then you can flash by “atiflash –f –newbios –p [adapter number] [bIOS_filename].ROM”).

* Make sure the BIOS file you are flashing has a *.ROM extension. If it doesn't, ATIFlash will not recognize it.

14) Shut down your computer using your power button.

15) Reboot and then go back into the BIOS. Change the primary display adapter back from igpu to PEG. Save BIOS settings then shut down.

16) Switch your monitor cable from the onboard card back to your PCI-e card.

17) Boot up your computer and you should now be running back on your original GPU again.

Again this is not a 100% way to get your card back, this is an option that MAY work.

Beats throwing it out without trying right?

GL, these steps are simple enough that most people who know a little bit can follow, or if you ask questions about it, other users could help.

The food news is that using your guide o was able to unbrick my gpu. Unfortunately i still am having the issues o was prior. Screen flickering while gaming until finally it crashes my entire computer. Does anybody have ideas how to fix this?