4/8GB RX 480?

[iamdarkyoshi]

So apparently the review samples of the 480 had 8GB of videoram. They were supplied with an alternate bios that made them run with 4GB. My question is this:

 

If the RETAIL 4GB cards do legitimately only have half of the videoram chips fitted, could one buy a couple more chips from mouser or something (assuming you could actually source the same ones as the board uses) and solder them on, flash the 8GB BIOS and have it work? Or are there other things missing as well? I would assume that the same PCB is used on both cards, it would be silly to use a seperate board.

[DXMember]

7 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

So apparently the review samples of the 480 had 8GB of videoram. They were supplied with an alternate bios that made them run with 4GB. My question is this:

 

If the RETAIL 4GB cards do legitimately only have half of the videoram chips fitted, could one buy a couple more chips from mouser or something (assuming you could actually source the same ones as the board uses) and solder them on, flash the 8GB BIOS and have it work? Or are there other things missing as well? I would assume that the same PCB is used on both cards, it would be silly to use a seperate board.

how well are you with precision soldering 256 pins? either way you'd pay more than $30 for sourcing 4GB

plus all 8GB are present:

 

[vanished]

There was a news post on this a while back.  Last I heard, it was first gen retail cards getting the full 8 GB too, not just review samples (but there was debate on how long that might continue for).  My understanding was that they weren't missing the chips - they actually had all 8 GB, but some were just deactivated.  Though I could be wrong on that I suppose...

[iamdarkyoshi]

2 minutes ago, DXMember said:

how well are you with precision soldering 256 pins?

plus:

 

BGA rework on small packages is really easy. I could do it. And as others have said, will the CONSUMER cards also just have a different bios with 8GB physical?

[DXMember]

1 minute ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

BGA rework on small packages is really easy. I could do it. And as others have said, will the CONSUMER cards also just have a different bios with 8GB physical?

go to the post above,

cards that are currently in stores have all 8GB present and unlocked by flashing

techpowerups W1zzard has already went to retailer got a card and flashed

if it remains that way in the future it is uncertain

[App4that]

This is a good reference.

 

 

[DXMember]

1 minute ago, App4that said:

This is a good reference.

 

do you actually ever read the question ?

[App4that]

3 minutes ago, DXMember said:

do you actually ever read the question ?

Did you watch the video? He goes into the Bios switch to 4g using a 8g. And the memory speed differences.

 

 

 

 

[DXMember]

4 minutes ago, App4that said:

Did you watch the video? He goes into the Bios switch to 4g using a 8g. And the memory speed differences.

 

 

 

 

yua he talks about flashing review samples with some magic voodoo tool

[App4that]

1 minute ago, DXMember said:

yua he talks about flashing review samples with some magic voodoo tool

Another video that goes into way the 4g has 8g of memory. When the 4g model hits in 3 weeks it's pretty unlikely it will still have 8g. AMD just used 8g models to get a few 4g out there.

 

 

[Dackzy]

Just get 8gb model, 4gb is on the edge with being enough

[iamdarkyoshi]

2 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

Just get 8gb model, 4gb is on the edge with being enough

That wasnt my question.

[Dackzy]

1 minute ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

That wasnt my question.

oh sorry, let me answer correctly now. It is very likely that AMD is pushing 4gb versions of the rx 480 out with 8gb on them, just to get them out there.

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

oh sorry, let me answer correctly now. It is very likely that AMD is pushing 4gb versions of the rx 480 out with 8gb on them, just to get them out there.

Seriously wonder if its going to stay though or they will start to release genuine 4GB versions.

[App4that]

2 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Seriously wonder if its going to stay though or they will start to release genuine 4GB versions.

All the indicators are they just took 8g cards and flashed the bios, no way AMD could expect to sell 8g versions if they kept that up. The boxed the 4g come in literally have the 8g label under the 4g sticker  

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Seriously wonder if its going to stay though or they will start to release genuine 4GB versions.

I think that it is only now, when the none ref cards come out there should be genuine 4gb versions or they are just going to be F you 4gb version, because well it is on the edge on being enough

[vanished]

3 minutes ago, App4that said:

All the indicators are they just took 8g cards and flashed the bios, no way AMD could expect to sell 8g versions if they kept that up. The boxed the 4g come in literally have the 8g label under the 4g sticker  

How long until AMD starts getting hate mail from people saying they bought a 4 GB card planning to unlock it only to discover that it was truly a 4 GB card?  

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

How long until AMD starts getting hate mail from people saying they bought a 4 GB card planning to unlock it only to discover that it was truly a 4 GB card?  

Thus the point of the topic:

 

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

How long until AMD starts getting hate mail from people saying they bought a 4 GB card planning to unlock it only to discover that it was truly a 4 GB card?  

not long, because people are idiots

[App4that]

But it's looking like the 4g cards will be completely separate from the 8g, so soldering won't help if the memory isn't present. That's why the 4g is late to the party, still in production.

[iamdarkyoshi]

4 minutes ago, App4that said:

But it's looking like the 4g cards will be completely separate from the 8g, so soldering won't help if the memory isn't present. That's why the 4g is late to the party, still in production.

Previous videocards used the same board but just half the memory chips, with the solder pads for the unpopulated chips still there. And thats why I am wondering if I could solder the remaining chips on.

[App4that]

1 minute ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Previous videocards used the same board but just half the memory chips, with the solder pads for the unpopulated chips still there. And thats why I am wondering if I could solder the remaining chips on.

If that was the case we'd more than likely have them already. AMD wouldn't of had to turn 8g into 4g. Not for sure, but probability sides with there being two separate cards. And the fact we won't see the real 4g model for weeks yet adds to that probability. Why I linked the videos, all the info is in there. Takes some deciphering but it's there.

[DXMember]

yes you can source another 4 gigs and solder them, then flash it

but I think the effort will be worth more than $30 unless you're doing it for a cool project and exploring science that is..

[Simon771]

try it and let us know