Overclock/underclock Radeon 5970/5870 Linux outside BIOS Limits?

[Rob P.]

http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=11087.msg202705#msg202705

Fail:  "2) Use it to create a FreeDOS bootable thumb drive."

This thread is about doing it from Linux, natively.

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[Vwlopez3]

Catalyst 11.6 in Linux allows you to bypass the BIOS limits now. 11.5 didn't.

Code:

Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           300
             Current Peak :    975           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-875]     [900-1200]
                 GPU load :    99%

I've tested it on both Sapphire and Gigabyte 5830 cards.

Cheers,
Kermee

Yess thank you

[Rob P.]

Catalyst 11.6 in Linux allows you to bypass the BIOS limits now. 11.5 didn't.

Code:

Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           300
             Current Peak :    975           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-875]     [900-1200]
                 GPU load :    99%

I've tested it on both Sapphire and Gigabyte 5830 cards.

Cheers,
Kermee

... Goes to download Catalyst 11.6 ...

Downloaded and installed on my new rig.  Confirmed, allowed me to set GPU and RAM outside of the listed ranges.

SUCH good news.

[Vwlopez3]

now if we could just figure out how to adjust voltage outside bios limit we would be golden.

[Rob P.]

now if we could just figure out how to adjust voltage outside bios limit we would be golden.

Yea, that appears to still require RBE from DOS and a BIOS Flash.  Sigh.

[padrino]

now if we could just figure out how to adjust voltage outside bios limit we would be golden.

I started using Radeonvolt on both my 5970 and 5870 cards with no issue, only working on reference designs though.

[Folax]

This is great news, if Catalyst 11.6 can get my non-reference card past its limits!

I'm running Linuxcoin and need to de-install the current drivers and download and install the new ones, which I will try and post here how to do it.

[dishwara]

Can any one tell how to install 11.6 in Ubuntu 11.04. With Inaba guide i am able to install & mine with Ubuntu 11.04. It has catalyst version 11.5.

How to install 11.6 in to Ubuntu 11.04?
Help is much appreciated as 11.5 don't allow to reduce memory clock which is increasing temperature too much.
I tried with AMD site & got this file ati-driver-installer-11-6-x86.x86_64.run.
Don't know exactly what to do next.

[detroit]

I wish I could be more helpful, but had a hard time getting 11.6 installed properly after having ubuntu installed ATI drivers.
However, if you go to the AMD driver download page and look through the release notes link, it has instructions on how to uninstall the old drivers and install the new ones.  I wound up deactivating the ubuntu-installed ATI drivers under SYSTEM, HARDWARE DRIVERS and running the general 11.6 install.  It wouldn't run aticonfig because I think the ubuntu install sets unusual file structures in place that the ATI  generic install doesn't undo, somehow.  Eventually, I went back to activating the ubuntu-installed ATI drivers and got my overclocks, so I was content.
I should have tried searching more.  Here's a wiki that details how to get 11.6 on 11.04, including a section on how to remove the ubuntu-installed driver config:
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Natty_Installation_Guide

[Folax]

I messed up trying to uninstall 11.5 and install 11.6 somehow and am now waiting for Linuxcoin 0.2b which has 11.6 setup.

[stellan0r]

I can confirm that with Ubuntu 11.04 and Catalyst 11.6 you can OC/UC beyond the limits.


I can go higher with the Core MHz, but last time two of my mining instances froze after some time, so I'm using the lower MHz right now until I find the sweetspot.



$ aticonfig --odgc --adapter=all

Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    900           300
             Current Peak :    900           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-900]     [900-1300]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 1 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    99%


And this is the simple script that allows for easy OC with my cards (just put that adjusted for your gpus in any .sh file):

aticonfig --odsc=900,300 --adapter=0
aticonfig --odsc=1000,300 --adapter=1
aticonfig --odsc=1000,300 --adapter=2

And if you do, take a look at my signature please

[dishwara]

I wish I could be more helpful, but had a hard time getting 11.6 installed properly after having ubuntu installed ATI drivers.
However, if you go to the AMD driver download page and look through the release notes link, it has instructions on how to uninstall the old drivers and install the new ones.  I wound up deactivating the ubuntu-installed ATI drivers under SYSTEM, HARDWARE DRIVERS and running the general 11.6 install.  It wouldn't run aticonfig because I think the ubuntu install sets unusual file structures in place that the ATI  generic install doesn't undo, somehow.  Eventually, I went back to activating the ubuntu-installed ATI drivers and got my overclocks, so I was content.
I should have tried searching more.  Here's a wiki that details how to get 11.6 on 11.04, including a section on how to remove the ubuntu-installed driver config:
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Natty_Installation_Guide

Please check this, i wrote step by step guide after it worked for me.
http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=22855

[Rob P.]

I can go higher with the Core MHz, but last time two of my mining instances froze after some time, so I'm using the lower MHz right now until I find the sweetspot.

I believe this is because we cannot, yet, easily change the voltages.  So we can't overclock too high, or the card needs more voltage than the core is providing.

[dishwara]

I can go higher with the Core MHz, but last time two of my mining instances froze after some time, so I'm using the lower MHz right now until I find the sweetspot.

Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    900           300
             Current Peak :    900           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-900]     [900-1300]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 1 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    99%

I confirm, again AMD fucked us.
You can under clock memory of 5870 cards, but not 6970 cards.
Even i under clocked memory to 300 mhz, it still runs on 1375 mhz only causing high temperature. But in 5870 it runs at 300 mhz.
FU*K U AMD

You can clearly see in the quoted post as 5800 series current clocks of memory is 300 mhz, while 6800 series current clocks of memory is 1150 mhz, even though current peak is 300 mhz.
same happening to me, with 6900 series current clock of memory is 1375, while current peak is 300 mhz only

[stellan0r]

i didn't realize that.. explains why my hashrate didn't change much ^^

[stellan0r]

can this be a "problem" with powerplay or something like that?

i have my clock settings (5870: 960/300 ;6870: 1000/300) persistent and after reboot it looks like this (screen attached to Adapter 0):


Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    157           300
             Current Peak :    960           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-900]     [900-1300]
                 GPU load :    0%

Adapter 1 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    300           300
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    0%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    300           300
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    0%

(you can see the memory clocks in powerplay mode idle (if i can call it that) is 300 as supposed to be with my settings)


As soon as I start my miner, it looks like this:


Adapter 0 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    960           300
             Current Peak :    960           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-900]     [900-1300]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 1 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    1000           1150
             Current Peak :    1000           300
  Configurable Peak Range : [775-1000]     [1150-1250]
                 GPU load :    98%

Core clocks rise as expected, but mem clock @ 6870  goes to default.
I also was not able to change this with AMDOverdriveCtrl.

We need to find the switch for that powerplay feature!

[dishwara]

Yes, AMD again screwed up. They want those who bought AMD graphics cards MUST go crazy as before many gone crazy due to BSOD from Windows.
It's really BS to allow 5000 series to under clock memory & dis allow 6000 series to under clock memory.
I better ask in AMD forumn.

To those who want to ASK AMD directly, you can. Go to,
http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/AMDCatalyst116ReleaseNotes.aspx

Look for "Catalyst™ Crew Driver Feedback" in bottom.
Direct link is http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D27E29B0E3

Also here http://forums.amd.com/game/categories.cfm?catid=279

ASK much as you can.

[padrino]

Yes, AMD again screwed up. They want those who bought AMD graphics cards MUST go crazy as before many gone crazy due to BSOD from Windows.
It's really BS to allow 5000 series to under clock memory & dis allow 6000 series to under clock memory.
I better ask in AMD forumn.

To those who want to ASK AMD directly, you can. Go to,
http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/AMDCatalyst116ReleaseNotes.aspx

Look for "Catalyst™ Crew Driver Feedback" in bottom.
Direct link is http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D27E29B0E3

Also here http://forums.amd.com/game/categories.cfm?catid=279

ASK much as you can.

One would assume the screw up is letting any cards outside of their bios limits, as the manufacturer they want to listen to their partners settings in standard tools and leave non standard to API hooks,

[Rob P.]

Can any one tell how to install 11.6 in Ubuntu 11.04. With Inaba guide i am able to install & mine with Ubuntu 11.04. It has catalyst version 11.5.

Rebuild the box.  That's what I did last night, it only takes 30 minutes of so.  Use the same guide you used to build it the first time, only this time, instead of downloading Catalyst "11.5", download Catalyst "11.6".  Just change the 5 to a 6 in the instructions.  Works great.

[padrino]

Can any one tell how to install 11.6 in Ubuntu 11.04. With Inaba guide i am able to install & mine with Ubuntu 11.04. It has catalyst version 11.5.

Rebuild the box.  That's what I did last night, it only takes 30 minutes of so.  Use the same guide you used to build it the first time, only this time, instead of downloading Catalyst "11.5", download Catalyst "11.6".  Just change the 5 to a 6 in the instructions.  Works great.

I just reinstalled with 11.6 directly on top of 11.5 and it worked fine, I'm not sure what the risk is doing it that way is normally (I assume the recommendation is to uninstall), might b worth a test since it's only a couple of minutes.