XFX - Spot on :D

[Grey M@a]

Wow, its not often you email a company asking for new BIOS' for your graphics card and they will quite happily email you back with the BIOS, how to do it and asking for your old BIOS version so they can track the issue's throughout the BIOS revisions.

I fire off an email to Keith on the forums here, check back in a few hours there is the reply asking for my email address, next thing I know my inbox is graced with instructions and a new BIOS build. Obviously these updates are done at your own risk, but this is the first time I've had a reply from a manufacturer which are happy to dish out the goods.

Can't fault them at all on their support, the speed, the ease it is to get files and update from them and the FAQ that even shows you the ropes of how to do these updates So I guess you won't be needing the dodgy BIOS' off the net anymore, these guys will send you the latest and greatest if you ask nice enough

[Steve]

This is good to know, given that I'll be getting a second XFX 6800GT in the coming months and will need to synch the BIOSes.

Nice one XFX!

[Grey M@a]

Suprised me i can tell you, from past experience it's been easier getting blood from a stone than it is a bios for your £300 graphics card. Good job Keith joined here, he was more than helpful

[Lee @ SCAN]

Nice work Keith

I could do with making the 2 6800GT's I have the same BIOS revision really but I only got my ISOTOPE back from CPC towers yesterday so I'll sort it at the weekend when I have time to do stuff.

[Steve]

If I might don my HEXUS hat for a moment:

I think this kind of thing is proof that HEXUS can help both customers and businesses, already demonstrated by the success of forums such as the Scan Customer Care forum and others from ECS, FSP Group, Komplett... then there's guys from the industry like Andrzej and of course Keith.

We're the place to be

[Howard]

That rocks. Nice to see some companies still give a toss about their customers. Unlike some.

*Cough* D-Link *Cough* *splutter* *wheeze* oh sorry about that. Nasty cough.

[Grey M@a]

Wildmonkey if you wish I could forward the BIOS to you, obviously neither myself or XFX accept any responsibility if the cards take off, pop in style and fly through the side of the case due to a bios update

Seriously though, I can forward if you wish Unless Keith would prefer it going through themselves so they can track BIOS versions.

[shiato storm]

so keeping in line with bios updates, how easy are they to do? whats the procedure very roughly...? my card is working fine as far as I can tell and bios update is not something I feel I need at the moment (unless they've been released and it is suggested I do so), I'm just curious as to how one does it

[Grey M@a]

Basically get new bios, copy files to a bootable floppy, backup old bios apply new one, if all works well off you go if new bios isn't having it apply the backup of the old again

I just have a few niggly issues with the card and a friend of mine has the new bios and fixed his issues. So I went the official route instead of some didgy bios off the net.

[Stoo]

shiato: Last time I did one it was a case of booting into dos and issueing a command similar to:

>biosupdate newbios.bin oldbios.bin

it then burped and farted for a bit then asked me to reboot, and that was it

[Grey M@a]

slightly longer strings required these days but the principle is the same, if mine farts and pops i will keep updating it for comical value.

[Rave]

FWIW I got a bit too clever a couple of years ago and knackered a Sapphire 8500LE by flashing it with an 8500 bios, without saving the original so I could flash back. The guy from Sapphire UK emailed me back a new bios file within a day, having emailed Taiwan to get it for me. Good of them, especially as the cockup was entirely my own fault.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Bought an XFX 6800GT PCI-E, was chuffed, then an AGP 6600GT. Was so happy with them, when i upgraded my sisters PC, also bought a PCI-E XFX 6600GT. The quality of the cards are amazing, and both overclock like hell. 3 Pc's all running XFX cards.

The boxes are also...quite "eye-catching."

[shiato storm]

i've not yet attempted an OC on my 6600gt (agp)...whats the best way to do it?

[Grey M@a]

Well it seems that the XFX cards are upto date on the BIOS front. I bought my card in December last year and it has the latest BIOS. So no updating needed. Will have to look elsewhere to see whats causing the graphics lag as its done it in three different PC's.

Still, I can't fault the lightning response from the XFX team and Keith

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Originally Posted by shiato storm

i've not yet attempted an OC on my 6600gt (agp)...whats the best way to do it?

Google "Coolbits", its a registry entry that gives you "Clock Frequency" settings in the graphics card settings (whjere you find temp, etc). Select 3D in the drop down box. Easiest way, is to click "Detect Optimal Settings" and let it do its stuff. The monitor will blink, etc. Finally it will give you the max settings. i drop it down a little, tick the box saying "Apply Settings At Startup" then click "Test Settings." After that, if all is ok, click "Apply, then "ok".

Job done