M18x R1 HD6990 VBIOS problems

I have new problem with my M18x R1. When I want to enter game it hangs/freeze. I have HD6990 in Crossfire mode. I updated VBIOS (via Atiflash/DOS) and it seems ok. But when I go to ati winflash and check vbios state atiwinflash -I or -ai 1 I have problem with VBIOS. Like it doesn't have vbios and sistem cannot read VBIOS. Again,from DOS everything is OK. Both cards have OK VBIOS. Also with GPU-Z when I try to extract VBIOS from card 0 (Primary) I can save it,BUT from GPU 1 (slave) I cannot. I have Hynix versions of GPU memory and I have latest VBIOS. Although I have same VBIOS on both cards and strangely both cards have same bios P/N number. Is that normal? It works OK with everything else,except games. Tried everything,other VBIOS but normal original from https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?manufacturer=Dell&model=HD+6990M

Do I need to have two different vbios version? Does someone have those 2 different (master and slave) vbios version. Cannot find anything elsewhere. Can I flash Clevo VBIOS? My card is darkbrown almost black.

Please help...

 

*** Staus update ***

I managed somehow to fully flash VBIOS to both cards. As before same VBIOS. I now can save VBIOS from both cards using GPU-Z software. But I still have problem when trying to play a game. I saw some problem with GPU performance when playing 4K content from YouTube. Values of memory speed and etc keeps going up and down and then I have digital distortion. So clock speeds are non stop going up and down. I have LOG file if someone wants and can read. What might be the problem now when I have figured out VBIOS? Also I have fresh install of AMD drivers?!

 

it could be just that one of your 6990M's is dying (my guess it's the slave one)... those were very unreliable cards after all.

 

Thank you for reply. Is there any way to fix it? Or to replace?

 

After replacing places... Same happens...

 

The cards are probably dead if you are getting graphics problems

 

don't just swap the cards, try each one individually in the primary slot (left hand side).

 

Tried baking now... Clock speed and memory speed still not going up. Stuck at 100Mhz and 150Mhz...

 

Oh MY GOD!!! WHAT??? I baked both cards at 200 degrees Celsius in Owen for 10min. Repasted everything incl. i7 extreme and WHAT!!! Everything working! Cold solder?!
Everything at FULL graphics in Battlefield 4, it is working colder than before... And gaming feels more fluid. I really cannot believe what just happened.

 

They will die again really fast. Better sell them if you still can. These cards are cancer. They will die without any cause. We all replaced them. Look at my signature.

 

Thanks for info! So they are really bad? The have good performance though. So what you recommend? I would like to buy HD7970m they are great as I read about them. I really cannot believe cards 3-4 years old costs 200-300$... Way too much money. I would trade mine with someone and pay over but in Serbia not a single mobile graphics on sale. Those prices 200-300$ on ebay.com

So again what do you suggest?

 

7970M are half-cancer too. 8970M are pretty stable but they have different crossfire connector I believe. Check 780M prices in your country. We all switched from AMD to Nvidia years ago, there are only a few persons here using R9 M290x and 7970M/8970M.

If you don't have money then only option is to get 7970M and pray to get good silicon quality. Older cards 580M/7970M/6990M were failing without a cause becuase silicon was crap. Newer ones like 780M/880M/R9 M290x are rock solid.

 

There are two versions of HD8970 on Ebay. One is 2GB and another is 4GB Clevo... Which one?

 

I don't know much about AMD cards, you have to ask someone else.

Also keep in mind that you won't be able to crossfire 8970M as it has different Crossfire connector that is nearly impossible to get.

 

You can reball the 6990M's with leaded solder, if the chip itself isn't bad it should fix it for the long run.
But yeah, i'd look for different cards if i were in your shoes.