VOGONS


First post, by tauro

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I picked up this card labeled "X550 ADV 128M DDR" "PN 88-GC49-0C-16" "SKU 11062-57"

But the chip is actually a 215S8CALA23FG, which according to theretroweb makes it an X1050/RV410...

So what is it? X550 or X1050? RV370 or RV410? A rare breed?

I couldn't find any more info about the card/chip and I'm really puzzled!

Reply 1 of 13, by RandomStranger

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Probably an error on theretroweb's part. I don't know of any X550 that used the RV410. In that generation it was reserved for the X700 series cards. It's uncommon even as an X1050. Most X1050s are also built with the RV370.

Just fire it up and check the it with GPU-Z.

sreq.png retrogamer-s.png

Reply 3 of 13, by RandomStranger

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Ydee wrote on 2024-06-28, 16:05:
I've heard of it, even the TPup lists this core in the X550 XT and X550 XTX: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-x550- […]
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I've heard of it, even the TPup lists this core in the X550 XT and X550 XTX:
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-x550-xt.c1810
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-x550-xtx.c980

It was originally intended as you write - for the X700 series.

It looks like for the XT they cut the chip in half. Maybe possible to unlock by flashing XTX bios?

sreq.png retrogamer-s.png

Reply 4 of 13, by Ydee

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I'm afraid not - I assume ATI used defective cores RV410, just like in the case of the X700 SE (4 pipes, 4 TMUs) and alternated only with the width of the memory bus (X700 SE has 64bit like X550 XTX, while X550 XT 128bit). I think that, ironically, of these 3 models, the X700 SE is the slowest.

Reply 5 of 13, by tauro

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My findings:
The ADV probably stands for "Advantage". Some sort of value line I suppose.

GPU-Z identifies the chip as an RV370.

The attachment x550.specs.gpuz.gif is no longer available

The PCI ID is 1002 5B63 - 174B 1490
and the BIOS version is VER008.015.158.000

I don't know how accurate GPU-Z actually is because if I click Look up it doesn't list this specific model, it gives me two options:
ATI Radeon X550 HyperMemory (RV370 PRO)
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon- … ypermemory.c516

X550 (RV370 LE / 215S8DAKA23F)
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-x550.c120

OTOH mine looks very similar to this one (same fanless heatsink)
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/sapphir … -advantage.b280
This one is listed as having an RV370 LE (215S8DAKA23F).

The ones you linked have a chip labeled 215RCAAKA12F, while mine reads 215S8CALA23FG.

So apparently 215 can mean both RV410 and RV370?

I still can't understand the rationale behind the 215 and all the other alphanumeric characters. Do you have more information on how to interpret them? How can one know if this is an RV410 and not an RV370?

Is it possible to flash a different BIOS and check how far it can be pushed?

Thank you for the information and your suggestions.

Reply 6 of 13, by RandomStranger

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tauro wrote on 2024-06-29, 11:50:

My findings:
The ADV probably stands for "Advantage". Some sort of value line I suppose.

Advantage at Sapphire meant you were taken advantage of. I had a 9600 Pro Advantage back in the 2000s and the RAM on that one ran at 466MHz instead of 600MHz and it was deceptively marketed as if it was factory overclocked, didn't even overclock well. I couldn't reach 500MHz on the RAM and the card started artifacting on 450MHz on the GPU. Yours also have abysmal RAM speed.

tauro wrote on 2024-06-29, 11:50:

Is it possible to flash a different BIOS and check how far it can be pushed?

I think it's pointless. What you have is the PCI-e version of the 9550/9600 series. You can try overclocking the RAM because the card is absurdly bandwidth starved as is.

sreq.png retrogamer-s.png

Reply 7 of 13, by Ydee

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4 pixel pipes, 2 vertex, so finally RV370, you can trust GPU-Z. What memory chips are populated - 6 or 5 ns (4 highly likely not) ? 5ns are supposed for 200/400DDR MHz, 6ns are for 166/333. The GPU itself probably won't go much higher, if at all.

Reply 8 of 13, by The Serpent Rider

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You can't trust GPU-Z with such old cards.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 10 of 13, by The Serpent Rider

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It is old. And GPU-Z notoriously fails to identify correct chips on X800/X850.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 11 of 13, by tauro

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Ydee wrote on 2024-06-30, 06:54:

I think, this one is not so old, so GPU-Z is correct. But memory clock is weird, here: http://www.vgamuseum.info/index.php/home/item … ati-radeon-x550 is Sapphire X550 Advantage with same BIOS and Device ID, but memory clock is detected as 200/400, that´s why I ask for memory chips.

That's a great find... it's actually the same card listed as "Vlask's card".
It's interesting that mine's RAM is clocked 20% slower.

My memory chips read:

AEL
AE816D50FY-5B
0639
C74L0628

They overclock fine to 200MHz.

Ydee wrote on 2024-06-29, 14:31:

4 pixel pipes, 2 vertex, so finally RV370, you can trust GPU-Z. What memory chips are populated - 6 or 5 ns (4 highly likely not) ? 5ns are supposed for 200/400DDR MHz, 6ns are for 166/333. The GPU itself probably won't go much higher, if at all.

GPU overclocks to 450MHz but since it has passive cooling, the heat sink gets really hot.
With a 120mm fan on the side I can get the GPU to 490 MHz.

tauro wrote on 2024-06-29, 11:50:

I still can't understand the rationale behind the 215 and all the other alphanumeric characters. Do you have more information on how to interpret them? How can one know if this is an RV410 and not an RV370?

I wish there was an explanation for this, but it's definitely an X550.

What's the easiest/recommended way to alter the video BIOS to set the RAM to 200MHz permanently?

Reply 12 of 13, by Ydee

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There are BIOS to download at the bottom of the page, the one called Sapphire has the same version and IDs as yours and has the 200 MHz memclock.

Reply 13 of 13, by tauro

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Excellent, thank you very much!