Yesterday we talked about the new AMD Radeon RX 580 and 570 graphics cards and the differences with the previous generation. In fact, performance-wise they are separated by just two or three frames per second at most, but some enthusiasts with a dose of audacity wondered if it would be possible to transform the 470 and 480 into 570 and 580. That led to experimentation using official BIOSes, and the first reports indicate that the conversion has been successful, always keeping in mind the jumps in voltage and temperature that this can cause.
Getting more from existing hardware is something computer users will never give up. A bit of overclocking here, a tweak there, and the system receives a "free upgrade". Of course, the process has its risks, which need to be carefully evaluated, but if a certain modesty is applied when seeking results, everything should go well. The latest generations of graphics cards have been particularly receptive to frequency and voltage changes. Manufacturers did not hesitate to launch models with more robust cooling solutions and "dual BIOS" protections that allow reverting any negative effect without surprises. With those aspects in their favor, owners of the more advanced variants of the Radeon RX 480 and RX 470 cards decided to take the next logical step: convert them into Radeon RX 580 and 570.
First Successes with BIOS Flashing
Light optimizations in the silicon enabled AMD to deliver higher frequencies, however, the rest of the parameters remain intact. What prevents users from reaching those same frequencies with traditional overclocking? Sometimes the obstacle is the BIOS itself, but the final numbers depend on each OEM. In the first case, TechPowerUp user Tonybonjoby took the BIOS of a Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ RX 580 (8 GB) and flashed it onto his XFX RX 480 (also 8 GB). The card was subjected to stress tests and works with the new frequencies (plus a 24 mV overvoltage) without errors or artifacts. The brand crossing makes the whole process riskier, but dual BIOS support reduces any correction to flipping a switch.
On the Guru3D forums, BigMaMaInHouse transformed his Sapphire NITRO+ RX 470 into a Sapphire NITRO+ RX 570. The rest of the users are still experimenting with BIOS editors, but the direct flash successes make the mod a bit more tempting. As always, caution is recommended. Hardware isn't exactly cheap, and the last thing we want to see are reports of cards turned into bricks.
