The world refused to give me a fanless Radeon 6400
Aug 8, 2022 8:37:47 GMT -5
Mr.Scott, Vinster, and 2 more like this
Post by moog on Aug 8, 2022 8:37:47 GMT -5
So I made my own! And here's how you can make one too!
Requirements:
- Regular profile Radeon 6400 (not low profile)
- Small X screwdriver
- Wide flathead screwdriver
- Pliers
- Arctic Accelero S3
Why did I even embark on this bizarre adventure? Because amdgpu driver's shortcomings combined with DXVK's very own shortcomings were causing my fanless Radeon 460 to easily reach 90C in really simple games like FOnline Reloaded (it's a 2D game!!!) or Sims 2. Native Linux Vulkan/OpenGL stuff works like a charm, but it's the DirectX compatibility that kills it. I could switch from DXVK to Gallium Nine which is a native DirectX9 implementation for Linux, but that had its own problems last time I tried it.
Before we continue with the howto, I wanted to complain about GPU manufacturers. Apparently GPU PCB screw offsets are confidential info. So what am I supposed to do? Be the sucker that buys a cat in a bag, only to later argue with the store that I want to return the card because a custom cooler doesn't fit on it? I do not feel like engaging in futile arguing and escalating things to Consumer Protection Agency, so I did some research.
Edit: don't get me wrong, I tried to get the offsets from legit sources, like stores and manufacturers, but they just react badly to it.
Stores will shift the responsibility on the manufacturer, and manufacturers will drive your answers only into buying the card. You tell them you want the offsets, they tell you it's confidential. You try to play hard with them, they ask you for a serial number of the card - which you do not have because you haven't bought the card yet. Man, that's stupid. I even tried to ask people who bought the cards and wanted to sell them afterwards, but they are no more helpful either. One guy didn't even know what's a PCB. I patiently explained and they just ghosted me. So for all the middle fingers the world gave me, this thread is one back from me with tons of love to users with a similar issue.
Apparently, there are photos of bare PCBs of low profile and regular profile Radeon 6400s. Both appear to have good screw offsets to fit an Accelero S3!!!
Step 1 - remove the screws from the back of the PCB. Get the PLIERS!!! Remove the screw with the WARRANTY SEAL with the PLIERS because this is the only way you can remove the cooler without voiding the warranty
Next remove the other screws with a small X screwdriver. Once done, disconnect the power from the fan and remove the cooler.Step 2 - get your Accelero S3 manual and follow the instructions as usual, except we will alter the steps present in the manual:
2. Use mounting hole #1 with 0.3mm washers and attach the mounters to the heatsink by hole B. The instructions will make you believe it's hole A, for =< 55mm half-GPU-to-PCIE-bus offset, but it is not good with the 6400. Maybe with the low profile (I don't have one).
ALSO you may need to attach the mounters rotated by 180 degrees because the capacitors on my PowerColor PCB will prevent the entire construction from descending and thus touching the GPU die.
3. Do not use any more washers or spacers.
4. The only hot areas are MOSFETs between HDMI/DP ports and GPU, the RAM, and the GPU die.
12. You will use 3 clips if your motherboard's PCIE port has that flipping switch to secure a card in place. 4 if your motherboard does not have such a feature. That's only 3 or 4 in total, you don't use all the 6 clips.
Additionally if you are a Linux user like me and your Gentoo has USE=savedconfig, add these files and reinstall sys-kernel/linux-firmware:
amdgpu/beige_goby_sos.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_ta.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_smc.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_pfp.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_me.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_ce.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_rlc.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_mec.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_mec2.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_sdma.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_dmcub.bin
amdgpu/beige_goby_vcn.binBelow are pictures. Enjoy!Attachments:
