BIOS Flash - Overclock Your Graphics Card in Five Minutes

[Can Not]

Wow, you are mistaken. Having a DOS boot disc laying doesn't make you pro, that makes you old school.

When you don't have a floppy drive, it takes FAR more than 20 minutes to find a boot disc... I stopped searching after an hour. The ONLY thing difficult about this process is getting into DOS mode on XP.

Yeah. It's really difficult to check the "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" option when formatting a floppy! 😱

Reading Comprehension is not a super power.

 

[nukemaster]

Lets just clear this up...

You can flash a 8800 to another overclocked 8800, BUT you should test the card first to make sure it can run at those speeds...

For boot disk you can get a CD image of the windows 98 floppy and burn it with nero....
http://www.allbootdisks.com/download/98.html

Before attempting to flash you brand new video card. Try riva tuner, it does everything the flash does but without the flashing(you do need to run it on startup to change the settings i think.)
http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=rivatuner

Things to make sure of if you flash

1. Always use DOS(get a windows 98 bootCD/disk). NEVER USE FREEDOS/DR.DOS(Trust me. Sometimes things go bad)
2. Always have a PCI video card ready in case things go wrong. Its best if this PCI card is not from Nvidia(since when you by pass safety settings in the flasher to force a bad flash back to a good flash you may flash the pci card...).
3. backup the bios on your pci card too....you never know
4. Have another computer ready to get different flash utilities should a flash fail(the latest nvflash may not always work to flash back from a bad flash....)
5. If you can't afford to break it, don't flash it.

Either way if you must flash its simple, even without a floppy...

Place the bios flasher(nvflash and its 2 other needed files) and backup on a flash drive. Boot from the windows98 CD. your flash drive should be drive c....

In the end....i still recommend trying riva for now....its safer.....

 

[randomizer]

It's possible that the Superclocked card has a different device ID or some other ID (theres a few), meaning you may need to force flash the BIOS. If you don't have a spare PCI card lying around, you can always make an emergency reflash boot disc, which will work even if you need to blind flash.

@ls2hsv: I can link you to some guides I wrote on the topic if you PM me, but I won't post links here.

ATIFlash is so much nicer then nvFlash.

 

[nukemaster]

ATIFlash is so much nicer then nvFlash.

Sooooo true

For forcing a flash its just.....

nvflash -4 -5 -6 newbios.rom

 

[randomizer]

But to most people -4 -5 -6 means nothing. Can't they use letters for everything like ATITool? *sigh*

EDIT: Actually letters often don't mean alot either, should use words :lol:

 

[nukemaster]

They used to use letters that stood for words(i think)...


NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.57)

-- Primary Commands --
Update firmware: nvflash [options] <filename>
Save firmware to file: nvflash [options] --save <filename>
Compare adapter firmware: nvflash [options] --compare <filename>
Update TV data: nvflash [options] --tv <filename>
Display version: nvflash [options] --version [<filename>]
Display firmware bytes: nvflash [options] --display [bytes]
Check for supported EEPROM: nvflash [options] --check
Write protect EEPROM: nvflash [options] --protecton
Remove write protect: nvflash [options] --protectoff
Change soft straps: nvflash [options] --straps=<straps>
Set IEEE 1394 GUID: nvflash [options] --guid=<guid>
Set IEEE 1394 GUID source: nvflash [options] --guidsource=<location>
List adapters: nvflash [options] --list
List PCI firmware blocks: nvflash [options] --pciblocks

-- Commands and Options --
help ? Display this screen.
save b <filename> Read EEPROM and save to <filename>.
compare k <filename> Read EEPROM and compare with <filename>.
tv x <filename> Transfer TV data from file to EEPROM.
version v <filename> Display file version and ~CRC32
(if no filename, acts on display adapter).
display d [bytes] Display 256 the first bytes of the EEPROM
(default is 256 bytes)
check c Check for supported EEPROM.
protecton w Write protect EEPROM (only on some EEPROM's).
protectoff r Remove EEPROM write protect (only on some EEPROM's).
straps m <straps> Change soft straps.
format is: AND Mask 0, OR Mask 0, AND Mask 1, OR Mask 1
guid q <guid> Set the IEEE 1394 GUID in the firmware image
(GUID is in the form of 16 hex digits).
guidsource 1 <location> Set the source of the IEEE 1394 GUID.
main - main EEPROM image
dedicated - separate serial EEPROM part
list a List all NVIDIA display adapters found in the system.
pciblocks List all the PCI ROM Images stored in the EEPROM.
overridetype 5 Allow firmware and adapter PCI device ID mismatch.
overridesub 6 Allow firmware and adapter PCI subsystem ID mismatch.
reboot y Reboot the PC after other tasks completed.
keepstraps g Keep the soft straps already present in the EEPROM
after flashing the new image.
romstrap j Override the ROM strap setting to allow flashing an
image when grounding the STRAP_SUB_VENDOR pin.
This allows flashing a corrupted or erased EEPROM.
Note: Make sure there is a physical EEPROM present
when using this option
index i <index> Force a specific device index.
fwindex F <fw index> Index of which firmware image to use from a firmware
bundle.
auto A When possible, run without user intervention.
directpci n Bypass the PCI BIOS.
silence s Silence all audio beeps.
beep ! Beep to signal updating progress.
nolight l Do not light keyboard LEDs.
override o <level> Override safety check level:
default unknown EEPROM | NV adapter aborts application.
level=1 unknown EEPROM acceptable for read operations.
level=2 unknown NV adapter acceptable for read operations.
level=3 Combined effect of 1,2 (cannot write to unknown EEPROM or adapter).
log L <log file> Create a log file.

Use a single dash ("-") to use the single letter version of a command.
Use a double dash ("--") to use the longer descriptive version of a command.
Use equals ("=") to specify parameters, with separating commas (",").

-- Sample Usage --
nvflash --index=1 nv30nz.rom
-- Supported EEPROM's --
AMD 29LV001B 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,6D)
AMD 29LV010 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,6E)
AMD 29LV001T 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,ED)
Atmel 49F512 64Kx8 5.0,3.0,2.7V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,03)
Atmel 49F001T 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,04)
Atmel 49F001 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,05)
Atmel 49(H)BV/LV010 128Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,17)
Atmel 29LV/BV010A 128Kx8 3.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,35)
Atmel 29LV512 64Kx8 3.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,3D)
Atmel AT25F1024 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,40)
Atmel 29C512 64Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,5D)
Atmel AT25F1024 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,60)
Atmel AT25F512A 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,65)
Atmel AT25FS010 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,66)
Atmel 49F010 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,87)
Atmel 29C010A 128Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,D5)
ST M25P05 512Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(20,05)
ST M25P10 1024Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(20,10)
ST M29W512B 64Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(20,27)
Tenx ICE25P05 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(5E,01)
PMC 39LV512 64Kx8 3.0-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,1B)
PMC 39LV010 128Kx8 3.0-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,1C)
PMC Pm25LV512 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,7B)
PMC Pm25LV010 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,7C)
SST 29EE010 128Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,07)
SST 29LE/VE010 128Kx8 2.9,2.7V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,08)
SST 29LE/VE512 64Kx8 2.9,2.7V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,3D)
SST 45VF010 128Kx8S 3.0-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,42)
SST 25VF512 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,48)
SST 25VF010 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,49)
SST 29EE512 64Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,5D)
SST 39SF010 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,B5)
SST 39VF512 64Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,D4)
SST 39VF010 128Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,D5)
MX 25L512 512Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(C2,05)
MX 25L1005 1024Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(C2,10)
MX 29F001T 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(C2,18)
MX 29F001B 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(C2,19)
WBond W39L010 128Kx8 3.3V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(DA,31)
WBond W39L512 64Kx8 3.3V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(DA,38)
WBond W29C011A 128Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(DA,C1)
WBond W29EE512 64Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(DA,C8)

 

[randomizer]

They don't even mention -4 in there.

 

[nukemaster]

I notice that too....not sure why it says to use it everywhere....it must be something....cause when you put something it does not understand it just gives you the help menu....

Maybe its an undocumented switch....

 

[randomizer]

A backdoor into your OS installation [/conspiracy]

 

[emanko]

I dont get it. So is the purpose of Bios overclock to input the frequencies 4 ever without having SW programs in Windows to boot them after Window starts??? Tnx