How do you update BIOS on an Asus GTX 970? Fixed!

[U6b36ef]

My BIOS:
84.04.1F.00.2B

The current Asus support latest BIOS states the following.
Bios update tool for GTX970
Old version:
84.04.2F.00.AS05
84.04.1F.00.AS13
84.04.1F.00.AS08

Therefor my BIOS is older being 1F. However the Asus GPU Tweak Utility says my system is up to date.

Is there a manual way to do it without flashing using nvflash and a USB stick?

(Ironically the motherboard BIOS did the same. Said it was up to date with the latest version when it was not. I managed to update manually with that.)

I have a problem with the 970 and think updating the BISO might help.

 

[ronintexas]

Best practice is with a flash drive. You can pick one up at almost any store for $10. The "instant flash" utilities will flash the BIOS for minor updates, but major updates may require the USB stick. Example: 84.04.1F.00.AS08 to 84.04.1F.00.AS13 is a minor update (the only number changing are the last ones), and 84.04.1F.00AS13 to 84.04.2F.00.AS05 is a major update (1F to 2F).

 

[koffeeshop77]

if its not broken dont mess with it, rull of thumb for that grafric cards!!! nvflash will do the trick http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2498/nvflash-5-218-0-1-for-windows/ but i really dont recommend it unless you are willing to brick 300 $ bios updates are not covered buy warranty!! fyi

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... There are Win apps now to update within Windows and there is DOS OS method ( NVFLASH ).
the easiest is the WINOS method... Does ASUS have a WIN version APP?

 

[U6b36ef]

Thanks for the quick replies.

(EDITED: I have taken out the line about winflash because I just checked and it's for system BIOS.)

I have a USB stick that I can drop the new BIOS onto. It's prepped to boot from, as I have done lots before.

Yes I don't want to flash it unless absolutely necessary, but I have a serious problem. It think the best solution is to return the card since it's still under warranty. It may even void the warranty if I flash it. (I am prepared to give it a go though.)

My GPU is flickering at high and comfortable frame rates. It's more pronounced when using DSR. It is not however the 3.5GB RAM cap, since I don't have any games that use over 3GB. Crysis 3 is the most RAM hungry game I have. It actually used exactly 3GB max when running 1440p DSR 1080p native.

A big issue though, is not all games are flickering/stuttering. Metro: Last Light does a bit in 1080p, and more noticeable in 1440p. Skyrim does it in various places in 1440p when the frame rate is pushed lower than 60. Alien Isolation did it.

The issue is not there all the time. It only ever happens when the frame rate drops under about 48fps when using DSR. Then under about 44fps when using native resolution. I made a thread about it but no luck as yet. http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2622870/nvidia-drs-causing-stuttering.html

I started to wonder if it was the BIOS two days ago. Then I recalled that my first Asus 970 was slightly faster and didn't have this issue. (It had to be returned because it was otherwise faulty, and froze the PC at desktop every now and again.) Having flashed vBIOS before I have seen it improve frame rates sometimes.

Looking at the BIOS versions, it appears I have the oldest one.

Thank you again for your replies. It was lucky I came back to check the thread because I had no email that anyone had posted.

 

[koffeeshop77]

yeah warranty problem RTM it before you get blamed for something and cant anymore!

 

[U6b36ef]

I just found a desktop method for using Nvflash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOTF1ipcQEM

Talk about teetering on the edge of whether to do it or not. I think it's wise, if in doubt don't.

 

[U6b36ef]

I was thinking since Asus give the vBIOS update tool, maybe they don't mind us trying. I tried the method in the link above and it told me 'no Nvidia adaptor available'.

If I am going to try again I think I should use USB flash drive. That way I can back up the old vBIOS first.

 

[Larry Litmanen]

I have an MSI mobo and MSI has a software called Live Update, you just chose the drivers you are looking for and click download and drivers are updated. Same with BIOS, one click and done.

I am sure ASUS has the same software.

That's why when i do a fresh reinstall i use drivers off the disk and download the software and update all drivers later.


By the way when i got my mobo it had BIOS version X, the latest version available was like 8th upgrade than what mobo came with, so it is important to update BIOS.

 

[U6b36ef]

I flashed it. (I risked it.) I found a method and used the vBIOS download from the Asus website. It was basically the same as in the link I added above, but getting the right form of file.

It has fixed my problem with my card. It had to be the vBIOS or a faulty card. Otherwise many people would be complaining about flicker when playing at comfortable frame rates. The newer vBIOS is a little faster too.

I just have to hope the card is stable at desktop. You see I had another Asus 970 which was returned, and I got this one as a replacement. The original card used to lock up on desktop for a few seconds, maybe three times a week. Fingers crossed.

 

[U6b36ef]

[This part edited]. The new BIOS is fine. I originally thought some games were still performing bad. However I was basing that on Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, and TNO. They however have a very bad stuttering issues of their own. Basically you have to make settings so you are running at 60 fps, as anything under about 52fps is a mess.

----------------------- BIOS flashing method here:

Anyway, the way to flash the GPU from desktop was this. Get the vBIOS from here for the Asus GTX 970. https://www.asus.com/uk/Graphics_Cards/STRIXGTX970DC2OC4GD5/HelpDesk_Download/

It is a .rar file. Extract it.

That produces a multi-coloured Asus logo .exe file. It won't do anything much if you click on it. However extract it again.

It produces a folder with a few BIOS files in, and all the nvflash stuff. [At this point disable your graphics card in the Device Manager, as you are about to flash your card.]

Then drag the BIOS file you want over the 'nvflash application' file, and drop it onto it. This launches nvflash to run with the desired BIOS. There is a prompt to press Y - yes, or Q - quit.

Let it run, and once complete, it will close itself down. Re-enable your graphics card. Then re-boot.


All in all about three minutes work all done on desktop. Very sweet.

 

[U6b36ef]

This is my thread about the stuttering flickering. http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2622870/nvidia-drs-causing-stuttering.html

 

[Sangeeth Sivan]

[This part edited]. The new BIOS is fine. I originally thought some games were still performing bad. However I was basing that on Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, and TNO. They however have a very bad stuttering issues of their own. Basically you have to make settings so you are running at 60 fps, as anything under about 52fps is a mess.

----------------------- BIOS flashing method here:

Anyway, the way to flash the GPU from desktop was this. Get the vBIOS from here for the Asus GTX 970. https://www.asus.com/uk/Graphics_Cards/STRIXGTX970DC2OC4GD5/HelpDesk_Download/

It is a .rar file. Extract it.

That produces a multi-coloured Asus logo .exe file. It won't do anything much if you click on it. However extract it again.

It produces a folder with a few BIOS files in, and all the nvflash stuff. [At this point disable your graphics card in the Device Manager, as you are about to flash your card.]

Then drag the BIOS file you want over the 'nvflash application' file, and drop it onto it. This launches nvflash to run with the desired BIOS. There is a prompt to press Y - yes, or Q - quit.

Let it run, and once complete, it will close itself down. Re-enable your graphics card. Then re-boot.


All in all about three minutes work all done on desktop. Very sweet.

Did you extracted it by double clicking the exe? coz when i try to double click the exe it shows me this..!

http://imgur.com/I8n1Oxf

 

[U6b36ef]

I can't remember if I saw that message. However it looks like you are on Win 8 or Win 10. I did it on Win 7.

It is a standard looking warning. Those are the regular warnings you receive when flashing vBIOS. When you enter nvflash I think it warns about not switching off PC during process.

If you look further up this thread, I have clicked best solution. There is a video there showing how it looks on Win 7.