Acer MXM BIOS Mods and discussion (was: x920G vs. 9600M GT)

Check if the card is running at its full clock (should be 500/1250/800).

 

Aspire 9920G, this time for real: request download ticket | ifile.it

Tested and working fine (incl. internal display) on an HP 9300M GS.

Note that this BIOS will only work with true MXM cards, that is, ones that use the MXM interrupt call at least for retrieving EDID. So, most ATI cards won't work. (Not sure about the GT 240M - IIRC it retrieves EDID, but not the MXM structure, through the MXM interrupt, so it is a mixed bag.)

 

Controller version 280.26
DirectX 10
Cuda Cores 32

Kernel 500 MHz
Shadows 1250 MHz
Memory 400 MHz (800 Mhz, speed....)

Memory interface 128 bits
Dedicated 1024MB DDR2
System 0MB
Shared 767MB
Bios version 62.94.4A.00.23
IRQ 16
Bus PCI Express x16

Any idea?

Thank you, ks

 

Thatwould be running at full speed - however, check the actual measured speed on the 2nd tab.

 

thank you... I been looking for this for a long time. Also since doing this my acer aspire 6920 has been a hotter than before.

 

And now, here is exactly why an unmodded 5920G fails to boot with a 9600M GT (and some other cards):

This is how a typical MXM structure parsing routine in an NVidia VBIOS looks like:

Code:

MXMParseSIS proc near ; SIS = MXM System Information Structure
call    MXMGetVersion
cmp    al, 2
jnz    short fail
call    MXMGetSize
mov    cx, ax
dec    cx
mov    bx, 8
mov    cs:OutputDevCount, 0
jmp    short next

doParse:
call    MXMReadByte
and    al, 0Fh
cmp    al, 6 ; This number varies from card to card; usually it is 6 or 7
[B]jnb    short next    ; [COLOR=Red]<-- This line![/COLOR][/B]
movzx    si, al
shl    si, 1
call    cs:MXMParserTable[si]
jb    short out

next:
cmp    bx, cx
jb    short doParse
jmp    short out

fail:
stc

out:
retn
MXMParseSIS endp

At first, it looks correct.

But the marked line doesn't really do what it seems to do, and what it is required to do per the MXM spec - that is, to stop parsing the MXM structure if an unknown field is detected.
Instead, it actually enters an infinite loop whenever it hits an unknown field!

This bug doesn't cause any issues on a conforming MXM laptop, with a valid MXM structure. It doesn't affect MXM-structureless laptops either. But give it an invalid MXM structure, and hell breaks loose!

The fix is very simple: the offending jump should go to "out", rather than "next". This is a single-byte change at the machine code level.

I wonder if current GeForce 5xx-series cards still carry this bug in them... Does NVidia even have a place for reporting VBIOS bugs?

Anyway, this makes it possible to patch an NVidia VBIOS to work with an unpatched 5920G. The procedure is as follows:
1. Dump the VBIOS from the card.
2. Open the dumped VBIOS in a hex editor.
3. Search for the hex string 73 0C 0F B6 F0 D1 E6 2E FF 94.
4. Change the second byte from 0C to 13.
5. Subtract 7 from the last byte of the file (to correct the checksum).
6. Flash it back.

This is primarily of interest to MXM card sellers wishing to make their 9600M GTs and other problematic cards "5920G-ready". However, the SBIOS patch still remains the preferred method for users who want to upgrade their 5920G - it fixes more than just the invalid field at the end of the structure.

 

What 2nd tab?

 

Ap, this one.

Techpowerup GPU Z

Sorry.

Edit:



At max testing with benchmark





Why.......

 

Does this also work on my Acer Aspire 5520G? Does this work on the same hex string?

thanks in advance!

 

@yaincoa: Try PowerMizer Manager. Also, measure the clock speed under load - when idle, it will downclock. And set your power profile to Performance.

@hovingtim: 5520G is a different beast, with a missing (as opposed to corrupt) MXM structure. It can only be fixed at SBIOS level.

 

Yes, i updated my post adding a screen testing with a benchmark at max load. Power was already at performance.

 

@.NetRolller 3D

Ok, so my problem is that, my 5520g, waits for a 30seconds before booting, because of the missing mxm structure, in my 9600gt!

Can I remove this message, or by adapting the bios making the laptop accept the card? The card, gives display on the screen and on the external display port.

 

@yaincoa: Did you apply a VBIOS mod to suppress 30-second beeping on startup? If so, this is probably a side effect of that. Try flashing back an unmodified VBIOS.

Also, test with a higher GPU load. And do not disable PowerMizer - rather, lock it at the highest clock.

If it still doesn't work, then it is probably a DSDT issue.

@hovingtim: An MXM structure has to be added to your VBIOS. Please dump the first 1MB of your memory address space using RW-Everything. (Apologies if you have already done that earlier in this thread - please link back to the post with your dump in that case.)

 

FYI, the 5520g may not be limited to just mxm type II cards like the 9600m and rare 240m.

I believe if you remove a piece of the metal RAM shield, a type III card could be completely contained within the chassis.
After .netroller mods the BIOS, there will probably be support for these cards. You would have to build another heatsink, something I am working on for my 5720g which supports all the type III cards I've tested, but will never fully fit them in the chassis because the slot faces towards the ethernet and USB.

Note that I'm not talking about MXM v3.0, but 2.1 type III cards like the 9800m GT.
If you had the laptop set up correctly for this, it wouldn't just increase the upgrade potential, it would make it more cost effective. Instead of a 9600m GT type II you could buy a 8700m GT, or a NVS 320m ddr3. All of these have essentially the same performance, but the latter 2 cost about 1/2 as much.

 

@hovingtim: Thanks. <s>Mod should be ready by tomorrow.</s> Here it is: http://ifile.it/bi2qtc6/IC50133_MXM.WPH

Note: Have a crisis disk ready, with the original BIOS - as I've learned it the hard way with the 9920G, Phoenix BIOS Editor can still sometimes output broken BIOS files even if I do everything correctly! (As you may recall, the original 9920G BIOS was unusable. I remade the BIOS following the exact procedure I used for the original, and this time got a working BIOS image!)

EDIT: Mods, please remove the link from hovingtim's post - it might expose private information. (Hovingtim: next time, please PM me the link, not post it publicly. For our own privacy.)

 

@.NetRolller 3D

Really thanks, I'm gonna try it this evening. I will have a crisis disk ready, thanks for the warning, Will let you know if I succeeded

 

Just Flashed my 5620g with your bios and tried a 1 gb 9600m gt in,,,no luck i got 1 long beep and 2 short which is a video problem,,,but then i dont think i have read anywhere of a 5620g working with much better than its standard 2400 xt.
Oh well it looks like ebay for the 9600 gt,and i will have to stick with what i have or try an hd3650.
BTW the bios works ok and i am loving all the extra options it gives me.
Thanks.

 

@.NetRolller 3D Your bios works like a charm. The MXM message is gone and accepts the 9600gt. Only problem, the program wouldnt flash on Win7, so i created a Usb dos stick and flashed the bios on Dos. Just works like a charm!!

Next step for me, is to remove the TL-58 proc and interchange it with a RM-77, just a little upspeeding!

--I was cheering to soon--

So the MXM message is gone, but I cant install the drivers for the 9600gt, because it wont be recognised as a 9600gt. It detects it as a default display adapter. And therefore nvidia drivers won't install because the installer won't detect the card.

Anyone a idea?

 

@jandcg: Your 9600M GT is likely defective. Not even stock BIOS should result in "Bad graphics card" beeps with the 9600M GT - the beeps signal that the card is not even being detected as a PCI-Express device.

@hovingtim: Use the Laptopvideo2go modded drivers.

Also, in the Setup screen, are the multiple "Main" menus usable? (This is a new, experimental way of unlocking hidden BIOS screens.)

 

The multiple main menus are available and working like a charm!

 

Hi! I have 5920G with 8600M GT (flashed with 9500M GS bios) 512 DDR2. And there is problem with all bios versions that worked correctly, diff driver versions, diff os (linux, win). When monitor (now it is LG W2452V) connected over d-sub, suspend mode doesn`t work, it just says "check cable connection", tried on several monitors, no luck. But when it is connected via hdmi - suspend works just fine. Now i have installed bios modded by .NetRolller 3D, but no luck. Question is: my card is defective (three years old), or this issue is bios trouble?

 

No idea - perhaps the 9500M GS BIOS you are using does not support DPMS over VGA.

 

with original bios it worked same - no standby. Bios version now 60.84.62.40, original is 60.84.62.00.29. Can you advice me software to check DPMS support?

 

AFAIK there is no way to check for that.

Check Cable Connection can also be caused by a bad solder joint on the motherboard's D-SUB connector (the Device Detection line is disconnected).

 

It is second MB... Don`t think that it is D-SUB. Let`s wait maybe i`m not alone with this problem? I don`t want to use HDMI cos card is always in 3D/Thrtl mode...

 

hello .NetRolller 3D, i have test your bios for the 9920G. My card graphic is a asus 9650m gt. After reboot, I now have 2 display (external and intern) but on display interns, there are large preoccupations with colors and display is like unstable. On the external one, no concern. Is this normal?
For information, i am french and my english is very bad

 

@momol51: Please post a photo of the screen. (I think you are hitting the VESA vs. JEIDA LVDS issue.)

 

Still can't get the drivers to install, even with laptopvideo2go

Also the acer card, is now unkown.
Even GPU-Z cant make anything of it....

 

@netrolller 3d : link for photo : ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
"do with my Lg optimus 2x (smartphone)"

 

.NetRolller 3D
Man! You are my personal super hero!
Thanks to you my dead 5920G (burned GPU) is back to live using GF9500M GS (from aspire 6920), earlier I got blank black screen with this card.
Now I'm considering 9600 GT maybe it will work to .

 

netrolller3d have you see my message ? thank you

 

@momol51: Try flashing a 9600M GT VBIOS (with clocks adjusted using NiBiTor to match your current speeds).
Looks like the 9650M GT BIOS can't handle dual-link LVDS displays. Plus, I suspect a VESA vs. JEIDA issue as well.

 

that will be compatible ? Won't it have a problem with the id vendor or other ?
Will you my modding vbios for see ?

 

AFA<!-- -->IK the 9920G has no vendor ID black/whitelist. So, it should cause no problems.

Use "nvflash -4 -5 -6" to override board ID checks when flashing.

 

.NetRoller 3d first of all thanks for your great contribution to all of us who dont know things like you do.
Now, i know that this thread is about acer laptops but it seems that you got great knowledge about nvidia 9600m gt cards.
So i need your help on a problem that i came through.
I got an LG r700 with ami bios. Basically is the barebone MSI MegaBook GX700 (MS-1719). It is exact the same with the above.
My laptop came with an 8600m Gs 256video card and an acer bios on it.
I decided to upgrade it with the 9600m gt 1GB DDR2 that also came with acer (nvidia) bios in it. After installing the 9600m gt i got the mxm structure error on the beggining, but my bigest problem is that when i enter windows 7 64bit and install the nvidia drivers from laptopvideo2go , every time ,whatever driver i use, i get Blue screen with a countdown.
I think that i must modify my laptop bios. I did everything i could with vga card bios but with no result.
I hope to help me, to solve that problem.
Here is a link with both laptop and Vga bioses.
bioses.zip
Thanks in advance...

 

@netroller : i do yes or not ? link : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/demande.jpg/
bios for 9600m gt -> asus and my bios actual modding for 9650m gt -> asus

 

@momol51: No need to mod anything, just override any warning you get during flashing.

Make sure you get a 9600M GT DDR 2 VBIOS - a DDR3 VBIOS won't work.

 

@ netroller: Any ideas for my situation? If you could not mod my laptop bios, will you please guide me how to do it? I am almost sure that the error i get is because of the laptop bios and not because the vga card.

 

I've reinstalled the drivers and show well but video engine load still at 0%, any idea?

 

Video engine is under load when you play a video that's encoded in one of the supported formats (i.e. H264) with a player that does support hardware acceleration (i.e. Media Player Classic)

 

Thank you, but it was FFXIV Benchmark .
Tested also in EvE online.

It still has lower score with 9600m GT 1GB than with 8600m GT 512MB

 

Your clocks are still low (275/250/550 instead of 500/800/1250), so the low score is expected.

I will release a SBIOS with fixed DSDT soon, which should take care of this. In the meantime, you can try editing your VBIOS with NiBiTor, to copy the "Extra" clocks to the "Throttle" clocks. This should allow your card to clock up to its highest speed, at the expense of power savings. (Don't forget to revert the VBIOS mod once my SBIOS fix is out!)

 

@netroller3d : Big problem I have upgrade my 9650m gt with the bios ones of the 9600m gt (two bios asus) and now I have a black screen on my two display (external and intern). Why this problem ? You had told me that was possible

 

@netroller3d and everyone else. I need your help on this, because of your great knowledge on the mxm protocol. As i said i got an 9600m gt with 1gb ddr2. The laptop when begins starts with the classic countdown of 30sec but afer that everything seems ok. I log with no problems on my windows 7 x64bit system and everything is ok, until i try to install nvidia drivers. After installing the drivers, i get blueescreen... The device id and subsys exist on newly drivers of nvidia.
I almost tried any driver exist on the net and the problem is the same.
From your experience, what can cause that? System bios causes that or vga card bios? Is perhaps that my old vga card 8600gs 256mb used less memory?
Need to modify something on system bios?
Here is the message on the system after recovers from the bluescreen.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1032

Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 116
BCP1: FFFFFA800A511460
BCP2: FFFFF8800F62ECD8
BCP3: 0000000000000000
BCP4: 0000000000000002
OS Version: 6_1_7601
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1


Please guide me on that problem, i just want some advices...

 

Thank you again for answering.

UUuuhh... very scared about touching vbios but will try.

KSS.

 

Did you use the BIOS meant for 9600M GT DDR2?

 

Hi. I m new in this topic. I saw the amazing work that you did. But can i ask a question?In the main page about the modded bios for 5920g, i read that someone installed the Nvidia Quadro with successfull on the 5920g. Is it correct?
And about the 9600 M GT on the 5920G: Which kind of vga i have to buy?
"1gb DDR2 with chip C1" or 512 DDR3 with chip A1?
Thank you for your work! Netroller 3D you are a hero. bye

 

@download : yes two bios ddr2.