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

@avati: Most likely you have a broken card. It is unlikely that an MXM error would lead to a BSoD.

@sunic: Either version should work with the patched SBIOS.

@momol51: Try a different VBIOS version. Yours is apparently not calling the MXM EDID function. (Common issue with Asus VBIOSes - try another manufacturer's VBIOS.)

 

oki Netrolller, i go test

 

I'm unable to do it.

I edit with NiBiTor v6.03

I flash with NVflash v5.100.0.1 It shows a subsystem mistmatch

I override the subsystem mistmatch and flash it anyway

At windows 7 screen crashes

I flash nibitor backup and the same subsystem mistmatch, override, crashes

I flash nvflash backup (i'm a backup lover) and all working as in the beginning

I think i will wait for you, .NetRolller 3D

(i've tryed also to change subsistem manualy so it matches)

 

After test, result identik. I have test nvidia et asus vbios 9600m gt. There do not exist the different bios ones in 1024 ddr2.
Grrrr 9650m gt.

 

@momol51: I specifically asked you NOT to use an Asus VBIOS. It is probably the reason why your card doesn't work.

Also, a 512MB DDR2 BIOS might be safe to try - usually VBIOSes only care about memory type, not capacity.

@yaincoa: What The...? You try to flash a BIOS you made by modifying your own VBIOS dump, and get a subsys ID mismatch? That would be a paranormal event for sure.

Are you sure you are editing the right VBIOS with NiBiTor? If indeed you are doing everything right, then please report this immediately to NiBiTor's authors - presumably it somehow mangles the PCI ID block in the VBIOS when saving.

 

Yes, it is very extrange.

Even, the backup generated with nibitor, without edit anything, gives a subsys id mismatch when flashing it.

The backup generated with nvflash can be flashed again without problem.

?¿

I've tryed older versions of nibitor, but the same problem.

Ok i will report, i've seen that you write to them too when looking for an answer.


Thanks, kss.



Edit :
I was repeating all to post both bios backups in NiBiTor's forum and....... even with the own nvflash backup done 1sec before...

Code:

D:\Editor VBIOS\NVflash>nvflash -b b.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.100)

Adapter: GeForce 9600M GT     (10DE,0649,1025,0121) H:--:NRM B:01,PCI,D:00,F:00

The display may go *BLANK* on and off for up to 10 seconds during access to the
EEPROM depending on your display adapter and output device.

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (C2,2010) : MX MX25L512 2.7-3.6V 512Kx1S, page
Reading adapter firmware image...
Image Size            : 65024 bytes
Version               : 62.94.4A.00.23
~CRC32                : 704D07F6
Subsystem ID          : 10DE-061C
Hierarchy ID          : Normal Board
Chip SKU              : N/A
Project               : N/A
CDP                   : N/A
Build Date            : 07/25/08
Modification Date     : 10/09/08
Saving of image completed.

D:\Editor VBIOS\NVflash>nvflash b.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.100)

Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)...

Adapter: GeForce 9600M GT     (10DE,0649,1025,0121) H:--:NRM B:01,PCI,D:00,F:00

WARNING: Firmware image PCI Subsystem ID (10DE.061C)
  does not match adapter PCI Subsystem ID (1025.0121).

ERROR: PCI subsystem ID mismatch

D:\Editor VBIOS\NVflash>

So i surrender, i go to sleep sry.

 

From what i see from your log screen INSIDE your card is a bios with Device ID 0649, Sub Vendor ID: 10DE (Nvidia) and Sub System ID: 061c. Although the adapter has different info (0649,1025,0121). That happens if you flashed your vga card with a WRONG CHECKSUM bios. To correct that do the following. Open the bios you want with nibitor. Go to the advanced info menu and there is a button "rescan". Press rescan. Above there is a dot that writes "Integrity". If that dot is yellow, it means that there is a checksum error. To fix that, just go to File / Save bios , choose the same bios and overwrite. Now press rescan again. If the integrity goes Green, that means checksum is fixed. TRy now with nvflash, to flash the rom, that you got from nibitor (use that command: nvflash b.rom -4 -5 -6 -A ).I hope i helped.

P.S: Do also that test with the bios you want to check with nvflash. Open with nibitor and open the bios you want. Go to "Adv.info" menu. From what i see from your log screen, the informations on the Nibitor should be as following:
Device ID: 0649
Sub Vendor ID: 1025
Sub System ID: 0121

If you dont see something like that you try to flash diffent bios from what is inside the vga card, and the error is normal.
At last if you are sure that the bios is compatible DONT use the parameters "nvflash b.rom" but " nvflash b.rom -4 -5 -6 -A " and press "y" to the message tha cames out . Without the "" ofcource.

@netroller 3D. Isn't possible that the vga card is flashed with wrong bios from the beginning, from the supplier(How i can check that by the way.)? Shouldnt a broken card give a black screen on the boot?
My card gives only BSOD every time i try to install nvidia drivers. Otherwise nor temperature increasing, i can read the card through GPU-Z (except clocks because for that i need drivers installed), Nibitor can modify the bios normaly and nvflash can flash the bios without any problems.
A broken card shouldn't do anything of the above, should they?

 

Oki, i've done what avati said and my graphic card crashed.

So... as i could not see anything in the screen, i've done a bootable pendrive with nvflash and with autoexec.bat calling it with -A -6 backup.rom parameters so it is restored!

If anyone need it, you can restore a graphic card like this.

 

@yaincoa: Apparently the 5920G's SBIOS is overriding the card's subsystem ID to always display Acer. I've seen similar behavior earlier with the 5720G - however, I do not see it anymore, and I don't know which BIOS option changed it. This should be safe to ignore.

Are you simply copying the clock values in NiBiTor, or the raw perf table entries? You should try the latter, it has a higher success rate.

@yaincoa: There are many ways an MXM VGA card can fail. Black screen on startup is just one of those. Crashing when the Windows driver enables hardware acceleration is another one. Artifacting is yet another one. I've even seen cards that simply misread the internal LCD panel's resolution due to a failure of the EDID decoder.

 

Thank you again.

It should be that, it is very extrange that behaviour with subsystems even touching nothing.

Here the contradictions flashing:

I copy the clock values in NiBiTor, and, it crashes (blue screen) at windows when enables hardware acceleration. This with nvidia driver installed, when vga default card no (i imagine it never enables acceleration).

How can i change the clock values as you say in your second option?


EDIT TO ADD IMAGE:


Like this with an hex editor?¿ Or its another thing?

KSS.

 

@Netroller and all, I do believe there are many ways a card can have hardware failures - but I also believe there are many subtle hardware differences which can cause issues like this in rare cases.
You mentioned impedance once. Also, this issue seems very similar to the problem of Nvidia MXM type III/HE cards on the MSI gx720/ms-1722 (and the issue of the gx700/ms-1719 posted earlier in this thread).

It could be simple power circuitry unable to handle the specific voltage conditions.

Although, @Yaincoa the 2nd option may not have been tried in these cases.
You copy the raw data of the performance entries instead.
Hmm, this seemed to be easier with past versions of nibitor. Now you have to go to tools > perf. table entries > show entries.
But I'm not sure which ones you should copy, LOL. I think its 1 to 2.

Oh, and maybe this seems like a stupid question, but did you remember to raise the voltage as well?

 

Ok i will look for that options, i will try with an hex editor as in the image i've edited before reading your post, thanks.

Raising voltage why? If i'm just putting throt values as at full, not overclocking it.

Thanks, kss.

I edit:, thanks niffcreature, voltage was bad, i've rised as in full, but stills crashing when acceleration activates (blue screen).

I edit: Ok i see the option, just copy the one to the third, thank you to both, will try.

I edit: Done with raw and it doesn't crash (it was forth to second). Thank you @niffcreature & @Netroller. Tomorrow will test a benchmark and watch the clock levels (and post them).

I edit:

Score ffxiv benchmark: 620, 27891ms
Tomorrow testing with 4GB RAM instead of 2GB

@Netroller. i wait for your sbios anyway! By the way, keep with vbios edited.

I edit:Scores are like this.... yesterdays value was in eco mode ¬¬
9600m GT 1GB
745
30366ms

8600m GT 512MB
691
15450ms



Also, temperture is a little bit high no? If i were a boy i would have been sterilised ^^ after testing it with the laptop up on my legs.

Also, why video engine load is at 0%?

 

Video engine is for HD video only.

Yes those temperatures are dangerous! You may need to repaste or find a copper shim.

Anyway, congrats on getting it working, especially on your own with hex! Really pretty amazing.
+1 for official nerd girl status.

 

Thank you!

Yep, no paste at all ^^

 

Better grab some, or maybe toothpaste or applesauce at least!
Thermal transfer compound comparison

But seriously - if your card has been getting that hot all throughout your testing, I'm afraid it could die soon. Toothpaste or possibly deodorant might be a very good idea compared to nothing at all...

 

107C very very hot and dangerous. My 9650m gt overclock at 655/450/1565 is of 55C.

 

With paste:

Score 861

Max GPU Temperature: 73ºC

 

Thanks a lot, downloaded your suggested fix, flashed the bios and now the graphic card is recognised (updated drivers in Nvidia web) to version 266.58 for win XP. Temperature (not gaming) remains 53ºC. Now I will go for the win 7 64 bits OS and see how it goes. You certainly did it!!!!

 

Because many of you here use 9600m gt 1gb ddr2 could anyone dump the bios of an VG.9PG0Y.007? Please??? I flashed with wrong bios and now i am stacked with no usable vga card.

P.S: the bioses on techpower are VG.9PG06.009

 

@ avati,

I think those are/use the same vBIOS.

The VG.9PG0Y.007 and the VG.9PG06.009 are both 9600M GT DDR2 1GB.

The different codes refer to different manufacturers, and I think the VG.9PG0Y version is Acer. However as the VG.9PG06 work in Acer the vBIOS is the same. (They mostly are, though some manufacturers make different vBIOS for higher clocks.)

Anyway this
techPowerUp! :: VGA Bios Collection: Asus 9600M GT 1024 MB
should be OK for your card.

It's here on the Tech site you mentioned.
techPowerUp! :: Video Bios Collection
It's listed under Acer a 9600 GT vBIOS which is a desktop card. I think the reference to desktop card vBIOS is a mistake though, because;
1. All the other vBIOS's are for the 512MB version, so there needs to be a 1GB version. (The 8930 uses them.)
2. When you view the details for the vBIOS it is listed as for a laptop the Acer 7730G. (Same BIOS: Asus 9600 GT, NVIDIA 9600 GT). Clearly a laptop card vBIOS.
3. It's listed the same, under Asus manufacturer (at TechpowerUp) as 9600M GT. Also here it states "Same as Acer 9600m GT".
techPowerUp! :: VGA Bios Collection: Asus 9600M GT 1024 MB
4. The desktop card has higher clocks, so again I believe this is for the laptop vBIOS, as it uses M GT clocks.

 

I flashed the vbios with the one you suggested. Card works again. But i can't find drivers for these vbioses. The official nvidia drivers do not have the DEV_0649&SUBSYS_061C10DE. Laptopvideo2go drivers with modified ini's didn't work either (after installation i get BSOD). Any solution ?

 

avati: Edit nvac.inf in the NVidia Verde driver using Notepad. Search for DEV_0649 and remove the &SUBSYS_xxxxxxxx part from that line. Do this for both the 6.0 (Vista) and 6.1 (Win7) sections. This should make the driver install (though you will get a Non-WHQL warning).

 

Update: 9600M GS is recognized in XP and in Win 7 64bits and it works, but only when video or gaming is not involved. As soon as video or gaming starts, the screen flickers and/or blue screen appears. Temperature in GPU is in normal ranges. I have not found yet a fix for this problem, and therefore I went back to my 8600M GT (resucitated in the oven at 200º for 7 minutes as wisely reccomended in another thread).

If anyone knows this problem and a possible fix, I will be happy to use the 9600M GS for video and gaming. Thanks!!

 

migfrapo: Have you applied a clock mod to your VBIOS (e.g. copying Extra to Throttle)? In that case, it is likely that the Throttle clock's voltage was not updated properly.

 

first of all great job on the bios editing.
now onto my problem
i have an acer aspire 9920
i flashed your custom bios and inserted a 9600m gt ddr3 512mb from a msi gx620.
first i had no picture at all,after flashing all the 9600m gt bioses from tech power up i allways got different results.
the picture on a external display is ok,but on the built in it is blurry with highlited colours.
i tried every bios for the gpu i can find.i even tried to reflash it with a 9700m gt bios and no luck,it stays the same...
btw when i put the card back in the gx620 everithing is normal.
the interested thing is when i take the 8600m gt from the 9920 and put it in the msi the picture is then blurry with highlited colours on the gx620.

i am gessing that it has something to do with how the vbios is confugured for the output signal on the internal display...

i have a limited knowledge of this things.so i need help

i saw in this thread that one guy was able to reflash the 9650m gt with the 9600m gt and it worked on a 9920g.but his card was ddr2 mine is ddr3.i am gessing some difference in the bios make a big difference in the picture

 

Blurry and discolored image? Probably a VESA vs. JEIDA issue. Can you post a photo of the LCD test image I posted earlier in this thread?

(Note: If it is indeed VESA vs. JEIDA, then the only thing you can do is try more VBIOSes - I have not yet decoded the BIOS Information Table in Nvidia VBIOSes, which probably holds the JEIDA bit. However, it may be worthwile to try 9600M GS VBIOSes too.)

EDIT: Try this VBIOS: http://ifile.it/50qhlk8/9600mgt_jeida.rom
If it works, I will release the tool I used to create it.

 

i will try it later this evening and post the results.
i took a look on the pictures other members posted and it is the same thing,so i didn't bother to take images of my laptop.
i tried 9600m gs bioses and some made my card unbootable in the acer,and it booted perfectly on the msi...
simply there are too much diferent bioses,hope yours works,will post the results later.

 

In the 9920G, only true MXM VBIOSes will boot - basically, anything that boots in an unpatched 5920G will fail in a 9920G. (Successfully booting in an unpatched 5920G is a sign that the card is not reading the MXM structure.)

BTW, here is another VBIOS: http://ifile.it/qf5drm9/9600mgt_9920g.rom
Unlike the previous one, this should really work.

 

no cake...
the internal display stays black.
external works fine,tried both of the drivers you posted...

 

Please post the VBIOS that gave you incorrect colors.

 

tomorrow in the afternoon i will post the vbios.
its a loot of work dismantling 2 laptops and refitting the cooling plate for the 9920
and i don't know by heart which bios was it,so i will have to do a couple of flashes to find it

 

@ NetRolller 3D,

Hi. With reference to the recent posts between blackened87 and yourself, I was wondering something. You wrote,

Did you mean all the vBIOS's.
1. Blackened87 wrote that the MSI card in the 9920 gave blurry image, and highlighted colours (apart from the card original). I understood it was that most different versions of the 9600M GT/and 9700M GT vBIOS gave the same.
2. Also that the 9920 card in the MSI gave blurry image, and highlighted colours.

I had the result of odd colours with the 9920 card in the 5920, like I explained over here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/475196-9920g-gpu-options-9.html
The image was almost cartoon like. The right hand 50% of the screen had bands of vertical colour. The left side, was bright colours, and blurred, like cartoon icons. (I deleted the photo I took of it years ago, sorry I can't help there.)

Anyway since you asked for vBIOS I have a GPU-Z extraction of the 9920 8600M GT (512 DDR2), version: 60.84.62.00.39. (Makes blurry image, and highlighted colours in the 5920.) Maybe it will help you to see the reasoning. I remember you said you had the 9920 SBIOS.
vBIOS of the 9920 8600M GT
G84 M 9920 8600M GT vBIOS.bin

Also this vBIOS is on techPowerUp! :: VGA Bios Collection: Acer 8600M GT 512 MB

By the way I can't find any 9920 SBIOS's on the Acer site, so good show in finding one.


*"Please can someone point me to a Phoenix BIOS Editor?"*

 

techPowerUp! :: VGA Bios Collection: NVIDIA 9600M GT 512 MB

this is one of the v-bioses that gives crazy colours

see what you can do...

what do you think what card would be the supported maximum.
i am not worried about the thermal disicipation,i can allways do a volt-mod on the cooler,at the moment my 8600m gt is running on 670-core and 530-memory
and it is in fact a 9500m gs that i reflashed on 8600m gt before i found out for your bios mods

if you can suggest maximum card that can be supported i will definetly buy and try

ouh yeah,currently i have instaled a t9300 procesor,will a quad core be supported?
---------------------
u6b36ef i just saw your post,yes you can say that the picture is cartoon like,but in this case the whole screen.
when i flash the 9600m gt with the above bios the whole screen is blurry and like the contrast went over the roof...
and when i flashed the 9500m gs with the propper 8600m gt bios for the acer 9920,i did it on the msi gx620,after restart the screen was cut in half,the whole screen displayed the left half with the same discoloured cartoon-like image..

hope this helps a bit

 

@ blackened87,

Thankyou for the info that Penryn work.

I don't know if a quad will work in the 9920. There are two issues.
1. Whether quad core will integrate in the PM965 chipset.
2. The FSB of the Quad you might be interested in. The PM965 only runs up to 800MHz FSB CPU's. I have heard however that some users tweak the laptop SBIOS to 1066MHz to get the extra bandwidth, to make compatibilty for P-series dual cores.

Mmm, I agree with your interest in the 9920. Today I switched it on for the first time in about a month, to get the vBIOS for .NetRolller 3D. Although I remember the amazing screen quality, I found myself again sat open mouthed, for a quite a while. (I caught myself gawping at the image brilliance.) There's something different in the tech somehow, the LCD panel is actually about two to three times thicker than any normal laptop LCD screen.

 

The reason for the incorrect colors is an FPDI vs. OpenLDI LVDS bit order issue. The 9920G has a 24-bit FPDI display, and the 8600M GT in the 9920G is hardcoded to always output 24-bit FPDI. The 5920G has a 18-bit display (18-bit FPDI is identical to 18-bit OpenLDI - the differences between FPDI and OpenLDI only affect 24-bit). 24-bit OpenLDI displays will happily decode an 18-bit signal, and similarly, an 18-bit display will simply ignore the extra low-order bytes in a 24-bit OpenLDI transmission. However, mixing FPDI-style 24-bit with either 18-bit or OpenLDI-style 24-bit will cause color banding issues. (The lagom.nl test image will show a single gradient if the display is correct, 4 separate gradients if an FPDI signal is decoded as OpenLDI, and 64 thin stripes if OpenLDI is misinterpreted as FPDI.)

About the thicker screen & better image quality of the 9920G: that screen was designed for use in 20-inch LCD TVs and monitors, not laptops. This is also why it has no EDID channel.

 

the 9920 is quite a different beast
i currently have 2,and it is quite pleasing when you don't have to hustle with loads of cables unlike with the desktop,and you get the premium image quality eitherway.
there are quite a few laptops with destop screens actually...
you have the dell xps m2010(and its doubtfull you can call it a laptop..),the lg s900,and i think i came accros 2 more...

i am a hardware guy,and have a big bunch of laptop parts,and am willing to xperiment

regarding the quad core,i will try to hunt one down,they are not quite cheap,so it might take a while

and regarding a stronger grapphics card,i need your opinion what upper class cards would slide in this laptop and work with bios mods.the power consumption is not a issue.
i can allways change the transistors on the power supply line for the graphics card,allong with some capacitors and resistors and i am quite sure it will work.
i also have a 210w power adapter so that is not a issue either.
same goes with the proccesor power requirements.

i can hunt down a acer 9920g with a dead gpu for about 100e.

for the 2 i currently have i payed 115e for the first,it had a deffective screen.i had a 9800 with a dead mb-fried with a bad power supply.so that was a easy fix

for the seccond i payed 150e,it had 2 hard drives of 320gb,4gb of ram..so i didn't have much room for further disscusion for the price

so i am willing to buy a new 9920,and see what can e done regarding a total facelift
and that's where you guy's come in with the software bit.

 

I'd say MXM-III is a possibility, but the card will slip between the 2 memory modules, so good insulation is required.
GTX 285M is probably the best you can get for MXM-III.

However, with a 14.8V battery, the card can take at most 59.2W in battery mode (as the regular, non-HE MXM connector cannot output more than 4A of current, per MXM spec). The GTX 285M needs 75W for full-speed operation, so it will likely throttle when on battery.
On AC, there should be no issue - assuming a 19W adapter, the power limit is 76W, which is just barely higher than the needed 75W.

(Of course, if you can route power to the extra MXM-HE pins through some means, then you may be able to go even higher with power. But the 285M is still the fastest Nvidia card in MXM2.1 format, while ATI cards will probably never fit the 9920G.)

 

http://www.sfvogt.de/280M_TypeHE.jpg
you mean something like this.a mxm format 2 version 3 card?
or like you suggested i can try and find a mxm-he card and route xtra power to the free pins,it is possible,i have a bunch of fried mb-s,i can remove a mxm slot and cut it in specification to fit the xtra pins....
a bit of crosswiring and it sould work.

ill see what i can dig up regarding the gpu-s

the quadro fx 3600-3700 seems to be my best bet,it is the same card g92 gpu with a normal board just different bios.another good thing is that there are reports that it boots on my msi gx620 and fits no problem,so if it has a unbootable bios for the 9920 it is good to have a backup laptop for flashing and not doing it blind

in the meantime i am looking forward to the edited 9600m gt bios

 

I doubt very much 9920 will seat an MXM III card, sadly. There really is no space.
I uploaded a picture of the MXM II 8600 seated here. Acer 9920 8600M GT Image.JPG


The dimensions of the MXM III are 9mm wider and 22mm longer, than MXM II (ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_PCI_Express_Module). At present the 8600M GT sits only about 3mm away from the lower ram module, and is on a level plane with it. (We need the GPU to be bedded flat. The heatsink sits level over the core.) Actually too it looks unlikely that an MXMX III might not fit by the CPU socket, as again it is about 3mm away. I no longer have an MXM III card here to check with.

To be honest I had long given up hope of any GPU ugrade. Luckily though if .NetRolller 3D's SBIOS mod allows for all Acer compatible 8600's then at least replacing faulty ones is now easy. I'm not an overclocking aficionado so I expect the current 8600 to last. Of course though, having the 9600M GT work would be bliss.

Another concern I have with the SBIOS of the 9920 is with the cooling settings. Currently (with the standard Acer SBIOS), the fan speeds up when the GPU reaches about 70'C. The issue is the 9920 GPU often slowly heats until the GPU makes it to 70'C even when the GPU is idling in low clocks, and just sitting on desktop.

To clarify.
The fans stay on low which keep the CPU at a great temp, even with this T7700 (2.4GHz Merom core.) The fans speed up when either the CPU warms a little, or the GPU hits about 65-70'C. I don't know which triggers fan speed change. Cooling then brings the temps down nice and steady. Then the fan slows and the cycle repeats. [Yet sometimes it settles around 45'-50C.]

Normally in laptops the fan speeds if the GPU moves into the 55'C temp range, and nudges the temps back down. That is why I am looking for a Phoenix BIOS Editor. I looked on Internet but I drew a blank. I want to look at the GPU and CPU temperature/fan settings. Then I'd make a mod to keep the GPU more constant, (like we see in other laptops).

Shame about the MXM III not fitting. There is also the fact that the screw holes (and I think the GPU ram modules) are in different places for the MXM III. That means you'd need an MXM III heatsink - ahhww.

@ blackened87 - I completely concur with you. Furthermore now, it is difficult to find a laptop wider than 18.4" screen (16:9 aspect). The 9920 is about one inch wider even with its 16:10 aspect. It was the real estate size of the screen that made them so expensive, I guess. If you're doing some study it's perfect for zooming in on diagrams. Crystal sharp, wonderful contrast, and pure whites. Good audio too with the sub-woofer.
@ .NetRolller3 D - Thanx. (I've been looking up the acronyms about screens.)

 

as for replacing the faulty 8600m in the 9920,i did mine before flashing the modded bios.
infact i bught a second hand 9500m gs whitch is identical to 8600m gt,they are the same card,with minor changes in manufacturing on the 9500m part.
so i made a mistake in buying the wrong card,i flashed a 8600m gt bios for the 9920 whitch i found on techpower up on the msi gx620(because the 9500gs would not boot on the acer,it stayed frozen)

after restart the screen has gone crazy on the msi as i mentioned beffore...

i put it in the acer it booted like a charm.

the funny thing is that you are spot on with the fan issue.
while testing overclock i was able to to up to 680-gpu and 540-memory with the reflashed 9500gs.and in 3dmark 06 it worked perfect for 2 hours.
temp-s were not higher than 89c.
but 3dmark is a sinthetic benchmark.
the problem was that when the 9920 was in idle like watching movies and internet it shut down.

i later checked the gpu-z temp log and i saw that the gpu temp was 117c on shutdown.

the fan speed is deffinetly controled by the cpu....playing gta 4 on medium-high settings when you have complex outdoor sceenes no problem works like a charm,but when you stop the car and leave it like that for 10 minuts the computer crashes because the cpu is not used at full-fan is at low....

it would be nice if you could sort it out

 

ouh yeah and for the fitting issue,i would happily remove the lower ram module if i can fit the 280m gpu there

as for the processor you can grind about 2-3 mm of the edge of the plastic housing,because it is just a housing,it doesent have anything vital inside,at the botom is just the metal plate for sliding...

i would need to track down a mxm III format card and try it...

the heat sync is no problem if you are hady with tools,you can dessolder the coper baseplate on the heat sync.fabricate a new thicker one that allso covers the memory modules,same as for the bottom.new screws and nuts and thats all there is to it...

i have all the tools i need,i have the skills and the knowlege the only thing left is to find a suitable mxm III card.

i will try more of the 9600m gs bioses today and will post if i have any succes.

another thing the sbios netroller came up with works.because with the original sbios my 9920 would not boot with the 9600gt.it just stayed frozzen.

 

I found another card (9600M GT 512MB DDR3) for my Travelmate 7720G and it works

In Windows 7 I also have the problem that it is not running at full speed.

I tried to modify the tables like Nightwalker describes in step 5

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/316079-nw-upgrade-c90s-9600m-gt-512mb-ddr3-fixed.html

It works just fine

However in Windows XP the card runs at full speed with the original Vbios
And I have seen all 4 levels

I also tried a HD3650 with 256mb DDR3 form a HP notebook ,
that did not work I only got 2 beeps (Im not 100% sure it was 2)
The card is OK and working perfect in a Extensa 5420G with original bios

 

@ blackened,

That's odd. This 9920 booted with a 9500M GS, with standard original Acer 9920 system BIOS. No internal pic, but image to external monitor. I covered it on http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/475196-9920g-gpu-options-9.html at 04-26-2011, 03:41 AM. Everyone else on that page got the same.

Before you spend for an MXM III, bear in mind that the extra 9mm width of MXM III is on the RHS (right hand side) of the card. That's the side where the CPU is when is fitted to the 9920. I wouldn't therefor recommend removing about 7mm from the CPU socket. You have about a 3mm gap, and you need to make 9mm, and say 1mm for fitting space. ( Personally I would not grind anything away, though I don't doubt you have the tools and skill.)
Taking 1.5mm off the CPU socket would impinge on the CPU socket locking screw. Grinding off 6mm or 7mm would destroy it.

Even the 22mmm extra length you need would I think crash into the upper ram module too. Besides all that look at the pic I uploaded, or pop the cover. There are just too many components on the board which simply would not allow you to fit a card of an extra 22mm length.

I think keep to MXM II. Maybe try your skills with a Toshiba GT230M (or possibly a GT240M), and hardware mod it as NetRolller says here http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/396320-acer-mxm-models-cards-185.html at 10-05-2011, 11:01 PM. The "MX25L512" NetRoller 3D's mentioned, must be a vBIOS chip. If you search for it, there is ready info: it's CMOS serial flash memory chip. Then flash the chip.
Also NetRoller 3D requested an Asus vBIOS for the Asus GT240M here http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/475196-9920g-gpu-options-12.html. (Page 12, 2nd post; NetRoller 3D.) I read that's for the hope of making 9920 SBIOS support with the Asus GT240M. Incidentally the Asus GT240M allready runs in an Acer 5920 with an unmodified SBIOS, so presumably in might run in many Acers.
- The Acer GT240M vBIOS is here techPowerUp! :: Video Bios Collection.
- Another version nVidia GT240M vBIOS here http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/86888/NVIDIA.GT240M.1024.090722.html
- An Asus GT240 vBIOS version is here, http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/68373/Asus.GT240.1024.091020.html Looking at the clock timings and voltages, I'm mostly convinced this is Asus GT240M vBIOS laptop GPU vBIOS, (only it says GT240 without the 'M'). The statistics are identical to the Acer and nVidia vBIOS's. Usually desktop version of cards have higher clocks. Laptop versions or cards have lower settings, voltages, (and memory bandwidth), don't they?
The only other notable difference is the Asus GT240M which .NetRoller 3D is reffering to is MXM II. The Acer GT240M I think is only in MXM A. Will then, an MXM A card bios run on an MXM II type card, if you wanted to flash an Acer vBIOS to a modified Toshiba card. [Upon re-reading NetRolller says:- quote "(MXM3.0 VBIOSes are relatively easy to mod into MXM2.1.)".] Otherwise use the Asus vBIOS.

I have a 9500M GS handy that I could try in the 9920 again, but I have not done the sBIOS mod yet. .Net says the modded SBIOS supports all Acer 8600M GT cards, and you have the mod running, albeit unhappily not for the 9600M GT. I have a 5920 8600M GT too.

This 9920 8600M GT only made about 80'C in gaming at stock clocks. (475/950)
I'll have a look at a free editor sometime; thanks.

@ TGJ1234,

That is news: the 9600M GT running at full clocks on XP, but not other OS's. [Your claim of throttling with 7 and I claim for throtting with Vista.]

*For General Info*

I have many times scoured the internet for "9600M GT 'throttle' clocks performance levels" etc. Something that did crop up occaisionally was 9600M GT users who had the throttling issue noted their laptops showed as running on battery. That even though they were plugged in. I wondered if the operating system was responsible. I tried changing the power settings but no result. Since I thought it was something to do with power regulation, I figured NetRolller 3D would be able to do something with that. Only later I noticed that NetRolller mentioned on a page somewhere that dispelled my idea. Basically that power settings were set to what I thought was adequate for the 5920 modded sBIOS to run the 9600M GT for battery power. The 5920 being a model that throttles with the 9600M GT.

More confusing was, that the 9600M GT throttles between performance level 0 and 1, while level 2 is at the same voltage as level 0 and 1. At performance level 3 the voltage inceases to a higher setting of 1.05V*. It's not inconceivable however that more current may be running at the 'third performance level' (or Performance Level 2). That's even while the voltage remains the same, but if it's using more current, then it needs more power. NiBiTor though shows theVID (Voltage Identifier) at a higher level for this performance level 2. (I don't understand the validity of that yet though.)

*Acer 9600M GT 512 MB BIOS (courtesy of http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/32236/Acer.9600MGT.512.080619.html).
Performance Level 0
Core Clk: 169.00 MHz
Mem Clk: 100.00 MHz
Shader Clk: 338.00 MHz
Voltage: 0.89 V
Fan Speed: 100%
Performance Level 1
Core Clk: 275.00 MHz
Mem Clk: 300.00 MHz
Shader Clk: 550.00 MHz
Voltage: 0.89 V
Fan Speed: 100%
Performance Level 2
Core Clk: 400.00 MHz
Mem Clk: 300.00 MHz
Shader Clk: 800.00 MHz
Voltage: 0.89 V
Fan Speed: 100%
Performance Level 3
Core Clk: 500.00 MHz
Mem Clk: 800.00 MHz
Shader Clk: 1250.00 MHz
Voltage: 1.05 V
Fan Speed: 100%

 

u6b36ef:

9500m gs-8600m gt are the same card.
if you have image problems,just flash the 9500m gs with the 9920 8600m gt vbios.

after carefull measuring.the conclusion:
the width of the card can be solved by mounting the mxm slot a bit(it would require quite a bit of soldering,but is possible)
but the lenght is the main problem,there is a ceramic resistor whitch requires a fair bit of additional height to mount the mxm-III card,then it would surrely hit the first memory card...

so guess i am stuck to mxm2

i will see what i can find in the field of 240m...
and i found a 3700m quaddro for 100e muhahahaha.....

still i will try the x9000 with the first chance i get.

u6b36ef i hope you get the fan speed's sorted out.i am a hardware guy,not much into bios modding...i can do a reballing of a gpu without blinking,but im lazy when it commes to bios editing and so on....

btw thank's for the great support.

if you can sort out the fan problem i can run my 8600m gt at full overclock.curently i am running at 620\520 g\m.

 

@ blackened87,

Hi yeah, I understood that you flashed the 9500M GS to an 8600M GT, from your post on the 10-17-2011, 07:53 PM. That's cool. In fact I drew someone's attention to your findings at the top of page 12 on http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/475196-9920g-gpu-options-12.html

I have made an edit to my above post. I have now added into it the detail that .NetRolller 3D was talking too about the Toshiba GT230M. It refered to .Net's post on the MXM Cards and Models page. Whereas before I had written about the GT240M. (Sorry, sleepy error, though I imagine the GT240M might work the same, depending on which resistor it is NetRolller says you change. I have not looked at it yet. (Please let me know which one, anyone).


The 9920 fan switch on temps regulate ok if for the 8600M GT if the clocks are standard, i.e. core at 475MHz. In any gaming the fan being on keeps the GPU fine at no more than about 80'C.
Your very high temps are from your clock speeds. I did though fully understand what you explained about pausing the game and idling the CPU.
I downloaded and read most of the leaked MXM document that .NetRolller 3D posted at start of this thread. (Mighty fine reading.) Anyway, the work on temp monitoring is in the last few pages, and looks simple. I figured if I found a BIOS editor, then I could look at and see if any changes need making.
Otherwise it just seems unusual that the GPU temp will float up to about 70'C while the laptop is just idling on desktop. That's in lowest performance level, core at 167MHz.
I wondered if they had set it like that because the CPU is well cooled and drops to about 30'C which is cool for a T7700. Sometimes though, like after gaming, or 3D benchmaking, the GPU does settle in a regular 45'C ish. Got me puzzled. I do have an I idea that it may be the way the heatsink fins are physically arranged. The GPU fins are 'behind' the CPU fins, and maybe I should just make a check some fluff didn't whizz in and get lodged. It did once on another machine soon after I had re-pasted the GPU, and made quite a suprise.
However for me 70'C is not a problem for an 8600M GT and no real need to worry. For yourself, you might find benefit from looking at the SBIOS, if I don't figure it first.

 

@u6b36ef: AFAIK the GT 240M from Asus needs no resistor mod - it comes with an onboard BIOS chip. Only Toshiba's cards need the mod.

The throttling problem in Vista and 7 is due to a DSDT issue (WMMX, MXMI and MXMS methods missing from DSDT). I will fix it in a later SBIOS release.

BTW, thanks for the Acer GT 240M VBIOS. I'll try to convert it to MXM2.1.

@blackened87: I'm still waiting for your 9600M GT VBIOS.

 

i did post the bios link from tech-power up i used on page 34...guess you missed it.

 

OK, modded version @ request download ticket | 9600mgt_9920g_v2.rom - ifile.it. I really hope this one will work.

If it is still broken, please post a photo (not screenshot, but an actual photo made with a camera!) of the screen in action - I need to know if it is really an FPDI-OpenLDI mixup, or something else (e.g. the card mistaking the panel for an 18-bit display).

 

Hi @.NetRolller 3D, can you made some changes to my BIOS 1.45 Insyde for Aser Aspire 5315? - I need unlocked menues on this. I've seen your comment in the first post with link to Aspire 5720G (ICL50) BIOS but I want to double check.
Anyway, you can find my bios (it is original and currently works for me) and some toolkits for this (hope they help you in your good work) here: request download ticket | bios_and_toolkits.zip - ifile.it

 

BIOS-wise, 5315 = 5715 = 5720 = 7720 = eMachines E510. Just flash the 5720 BIOS.