HP romless AMD M5950 GDDR5 - need help to get it work on Acer 7738g

Recently bought AMD M5950 GDDR5 for HP to put it into my Acer 7738g. But suddenly appeared that it is romless version. To rule the situation I need your help:
1. If possible, photo of the normal M5950.
2. Name of the eeprom used in that card - DONE!

3. And the last - vBIOS file for M5950 with GDDR5. - DONE!

4. Get it work - DONE! Solution in this thread

I would appreciate any help in this project

 

You could ask one user from this forum, his nick is:"Avora". I think he still have 5935g with MSI 6770m instaled. And You don'thave to bother with checking how chip should be positioned. I noticed on the pictures that there is small arrow pointing on the first pad (for a bios chip) from the top on the left, just next to the edge of the card. This pad is for leg number 1 of the chip which is marked with small dot on it. As for the vbios for it You can ask on Dell forum because Precision M4600 is using mxm variant of M5950. They can easily dump it with GPU-Z. And You could try as well vbios which I extracted from main bios from HP EliteBook 8760w, which I believe Your card is coming from. The only think what's left to do is finding what eeprom chip is used on those cards, obtain some other vbioses, because You never know which one will work, flash the chip and try it if it work.
.

 

Thanks a lot, darnok44. Just bought PM25LD010 eeprom chip yesterday. And also asked at the m4600 forum for the vBIOS - still waiting) Oh, and thank you for the vBIOS:thumbsup: By the way, it is from 6770m? Or from M5950?
And one more question - should I use programmer to write the vBIOS or could I flash it from the DOS?

 

Considering everything else is OK, you should be able to blind flash it.

 

triturbo, could you explain me what does "blind flash it" means?) It the first time for me meeting this expression...

P.s. I'm going to start doing such crazy things after 2 weeks of waiting of the parcel with the eeprom.
P.s.s. So, the last thing - is the photo of a normal PCB.

 

It's M5950 bios I think, because EliteBook 8760w is using this card. This blue pcb card is listed in several places as a card from 8760w actually. Then I assume that this vbios is precisely for this blue pcb card.
Blind flash means that You perform video bios flash like always but You cant see anything on the screen since inserted card don't allow output on the screen. You just typing proper commands on the keyboard. That's why is essential to know what kind of command to use and in what order.

 

Exactly, or you can create autoexec.bat file which simplifies the task I don't how it should be done when there's integrated though (if it matters at all).

 

Hmm... I have a crazy idea - what if I integrate the rom of the vBIOS into the Phoenix BIOS for my acer 7738? May be, it would work... What do you think?

 

I'm not into vBIOS/sBIOS, but I think that there have to be instructions or something in the sBIOS, which points where the vBIOS should be found.

 

So, finally get it work without eeprom chip - just integrate the vBIOS into sBIOS via Phoenix Bios Editor and Hex editor. Thanks all for the help!)

 

Congrats for you then! Just curious, is there a specific place or you just threw it in there If you make a guide, it could be useful for someone. You now have quite of a beast :thumbsup: Also a "small" request, if you happen to disassemble your laptop, could you take high-res photos of both sides of the MoBo? Although as you are done upgrading it, I don't think that it's going to be anytime soon, but just checking.

 

Hah, thanks)) The place is called "oprom place" First time, I was trying to mod "oprom place" with Phoenix BIOS Editor, but this tool only accept .ROM type of BIOS (to flash I need .WPH, otherwise - it's getting "unsupported BIOS file" error). Then, I tried to mod "oprom place" via PhoenixTool - after flashing the mod BIOS I always got my laptop "dead" But today, nice idea appeared in my mind:
1. I compared .ROM & .WPH in HEX
2. then, noticed that .WPH have 10kb of additional data in which I recognized the BIOS chip name.
3. I immediately understood, that it's only what I need to make a .WPH file from .ROM
4. then I used hex, copy-past, and flash it - I was very impressed when I saw laptop wasn't "dead"))

I think, I need this week to make a guide for this crazy softmod))

I'm going to disassemble it soon, because with qx9300 my laptop doesn't charging when it's working. I plan to take t9900 - it's the best dual core for me)

P.S. But I have a little issue - this card recognized as HD6000 series. When trying to install drivers for m5950 it gives me a error.


P.S.S. But I have a FirePro settings in Catalyst Center... It's strange...))

 

You'll probably need more powerful PSU.

I guess you have to mod the drivers.

Thanks in advance for the pictures.

 

I have original 120w PSU. The same problem with all quad CPUs.

What concerning drivers - I've tried ALL drivers on both Windows 8 and Windows 7. The only capable is for HD6000 Series. Now I'm thinking about flashing it to 6770m...

 

Maybe you should look at 150 or 180W.

Sorry for the question, but have you tried the laptopvideo2go drivers?

 

I've tried 150w - no effect. Concerning drivers, no - this is the first time meet this name))

P.S. As I see, you have mSATA SSD installed in your laptop - could I replace my mini-PCIe TV tuner with this SSD?)

 

Ok, I found the problem - drivers require an hp workstation subsystem ID, for example - I have 02011025 (0201 - ID of laptop model, 1025 - Acer ID), but need 176C103C (176C - ID of laptop model, 103c - HP ID). So, that mean there are two ways to get drivers and apps work:
1. change subsystem ID n sBIOS
2. possibly, if I make hardware mod with eeprom - it would have right ID.

For now, I just change the name of the card in Catalyst 13.4 beta2 drivers from HD 6000m Series to "normal". Changing subsystem ID in sBIOS is to risky, so that why I'm waiting for my eeprom chip to try out the second variant.

P.S. Also, I found that PCB have an DisplayPort output - this it would be my future project about making a real DisplayPort in Acer 7738
P.S.S. Have a strange noise issue with gray spectrum on high angels:

 

No, you can't put mSATA into the mini PCI-E slot. They have two pins different, but even if you swap them, and it works, you'll most likely wont be able to boot off it, so it's pointless. I'm using an adapter mSATA to SATA.

That's why I have pointed you to laptopvideo2go, they have pretty lengthy .infs.

Make sure that there aren't any others components missing. I doubt that it would be only the DP connector, but the controller also, as well as a handful of resistors and capacitors. Get the schematics and follow the DP related paths.

Which is the model of your display?

 

I have AUO B173HW01 V.4 - when I had a gt240m card there was no such a problem...

 

Just a note, your 7738G build gets the official "Meaker seal of approval"

The only difference was mine had CL5 8500 modules running at 5-5-5-12, but otherwise very nice.

120W lasted me just fine for a 3.1-3.3ghz Q9200 and a 6770M at around 1ghz core speeds.



That was with a 5730, this was an experiment:

 

Oh, thank you!) But this is not the end - I also have two plans in near future - add a DisplayPort and ExpressCard/54 Slot

P.S. I've tried to find 2x4gb modules with 5-5-5-12, but found only 6-6-6-15)
P.S.S. Concerning problem with charging - I think, the problem caused by MoBo (my 7738 had t6600 when I bought it). I have two ways: Buy a new MoBo for about 100$ or sell qx9300 for 210$ and buy t9900 for 100$. The second way has more chances to come true

 

The motherboards between the dual and quads were the same I think, you could try a 150W adapter though (I was using a 3rd party 120W brick which may have been better).

Check if you have the 3 phases you can see on mine, also does your heatsink look different?



(notice the heatpipe thickness).

 

Hmm... I have 3 phases and also think that have exactly the same heatsink. Ok, I'll try to charge with 150w, but I noticed an interesting thing: after flashing the bios in Windows, when laptop goes to reboot, my battery start charging. The same thing happens in first 1-2 seconds when I power on my Acer...

P.S. My old MoBo photo:

 

Looks like the power delivery wont be the problem then.

My highest scores with the 6770m:

AMD Radeon HD 6770M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU @ 2.40GHz,Acer JM70 score: P1852 3DMarks

http://www.3dmark.com/3dmv/3217168

If you go a bit nuts and put an HD5850 in it:

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/951982

If I still had it I would have put an M4000 card in it, I think that would have kept it relevant even now.

 

Think so) But, I think, future upgrade doesn't worth the money I could spend on a new laptop with more powerful CPU and GPU) In future, I'm planning to sell it someone, after I finish 2 my projects.

 

Don't know, the 3.3ghz core 2 quad is still a pretty healthy companion for that class of GPU.

 

3.3 was with gt240m, but now I'm on 2.8 - I'd forgotten to change the signature))

 

My old trusty q9200 let me away with 3.06ghz at the floor voltage IIRC

 

I don't use undervolting - it's make performance lower. Today trying Crysis 2 on this laptop - CPU (70 avg, 81 max), GPU (65 avg, 74 max). Think it's good enough)

P.S. Also thinking about to make a water cooling system, but the main problem - to make a custom copper radiators and pips. If I knew, where can I do this - I have this cooling system today on acer 7738)

 

Hello, i need to ask you a favour... can you give me the link to download the .rom file you created... i want to insert it in acer 5739g bios... or alternatively can you mod the bios for me? i can send to you a kizwan's modded bios and you could to insert your vbios in main bios...
Let me know if you can...
Thanks in advance

 

So, as I understood, you want to change your vCard to romless AMD M5950, right? If so, give me the bios you want me to mod in two formats - .WPH and .ROM. I'll do this for you. Also, need to know, what is your current vCard.

 

At the same speed voltage has 0 impact on performance, it just lowers your power consumption, ideally you want JUST enough voltage to always be stable.

 

You are right... I've just made some tests with diff voltages and come to conclusion, that big voltages is only need to stable work - thank you again for opening my eyes!!))

 

honestly i bought hd6770 2gb gddr5 without bios chip so a member of this forum sent to me a vbios of his hd6770 1GB gddr5
and i want to try if making a bios it could work...
What you think about it? does will fit vbios 1GB in a 2 GB card?
Where can i send hd6770 bios to you?
can you build only rom and wph or you can make a notebbok bios with hd6770 bios inside?

 

Might be worth noting, my BIOS shows fire pro in catalyst and I have to directly download whql drivers to install. Guessing the system ID was changed from dell, where the card originally came from to Acer. RBE also shows it has been modified previously also, assume it was to change this ID.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

I think, you would need a ROM file for h6770 2gb. I can help you with this - for what laptop model this card was manufactured. If you tell me the model, I could easily extract vBIOS from the sBIOS of that model.

P.S. Concerning your last question - whp and rom are bios files. ROM is for the hardware programmer, WPH is for software programmer.

 

You might have a vBIOS from FirePro m5950. But in my situation, when vBIOS locates in sBIOS, the system ID changes from any to Acer.

 

ok, understood, i think it's an hp... this model mount hd6770 2gb "Hp dv7 -6180sl" but "Hp dv6-6178sl" too
Anyway this is link to acer 5739g bios already modded by kizwan to enable many features :
Aspire 5739G BIOSv3310 VT MOD R3.rar
I hope you can do this... i'll be thankful, you're very nice

 

So, this is what I've done from the sources you gave me - Acer_5739g_6770m_2GB_mod_BIOS.7z. Use it on your own risk!!!

Create Crysis Disk - it could be useful.

 

Thanks bro... i'll let you know...

 

So should I flash a standard 6770m Acer BIOS then? Or just leave it, it does actually work fine.

 

Just live it - perfomance in game on both the same (and + you have firepro functionality - I think it's great).

 

Now that`s an experiments! I have 5739G. On the Autumns I`ve bought HD6770M with green PCB. I thought that on 5739g can be fitted only 6770M with red PCB, because on this forum there are some users, that managed to make it work on their notebooks. Blue and Black PCB - for MacBooks.

After some attempts of blind flash I`ve sent it back to the seller and was refunded. But now I think - why I have not checked the BIOS chip - is it on the place or not. I think, that it was not on the PCB - romless video card. These card can be bought on ebay only for 99 USD. It is the first time, when I`m hearing about romless card. Damn, if I had this card on hands for now, I would ask too for your advice on inserting vBIOS on sBIOS.

Edit: I can see this 6770M on ebay now for 99 USD. Exactly that I`ve purchased. And yes, on the image I can see - it has no ROM. Damn!!!

 

I bought mine for $99 too) And I advice you to buy it now - it's a great card with great performance! Comparing to stock gt240m, that didn't handle with Crysis 2 on minimum settings, now I have 30 fps on ultra settings with 1080p resolution. It's the best card for that money)

 

Your 240m is strange. I was playing crysis 2 at middle-maximum settings with 25-30 fps. But, I have X9100. Maybe, I`ll buy 6770M on this or next month. So, you just added vBIOS to sBIOS? Did you try to solder BIOS chip on that card? Are there any precautions? I mean, you can solder it on PCB and than blind-flash it or there must be soldered additional resistors?

 

I didn't try to solder - while I was waiting for the epprom chip from Chaina, I'd found the way how to get it work without any "hard" modding And now, having the epprom, I'm not going to solder it - it's useless and risky.

 

But will the notebook handle other cards, that could be attached in, when on the sBIOS is added ATI vBIOS?

 

After flashing the mod BIOS with vBIOS integrated - every card should be working. I'm just adding support of romless card - that is all

 

I just ordered this for my old 5935G.....

AMD Radeon HD 6770M HD6770M GDDR5 1GB MXM 3 0A Mobile Laptop Graphics Video Card | eBay

A cookie goes to the person who can figure out why I ordered this (the owner swears blind that the picture is correct.... though their description would not be)

You will look, see something is off, realise what it is and then you need to look again because it's deeper than that.

 

7770M I want my cookie Nice find!

Edit: Now I know what you mean (POS connection). So it's actually NOT 7770M, but 78xxM (desktop 7770 chip)? WOW!!!