[GUIDE] How to flash a GTX 280M --> GTX 285M

Hi evereyone:

For those of us who owns a GTX 280M, they will be really interested in flash their cards in to the GTX 285M, this will be an "upgrade" at zero cost. And as I was looking for everywhere how to do it, and never found it, I decided in make a guide for myself.

First of all **DOING THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS** but the probability that something goes wrong is really near to 0%. ALSO, be aware if you have warranty on your system now, doing this will kill any coverage for your GPU.

Second. You will need the next files:

File 1. View attachment Nvflash 64 bits.zip

This is the app. called NVFLASH, this is the Nvidia tool to flash the Nvidia video cards. I will explain later how to use this program.

File 2. View attachment GTX 280M Stock bios.zip

Here we have the GTX 280M stock bios for the card #0 and the card #1.

File 3. View attachment GTX 285M BIOS.zip

This is the BIOS from a GTX 285M, courtesy of nRabbit. I only modified the memory frecuency @ 1020MHz to have the same speed of the GTX 285M from M17x R2.

STEP 1: I am asuming you are running a 64 bit OS. If so, then download the File 1, in to a directory, let's said "C:\" hence in the disk C you will have a folder called "Nvflash 64 bits"

STEP 2: Download the file 3 and place it in the directory created in the step 1, "C:\Nvflash 64 bits".

STEP 3: Open a Comman line window, (start, type cmd, enter). In the command line window, type:

Code:

[B]
 cd C:\Nvflash 64 bits[/B]

This line, will change the directory to the nvflash directory. Once you are ready you will see something like this:



STEP 4: Flash the cards. In case you have a SLI configuration, the primary card will be the card #0, and the secondary card will be the card #1. Now to flash the card #0, you need to type the next code in the CMD window from STEP 3:

Code:

[B]
nvflash -4 -5 -6 -i 0 t.rom[/B]

-5 Allow firmware and adapter PCI device ID to mismatch.
-6 Allow firmware and adapter PCI subsystem ID to mismatch.
-i Only attempt an update of the display adapter with the given index.

Now you just need to fallow the instructions that nvflash ask you to do.

IMPORTANT: My advice is do it from one card at the time, because if something goes wrong then you just need to re flash only one card.

for the secondary cards, the code is:

Code:

[B]
nvflash -4 -5 -6 -i 1 t.rom[/B]

STEP 5 Restart windows, and let windows to install the display adapter for the "new" video cards.

STEP 6 Now you will not be able to enable Hybrid SLI. So to get the GTX 285M SLI to work you need to DISABLE THE 9400M G IN THE SETUP BIOS if you skip this step then windows will take the 9400M G as your primary video card and will not allow you to enable SLI, and will now allow you to use any of yours GTX 285M to play games.

Once windows finish installing the device. And if everything go well then you will see something like this:




As you can see you will be able to enable SLI and everything. I hope this help to somebody.

 

Interesting, so it's safe to flash from windows?

I've always read that you should boot into dos.

 

No problem, because R1 flash when using the 9400M G, so you are not exactly using the GTX 280M and flashing it at the same time ( I guess that was the potential risk)

 

Does this fix get rid of the bsod/black screen problems when updating to recent drivers on the 280m?

 

thanks, but:

1. Are u using 9400m gt when flashing? whats ur BIOS graphics setting at that point

2. Why do we haf to disable integrated in BIOS after flashing? Does it mean that 285m does not support hybird sli??

3. Why do we need only 1 ROM for 285m while 280m have seperated ROM for each card, as far as i can remember, i saw people posting 285m primary and slave ROM in one the the threads b4.

 

I don't know, but i hardly think so.

1. Yes, when flashing the cards I am using the IGP 9400M G (Hydrid SLI enabled). In BIOS, IGP enabled, Hydrid SLI enabled.

2. Yes, it is exactly what you said. I am pretty sure that Hybrid SLI is a feature that need be supported in the setup BIOS, in R1 case, Hybrid SLI is available for GTX 260M, and GTX 280M.

3. For Nvidia cards there is no problem if both cards in SLI are the same. I think with AMD you need master/slave vbios. So you can save both vbios, one from each card, but I think they are exactly the same vbios (talking about Katalin's BIOS). Either way SLI will probably not work. And it works.

 

i c, thx for ur reply, +rep. Since hybrid sli wont work with 285m, why not just edit the 280m bios to reach 285m's clock, wouldnt it be a better solution for improved performance?

 

ATENTION: the GTX 285m bioses in my thread are for the m17x R2 and flashing them for the m17x R1 won't allow you for some reason to enable SLi.
Use them if you want to use the current GTX 280m cards in a R2 system but I guess even the vBIOS in this thread will work just fine.
As tyranus said for nVidia there's no need of a master/slave vBIOS like for ATi cards.

 

flashed both cards, no problems so far. using 266,58 drivers btw.

thank you.

ps : is anybody know, what is the best overclocking settings for T9600 ?

 

ok found the overclocking topic overclocked t9600 to 3,3 ghz , tested with 3dmark06 and no problems at all, one thing is gpu fans are working quiter and not often. usually it is more powerful and more often worked before , is it driver related or bios related.?

sorry for English btw.

 

Nice guide, tyranus !

yesterday, i was trying to do a quick guide to a guy in this topic too

till now, no freezes or BSOD or whatsoever ...
now i can use latest SLI profiles, or js edit it with nvidiaInspector for newer game (nHancer wont work on 2xx.xx)

 

I will not be sorprised if the problems are in some way related to the Hybrid SLI, which will explain why the flash helps. I don't think it will be something wrong in the GTX 280M bios.

Nice quick guide by the way, everything what's necessary is explained there.

The point of this thread isn't exactly to improve performance in the GTX 280M, that can easily done with some overclocking in windows. The main point is flash the video card, to a highest "name/number", something like the guys who owned the 8800 GT did a while ago, they flashed 8800 GT --> 9800 GT and then I am not sure but the GT 250 is the same card too.

 

I know it's a retarded idea, but for some reason, I'm tempted to flash my 5870's with the 285M vbios. Just to see what would happen. I'm 99.9% sure it would brick the cards, or I could probably just flash back through dos, but there is always that .1%, that "what if" that sparks my interest. Stupid curiosity. Nice guide!

 

Nice guide but cant follow..
Dont want to loose hybrid..

 

It will never work no function on the ATi cards matches the ones on nVIDIAs.
Just take a nail and hammer it in the middle of the cards (never try this for those tempted,just in case)

 

The "main" problem I see doing that, is the so called "Cuda Cores", vs "Stream processors" they work in a totally different way, that is why the AMD cards always have "more" stream processors. And the second problem will be the memory type, the GTX 285M is a GDDR3 card and the Mobility 5870 is a GDDR5 card (i.e timings will probably be differents). So I think if you force the flash, the flash processing will not even start.

I think Hybrid SLI is an abandoned technology from NVIDIA, so it might be cause of all the BSOD/freezes with the new VERDE drivers.

Nvidia don't care anymore about Hybrid SLI, in fact they do not support hybrid SLI anymore in any others than NVIDIA chipsets.

 

I agree with Heah, I really don't see the point. My 280m's are overclocked (+overvolted) higher than 285m frequencies, and at least hybrid sli still works. There really is no point flashing to 285m bios unless it prevents BSODS with verde drivers, but it seems it doesn't even do that -.- or does it? It would be my only motivation but then I don't know if I could live without my 9400m lol

Why want a 285m in a R1 when the 280m can do better?

 

The point of this thread isn't a boost in performance or anything like that Just to flash a card in to another, if it is pointless to you, just don't do it.

Flash a card in to another, is not a common thing, I can remember just a few:

8800 GT (65 nm) ---> 9800 GT (65 nm)

Some geforce ---> Some quadro

 

I just dont want to restart everytime when I turn on SLI..
It nice to have so called 285M brand but..... too lazy to restart everytime..

 

In my opinion a better solution should be leave the SLI as a primary option and forget the 9400M G. And restart and enable the 9400M G when you know you are gonna be unplugged. In my case I am plugged in to electricity the 95% of the time.

 

Just incase if I want to go back in 280M, is it the same step after I backup bios files of my 280ms from GPUz?

 

Yes. And you can save your GTX 280M's bios from NVFLASH as well, or you can use the .rom I provided in the guide.

 

my t9600 ran fine at 3.4. Wouldnt stay stable at 3.5 though.

 

I flashed my 280 to 285 and run 3dmark06.
Results:
NBF driver: 12550
Doc driver: 12580
Standard 266.58: 12805

Back to 280 and results:
Standard 266.58: 14153
Alien 285gtx driver + mod: 14474

Bios from 285 doesnt so fast in 280.
Windows 7 show 6.9 on gtx285 and 7.3 on gtx280.

 

3.3ghz t9600 oc
flashed 285gtx (SLI)
4gb ram


15092 3DMarks nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio
14108 3DMarks nvdia scaling full
14183 3DMarks no scaling

what do i need to expect , is 15k 3dmark06 is ok for this specs ?

 

With your specs it looks about right!

 

thank you

 

What "Alien 285gtx driver + mod" means???

And Yes, I think the GTX 285M SLI should have better performance, I am not sure if it is a driver issue?, but it is only a SLI issue, in sigle card mode is more powerful than a GTX 280M.

 

I think he means these ones

 

You are right

 

I would like to thank u for ur help...
Unfortunately something went bad with me....
You explained to us how we can update , but u didn't
explain how we can go back in 280M ( or maybe i missed it some where) ..
Actaully I tried to get my GTX 280M's bios back but i failed and
i started to get a problem when i activate SLI and start windows ;
i got a black screen and i can't see my disktop and when
i deactivate the SLI i can start windows normally and i see the disktop
as usual... I don't know what to do , could u plz help me in that with
some way to get my GTX 280M's bios back again !!!!! thanx in advance
for ur help.

 

dont worry ! its safe to flash your vbios even in windows ..
my friend failed to flash his GTX260m to GTX280m, and successed to recover from locked down.

here is what to do,
first : remove your battery and run it with your adapter
then go to bios and enable Hybrid SLI

SAVE and exit, now your bios will forced your card to GT9400m
get inside windows (u may experience some crazy artifact in the display but dont worry its normal, because your windows was using the wrong driver)

2nd : now use the same way you did before to flash your GTX 280m,
open up CMD and move to the nvflash folder,
input "nvflash --list" , rememer the index of each card (usually GTX285m index 0 and 1 , and GT9400m is 2

now with your backed up bios of your old gtx 280m (*.rom)
use nvflash to recover both of your GTX280m vbios (which is 285m now)

for example :
nvflash -4 -5 -6 -i 0 gtx280m.bios
nvflash -4 -5 -6 -i 1 gtx280m.bios

Good Luck,

 

It is pretty much the same, but now, you have to use the .rom files from GTX 280M's bios. They are posted in the first post.

PS: You might experience a black screen after windows login. but don't worry that is normal, that is because windows is installing the new device, just give it time, 5-15 minutes, go and take a coffe or somethig .

 

Dear Devillucifer thnx a lot for ur explaination ..It was a big help really,
------
thnx Tyranus7 , i did take a coffe break as u told me and it works thanx tons dear lol.

 

will this work and mostly be necessary if i bought a 280m and tried using it with my 285m right now? Do i need to flash? And do all r2s have the 9400s also? I didnt think mine had integrated graphics.

 

Yes you can buy a 280m and flash the vBIOS of a 285m on it, I replied in the other thread, I can give you the vBIOS or you can use the one that you can extract from your other card as nVIDIA doesn't use master/slave vBIOS crap.
Just buy it with the heatsink and SLi cable/ribbon.
You can't benefit of integrated graphics on the R2, but you don't need that for this process.

Cheers

 

oh alright thank you i am going to have to work on getting that second card then we will talk about the vBIOS deal. thanks a lot.

 

I asked you before but you never answered, which PSU(charger) do you have, the 240Watt or the 150Watt one?

 

Just performed this mod with my 280's....seems to make a real difference...especially in Crysis. No more stuttering and they even take an OC and go right on tickin'! And yes, hybrid graphics DOES work with 285's...at least it does with mine!

 

You got Hybrid SLI to work? really? which drivers?

 

yeah... looks fishy to me, are you sure you are running 290.xx drivers?

 

My bad. I am still working on this but it clearly doesn't work RIGHT. All three GPU's show in NCP...but dynamic switching does NOT work...either via taskbar or hotkey. There may be other issues related to my specific system...still a work in progress. Sorry for getting hopes up too soon...nooby move. I'll post if I can report some POSITIVE results.

 

@orionz - What drivers are you using? I read that 28x.xx and later series drivers no longer support hybrid graphics mode - I think it was actually in the release notes recently that the functionality is being phased out of the Verde driver program. That could be your problem. Sorry I cant remember where I read that or I would post a link.

If you are using those drivers, did you have any install problems and/or have to use modded .INFs as has become the norm with GTX280Ms?

 

285.62 supports Hybrid SLI !

 

I just did it.... It already seems to be running quieter, Maybe the 285m vbios have different fan speed settings....
I had to reinstall the nvidia 290.53 beta drivers i had on here, i kept getting errors at start up and the tray icon would force close...
After I reinstalled the drivers everything is working perfectly so far and now i have GTX 285's...lol
Im going to try stressing them this week to see if they run hotter or if I can definitely tell of a performance boost.
Thank you for this guide.

Update 1: I can tell you that the windows performance index number for my graphics increased from 7.2 to 7.3... probably doesnt really mean all that much, but i thought it was cool..lol
Also, my fans dont kick on as soon as they used to, I noticed the temps got just a little higher before the fans kicked on to full... I dont really care about it, as long as the fans are still working, but I thought I would mention it. I will keep posting anything else I find

 

Looks like I need to try this. Say if I brick the cards and call for the warranty.
Howz Dell gonna know about it?

 

I wish I had really benchmarked the cards before I flashed them... It seems smoother, but It could just be me...lol
I have been playing with it and everything seems to work perfectly, I just ran FurMark to give me an idea.... running at native 1900x1200 resolution my FPS in FurMark came to min=33 max=58 avg=39 Score:2294 points(60000ms)
I dont know if this is good, bad, or what... i wish I had ran something before to compare...
Im gonna keep playin, I like it so far

 

You can always flash back, run your benchmarks and compare

 

I would.... but I think I like it to much this way to go back..lol
I never used the hybrid graphics, and I dont care about battery life since im plugged in 95% of the time, so I feel like I have gotten an upgrade at no cost...lol

 

When i went into display adapters, it says i have 2 standard vga graphics adapters plzzz help