[Guide] 580m GTX throtting fix. No need to modify system Bios.

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*Standard Warning*
BIOS Modifications, VBIOS Modifications and other system level tweaks can potentially cause damage to your system. Be aware of this before blindly flashing. If you brick your system or cause damage, chances are very high that your warranty will be useless. Know what you are doing, you are responsible for your actions.
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I created this thread separate from the GTX 580m vbios sticky so people could get to it quicker and it could be found easier.

So there has been a way to overcome throttling using a blind flash method but that was risky and some people didn't like it so I present to you a new way. This can be done in windows (with one restart). Please do this at your own risk, in the unlikely event, I am not responsible for any damaged video cards.

Dell recently released a vbios with a new entry in which increased the throttling clocks. To overcome throttling, all we needed to do is to raise the throttling clocks up to match the top speed so when it throttles, there is no change This give the illusion of no throttling

Non-3D users please go half way down to the next section

3D users, proceed here:
To do this, you will need to download:
Download NVFlash 5.100.0.1 for Windows | techPowerUp
and the attachment below. There are 2, one is 580m.ROM which is a normal one with throttle fix, the 580m92v.ROM is an overvolted one.

Now extract the 3 nvflash files somewhere, leave the window open, put your chosen .rom file there too.

Next, type cmd into the start search bar. you'll see cmd.exe come up, run as admin. Now drag the nvflash.exe into the black Command Prompt window. Then type "-b backup.rom" without quotes. That will backup your original vbios to the root of your C drive.

Now, drag the nvflash.exe into the Command Prompt again, then type space, "-4 -5 -6" after 6, press space once and drag the .rom file into the cmd window. Press enter, it will ask you a few things, press y both times. When it is all finished, close everything. Restart your computer. Viola! Verify with Furmark I guarantee that it will stay at 620mhz for the whole time.

Fix for non-3D Optimus users
Optimus blocks access to the GPU and flashing within windows brings up non-detection errors. So we have to get around this using a bootable USB options

What we need is a bootable USB. To create this, you need:
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool - v2.1.8 Download - EXTREME Overclocking
and the files here:
Windows 98 System Files Download - EXTREME Overclocking

And download this version of nvflash:
Download NVFlash 5.100.0.1 | techPowerUp
The version above is for a DOS environment.

Run the USB utility and point that to your USB drive. Check Quick Format and also check Create DOS startup disk and select the from files located at option. Point that to the folder in which you extracted the files from the second link. Hit go and it should create a bootable DOS drive.

Now stick the nvflash files you downloaded on the drive. Now keep that drive in and reboot. Hit F12 and boot from USB. You will see a Win98 splash for a split second. The command prompt will come up and type:

nvflash -b backup.rom

Once that's finished. Just hold the power button to shut down. Reboot into windows and check that the backup.rom is truly on the USB. That is your backup, put that in a safe place. Now, stick your vbios of choice from below on the stick. Same thing, reboot and use this command:

nvflash -4 -5 -6 "name of vbios"

"name of vbios" is either 580m.rom or 580m92v.rom depending on what you chose. Remember to always add the .rom extension.

It will do a few checks. Press y for both times. Once that's done. Shut down, reboot. Open up Nvidia Inspector. Show overclocking. Verify with the drop down that P1 and P0 have the same clocks.

That's it for optimus users

If you want to overclock, you will need nvidia inspector and only nvidia inspector. It is the only app that can OC more than one p-state. When you open that up, it will look like GPU-z. Click show overclocking and up at the top, there will be a drop down for you to select the Performance Level. You will need to overclock (P1) and (P0) to the same clocks for everything to work well. To OC the core (this is greyed out), just move the Shader slider. Core = 2xShader

That's it guys! Have fun.

PS The 580m vbios has a voltage of 0.87v. This voltage will be fine for up to 740/750Mhz but if the hardcore benchers want any higher, I have included another vbios. The 580m92v.ROM one is @0.92v. Same as above, just drag the 580m92v.rom into your cmd instead of 580m.rom. This will allow you to take the core beyond 800 and the memory as high as 2000.

The 0.92v is only for EXTREME OVERCLOCKERS and BENCHERS. If you aren't any of those, don't use it!

 

+1 to you. Great work!
EDIT: Looks i am not allowed to increase rep. "Spread some rep around or smthing like that"

And yeah do put in a request for 0.92V. Even for non-hardcore benchers, it will be nice to atleast have the option!

In the first step you tell how to "backup your original vbios to the root of your C drive".
Can you also explain that, in the unlikely event of things not going as planned, how to use this backup to restore the vbios to original state?

 

Because you've repped me too much

Edit: In the unlikely event a flash goes wrong, I'll address the issues individually.

 

Well you have certainly deserved it!

 

good work dude

i would rep you too but it won't let me..."i must spread some reputation around" too lol

 

Yep excellent work! i'll rep u +rep

 

Updated post with 0.92v version

 

Thx wide + repped

btw if its not any bother to you may i humbly request to upload to mediafire ?

My isp is using dynamic ip which prevent me downloading from fileserve and i dont have premium account there

 

Will do. I'll attach both vbioses to my post so you can DL it from NBR.

 

Awesome job widezu69! +rep

 

Nice, + Rep again. I will install this as soon as I can. I've been out of town for the last week and am catching up on things.

 

First link doesn't work http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...20Windows.html

 

Fixed it now. Attached a .zip will both vbioses for easy download.

 

wide 1 question plz

do we have to first flash the latest dell vbios ( the one released at 10/5/2011 , version 70.24.2B.00.06, A01 ) before using your method ?

 

Nope. The vbioses in the OP are modified versions of Dell new vbios. Just flash ahead with this one and you are done.

 

This is going to take a heavy toll on the battery life though. Anyway we can set the clocks and volt individually for battery and ac power?
(I was thinking, maybe a small software or smthng that allows us to set the clocks and voltage irrespective of whether we are on battery or ac power.. This way we can set it according to our needs.. when we wanna game then we can increase the clock speeds and when battery life is required we can decrease them)...

As you can see in my spec I had ordered with 580m but got the 460m so if i seem ignorant, forgive me. I cant use the 460m laptop but will experiment when i get the right one!

 

No no, this will not affect the battery. This fix does not force everything on highest clocks. It will still clock down to 73Mhz on idle and battery. We have only edited the clocks in which it throttle's to, nothing else. Bettery life will be the same as with idle temps.

 

Ok.. does this fix the power throttle? The thermal throttle? or both? I guess im a little confused since the GTX580m seems to be plagued with 2 forms of throttling.

 

This will fix the power throttle. I'm not sure about the thermal throttle. I never reach that high so I can't comment.

 

Great job and thank you so muc, but do clarify more on power throttle versus thermal throttle. The blind flash method was purely to remove the thermal throttle incorporated in the system bios which was below 79. After using that method of flashing system bios only GPU thermal bios remained. You said this is to remove power throttle.

 

No the blind flashing was to solve the power throttle as well. Both methods have the same effect. Both methods will still throttle at around 79C.

I posted this method as it was much easier and can be done within windows.

 

Awesome job Wdezu69! +rep!

 

Couldn't find any pm function (do i have to low amount of posts?)

well my problem is that i cant find any nvidia display adapter

EDIT: i ran the cmd as admin

C:\nvflash>nvflash --list

"NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.100)

NVIDIA display adapters present in system:
No NVIDIA display adapters found."

C:\nvflash>nvflash -b backup.rom

"NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.100)

ERROR: No NVIDIA display adapters found"

i also tried to use this guide:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/605960-gtx-580m-flashing.html
post #6

but i still get the same output

anyone else is having the same problem or did i miss something simple?

 

Do you have optimus?

 

yep,

i also added the update from dell, if thats a part of the problem?

link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ios-updated-10-5-nvidia-geforce-gtx-580m.html

 

ok, first of all, nice work!

but i have to ask again just to clarify,sorry:
if i already have used the blindflash method, theres no need for me to flash the gpu-bios cause both ways throttle at 78-79°C...right?

 

That's my impression. I never go above 75C even when OC'd so I can't comment. But I'm the same as you. I'm using the blind method with the old vbios.

 

Hey Dude!
You are writing wrong...
write 'C:\nvflash\nvflash.exe -b backup.rom' if your nvflash folder is in root of C or elsewhere write the whole path or drag drop file directly to cmd prompt as our friend suggested... You are using '>' is worng you are suppose to use '\' and that too no extension like '.exe' you need to be precisice if you are using CMD PROMPT... It will save your backup.rom file in
c:\user\your username\
Hope this helps and you will flash sucessfully...

Regards!

 

Hi!
If you have A08 motherborad bios and this new vbios update from our friend you will not get power throttle at all i can confrim this but you will get temps throttle only when you reach temps of 78°C your games will run absolutely fine till then...No need to go with old guide for flash bios A04-A08 etc... Now only thing you need to do is keep temps lower with laptop elevated from back and use cooler place probably one with Air Conditioner On keeping room temps lower till 22°C-24°C so it will further help to keep temps down...Or as our frined Widezu69 suggested me he is using Diamond-IC paste which helps him really to keep his temps down... Hope this helps...

Regards!

 

I'm getting the same error as vginside:

"ERROR: No NVIDIA display adapters found."

fyi...I am running optimus

 

I have no idea how to use nvflash with optimus sorry. If you applied the throttling fix using the blind A08 method, then you don't need this. For non-3D users with 1st revision Sandy Bridge CPUs - 2x20QM and 2630QM. Just flash your bios to A04. Solves everything.

 

I installed as per instructions and now my 3 month 17x r3 is not booting after I ran furmark! I overclocking the 580m to 730 and 1825 and ran furmark. When temp got to 75 blue screen. Since then unable to boot up laptop. No beep codes, just fans start then then completely dead...

 

Have you done a bios reset? Take out the coin cell etc? Seems strange.

For optimus users, I'll update the post with a bootable USB dos option which may work better.

 

I have the same error. Looks like those of us with the 60hz screen will not be able to use this fix.

 

I'll update with another method that will require people to create a DOS bootable USB and another version of nvflash. I'll do that tomorrow.

Should be able to bypass the IGP limit then.

 

yo wide

do you have the method to bypass the optimus limit ?

Thanks

 

Yes tried bios reset and no joy. My graphics card was replaced and now works ok. Not trying to use this gpu bios again just in case....

 

I have followed your instructions to the letter without success? Receiving message from nvflash prog "ERROR: No NVIDIA display adapters found" Question: can this be performed using the standard boot-cd method...probably not due to variables being used with the instructions you provide?

 

Yes! Me too!~~ T.T seems the 60hz monitor cant use this?!

 

I'll add to the guide this week with a method using a bootable USB stick. Be patient guys.

 

You have some of your facts mixed up so I'll try and clear up some stuff:

Here's the deal. The 580m has a problem in that it will throttle at a low temperature first ie around 67C. People have reported different temperatures when the first throttle kicks in. Therefore it is not a fixed throttle temperature. Further more, this happens to everyone at an even lower temperature when using the overvolted vbios. As a result, in the earlier discussions, many users assumed it to be throttling base on the power consumption of the card. It would hit a roof and throttle but not a designated temperature. We thought that this roof was a power one based on the results of people using an overvolted vbios would run into the throttle far more than people using the default one.

There have been a few threads discussing this. The blind flash method removes the power throttle. I call it that because the same phenomenon happens with the M18x users and it is actually documented in one of their bios releases. I also call it the power throttle because there is no exact temperature in which the first throttle actually kicks in.

Also, you mentioned the GPU throttle at 79C. This is not the case. Yes the clocks throttle at 79C but this is not in the video card but also the system bios. Clevo systems with 580m's can got way over 80C with no throttling and using the same card.

What we are doing here is not removing any throttle. We are simply making the clocks to which the card throttles be the same as default clocks giving the illusion of no throttling. It still throttles, but there is no clock change.

The blind flash method is not for thermal throttling as the throttling still kicks in at 79C. The effect of blind flashing and this vbios fix is the same; both prevent the initial throttle from kicking in.

Both methods only remove the initial throttle when the temperature is in the 60's, the one that I call the power throttle. I don't worry about the 79C throttle because I can keep my temperature below that. With a good repaste and elevated back most people can.

I would not make a thread about fixing something if I didn't know what I was talking about.

 

I'm not sure. If you've applied the blind method. There's no need for this one. I'm not using this vbios but I've heard many success stories. I am unsure what happened with DarioG but his was an exception. I hope. I update this guide tonight for Optimus users.

Sorry was was a bit vague to begin with, glad the explanation helped

 

Ok so I have a i7-2720QM...you said all i need is the A04 Bios instead of the A08. So if I flash that...when will my 580m throttle? 79c? Does the A04 not have the "power throttle" and only the "thermal throttle'?

 

That's correct. A04 has the thermal throttle only and is good for first revision Sandy's. However, A04 does not have 3D.

Updated post #1 for optimus users.

 

What's the difference between this and the Dell A01 vBIOS?

 

The Dell A01 vbios added a P1 profile entry which clocked at 475 core, 950 shader bump, and 1500 memory. This was the profile in which the new vbios throttles to. The vbioses attached to the front page has this new entry clocked to the same as the default 620 clocks. So when it throttles, it will throttle to the same clocks giving the illusion of no throttling.

Overclocking also works if you overclock both P0 and P1.

 

I don't get it...Why couldn't we do this before?

 

are there any other updates that the A08 bios has that the A04 doesnt have besides enabling 3D and adding a sucky throttling setting?

second question: what is the most stable oc settings you've achieved with the regular 0.87v?

 

Hey. I didn't see anyone else mention this so I figured I would drop a comment with regards to the perceived risk of this method.


So you overclock the lower power states of the video card in order to trick it to stay at higher clocks. This prevents the card from being able to throttle down. So what happens when your fan dies or gets stuck? Wont your card get fried basically?


This seems very risky to me. The blind flash method seems a lot safer way to go. I don't believe blind flashing voids your warranty. It is a legitimate way to recover from bad bios flash. Just my few cents.


Since I used the blind flash method I'm running OC all the time and I have not seen throttle ever in games. I can throttle the card if I use FurMark and wait 10 minutes. But for practical applications, like playing games, the throttle is gone.


Now if you use .92v bios you can push your card harder and thus get temps higher easier. Depending on the game you will play, and clocks you will use, you may see it throttle. But if you push your card very hard then I guess you're not worrying to about frying it anyway.

 

No no, the card with still clock down. What we are doing is only changing the throttling clocks. The 73Mhz clock settings is still there. When your system is not in use, it will clock down on idle. This was what new vbios from Dell did anyways. I have tested this vbios and the only time it clocks to P1 is when it throttles. Other times it will use P8 which is the correct throttle down clocks. You don't actually overclock the lower power states, they stay the same. Only P1 which Dell implemented ONLY for throttling, not for anything else.

This vbios fix has no affect on the idling state. Trust me, you can test it out if you really want. I guarantee that when idling and on battery, clocks will be the low and cool.

@MegaSquishyMan (Cool name bro) the A08 bios does what you mention plus add support for the i7 2670QM, 2760QM, and 2860QM.