Any chance to fix the vBios?

Quoted from Gary of what he promised G73jh users before disappearing. He's 2.5 for 3, touchpad and the half of 3, a new bios. The MB2 fell through due to Creative's licensing issues. 100% of G73jh users are still left with a broken vBios.
G73Jh-
1. Missing Keystrokes - In a final cycle of testing with Microsoft, AMD, and Synaptics for a driver fix.
2. Updated Audio Package (MB2) - We are still negotiating with Creative on an expanded license.
3. Update BIOS/ vBIOS - Engineering is reviewing possible updates based on customer feedback.

Reading through this thread, Gary admits the vBios is broken with PowerPlay and the memory clock changing. A few things. Normally I wouldn't care about this if say it was a desktop GPU. But this is laptop GPU. Having a broken PowerPlay that doesn't change memory and voltage properly without flickering constantly is a joke, it's pathetic.

When I have my memory clock for 2D and UVD at 300 and the 3D memory clock is at 1000, and it could could be the .95v to 1.15v changing not sure, but the top of my screen flickers. Steam will cause this, some Windows Aero features can cause this. It's extremely annoying as it occurs constantly.

Solutions is either to set your memory clock to the same clock speed, this includes your 3D, Overclocked, 2D, and UVD, they all have to be the same, which is annoying. Or... you can force your power setting on Balance or whatever when not gaming to use Battery Mode in the ATi PowerPlay settings. Also annoying.


Questions: This is something Gary and possibly only Chastity can answer. Is Gary going to follow up with his statement of Asus Engineers providing us with a vBios that will fix this? We know this is a vBios issue since other companies like Sapphire on desktops had this, but fixed it with a proper vBios.

Second Question, does the modded MSI/Clevo or whatever vBios some people are using suffer from this? When the 3D and 2D voltage and memory clocks are different?

 

nice thread man but i think you should have sent this directly to him
we can just talk and talk but Garry or other Asus tech support guy won't listen if you post here
this thread is discussed in many posts
i am thinking of maybe changing to MSI vbios becouse i don't need Vga or Hdmi port but i don't have the balls for it still

 

Honestly I wonder how many G73 owners spend much time on battery. These machines tend to live off of outlets because of their size and intended gaming or other high demand usage scenarios.

Also, Powerplay is not the only power saving mechanism. Or I should say it's more than just about clock speeds. The chip also powers parts of itself down when idle regardless of clock. So the power savings of lower clock speeds may be marginal.

 

The flickering when changing memory clocks seems more hardware than software. Anyways, the battery doesn't last that long even if you downclock memory. You should just mod the vBIOS so the battery memory clocks are the same. The thing that drains the most battery is the voltage anyway, clocks barely improved battery life by more than 10%.

 

I was not talking about battery mode... only mentioned it as a solution to prevent the flickering with low clock rates. Why have the machine running at 800/1100 if I'm just browsing the web?

2D, UVD and Overclock settings.

And the voltage are hardware locked. Changing in the vBios does absolutely nothing.

 

So chastity no news or update from Gary on this?

 

No flickering here. Only while changing clock speed through GPU Tool.
2D 70/100
3D 700/1000 or 825/1100 (overdrive)

 

How did you make yours automatically go down to 70/100 2d? O_O

 

I do think there is a reason besides negligence for the lack of significant downclocking. It's not like these GPUs have been completely trouble free. Maybe they wanted to avoid some other instability.

 

Oh it's a definite vBios issue that Gary admitted to. I wonder if @tilla is running an MSI or Clevo vBios. I'm guessing he is. This is something Chastity found, Gary found, Hellcry, well just about anyone who wanted lower memory clocks for 2D.

Also if @tilla is using OverDrive that would explain it. OverDrive fixes the memory clock, so the 2D memory clocks do not drop. If he says otherwise, I'm pretty sure he would be lying then. Hence why he isn't seeing any flickering.

Can anyone who is using a non-Asus vBios tell me if they are suffering from this issue also?

 

Chastity vBios here, overdrive unlocked but on default clocks right now and i also only see flickering when using the GPU clock tool. Anyways, the vBios provided by Asus, while not perfect fixed the GSOD which was the major problem and Asus probably moved on to support the JW and SW models.

Wait till Hellcry surfaces and you'll have your answer about the MSI vBios.

 

If you're going to flash to MSI, make sure you get the right (old) version. The one on the MSI site has been changed/updated and will brick your card.

Also, many people just use chas' fixed bios. It drops the clocks and keeps things running smooth.

 

My OD2 keeps any flickering to the barest minimum, if any, and provide the extended battery life for low usage on battery.

 

Yeah yeah. But I already said Chastity recognized this issue. And it shows on the vBios. The memory clocks are all normalized on A/C.

No it does not drop the memory clock speeds. She found the same issue as I said and kept the memory clock speeds at 1000. If you use OverDrive with her modded driver, then OD normalized A/C memory clock speeds to one fixed speed. So no, this is not a solution or a fix.

Do you know if the MSI has this problem? And yes I know where to get it.

Yeah yeah, I know. You did what I said, normalize the memory clock speeds so it doesn't fluctuate. Have you heard any updated news on this issue? Will this be fixed or has Asus abandoned this endeavor?

 

PM HellCry or browse a few of his recent posts. He mentions that he fixed all his vBIOS grievances with the MSI vBIOS. He's the guy with the most experience in that area.

The general idea is not too highly recommended, as you run the risk of bricking the card as it isn't an Asus vBios, (kills your warranty claims too) but HellCry claims his G73 is 100% perfect with it as far as that's concerned.

I hereby invoke the name of HellCry. He should be here in a few.

 

why brick your card?
isn't the same risk as when you use the Asus vbios?
or there is some new potential risk something won't match?

Hellcry is using the MSI version BR35757.023 as far as i know
and i think @tilla said that he tried latest MSI vbios version 027

 

I came across this press release while looking up info on tablets. Looks like Gary has moved on to better things. Yep, the same Gary Key is listed at the POC at the bottom of the Press Release. Looks like we're SOL on this for now.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

 

Far as I know, that's always been his position. He's done a few PR presentations for Asus laptops, even the G50 3D laptops. The reason why he was on NBR is because he works out of Fremont, CA where our laptops are repaired. Plus working with the public is what a PR person does.

Terry Makedon who was CatalystMaker for AMD. Same thing, he was essentially a technical PR dude. Not the developer, programmer etc.

 

I made a post at Asus ROG, maybe someone from AMD will remember they released a shoddy vBios and never fixed it.

HEY ASUS! Fix the HD5870M vBIOS!!

 

I hope you guys know that our current vbios do have powerplay... at least on the gpu side.
Its not because they are not changing the mem clock that there is no powerplay. As long as the gpu switch clock , we have it.

 

I hope you know that we didn't say didn't have powerplay. Said it was broken... And a broken powerplay is a useless one. In order to have low clock while on A/C power browsing the web, I have to force it into battery mode... which is pathetic, or else my screen will flicker. That's what this thead is about, the flickering powerplay, broken.

 

i think we should kidnap Gary and don't release him untill he finish his job

 

Why should i lie? Lol

My Asus G73JH has definately no flickering while using a modded version of this beta ASUS-vBIOS. My source was the overdrive-unlocked one.

In my MSI-card change thread (sig) I mentioned the try with the MSI-vBIOS. There were no problems but also no differences. So I'm still using the Asus vBIOS!
Overdrive also don't locks the memory-speed. But there is imo a bug in CCC which remembers old settings in a file. Then you should reset the settings. Maybe I should make a vid to convince some of you.

 

I hope you know that if the memory clock is not down clocking, it doesn't mean that Powerplay is broken too.
As per Powerplay definition, Its working correctly.
The thing is, it could work a lot more efficiently.

 

No it's broken. It shouldn't be changing between 2D and 3D constantly with FF or Steam and Aero. It should be flickering when doing so. PowerPlay is fubar on this vBios, it's useless unless you enjoy watching your screen flickering constantly. So is the OverDrive. OverDrive is only meant to overclock the memory in 3D mode, instead on Asus it fixes the memory clock. So that's not working properly either.

Asus desktop cards which don't need to worry about power management like a laptop does have working PowerPlay and OverDrive. This is a disgrace. I'll probably continue to support AMD in the future, but it won't be with Asus.

 

At least, you can stop the flicker with the Updated asus vbios (without chastity od2 modification)

The flicker come from the mem clock change.

If not having overdrive is not a problem, try this vbios: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/515309-how-fix-your-gsod-blues.html

there is no flickering with it as long as you dont change the mem clock

 

you are a big lier i know that
a video would be great

you will only stop it in UVD and 2D mode in AC
it will still flicker on baterry mode
or changing from AC to Batery
i don't know how @tilla says that there is no flickering

 

Mem clock change = flickers
Core clock change = no flicker

 

I do not flicker here. I use the Updated untouched Vbios from gary.
I have no flickering at all with/without A/C

If you have the overdrive panel on CCC then you got the wrong Vbios. (or should I say, one that have chances to flicker)

 

You still have a broken one! OMG!!! Get over it. Asus cheaped out and set the memory clock rate to 1000 on everything.

Stop trying to imply the PowerPlay is fine, when it's not.

This is from the vBios Gary posted. BROKEN POWERPLAY. It's the cheap method of 1000 on everything. IT'S BROKEN!

 

There is no-where on the Powerplay description that the memclock should go down.
Its a + if it does.

Believe me I would like it to go down too. But the fact that it doesn't go down, does't mean powerplay is broken.

Definition from ATI (amd) : http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/ati-power-play/Pages/ati-power-play.aspx

PowerPlay™, a combination of advanced hardware and software power management components that together are capable of configuring the GPU for minimal power consumption and exceptional graphics performance.

AMD PowerPlay™ technology is designed to enable power saving profiles that help reduce power consumption when the GPU is idle or in minimal use in comparison to previous AMD products. This dynamic power management enables the GPU to automatically adjust power between low, medium and high states for a tremendous power efficiency advantage. For example, when receiving and composing emails little demand is on the GPU and it runs in a low state, whereas when gaming, there is high demand on the graphics engine and the GPU runs in a high state.

I see GPU here. they don't talk about memory.
I don't know how it can be more simple.

At least we can say that Asus or AMD is cheap for not down clocking the mem too. But as per Powerplay definition, its not broken.
Ill be happy if you can show me official document online that state the memory clock have to be down-clocked for a proper PowerPlay.

 

I don't know how much clearer I can be, you're wrong! Even desktop cards in 2D/UVD have their memory clocks downclock! It's really frustrating that you keep posting this misinformation considering how wrong you are.

Alienware vBios


MSI vBios


For those who need further proof that wagnard is spreading misinformation, I've attached the vBios here which you can view with RBE for yourself.
http://www3.zippyshare.com/v/66624060/file.html

 

Memory down clocking is not a Powerplay function as per AMD official statement. find me anything on the web that say the contrary And Ill gladly apologizes .
Mem downclockin is a custom function that help further lower the power consumption.

 

No that is not AMD official statement. Show me where they say that. This is something Asus screwed us over on. Any of the HD5870M from AMD have working PowerPlay. It is not a custom function. The MSI and Alienware vBios are FROM AMD!!! You are unbelievably wrong! The Asus vBios is screwed up because Asus decided to fab their own boards unlike Dell, MSI and Clevo use official boards from AMD since they did not cheap out like Asus did.

Please stop posting in this thread since you are wrong and spreading misinformation.

 

I linked it 2 post back

 

Nope you didn't. That does not say that memory downclocking is a custom feature. That feature is on even DESKTOP CARDS. Please stop posting. You are very wrong! Even their HD6970 dual chip desktop cards have PowerPlay with memory clocks downclocking in 2D and UVD modes without flickering from all their board partners. This feature is on almost EVERY notebook except the G73jh because Asus are too cheap to do it right.

 

np ill stop. Sorry we cant understand each other.
But still give me info on where you got the idea mem clock should change for a good working powerplay

 

If anyone has any constructive ideas on how we can pressure Asus to fix this issue, please let me and others know.

G73jh owners, you deserve a working vBios with all the features that Alienware, MSI and Clevo enjoy without flickering and obnoxious problems. Complain and fight for your laptop that you paid $1,500 or more for!

 

I actually paid 1200$ ;D

 

And some spent over 2000$ as had to order from the states


Starting to think asus might have sent the G73JH to retirement as the newer model will be coming soon and most staff is working hard to get the bug´s out of that.

A Typical company. "Want it to be better?" buy the next model with a nother hinden fault so then you well have to buy an nother .....ect.

 

You know that GPU mean whole gpu as whole board. And that mean all components, including graphic memory and graphic core voltages and clocks.

 

GPU is not the entire board.
The entire board is called a videocard.


Reference
Reference2

 

You haven't contributed anything to help this situation. All you've done is defend a company that refused to fix something that all their other competitors have. It's completely whacked. I have no idea why you or anyone would be satisfied with a broken vBios and then defend it. If you actually have an idea to help petition Asus to fix what they started or to help find a solution, by all means post. If you just want to harass unhappy customers by spreading misinformation, please stop. Really don't respond to defend your position. This thread doesn't need anymore stupid justifications playing with semantics.

 

LOL. With other words video card. GPU stands for graphic processing unit and this mean not just core or memory or anything else but whole unit.

 

Hum; just quoted the wikipedia page above...But I agree we got screwed by Asus on that, don't take me wrong here.

 

I think you dont understand me quite well .I want the same thing as you.

I want a VBIOS with mem downclock like other company (msi , clevo , etc...)
Im just playing with words with you with the powerplay definition. The vbios is not broken it just come unoptimized for battery life.
And as per PowerPlay definition, Asus have their right to not change anything on the vbios if they want to because mem clock down-clocking is not a MUST have to be called properly working PowerPlay.

Hope you understand my statement. My English is not very good. (not my first Language).
But Ill repeat my self , I want a Vbios from Asus too that auto downclock the Memory.

I justed jumped on the conversation because you said its broken and its not. But its a VERY CHEAP implementation from Asus tho.

EDIT: I also hope that the PCB modification Asus dud to the 5870 did not have the side effect of down-clocking without flickering impossible... that would be a shame...

 

A videocard is Not a GPU and a GPU is not a Videocard.

Like a Processor is not a Motherboard and a Motherboard is not a Processor.

To put it very simple to people who needs it:

The GPU is the "Processor" of the Videocard.

Simple enough?

 

Just to put my salt into this thread, I don't need memory downclocking and I'm happy in the state it currently is with the latest vBios.

pato

 

why don't we try to contact garry instead of "talking to the wall"
bunch of guys can send him a couple of emails about the vbios and maybe he will do something (but doubt it)

 

Point learned only thing that still bothers me to is why asus cant implement same solution like other manufacturers. But again I am afraid there is little they can do as this is maybe hardware related issue.