Asus G73jh BIOS 211

I've been running a couple of Heaven Benchmark tests with different settings, played some games, watched HD movies and no GSOD so far. And I had GSODs just after 10-15min on BIOS 209 and ATI 10.7 in different games.
Max. GPU (MemIO) now: 90C
before on BIOS 211 and 10.1 Asus driver: 89C

Running on:
BIOS: 211
ATI driver: 10.7a
P4GHybrid: 1.1.38
Audio: Realtek 2.51, Realtek ATI HDMI 2.49, Creative driver - but for my external soundcard

I'll report back if I get a GSOD in the next couple of days (I hope not)

(btw my Notebook was manufactured in May - G73JH-TZ091V bought in Germany at Amazon )

 

Just for info, can EZ-flash flash back an older bios or we must winflash absolutely for it?

Also I suggest for those who have 211 install to not remove it just because it seem only fan speef is affected. They may have change some timing or processor thing elsewhere that we may not be very aware of.

 

EZFlash can flash back to any version you want. I flashed back to 209 from 211. I still got GSODs on 211 though and i cant see how a bios update could help anyone with that...

 

The only way it would help is if hey incorporate the vbios into the bios update. i know it can be done because it happen with an old Toshiba laptop of mine.
finger crossed

 

That would probably require a version of WinFlash for that. I'd rather do the updates separate, tyvm.

 

True. Of course, I'd prefer to be forced to use WinFlash than to never get a good update... But it definitely was terrifying enough just to flash in a 'safe' manner.

 

If it did incorporate a vBios, the first person who flashed it could save it with gpu-z and upload it seperately so it wouldnt be such a problem.

 

We will have to wait and see. It not sure if Asus can do the same as Toshiba once did for my laptop.
It maybe require a true 128kb vbios. Only time will tell.

Also, why was the original 211 bios was 4mb size?

 

We'll see what happens. Myself, I have about 23 more days until my full refund policy is up... then, depending on my experience, I'll either stick with the g73 or get a sager NP8760 (thanks to HellCry for helping me set up the specs I want).

So far I haven't had much of a GSOD issue, but we'll see. My temps are sorta high though- 55-58 while idle. What would be perfect is if I or someone on this board gets into the FFXIV beta and posts their results... since it'll be a 24 hour beta now it'll be a great performance/stability test.

 

I can confirm that BIOS 211 does nothing to help the GSOD problem with G73jh. I have Ziddy v3 bios and 10.7a drivers. I've noticed that looping FF XIV benchmark is even better way to test GSOD stability than furmark - tweaked and overclocked system that manages to run Furmark xtreme burning for say 30 mins usually fails in FF XIV in less that 5 mins.

 

I too just flashed to 211. Fans are louder at boot and at idle. GPU temps are 2 degress cooler at idle.

In a few minutes I will run some games just to make sure all is well.

Update:
In Crysis Warhead the GPU fan kicks in immediately at full blast. Before 211 I've NEVER heard it sound so loud. I think I welcome the change. I"m pretty sure that if Asus made the change they probably had good reason to.

 

1. Modifying the Bios to hide the fact that Asus did a appalling job with the thermal Paste? - Check!

2. Higher RPM of fans actually doing nothing to lower temps significantly in games like DOA and GTA IV? - Check!

3. Reducing the Fan life and making it necessary to clean fans more often (by taking the laptop apart)? - Double Check.

Reverting back to Bios 209.

 

Couldnt possibly phrase it better.

 

I wonder if the thermal paste they used isn't a bad formulation?

I know I had temps around 94-96c in frumark when I first got the laptop... This got progressively worse over two months time to the point I need to repaste.

Either that, or is there some weird pressure on the heatsink when the laptop is assembled that would account for it not keeping itself set into place properly over the long-term? If so, then most that repaste would start noticing the same heating issues over a few months time. That would point to an engineering/assembly issue more than a thermal paste one.

I will have to pay special attention to some of this when I tear mine down today.

 

I feel like their paste was probably inconsistent. Some batches were too thick and did not flow out the way they were supposed to. It was obvious that mine had air pockets in it before I repasted. The fact that others can run furmark with 90C temps on stock paste leads me to believe that their product is OK, but either the application or the actual paste was not right on some laptops.

 

Yeah. I just ran furmark for 45 min and the hottest it got was 91C.

This that considered good? I do have a cooling pad under it.

 

I ran the FF XIV benchmark one time and then looping for 20 mins. No GSOD

Here are some screens:
----------------------------------------------
Temps before running the benchmark:

Score:

Temps after first run:

Temps after 20min loop:

----------------------------------------------

I had GSODs in any game I played on the stock installation and ATI 10.7 driver.
Here is some more information on my system. I'm using the latest drivers which work and I could find on the Asus or on other websites. I've linked
them all because Asus doesn't seem to update the G73JH download section. Maybe someone will find this useful, even so it is a bit offtopic
-----------------------------------
Model: Asus G73JH-TZ091V bought in Germany at Amazon.de
Manufactured: in May
OS: Windows 64 Bit Ultimate - clean installation
Drivers:
-BIOS: 211
-Chipset: v9.1.1.1025
-VGA: 10.7a
-Audio: Realtek 2.51 and Realtek ATI HDMI 2.49
-ATK: v1.0.0005
-Bluetooth: Azurewave BlueTooth driver v6.2.5.600
-LAN: v1.0.0.29
-WLAN: Azurewave Wireless Lan Driver and Application v8.0.0.316
-Touchpad: v15.0.9 (included with Scrybe)
-Intel Management Engine Interface: v6.0.0.1179 (stock version)
-Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.9.2.1002 (stock version, as it is newer than on the Intel website - maybe a special Asus version?!)
-Keyboard device Filter: v1.0.0.3 (stock version)
-Camera: 1. look here 2. if none of them work use the Harware ID to find the correct driver here

Utilities (I want all my buttons to work ):
-Intel Turbo Boost Monitor v1.04
-Power4Gear Hybrid: v1.1.38 (Windows Gadget doesn't work)
-Wireless Console: v3.0.17 (only way to deactivate Bluetooth easily?)
-Splendid: v1.02.0028 (stock version)
-ExpressGate: v1.4.10.4 (Don't use the China server to download this file or you will always get a broken archive)

 

For Furmark its ok. mine is steady at 95c. Games normally wont hit your GPU this hard.

 

After I repasted my GPU the maximum temp on TSS1 was 89C with a room temperature of 24C, Ati driver version 10.6, stock 209 BIOS. This with Furmark extreme burning.

2 hours later I started the laptop up and started playing Metro 2033. The max temp I got was 85. So Metro 2033 comes awfully close. It must be THE or atleast one of the few games at the moment that really push the GPU.

 

Try gta iv episodes from liberty city with everything set to high. The only game I have seen so far that actually utilizes your gpu 100%. While furmark works nicely as a reference point, gta iv eflc is a more relevant test I think. I wish more users in the forum stress tested with this game. Also, it could be possible that users with the BB version are likely to put less stress on the gpu given the lower screen res, hence likely enjoy slightly lower temps comared to those running games in FHD. I bring this up since I have noticed by gpu temps staying 2-4c lower when running gta iv in 1600 x 900 res.

 

So is it no longer GSOD with the 211??

 

Starcraft 2 uses 100% of the gpu and that brings my temps up to about 87C - 94C depending on how long the ingame cutscene im watching is. All settings on Ultra.

 

Honestly I would highly recommend you get your refund sooner then later. Even if they release a vbios update that seemly fixes GSODs the build quality and components in the G73JH are not even close to those in a NP8760 IMO.

 

Meh,211 didnt do anything for star craft.

Just going to stick with 209 and stock drivers till they officially release something.

I

 

No, only for me on this forum I think, but some people have reported it on other forums as well. I think there are lots of different problems, so what works for one person might not work for another person.

I just noticed a problem running on battery, I switched to a lower power plan than "High Performance" and played some HD-Videos on Youtube and got a Bluescreen just after some ATI driver went mad Anyone else experienced something similar?

 

It depends on the settings but sometimes the GPU doesn't like switching from a lower core/mem setting to a higher one and goes f**ktard.

 

True that the pasting work may be inconsistent. However I would also say that different GPU quality vary the temperature as well..

 

guys if you dont wanna get GSOD just install the MSI or clevo BIOS on your g73jh, saddly that means no hdmi and no vga (i never use them so i dont care) or sell you laptop, is not a main bios problem is a vbios problem, the asus vbios got something that dont let normal drivers work fine, so we have to wait for asus to release two thinks: a new vbios or a new driver (wait forever?)

I got the msi vbios installed 4 months so far, cata 10.7a and playing all games without problem (sc2 right now), hope my experience can help some1 sorry for my english

 

I concur updating to msi vbios. I have been happy man since updating to msi vbios with 10.7a driver, playing all my fav games many hours and no single gsod. I used to get gsod within seconds with latest driver with any game. It's not a perfect fix, but it makes g73 a functional gaming laptop.

 

not much of an option for me if it kills the hdmi port

screw the ps3, this is my blu ray and game player now

 

Is there anyone with the knowledge to somehow make HDMI and VGA work on the MSI vBios (the old one - the one with just 2 clock profiles)?

 

I must say I'm astonished but also for me flashing the G73jh with the MSI vbios actually did eradicate the GSOD problem for good! I'm now running 10.7a with stock speeds and everything including Furmark and FF XIV benchmark are 100% stable - for the first time ever with this laptop (because with stock drivers you couldn't even run FF benchmark).

Of course I lost both HDMI and VGA, don't need them at the moment though. This, I could say, tells us that SOD's might not be an actual problem with Asus hardware after all, it is just a fact that the stock vbios (version number 012.017) is inherently faulty and the cause of all crashing problems people are experiencing with G73jh's.

This tells us also that any official or unofficial fix or tweak, be it new general bios (like beta 211), new Asus or Ati drivers, overclock, P4G or thermal improvement is not a solution - WE NEED A NEW OFFICIAL VBIOS FROM ASUS! HellCry, could you still contact that Ati tech support you got the semi-useful answer from and tell him the old vbios they've provided Asus with is the cause of the problem? If Asus doesn't do anything maybe Ati could just provide them (or us directly) with the same 012.020 vbios they sent MSI and a new fully operational vbios could be released for G73jh?

I'm also a bit concerned that that the Asus support technician commenting on the German forum linked here seems to be a guy that can hardly use an in-house editor to alter fan speeds in general Asus bioses, release "new bios versions" and tell people those would fix any problems. He obviously isn't a real engineer programming vbios etc. The problem might be that those real expert guys working at Asus are already moved to new projects and already aging G73jh's may rot in their GSOD swamp forever - that is if we do not really start pushing them!

Also, all those people here who CLAIM that they had a fully working and stable G73jh (with 10.7a drivers) from the beginning, could you please double-check the vbios version your notebooks have? There might be a slight chance that Asus had already quiety provided newer models with a working vbios and that's why they don't have the problem? My G73jh is manufactured in May and still had the old vbios though. With GPU-Z you guys with possibly working vbios could provide it to us more unfortunate end-users as well...

 

I've been saying that all along.

Its not the hardware,its the vbios that is faulty...

I'm amazed Asus would endure all those RMA's when all they need to do is fix there bios.

Unfortunately losing vga and hdmi are not an option for me =(

 

Wow I guess this is good news in some way. I kind of had a feeling that it was not hardware related. If anyone could upload the MSI vBios to megaupload or link me it would be greatly appricated.

 

Take a look at the first post in this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...1-gsod-fix-g73-owners-vbios-update-guide.html

 

Any chance a moderator can turn this specific driver information above into a sticky at the front of the forum? It would be great to have a single location to get links to the latest and greatest component drivers for the G73Jh.

What do the rest of you think?

 

i agree since i just updated alot of this stuff

but something about the audio driver upgrade didnt 100% agree with my lappy

 

Where can I find the MSI or Clevo bios?

 

4 posts up, or the reply below me asking the same question

 

Ya sorry. But I have been using Ziddy's bios v3. Isn't the MSI bios older than ziddy's? Is it a good idea to flash back?

 

Ziddy's was never a fix for gsod. All it was an adjustment of the clock speeds. Most of us still would gsod on it. I know at least i still did. The msi probably has something different that solves the gsod.

 

Older? No I do not think so. The v3 vBIOS is the stock vBIOS with RBE mods. The MSI one is a link to a vBIOS MSI put out as an update.

 

Hey, which bios were you using before? I have been using Ziddy's bios v3, bios 209 and 10.7a and i can't run benchmarks as well. Though I can play games(with GSOD's only sometimes), I am not able to run benchmarks like you had before. Can't run Furmark wth Extreme Burning Mode & PostFX, or Heaven benchmark and even Mafia 2 benchmark in the demo. Temperature is not the problem for me as playing games the temp never goes above 85-90 but still crashes.

 

Ya sorry. I just checked again and the MSI one is 012.019 and not 012.017, the ones i have right now. I was looking at the numbers in the end.

 

Hey, I got my G73JH-TZ008Z, like 2 months ago and I love it, but I do get the same errors like you all, like : overheating when playing and GSOD due to overheat, I managed to fix this by updating my 206 bios to 209, and then installing new drivers and catalyst, I usually played on battery saving mode so it didn't happen, and no overheat happened, but now I can turn it back on full, but still GSOD and overheat stops with black screen, but as I have set the Cat's setting on fullpower mode to maximum battery saving option, all of this have stopped.

So ye, this is kinda odd and works, but I never had problems with the factory state installation, only after I messed with the OS and drivers.

I really love this laptop, far better then my other high end PC, but still this is the best ever. But I don't know how RMA works in Hungary so I won't exchange it back or any ideas how RMA works?

 

By selecting "Maximum Battery Savings" you are downclocking the GPU, which would explain why it's more stable.

 

The Ziddys or Xevens or V3 vBios or whatever you want to call it is just the Asus stock vBios with lowered clocks and voltages. Nothing else.

 

Soret2:

Are you sure your problems are caused by overheating? What are your idle temps? How high is your max MemIO temp?
Maybe you are having GSODs and black screens because you are on a driver provided by Ati, instead of the stock or 10.1.

 

Well, mostly the fans are damn loud and fast, I don't know how to check the temperature, but after like 3 mins of gaming like L4D2, MW2, and such it just goes black screen and shuts down. On battery saving mode I can run every game just about fine, here now had problems on this mode with "Nation Red" game. But still it is strange.

 

I was also using Ziddy v3 bios before and that didn't help a single bit with my GSOD's. MSI bios (the one linked on the previous page of this thread) instead did eradicate the problem