Asus vBIOS V3: Everything but perfect PowerPlay

Another way far a quick nap is Fn and F1 (Credit to Ken Lee)

 

You needed Ken Lee for that??!

 

...even with zzzzzz..still credit Ken for that...then what about keyboard lights n the others...lol...

 

Since the FN esc fiasco, I have been very hesitant to use any FN key combos, but I am not as daring as some of the more advanced users Chastity. This is my first ASUS but not my first computer I may also be the oldest member of this forum. BTW does anyone else own an NEC Versa laptop with windows for workgroups?

 

What is 95 club?

 

club 95 is G73's that stay at 95 C after stressing the gpu for over 1 hour...it stays at max of 95..doesnt pass that limit...
Personally went 2 hours of Furmark stability test and its max was still95a...

 

I used to be an elete member of the 98C club untill they kicked me out for using thermal paste... Now I belong the the low 85C club .

 

Well after few hours of hard gaming in a very hot day I rich the 95c and for first time since i got the baby i finally lisent the fans on 100 so i guess the fans do not start moving until they rich 95 if not they stay at 30

So please welcome me on your very VIP 95 club

 

Ziddy, your work is appreciated. Installed your bios version and I am now a much happier G73 owner with overclocking options. Rep to ya

 

I am also a Member of the 98C Club and i would be glad to join your 85C Club Is there somewhere a Tutorial for this thermalpaste action? did you break the guarantee-seal?

best regards

edit: Ok, i've found it, thx

 

Nop, I didn't paste my CPU (where the warranty-seal is attached to), only my GPU.
If you have any troubles with it, don't wait to PM me, I'll be happy to assist .

 

I think they do some video post-processing in the pixel shaders. There wouldn't be a UVD profile with curiously high clocks if it wasn't there for a reason.

A test of various post-processing settings in CCC while playing 1080p BD would probably be useful.

One other thing to consider though is that ATI has a feature that disables post processing features if the GPU is unable to keep up. It's called "enforce smooth video" or something similar. They have this because the slower GPUs can not keep up and don't want the end user getting frustrated when their post processing settings cause a slideshow.

 

Updated opening post with MD5 hash, uploaded the stock vbios in case you don't like V3 or have problems.

Also instructions if you get FAIL with WinFlash and how to fix it.

Hashtab link and instructions added.

 

Hi Ziddy,

Can you take the stock Bios, and modify the clock speeds to 705/1100 and publish? That is the only change I need to get my system stable.

Thanks!

 

As always it's your risk when flashing your vBios. I'd follow the instructions on the first post with USB Bootdisk.

Download 705.1100.7z
MD5 Hash: 28C39760F79D0D59EC898C072D90CDE1

 

Ziddy ur gr8 work is appreciated.....becoming a "Guru" or a god...cheers

 

Ziddy does this new ver. work with 10.7 (does 10.7 work for that matter)? To be clear, the standard clocks are 200/500 and now they can jump to 705/1100 and HDMI/VGA work perfect? If/when this new file is used on the bootable, does it still use the same phrase as the stock V3bios... "ati-flash -p 0 stockv3.rom"? Finally, why not remove all worry about vbios flashing and just post a vid of you walking it through. Every nub on the inet would rep you, me included, haha. Thx for all the work.

...btw, is there ever going to be an official, ATI sponsored release of a vbios update?

 

Great work Ziddy. ATI overdrive working great even with 10.7 drivers. Even though I am not going to OC as i don't need to on 1600x900 res, I like to have the option in CCC

 

Thanks Ziddy, I appreciate it!

 

what's the advantage of this vbios update over dling something like the "AMD overdrive" tool and having it autotune your system for gaming scenarios? also, what's good temp monitoring software, so I can see if I even need this?

...currently running 10.7 fine, with stock vbios, no gsods, bsods, psods... just concerned about temps, since I haven't yet investigated them.

 

It's not a new version. Jortex just wanted one with just the clocks 705/1100. That's all I did, nothing else was added or changed. No overdrive, it's an exact stock vbios except with different default performance clock. The idle/battery/video clocks are the same. It's what Jortex asked for.

The command uses the vbios name, so whatever the name is, you use that.

I don't have a video camera...

 

Any vBIOS update will have to come through Asus. You would need to ask them.

 

Too bad man, I bet that a lot of ppl (me too) would love such a feature of this whole process. Like me, many are probably borderline ready for most of this stuff, but too limited in our technical knowledge, so that we wouldn't be able to know that we did it right, only if we did it wrong = fail whale. I don't game hardcore enough to really care about in-game longevity and sods (even though they are obv. important), but I DO care about long-term gpu stability, and thus I'm significantly curious about stuff that can potentially stabilize the lappy and keep it cool under any conditions, even if I don't daily Furmark it. So, basically, if your v3 works great and doesn't forego any other functionality of the beast, then count me in, but provide nub-proof directions, because no matter how easy you think it sounds, it's still daunting to some. Also, who teh fook can we PM to get on this on Asus' side of things? I have quite a list going of fixes and improvements I'd like them to actually work on, not just dismiss.

Srsly kthx tho for all help/updates. Between you, Chastity, and Kalim I've gotten this far (CCC updates, Bios 209 flash, creative debug, and even keystroke fixes) without "b0rkage"

Now, I'm just craving legit 100% glitch-free stability from this piece, hence my consistent n00b insights... I've just never attempted a vbios b4

 

misunderstood..thought it was ur moded v3 but now with 705/1100...can that one be uploaded for us pls....some of us find it more stble on that...

 

flashed stock vbios back (which gave me a GSOD previously with non-asus drivers) just out of curiosity. And for some weird reason it isn't giving me any GSOD's anymore. Running 10.7 cats with a 20 minutes furmark extreme burn test /w postfx.
I also get the same temps as the v3 bios even though that one is undervolted. Stabilizing at 95°C with 25°C ambient.
Flashing vbios 3 back anyway since I just love the low battery clocks. That's just nice for browsing and other 2d stuff. Making the laptop way cooler.

edit:
Too bad there isn't a possibility to monitor voltages on the 5870M. I get the feeling lowering the voltages isn't working.
If I lower the voltage on my desktop HD 5970 by 0.1 I get quite a big temp drop. But this 0.1v drop in the 5870M bios is giving me the same temps as stock voltages.

 

BTW MSI has a new vBios officially out now for HD5870M, was released I think sometime this month.

You can try to force flash it in Dos if you want to try this.

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=firmwarefile&dno=11770&i=0

 

Alright, I need to decide where to go next. I'm getting some unusual temps and I would like suggestions for a solid benchmark so that I can test my comp and see if I need to re-paste, rma, and/or flash to v3. Is Furmark stability on full graphics settings w/xtreme burn and post fx a good test? What temp range is good/bad/crazy? Sorry for the non sequitor but what better post to ask in than this, considering how devoted we all are to better longevity/cooler clocks.

 

I'd run Unigine Heaven 2.0 and your temps should be below 95C with that.

 

W/full ATI settings? cpu/ram turbo on? what Heaven settings, (shaders, tesselation, aniso, AA)?

 

Ok, couple of questions.

Does the V3 vBIOS come with default clocks of 700/1000 or 705/1100? I think its 700/1000 but I want to be sure.

Also, what isn't perfect about PowerPlay in the V3 vBIOS, and does it matter? How does the V3 vBIOS know when to clock up for 3D tasks?

Forgive my naivety, I'm still learning

 

bricked mine just now.was doing the winflash method and after the v3 bios failed to load,windows froze before i could reflash the stock bios.talk about perfect timing :l problem now is that im in the Philippines. read through the entirety of Quags dilemma, and ive concluded that fixing it is beyond my power. hope the asus techs here have a way to reflash the bios without having to send it to the US

 

Yar I put in the opening post do not restart if the flash fails. Reflash with the stock vbios I also posted.

 

haha i know.but windows wouldnt respond at all for hours.so i bit the bullet.

is it safe to say that i have to send it in?

 

That's why I never flash with winflash. One freeze and it can be bricked.

What you could try is setting up a bootable usb flash drive.
When the laptop starts up hit F2 a couple of times so it boots into bios.
Then hit the left arrow key 1 time, hit the down arrow key 7 times (for me it was 7 where the "boot from usb" option was).
Then wait a few seconds and type in "atiflash -p 0 -f <biosname>.rom"
After a minute (to be safe) pres ctrl+alt+delete to restart and hopefully you get a screen again.

Aka blind flashing.

 

If you RMA it they will likely replace the mobo.

 

sorry for this noob question, but when the vbios is corrupted the mobo has to be replaced?

as for blindflashing ive read through Quagmires thread regarding his G73 being bricked thanks to a corrupt vbios, and it looks like it isnt possible (with the G73) ctrl+alt+del doesnt restart the notebook.just makes the keyboard lights flicker on for a bit.only way to reboot is to hold the power button for a few seconds

and thanks for the quick replies

 

erm, oops, the GPU will be replaced.

 

haha.hmm too bad. i was hoping they could fix it by reflashing the vbios to the gpu outside the G73. if such a process existed it would be more likely to be fixed here in the Philippines.dont think our country has any stock of 5870Ms. and the last thing i wanna do is send it westside.oh well...

 

Why not try the blind flash method. There's a chance of succes and you don't have to RMA it at all.

 

has there been a successful blindflash on a G73?i guess ill try it tomorrow then

 

I have no idea, but the graphic card doesn't output any screen already. So what more can you brake by reflashing it the blind way?
I would try if I were in that position, you can always RMA it after even blind flashing doesn't work

 

thanks for the advice ill do that

 

If the notebook will boot without a working GPU, you can blind flash. Sometimes they will not boot up at all. Some desktops work like this too.

I don't think it's explained enough just how risky BIOS flashing really is.
I suggest that everyone ALWAYS USE ATIFLASH IN DOS!! Winflash is flaky software. Make yourself a bootable DOS USB stick.

 

Indeed, winflash has been known for bricking cards for years.
Simply because windows can freeze pretty easily.
atiflash in DOS is a safer method, but still risky!

 

I modified the Ziddy's V3 to 705/1100 and brought the voltage back to 1.15 but i've yet to flash it. Mainly because i'm too chicken to do it. It sucks knowing that with a hit of a button i may screw up everything...

I made it because if i use AMD GPU Tool to clock it up, after i'm done playing, power play doesn't kick in until i restart the com. So i thought yeah maybe it would be nice if i didn't have to restart the com. BUT i couldn't bring myself to flash it... Partly its because i don't trust myself in making the bios although all i really did was open Ziddy's V3 in RBE and change that two numbers.

 

Ok i gathered up all the courage i had and went with it... I'm glad to say i didn't brick it. I'm in the office now so i can't test if vga and hdmi is working. But since its ziddy's v3 i would assume that it works. This is exactly what i wanted, switch to "High Performance" only when playing games. When not then set to "Maximum Battery" so it runs at Ziddy's lowered clocks.

 

I dont suggest editing an already edited vBios. Use a fresh unedited stock one if you can.
HDMI and VGA must work since the "V3" vBios is only an edited Asus vBios.

 

I wanted to do that, but to be honest i wasn't confident in doing it. Well at least this one went well.

 

G73 won't boot up without a working VGA, so can't blind flash.

 

Does anyone know what isn't perfect about powerplay in the v3 BIOS?