Nvidia VGA Bios modification/flash/restore guide

Hmm... seems like my cpu (T7300) perform poorly during the test. The screen keep on stuttering, is this normal? According to my memory, i remember last time with the exactly same number of overclock and driver ver, you beat me with higher cpu score on 3DMark.

 

Maybe b'coz i tune up my vista to max.Only 38 processors running (according to task manager)while i typing this using firefox .
Kaspersky running background.

 

Very strange. Have you done some Vista optimizations?

I have patched my Vista with these http://www.nvidia.com/object/windows_vista_hotfixes.html

Defragged my hard disk and set my power profile on high performance.

My notebook is an Acer 5920 processor T7300 2 Giga Ram hard disk Toshiba 200 GB with nvidia 8600m gt.

According to Task manager checking "show process from all users" i have 51 running process.

 

38..... W**. Lol i hav 85 running.

 

Tweak your services and programs. For eg:I never use windows media centre so i disable it..etc

Good tweak guides.I use mix bag of these guides

Windows Vista Services Guide

Tweaking Windows Vista

 

I've killed some process, disabled Aero interface and removed Sidebar. Now i'm with 45 active process.

With 3dmark 2006 1280x1024 default settings: score 3625

SM 2.0 Score 1495
HDR/SM 3.0 Score: 1320
CPU Score: 1749

3dmark06 1024x768 default settings: score 4047

SM 2.0 Score 1676
HDR/SM 3.0 Score: 1522
CPU Score: 1740

 

I never disabled AERO theme.I like it.
BTW I kill sidebar.Eat ram wholesale

 

I like it too, but someone say that it reduces frame rate in games in a considerable way (in some games ~ 10 frame/s). I haven't tried myself yet so i cannot confirm it.

 

Disabling aero have NO effect on 3DMark06 tests.BTW I don't know about real game performance.

With AERO Enabled I got 4308 3DMarks @ 1024x768
Without AERO glass I got 4310 3DMarks @ 1024x768

Look @ the picture without aero glass effect

 

Is this really necessary? I mean, if i am happy with my computer speed now. Do they effect in-game performance?

 

Choice is upto you.
Yes.They have some effect on performance

 

Hm... i don't think i'm going to if it only increase in loading screen... except for frame rate.

As i don't really know which process i need and which i don't (even after reading each of thier description)

 

Some improve frame rate and some tweaks improve system responsiveness.

 

HELLLP!

I am trying to update my Vostro 1500 using this method. I was successfully able to o/c my 8600m GT to 600/510 using 101.19 drivers with RivaTuner and ATITool.

I used nvflash 5.50 and nibitor 3.50 and firstly get a "subsystem ID error". I used the "/6" option to bypass it, but when trying to run a 3d app, the system just hangs.

I wouldn't mind going with software, but sounds like that no longer is a possibility with nVidia?

Well, any help is appreciated to hopefully get my system running at full tilt!

Thanks.

 

Already Flash the BIOS?Or just a driver level OC ?
Explain little bit more about your problem

 

Ok. I got low score because i forgot to modify shader frequency. Now it's ok i got high score.

Thank you

 

I did a driver level overclock with 101.19 at 600/510 and ran rock solid over a few hours of benchmarks (3DMark06, 3DMark05, RTHDRIBL). I then unchecked the option in RivaTuner so it would not load those o/c values on Windows boot, since they would be the defaults in the BIOS.

I made my bootable disk, etc with nvflash, rebooted with flash drive, backed up my existing rom, rebooted into windows, edited the two values for GPU and RAM (600 and 510 - didn't touch any other settings), saved it as a new ROM file to my bootable disk. Rebooted with flash drive

When I went to flash the new BIOS I got an error stating something about a subsystem ID mismatch. Looking at the nvflash switches the "-6" option let me flash it ignoring that error.

Booting into Windows was fine. I opened RivaTuner to check that the values were there, and they were same as I flashed. But then going into any 3D app the system would hang, not necessarily crash, but slowly proceed. 3DMark06 would run, but during the boot screen the graphic would hang, sometimes go to a black screen. If I hit escape repeatedly, it eventually would go back to desktop with a "benchmark aborted" message, and everything on the desktop would run fine.

Then I tried a few different drivers which didn't resolve the issue. I started bumping the values down a little bit and seem to slowly be getting more stability. Don't know why it would be stable with a driver o/c but not a firmware o/c? I'll start lowering them more this evening when I have more time.

Thanks for taking the time to help!

 

For htwingnut

DO NOT FLASH YOUR CARD IF YOU GOT ANY ERROR.


I think you OC too much .I'm recommend you to,

Flash back to Stock BIOS

Run 3DMark06 tests 16 times with lower clock speeds
(Eg: GPU570/Mem470)

If it works fine... flash again with new lower values

Oh...make sure to OC your shader clock too

 

Hey bigspin, could you please generate the registry file of your system and post it here using this? I tried tweaking my system using "BV's Current Config" from here setting but still got 70+ running (before is 80+).

 

Do not use reg file thing.Do it your self.
follow that guides i sent you.read them correctly and do what they told.btw i'll publish my services screen shot

For eg:I'm only use wifi & never sharing anything.So I disable lan+Modem+1394+bluetooth network.You can enable those any time using device manager

 

I don't understand what i need or don't need even after reading thier description, i normally only do powerpoint, gaming, ms word, wifi, printing and internet. Very basic stuff.

 

see my attachment.
Do not disable service called print spooler if you are using printer

 

With driver overclock, I achieved 600/510 and ran 3DMark06 for over an hour and a half with no crashes. Ran 3DMark05 a dozen times, then ran RTHDRIBL for over an hour. Still no crashes. But as soon as I flash the BIOS, it has issues.

As far as OC'ing the shader, how do I know what values to use there? It shows default of like 950. There's no way to do this easily to benchmark is there?

 

On my 5920

GPU-572
Mem-472
Shader-1164

Try to flash back to original bios like i said.After that Try bit low values like me.

 

A-ha! It seems that you need to o/c your Shader chip about same % as your GPU. A couple successful passes of 3DMark06 now. Previously it wouldn't even run! But I left the shader clock alone.

Here's my target:

GPU - 590 (124% from 475)
Mem - 490 (123% from 400)
Shader - 1140 (124% from 950)

Perhaps RivaTuner bumped up the Shader clock automatically with the GPU? I'll let it run all evening and check for stability!

Then I'll run a few benches of World in Conflict and compare with stock clock vs. new.

So far so good.

 

good for you htwingnut curse my video card won't allow me to do bios overclock...

 

Which 1 i should keep if i want to online through modem/LAN?

I followed your getting and found out that my internet is disable.

 

It cannot be happen!I'm using internet without any error.
Ok turn on computer browser /server /tcp-ip net BIOS/ip helper/ip sec policy agent

 

O..k.. seems like i need my telephony to be turn on too.

btw can i still connect to a LAN network and play games with my friend?

 

i seem to be having an issue.. i have the same laptop, cept the 1.5 version. and oc'd the vid card to the same settings. But when i to try to test with 3dmarks05, i get the error :
"IDireect3DDevice9: resent failed: Device lost (D3DER_DEVICELOST)

what could be causing this? I'm using 163.67 drivers btw.

 

Have you test your card B4 the oc?

Those kind of error shown if card is OC too much.Remember every card have unique oc level. you need to test your VGA like i said @ guide B4 you flash your card

 

Could you send me a copy of your bios file?

 

Sure..anyway for what?

 

Because there's something in there that doesn't allow these cards to run on old MXM platfroms. And I'd sure like to know what..

 

Ahaaa....ok..report us back what's that bug or lock

OLDBIOS.ROM is my stock BIOS file

 

Yeah Ice-Tea if you could figure it out and come out with some solution for other 8600m GT user such as me unable to overclock that'd be wonderful
I'll make you a king, or queen you prefer it

 

I tested with oc'ing with riva tuner and 158.45 drivers. was stable at 575/475 and was running 3dmarks06 fine. hmm. does it matter i used the new 163.67 when i flashed my bios?

 

Yea..you can use any driver after the bios flash

 

Hey guys what do you use to watch gpu temp ? I'm with dell 1520 and 8600m and since driver 163.67 rivatuner (2.03 and 04 ) doesn't show my gpu temp anymore ( "0" ). It worked fine with 163,44.

Also , what is your gain of FPS after your oc in newest game like bioschock or MOH ?

 

Tried atitools 0,27beta2 , thought it worked , in fact I could only oc the 2D mode.snniiffff...I'm done with overclocking !!

 

Rivatuner 2.04 works fine with 163.67 driver.

 

Can I use a mass storage external disk usb instead of the usb pin, how do i do that ? im new on this thanks

 

no you can't.only flash drives work with hp utility

 

thanks bigspin! great guide btw

 

Hi!
gret guide!
I want to flash my 8600gt in a dell vostro 1500. But after I typed nvflash new.rom to flash the new bios i ever get this:
Warning:
Firmware image Subsystem ID(1028.01F1) does not match adapter PCI Subsystem ID( 1028.0228).

And i cant do anything.
Whats the problem? Can someone help me plz?
cya

 

Looks like your Original VGA BIOS version mismatch your New BIOS

First Backup Your Original BIOS as OLD.ROM

Edit it & Rename it

Save as New.ROM

Now Flash it(Make sure to keep your original bios @ flash drive)

 

First Backup Your Original BIOS as OLD.ROM
<--- i did that.
I opend it in nibitor and edited old.rom, and saved as new.rom.
Then i did nvflash new.rom.
But then come the subsystem thing....

 

Please attach your VGA STOCK BIOS.Then I'll try to read it and see what's wrong with your bios.

Make sure to post your OC values.

 

Here is my old.rom
http://rapidshare.com/files/57757489/OLD.ROM.html (cant find attach...)
http://rapidshare.com/files/57757890/NEW.rom.html
600 (CORE)
1164 (shader) <---- that i couldnt test.... its not to high, i think!?
520 (mem)

tested and worked perfectly!
thank you...

 

Looks like your system made by MSI(OEM Sig show it)
BTW I EDIT your 3D clocks(572/472/1164)