P-6831FX Nvidia 8800M GTS Option Rom from Main BIOS Module

I didn't see it posted here anywhere, but in the next post is a link to the ROM for the NVidia Option Rom in the main BIOS module.

You can view it in Nibitor and make changes, but of course, you need the very expensive Phoenix BIOS Editor 2.2 to put it back in, which is $6k+.

Here's some screenshots:



As soon as I get some time I will be looking at the main BIOS code to see what (if anything) can be unlocked there as well.

 

Link to Nvidia BIOS Option ROM file:

http://rapidshare.com/files/97023855/OPROM2.ROM

Link to entire Main BIOS file:

http://rapidshare.com/files/97024623/P6831FX.rom

 

OMG!
Gz man, very nice.

 

i just happen to have a phoenix bios editor

 

btw, if you got time, you could try to unlock the Phoenix bios so it could let CPU OC

 

were working on it man, I would like to transform my 8800m GTS into an 8800m GTX and I need to unlock the BIOS to do so. You could also OC the CPU if we can work this out.

 

You can be the brave soul to go first then. Load up the main BIOS, replace oprom2 with the oc'd in Nibitor oprom2, and reflash the system BIOS. I'm waiting until my USB FDD from fleabay gets here so if I fubar it I can use the crisis disk to recover.

It's probably obvious, but I'd only raise it to settings you have tested successfully and stress tested well via driver OC'ing, because a blind reflash isn't fun

I'd be careful with attempting to insert a GTX BIOS into the main module unless it is at a minimum the exact same filesize.

 

im just going to flash the 8800m GTX BIOS instead....

i dont like blind flashing but nothing can go wrong to tell you the truth, they are the same card.

 

k im going to need you to run me through this, I dont really know what im doing.

 

well why dont we wait for you to get ur drive, cause you know what your doing, I on the other hand have no idea. I dont want to eff my notebook up now anyways.

 

Why the hell do you want to flash the 8800M GTS to a GTX? GTS and a GTX is 2 different kind of chips, GTS has 64 and GTX has 92 stream processors.

 

Just ran through all the BIOS setup table.
All "unlockable" options are in there and emulated well.

I guess those options are locked by ROM executable code and/or BIOS Code which you need to crack.

 

they are the same chip actually.

the stream processors could just be disabled, but i highly doubt this and they were probably laser cut.

i would like to see if it works, wont do any harm, why wouldnt i want to do this.

 

I just finished doing the same. Based on a quick run through of the modules, it appears many features are omitted from the BIOS (such as FSB, etc.) and are not unlockable (not there), which is common for Phoenix Bioses.

Mainly, the Nvidia ROM and Intel Raid modules can be replaced, and you can preset certain options - like Num Lock On/Off at boot, etc and very generic level stuff. I would say unless someone is extremely experienced in reinserting modules and injecting code into the BIOS, there's nothing to see here.

Honestly, the most useful thing I saw was the ability to update the Intel RAID ROM if newer versions come out with increased performance, but are not incorporated by Gateway. I guess you could say the same about the Nvidia ROM as well....

Of course, if you want to OC the 8800M GTS, you could figure your stable OC with Rivatuner and ATI Tool, and then use Nibitor to set those as the default in hardware.

 

Do you have an 8800M GTX 512MB Rom option module, or a Phoenix BIOS (any laptop) with the module embedded in it?

 

yeha i got the 8800m GTX rom, my problem is flashing the BIOS i cannot get it to ever work

 

I can compile it into the BIOS for you if you like. Of course, I make no guarantees, blah, blah, blah, disclaimer, blah, blah, blah.

 

yeha sure, I will give you the link, if I can find it

 

I have a strong suspicion - and obviously you do too - that the GTS and GTX are differentiated in firmware.

It would be great - removing the 8800m heat spreader gives me the willies.

 

you actually tried to remove the 8800M GTS HSF?

 

Man this is a very interesting thread I cant wait to see what happens. DAMB the suspence.

 

Ditto. While I know its not the same Laptops anything after the 6xxx era has been laser cut for obvious reasons. But I think realistically the chance of a GTX bios successfully unlocking the shaders is 20% I think that since the GPU is actually soldered to the mainboard itself they probably cut the lines. That and not every Notebook GPU is the same, from MXM to Solder. So there are definatly different ways Notebook cards are made.

Off Subject, it's good to see its using the G92 core. They are pretty much 8800 GT's with lower clocks, and disabled shaders as far as performance goes

But seriously I hope this works =D

 

i will not be suprised at all if they are cut, but considering the BIOS is locked maybe they were depending on that for security rather then cutting the pipe lines, plus stream processors are different then pipelines, but I maybe they have the same layout? I dont know, we will see though.

 

What do you think, when will we have an answer about this?

 

well i have a snow day today, so i have all day, and I dont work later. Possibly today if all goes as planned.

 

Must be nice, I'm here at work all day. Lucky Canadians!

 

I wish we had snow days here in Tucson

 

lol im like two hours north from you crpng2001, and looks what happens

gotta clear the laneway infront of the igloo soon but I sould have all day.

 

Well, maybe a Sager owner who has an easy to remove GTX with the proper BIOS could test a GS? No flashing needed. Would not this check to see if GPU laser cut or not?

Now, who has an easy to remove 8800GS

 

One concern I do have is based on the card type. I'm concerned the BIOS on a soldered on 8800M GTS might be different than a 8800M GTX that is a removable type (and thereby flashed on its own outside of the main BIOS module. Once I get one I should be able to tell.

 

Yep. I stand corrected. I guess will have to do it that way.

 

they are different, I have tried flashing the BIOS before and everytime it claims no Nvidia display adapter could be found.

It works with MXM type cards, but there is some limitation with soldered cards, I dont know why though.

 

EEEEK I really want to know about this - I just got my HP HDX with the 8800M GTS in it, I HAD the HD2600XT and I was like NOPE - returned it and got the 8800.

I doubled my 3DMark score almost from 4278 to 7634

However - any tips on perfomance with drivers etc ... I'm really not sure I can do with this card other outside of how it performs right now.

 

Hi!
I tried Rivaturner 2.07. It detects the card, but the clock speeds are detected wrong. According to Rivaturner the clocks are: GPU:383 Mhz, shader: 767 Mhz, memory 301 Mhz

The newest Everest can't detect the correct memory clock neither, it detects 867Mhz...any1 know why cant these programs detect the correct clock speeds?

 

I have the same problem DRevan. Not sure what the fix is; are you also using the 174.31 drivers by any chance?

 

Yes, yes I do.

I now know why doesn't Everest write the correct memory clock. I talked with them and they sad that it's because at this time, they were only able to test a 8800M GTX and in the 8800M GTX the memory crystals are 27Mhz. They thought that every 8800 has the same memory, but in the Gateway 8800M GTS the memory crystals are 25Mhz, instead of 27. They working on the fix, but at the moment they have no idea why is this difference.

 

In Gateway, there's no physical crystal oscillator.
NVIDIA uses a new method of determining the working frequency of GPU:
1/4 of PCIe frequency.

The standard PCIe frequency is 100MHz. So that's why you get 25Mhz.

 

I think I read some time back that soldered cards bios are linked with the standard system bios making it almost impossible to update/extract them.

 

lol thats what i sort of meant, but didnt say it quite that way.....there it is you all no BIOS flashing.

 

Half true, they are linked to the system BIOS, more specifically, an option rom within the main BIOS. I've already used Phoenix Bios Editor to remove the option rom and edit in Nibitor. I've put it back as well. I will flash it once my USB FDD gets here so I can recover with the crisis disk if I run into problems.

Not really that tough at all, certainly not impossible.

What good is it? Once you determine stable OC's you could set your option ROM that way in Nibitor and OC in rom instead of via software.

 

if u can get it to work a nice guide would be appiciated and lots of rep as well

 

I think the cuts are on the down facing side of the chip

This might be tough.

 

o splendid....ive given up on this....it will not happen by my means...good luck anyone attempting

 

I submitted the embedded BIOS for the 8800M GTS to the developer of Nibitor. The newest version, Nibitor 3.9, now correctly recognizes and has support for the 8800M GTS. Screenshot attached.

 

crpngdth2001 - thank you fr all your help. I do have a question though; i was previously aware of the 3 different clocks, but the screenshot shows 4. More confusingly, the clock labeled "Extra" is what i thought the 3D clocks were supposed to be. Any chance you could fill me in on what is happening

 

Funny, I have the same question out pending with the developer of Nibitor to ask the very same thing. I assumed the 3 clocks would still be present with the updated values for 3D Clock.

I do know Nibitor allows you to change "amount of additional performance levels" which states "changing the number of active performance levels will result in the performance table being read in a different way so the 2D/Thrtl/3D settings will change. This is normal as Nibitor reflects how the driver will read the performance table. You have to adjust the settings yourself to how you want them".

I'm not sure I entirely understand that blurb. When I used Nibitor on my desktop 8800GTs, I only had the 3. I'll update the post when I get an explanation.

 

Maybe they are the clocks when running on battery?

 

Here's the question I asked:

I now see my GeForce 8800M GTS detected in NiBiTor v3.9, it is greatly appreciated. I do have a question, though. The settings I would expect to show up under the 3D settings show up in a 4th level listed as Extra. Why is this? If I wanted to overclock and increase my 3D settings, would I change the 3D settings, Extra settings, or both? Thanks.

Here's the response:

Well, the Extra mode is the mode that will be really used in full 3D mode on all G9x based graphics cards. So on that part just tweak the Extra mode and see what it gives, I wouldn't change anything else.

 

Has anyone tried cranking up the shader clocks? Any stability problems? All I ever OC'ed was core and memory via nTune.

Thanks for your time crpngdth2001.

 

Isn't the shader clock always 2x that of the core clock? If so, overclocking the core would mean a higher shader.