NVidia: How To Flash a Video BIOS for Hardware Overclocking

Comments

• elektrik Hong Kong

  June 2003 edited June 2003

  Thanks, the guide worked perfectly on my Triplex Geforce4 Ti4600

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• Mt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian

  September 2003 edited September 2003

  WARNING: Do not attempt this modification on ANY GeForce 4 Ti video card with 8x AGP support (NV28) or GeForce FX (NV30 & NV35). The NVidia BIOS Editor DOES NOT have proper support for your device.

  
  Are there any other tricks out there that WILL work for a ti4200 w/ 8x AGP? Can you flash a different bios and fool it as in some others and if so which ones?

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• Hi-Fi

  October 2003 edited October 2003

  So this won't work with a FX 5200 ?:banghead:

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• TheSmJ

  October 2003 edited October 2003

  Worked perfectly on my AOpen Ti4600 SE!
  
  Thanks Sim!

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  October 2003 edited October 2003

  Hi-Fi said
  So this won't work with a FX 5200 ?:banghead:

  
  Nope, it won't. The NVidia BIOS Editor hasn't been updated in ages and doesn't support ANY GeForce FX hardware or GeForce 4 TI's with AGP 8x Support.
  
  Whenever a new NVidia BIOS Editor is released, I'll update the thread
  
  TheSMJ: Glad to know it worked! Tried it on my Asus Ti4400 and it worked like a charm

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• Computer_Maniacs

  October 2003 edited October 2003

  Download it here...
  
  http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/12/1/12-1-6.shtml
  
  
  It supports TiXXXX cards and FX cards.
  
  
  Computer Maniac

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• Hi-Fi

  October 2003 edited October 2003

  Using the "read from memory" option from the X-Bios editor is the same thing than using the dumpBios isn't t ?
  And What do you think it will happen if I load the Fx5200 Ultra bios definitions to my Fx5200 ?

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• bozz

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  i did almost exactly what you wrote simguy, except for the fact that i put all the necessary files on one disk, including the bios and the flasher.
  the problem is that i get an error message when i start the nvflasher, namely that the DPMI is missing or something like that, i forgot the correct message *sigh* ----> see edit
  
  just wanted to know if you or anyone else here ever encountered that problem or at least could give me a hint what to do.
  
  thanks in advance
  bozz
  
  eeeeeeeeeedit:
  
  1. i've now done used 2 disks, just to make sure ... same sh*t, different day ;|
  but i've got a little more info on the error messages this time:
  - when i enter nvflash /f mygf4600.rom, it says "Load error: no DPMI - Get csdpmi*b.zip"
  - when i use dos4gw nvflash / mygf4600.rom, it says "can't load executive format for NVFLASH.exe
  
  any ideas ?
  
  edit #2:
  should've remembered that i hadn't tried google yet ... i've flashed the bios successfully, but the problems remain (suppose i've damaged the card when i tried to install a different cooler)

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  Is this an original Ti4600 or a Ti4600 with AGP 8x support?

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• TheSmJ

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  If it's a 4x, I could attach the image of the floppy (with all the files) I used to flash mine.
  
  Just lemme know.

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  I've added the newest X-BIOS Editor (updated to support new AGP8x TiXXXX series cards and the GeForce FX series of cards) along with a new version of NVFlash (441 versus the older 428).
  
  I haven't tested either of these applications with any of my own personal cards, but seeing as they are updated versions of the older files with new device support, they should work just as well as the older ones did.

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• kim0sabe

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  Need some HELP , plz:bawling:
  
  I have the same problem as "buzz":
  
  i've used 2 disks, ... same sh*t, different day ;
  - when i enter nvflash /f newbios.rom, it says "Load error: no DPMI - Get csdpmi*b.zip"
  
  What the hell should I do?
  
  Oh, and... my card is a GeForce3 Ti 200.
  
  
  My sistem:
  Athlon XP 2600+ OCed at 2.31GHz
  Leadtek Winfast K7NCR18D Pro v2.0, DualChannel DDR, AGP 8X
  2x256 DDR2700 Sycron
  GeForce3 Ti 200 with 64MB of RAM
  CD-RW 12-40-12, DVD-ROM 16x
  Windows XP Pro + SP1

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  Here's an explaination of what this "DPMI" is and what looks like a solution. I'll tell you right now that I have never run into this problem when working in DOS mode at all. Are the 2 of you who are having trouble using a boot disk made from bootdisk.com by chance?
  
  I've attached the required CSDPMI4B.ZIP file, but again I haven't tested it and have no idea how to use it. If you could, try using an official Windows 98 Boot Disk (made from a Windows 95/98/Me installation) before trying this CSDPMI4B stuff. I don't know how it works and I haven't tested it.
  
  GNU sed is just the DOS application referred to in the documentation. I'm guessing the same parameters & situations could be said about any C/C++ program made for use in a DOS Protected Mode Interface.
  

  5.4. What is CSDPMI*B.ZIP and why do I need it?
  
  If you boot to MS-DOS instead of Windows and try to use GNU sed v1.18 or 3.02, you may encounter the following error message:
  
  no DPMI - Get csdpmi*b.zip
  
  "DPMI" stands for DOS Protected Mode Interface; it's basically a means of running DOS in Protected Mode (as opposed to Real Mode), which allows programs to share resources in extended memory without conflicting with one another. Running HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE is not enough. The "CSDPMI*B.ZIP" refers to files written by Charles Sandmann to provide DPMI services for 32-bit computers (i.e., 386SX, 386DX, 486SX, etc.). Download this file:
  
  csdpmi4b.zip
  
  and extract CWSDPMI.EXE, CWSDPR0.EXE and CWSPARAM.EXE from the ZIP file. Put all 3 CWS*.EXE files in the same directory as GSED.EXE and you're all set. There are DOC files enclosed, but they're nearly incomprehensible for the average computer user. (Another case of user-vicious documentation.)
  
  If you're running Windows and you normally use a DOS session to run GNU sed (i.e., you get to a DOS prompt with a resizable window or you press Alt-Enter to switch to full-screen mode), you don't need the CWS*.EXE files at all, since Windows uses DPMI already.

  csdpmi4b.zip 40.5K

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• WR-HW95

  November 2003 edited November 2003

  I would be very thankful if someone could dumb PNY FX5600 Ultra bios for me.
  
  I was flashing g/card bios first time when i put Gainward bios on this card and didnt know how to make backup from original one.
  
  This works in PNY card,but PNY bios was faster than Gainward.

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  WR-HW95, I've looked everywhere for a PNY GeForce FX 5600 Ultra BIOS, but all I can find is the Gainward ones.
  
  Unless you can find someone with this card, you may be out of luck.

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• gilad_o

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  It will work on my GeForce 2 200mx 64mb?

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• alyssa

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  Hi,
  
  I'm trying to flash my Aopen Aeolus Ti4200-DVC128 4x AGP
  from bios version 4.25.00.30 to 4.25.00.37.....
  
  Working with WinXP Pro SP1, NTFS format, on a Abit KR7A-raid (no raid config).
  
  So I followed the guide of this forum.
  I tried to use a win98SE bootdisk or Doctor Dos Flash,
  to get into DOS.
  On a second disk I putted the files I think I needed,
  dos4gw.exe, NVflash.exe, and the rom file vid_bios_nvidia_gf4ti4200_4.25.00.37_250_444.rom,
  which I renamed to vid_bios.rom and also to vid_bios.bin
  with the help of rvbsterup10520.exe (just to rename it, didn't change settings).
  
  My intension is to use rivatuner20RC141 and softQuadro4 to
  upgrade my videocard (I do alot 3D work..)
  
  So I putted in the win98se bootdisk, removed when loaded,
  inserted the second disk with nvflash etc.
  tried several commands I found on different forums, but it won't work.
  Or I get the "no DPMI" error or the error from dos4gw (something like no executable file command)
  
  I tried the following commands
  
  nvflash vid_bios.bin or .rom
  nvflash.exe /f vid_bios.bin or .rom
  nvflash -fvid_bios.bin or rom
  dos4gw nvflash /fvid_bios.bin
  and so on and on
  tried several combinations (made first a backup of the original bios)
  
  Most of the time I get the no DPMI error, get csdpmi*b.zip
  
  What am I doing wrong?
  Somebody has any idea?
  Do I have to download the csdpmi*b.zip file?
  Where do I put it? Also on the floppies?
  
  Any idea or suggestion would be really great.
  Thanks in advance.

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  Alyssa,
  
  First off, welcome to Short-Media!
  
  The CSDPMI problem can be explained with this post above SimGuy's CSDPMI Information
  
  I've personally not ran into this CSDPMI problem, so I can't say with 100% certainty how to fix this problem. You could try the file available for download in the post linked to above.
  
  The instructions are to download it, and extract those files to the floppy disk that contains the NVFlash utility and BIOS files.
  
  These CSDPMI files are to offer the NVFlash utility (programmed in C) the required memory management applications to allow the utility to run correctly. Without those, you get these wonky errors that won't let the program run.
  
  Try it and let us know if it works

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• SimGuy Ottawa, Canada

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  gilad_o had this to say
  It will work on my GeForce 2 200mx 64mb?

  
  Yes, this will work on your GeForce 2 MX200.

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• madmat

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  For the PNY bios try using an MSI bios as MSI manufactures PNY's cards (or at least they made the TI4400's and TI4600's) but they use parts that don't scale as high as the parts on the cards they sale under their own name.
  I found this out when several programs kept calling my old PNY TI 4400 an MSI part such as SISOFT Sandra and WCPUID...I hope this helps, good luck.

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• alyssa

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  So I copied the content of the zip file csdpmi4b.zip
  to the disk with NVflash and the rom file on it.
  Used the command
  NVFLASH -fFILENAME.ROM
  
  And....... everything went fine.
  My GF4 Ti4200 has now the new bios inside!!
  
  Thanks for helping me out, with this one.
  Great forum btw, forgot to introduce myself..:banghead:

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• kenerly

  December 2003 edited December 2003

  Here is what i have tried in overclocking my Ti4200 64mb card.
  
  Here is stock
  
  
  Here is the first try. GPU sticks Memory does not.
  
  
  Here is 2nd try. GPU sticks memory does not.
  
  
  Here is 3rd try. Computer will not boot with these settings.
  
  
  Using newest nvflash and x-bios editor 1.03
  Checking OC settings with coolbits
  
  Any idea why the memory will not stick?
  If i software OC the settings seem to stick, at least thats what they show in coolbits.
  
  Thx for any help..

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• Supervisor

  January 2004 edited January 2004

  I have a problem with the xbios that has not been discussed here and I can not find any help info anywhere. I just bought and installed a Geforce FX 5950. It runs sweet as heck but there is room for overclocking!! Anyway, I have downloaded the xBIOS, version 1.03.520 as listed in this forum. I have all the other files downloaded and ready to go but my problem is that I can not even create the bios image for some reason. When I try to create it using xbios, it gives and error of "Bab PCI Header!", and I am assuming that the 'Bab' is a mis-spell meant to be 'bad'. No image gets created. When I try to get the image using dumpbios, the 'A' drive light stays on forever (watched a 2 1/4 hour movie and it was still going when I was done). I am using Windows XP, ABIT NF7-s Ver 2.0 motherboard. Any help would and will be appreciated. It's driving me nuts!!
  Sup

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• Supervisor

  January 2004 edited January 2004

  Does anybody know of a different nvidia bios editor than the xbios? I can not find any info on the xbios error. I installed an old hard drive and installed winME on it and gave it a try. Same error. I installed the card on another computer, same error. It is either the card itself or the xbios program.

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• Supervisor

  January 2004 edited January 2004

  I finally got an image of my bios on my pny 5950 ultra card. I opened it in the xbios and the first screen shows all the info. The initialization tab shows '0' for all my clock speeds and it is blank for memory type. I am guessing that I should not flash this bios with this info. When I look in the general tab, the device id is 0333. When I click on the change button, I can not find my device id in it. I guess the 5950 is not yet supported?

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• jnzz001

  January 2004 edited January 2004

  Supervisor wrote:

  I finally got an image of my bios on my pny 5950 ultra card. I opened it in the xbios and the first screen shows all the info. The initialization tab shows '0' for all my clock speeds and it is blank for memory type. I am guessing that I should not flash this bios with this info. When I look in the general tab, the device id is 0333. When I click on the change button, I can not find my device id in it. I guess the 5950 is not yet supported?

  
  CAN YOU PLEASE pm ME THE original 5950 BIOS FILE?
  jnzz001@hotmail.com
  thanks in advance

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• Royceman

  March 2004 edited March 2004

  i am wanting to flas my BFG fx5600 with a 5600 ultra bios is there any out there ???

  SimGuy wrote:

  WR-HW95, I've looked everywhere for a PNY GeForce FX 5600 Ultra BIOS, but all I can find is the Gainward ones.
  
  Unless you can find someone with this card, you may be out of luck.

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• Royceman

  March 2004 edited March 2004

  I have a FX5600 256mb 8x videocard made bye BFG is there any bios from a 5600 ultra i can flast it with ???? if so were can i get it ???? i feal a need a need for speed

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• Kram

  April 2004 edited April 2004

  Hello all
  
  Sparkle FX5200DT running at standard as set from manufactor at 250 core 332 mem,having tested this via overclocking i know it is stable at 400 mem however....
  
  I have exactly the same problem as kenerly i cant get the memory clock speed to stick,i know it said in the instructions to change the first line but my 1st line already said the setting i wanted(400) but my last line had the normal running setting(332) so i changed that,no joy rebooted and still on 332,2nd attempt i just changed the 1st line from 400 back to 400,no joy still 332,3rd attempt changed all lines to read 400 even though only 1 said 332,still no joy still running at 332.
  
  have dumped the freshly uploaded bios to check that and that shows all mem clocks at 400 so i know it has uploaded but coolbits and powerstrip both report 332,how can this be when the only options in its bios is to run the mem at 400?
  
  This starting to drive me mad,any help or ideas pls
  Thx

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• Timp

  April 2004 edited April 2004

  Hi,
  I have an msi fx5900xt, and my problem is that i read somewhere else how u could use leadtek bios on msi fine, so i tried the 5900 ultra bios for leadtek, the reason i chose this was cuz i tried nvflash to the msi 5900, but the thing is it would never flash, kept saying errors. Anyway i use the WFFlash, for leadteks, and it flashed the card, i went into windows, it wasn't recognising the card, just seda default monitor on, on the properties. Wehn i restarted my pc, tho at the start it said leadtek fx5900 ultra, anywa i decided to go back to my msi, as i had saved, but i cant, i tried flashing with the wFFlash and it wont as it isn't a leadtek bios, and the nvflash wont work, as it comes and says thres a mismatch. And then my friend told me to erase the bios, as it may not be letting me flash with the msi bios as the leadtek is on there, so i did, but it would still nto flash, and i couldn't keep my pc on forever, so it has no bios on the card, so i am using another card, although i have a pci card, and i hear that will help me flash the card, but i need to know how to do it properly, i have the bios, can soem1 please tell me what i should do exactly. Or if any knows what i might be doing wrong.

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