6800GT to 6800Ultra

[gizbug]

I'm beginning to hear people flashing the bios, and having good results with making the GT an ULTRA>

Anyone tried this yet?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

link to instructions?

 

[nick1985]

just OC it to ultra speeds, why risk permanent damage by flashing?

 

[Slacker]

some info I got out of the flash utility

NVIDIA Flash ROM utility
Version 04.42

Usage:
nvflash [commands] [rom filename]

Commands:
file f <filename> Flash the ROM using <filename> (no confirmation),
then do compare and ~CRC32.
save b <filename> Read ROM and save to <filename>.
compare k <filename> Read ROM and compare with <filename>.
tv x <filename> Transfer TV data from file to EEPROM.
version v <filename> Display file version and ~CRC32
(if no filename, acts on ROM).
erase e Erase the ROM.
display d [bytes] Display 256 the first bytes of the EEPROM
(default is 256 bytes)
check c Check for supported EEPROM.
nolight l Don't light keyboard LEDs.
overridetype p Don't pause if file &amp; chip PCI VenID/DevID mismatch.
overridesub u Don't pause if file &amp; chip PCI subsystem ID mismatch.

overrideboard 2 Don't pause if file &amp; chip board ID mismatch.
reboot y Reboot the PC after other tasks completed.
Press 'Enter' to continue, or 'Q' to quit.
protecton w Write protect ROM (only works on some ROMs).
protectoff r Remove ROM Write protect. (only works on some ROMs).
straps m <straps> Change soft straps.
format is: AND Mask 0, OR Mask 0, AND Mask 1, OR Mask 1
keepstraps g Keep the soft straps already present in the EEPROM
after flashing the new image.
romstrap j Override the ROM strap setting to allow flashing an
image when grounding the STRAP_SUB_VENDOR pin.
This allows flashing a corrupted or erased EEPROM.
Note: Make sure there is a physical EEPROM present
when using this option
guid q <guid> Set the IEEE 1394 GUID in the ROM image
(GUID is in the form of 16 hex digits).
guidsource 1 <location> Set the source of the IEEE 1394 GUID.
main - main EEPROM image
dedicated - separate serial EEPROM part
list a List all NVIDIA display adapters found in the system.

index i <index> Force a specific device index.
help ? Display this screen.
silence s <level> Silence level:
default All beeps.
#=4 (or 2) No progress beeps.
#=5 (or 1) No beeps.
Press 'Enter' to continue, or 'Q' to quit.
override o <level> Override safety check level:
default unknown EEPROM | NV chip aborts application.
level=1 unknown EEPROM acceptable for read operations.
level=2 unknown NV chip acceptable for read operations.
level=3 Combined effect of 1,2 (cannot write to unknown EEPROM or chip).
listver List BIOS versions of all adapters found.

Use a single dash ("-") to use the single letter version of a command.
Use a double dash ("--") to use the longer descriptive version of a command.
Use equals ("=") to specify parameters, with separating commas (",").

Sample usage:
nvflash --index=1 nv30nz.rom
Press 'Enter' to continue, or 'Q' to quit.
NVFLASH supports these EEPROMs:
AMD 29LV001B 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,6D)
AMD 29LV010 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,6E)
AMD 29LV001T 128Kx8 2.7vV, 1B page, 16k blk, Man,Dev=(01,ED)
Atmel 49F512 64Kx8 5.0,3.0,2.7V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,03)
Atmel 49F001T 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,04)
Atmel 49F001 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,05)
Atmel 49(H)BV/LV010 128Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,17)
Atmel 29LV/BV010A 128Kx8 3.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,35)
Atmel 29LV512 64Kx8 3.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,3D)
Atmel AT25F1024 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,40)
Atmel 29C512 64Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,5D)
Atmel AT25F1024 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,60)
Atmel 49F010 128Kx8 5.0V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,87)
Atmel 29C010A 128Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(1F,D5)
ST M25P05 512Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(20,05)
ST M25P10 1024Kx1S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(20,10)
ST M29W512B 64Kx8 2.7-3.6V, 1B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(20,27)
Tenx ICE25P05 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 128B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(5E,01)
PMC 39LV512 64Kx8 3.0-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,1B)
PMC 39LV010 128Kx8 3.0-3.6V, 1B page, 4k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,1C)
PMC Pm25LV512 64Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,7B)
PMC Pm25LV010 128Kx8S 2.7-3.6V, 256B page, 32k blk, Man,Dev=(9D,7C)
SST 29EE010 128Kx8 5.0V, 128B page, 0k blk, Man,Dev=(BF,07)
Press 'Enter' to continue, or 'Q' to quit.

Guide to gt/ultra flashing, not yet ready for prime time.

 

[Corporate Thug]

sounds too risky for the time being

 

[SilverBack]

No need to flash it.
Coolbits will let you OC the card just fine.

 

[Slacker]

Originally posted by: shady06
sounds too risky for the time being

Yeah, but I did notice this in the flash utility command list............

romstrap j Override the ROM strap setting to allow flashing an
image when grounding the STRAP_SUB_VENDOR pin.
This allows flashing a corrupted or erased EEPROM.
Note: Make sure there is a physical EEPROM present
when using this option

 

[Big Lar]

Hard forums video section has info on it, as well as overclockers, not much of a performance boost for the risk of the flash tho IMHO.

 

[Don66]

It's not worth it!!
Don't do it..
I did and it was alot harder to change it back to a GT than it was to flash it to an ultra.
I can O/C better and my temps are cooler.(now that my vid card is a gt again)

 

[Slacker]

LoL, didya have a few tense moments there while your gt was fubar'd?

 

[Dman877]

I've heard that flashing the GT to Ultra increases the voltage to the gpu, anyone confrim this?

 

[Don66]

Originally posted by: Slacker
LoL, didya have a few tense moments there while your gt was fubar'd?

You know it
LOL..
I won't try it again nor will I endorse the flash for anyone.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

these 6800 gts are easily and safely flashable to ultra.

in the same "easy" way with 5900 ->5950u as I have extensively done quite a few, interchanging with different company bios (leadtek, bfg, evga, pny) using awdflash.

my only benchmark was 3dmark03 for scoring and far cry for checking image quality/artifacts.

There is only a slight increase in score between gt oc'ed versus gt flashed to ultra and running at default ultra of 400/1100. on the average it's 12,300 versus 12,600. no big difference in total score using same setup.

the difference was in temperatures under load: 70C versus 78C averages.

it seems with the 2 bios versions I've experimented that it asks the mobo for more voltage to keep gpu stable but compensates any heat by way of feedback to the fan to spin faster.

 

[Bateluer]

Doesn't the Ultra have a second power connector, the GT having just one? Seems like it'd make flashing to Ultra bios VERY risky with a limited gain because you can OC to ultra speeds using cool bits.

 

[BFG10K]

just OC it to ultra speeds, why risk permanent damage by flashing?

Exactly. Not only that but the Ultra BIOS expects two molex connectors so I'm not sure where you're planning to put the other one.

safely flashable to ultra.

No, you just got lucky. Overclocking is not guaranteed and I wish people would stop pretending that it is.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

safely flashable to ultra.

No, you just got lucky. Overclocking is not guaranteed and I wish people would stop pretending that it is.

Holy crap, I agree with you.... Well, the universe had a good long run, it couldn't have lasted forever. I expect the implosion any moment now.

 

[zodder]

At this point, with Doom3 right around the corner, there is NO WAY I'd flash my GT to an Ultra. First off, it would be difficult to find another GT and secondly, there is no way I'm going to start playing D3 on a Ti4200 while I wait for a new GT!

 

[CVSiN]

Dont bother my GT at stock settings shreds D3 at 16x12 at 4x AA on high with no tearing artifacts or lag..
GT kicks butt