Geforce 6200 SLI!

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Hey guys...been floating the idea around in my head for a while, and was having a real hard time finding a good second PCI-e Geforce 6200 128bit non Turbocache card...but I've finally got two.

The idea came to me when I had learned Nvidia's latest drivers at the time allowed 6600's to do bridgeless SLI, and also when I had figured out how to change the DeviceID of my Leadtek 6200 to be displayed as a 6600. My 6200 was modded into a 6600. For all intents and purposes, it was a 6600, so SLI should technically work if the drivers could be tricked. I got both cards for $50 a pop over @ the egg's refurb section, so I thought $100 SLI, after modding and overclocking, would actually give me some pretty decent performance for a budget price and be cool as hell to boot.

Well, like I said...got my second Leadtek 6200, and it too unlocks into a fully fledged 6600 as well. I took off the HSF on my NF4 Ultra northbridge, and with a conductive pen, painted over the two connections that needed to be reunited. After bootup, my board was recognized as a DFI NF4 SLi-D. Next, I set the SLI jumpers, and slapped in both cards. I've got the 79.11 drivers both installed for them.

Right now, I'm trying to change the DeviceID of the secondary card. Rivatuner won't let me for some reason. It will give me full access to the primary card's DeviceID and Pixel Shaders, but not the second. I'm using an older version, so I'm going to attempt to try it with a new version of Rivatuner. Will update this when that is done, + :camera:. More to come :)

*UPDATE* Having issues, please see latest post and see if you can help me out.

*PICS* Pic1Pic2Pic3

 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Yeah, Rivatuner will only let me change the DeviceID of one of the two cards, and have only one of the two cards unlocked at any given time. What other program do you guys suggest that would help me get around this?
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Doesn't let you do that. Even if it did, it only lets the primary card have access to the low level hardware options like deviceID and pipe unlocking.

I tried disabling my primary card and then doing it to my secondary, and while it lets me go into the menu, it has no effect. Hmm...
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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if the device id is changed, does it change it permanently?

if so, pop out that first card, put the second card in the first slot, then change it's id.
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Well, I did that initially when I was testing out the second card to make sure it unlocks. I took out my 6200 that was identified as a 6600, and put the new 6200 in, which was immediately identified as a 6600 right off the bat.

So I don't think the deviceID change is permanent.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: Avalon
Well, I did that initially when I was testing out the second card to make sure it unlocks. I took out my 6200 that was identified as a 6600, and put the new 6200 in, which was immediately identified as a 6600 right off the bat.

So I don't think the deviceID change is permanent.

wait... it was immediately identified or you set it?

if it was immediately identified then the identification is based on the bus position, which strikes me as kind of odd. maybe you just need to email the riva tuner team and ask?
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Avalon
Well, I did that initially when I was testing out the second card to make sure it unlocks. I took out my 6200 that was identified as a 6600, and put the new 6200 in, which was immediately identified as a 6600 right off the bat.

So I don't think the deviceID change is permanent.

wait... it was immediately identified or you set it?

if it was immediately identified then the identification is based on the bus position, which strikes me as kind of odd. maybe you just need to email the riva tuner team and ask?

It was immediately identified. I went to the guru3d forums and posted under the Rivatuner section. Hopefully they'll explain exactly how their deviceID changes work.

Eh, odd. I had my monitor plugged into the secondary, and was just browsing when the signal cut out. Plugged back up to my primary, and the second one isn't even detected. Plus I can't get into any of Rivatuner's hardware level graphics features. My control panel also has an SLI tab on it now.
 

aatf510

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2004
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I think a 6600 BIOS flash would probably work better, and 79.11 drivers seems a little too old.
 

sindows

Golden Member
Dec 11, 2005
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Is it possible to just let them both run as 6200s? Maybe you can then trick them into becoming 6600s after you get the SLI setup running....

Then again, I have no idea what I'm talking about....
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
7,567
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I was in the midst of downloading a Leadtek 6600 BIOS when my signal cut out, as I mentioned in my previous post. I yanked the card. It was burning hot, and the heatsink was too hot to the touch. So much for refurbs, rofl!

:(
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
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Originally posted by: Avalon
I was in the midst of downloading a Leadtek 6600 BIOS when my signal cut out, as I mentioned in my previous post. I yanked the card. It was burning hot, and the heatsink was too hot to the touch. So much for refurbs, rofl!

:(

The card's not toast is it?

Did u try reseating it?
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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I did. I will try once more, but I'm pretty sure it's toast. My old Leadtek is working just fine.
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
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Sucks man. Good luck. Good idea though, I'm still interested if you can get it to work!
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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What does the device ID change of RivaTuner actually do? Change something on the card or just trick Windows? There's gotta be some other way to trick Windows.
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
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Originally posted by: xtknight
What does the device ID change of RivaTuner actually do? Change something on the card or just trick Windows? There's gotta be some other way to trick Windows.

He was just "tricking" windows. The best way would be for him to flash his cards with a 6600 BIOS. That would be changing something on the card.
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: Matt2
Originally posted by: xtknight
What does the device ID change of RivaTuner actually do? Change something on the card or just trick Windows? There's gotta be some other way to trick Windows.

He was just "tricking" windows. The best way would be for him to flash his cards with a 6600 BIOS. That would be changing something on the card.

Correct, it just tricks Windows/Nvidia drivers. Well, the card is officially toast...I'm going to try to contact Leadtek and tell em I have a refurb from Newegg that went caput on the first day, and see if they may exchange with me. I doubt it, but it's worth a try just to get another card in my hands. Otherwise, this is going back to Newegg and I'll be hunting for another 6200 in the meantime.

Everything else is all set...I've got the SLI panel in my display drivers now, telling me that it's waiting for a second SLI capable card. I'll update when I find out about my second card's situation.

BTW, what's good for BIOS flashing an Nvidia card?
Will it be able to flash even if the BIOS (6600) and card (6200) do not match?
 

Doctorweir

Golden Member
Sep 20, 2000
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Yes, with the option "-4" (not documented) in nvFlash you can override manufacturer and model. So it would be like:
nvflash -ix -4 -5 -6 newbios.rom, where x is to be replaced by the card you want to flash (0 or 1).
Should work...good luck :)
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Well, I've managed to find an Asus 6200, so I should have that in less than a week. Then I'll be able to give it another shot. Thanks for the flash override tip :)
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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Try ATITool! It looks like it may support change device ID of different cards. Yes, ATITool supports NVIDIA cards now. :p
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: xtknight
Try ATITool! It looks like it may support change device ID of different cards. Yes, ATITool supports NVIDIA cards now. :p

I will look into this as well when I get a second card in my hands. Thanks!
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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156
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Originally posted by: Avalon
Originally posted by: xtknight
Try ATITool! It looks like it may support change device ID of different cards. Yes, ATITool supports NVIDIA cards now. :p

I will look into this as well when I get a second card in my hands. Thanks!

Well, I gave it a try, and it couldn't even detect my card, so it wouldn't let me change the deviceID. The Asus should be here in two days, so I'll just BIOS flash.
 

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
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BIOS flash on the Asus was a surprisingly simple yet resounding success. Much thanks. It now detects as a 6600 on its own. Just one problem. The Asus artifacts unlocked, so I've got one four pipe and one eight pipe card. That kind of ruins what I was aiming for, so I'm going to see if I can't pick up another 6200 for $50 somewhere that might do the trick for me.

I might enable SLI mode for the heck of it and see what happens. Maybe run the Asus unlocked as a performance demonstration until I find a suitable replacement? Whatever you guys want to see.

Just as an update, I found another Leadtek, which hopefully will fit the bill, and be here Tuesday. When I get it, I'll give the Asus a good home, and get this damn project on the move.