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How-To: nVidia Video Card BIOS volt-mod
Graphics Cards
Written by Samuknow   
Saturday, 16 September 2006 15:36
Article Index
How-To: nVidia Video Card BIOS volt-mod
Open NiBiTor
Select Device
Save Original BIOS
Initial Voltage Options
Voltage Table Editor
Edit Available Voltages
Select New Voltage
Save New BIOS
Flash New BIOS
Appendix: NiBiTor Supported BIOSes
All Pages

Over-clockers are always looking for a way to squeeze every last drop of performance out of their hardware.  This has been going on for years. Today’s Video Cards are great candidates for over-clocking.  Many have high-end capabilities just waiting to be released.

As any over-clocker knows, an increase in voltage can sometimes net a moderate to great increase in the overall over-clock, but there is no guarantee that this mod will offer any increase in your over-clock.  With that in mind, we will be showing you how to perform a BIOS volt mod to your 6  or 7 series card.

You will need a few things before we get started.

  1. Download a copy of NiBiTor from http://www.mvktech.net/.  NiBiTor can also be found at AOAFiles. I used version 2.9a for this guide. (See appendix for a complete list of applicable video cards)
  2. Download nvflash version 5.13. This can be found at AOAFiles.
  3. Last and most important, you will need a FX 6 series or 7 series graphics card.

Before we begin, check your cards temps at idle and under load. This will give you a base point and tell you later if we have any trouble.  Also make sure your card is not over-clocked.


Open NiBiTor

Now let’s get to it...

Open NiBiTor and you will be greeted with this view.

Image
NiBitor startup screen


Select Device 

Now we have to get your card's bios info from the card to the program.  The great thing about NiBiTor is that this can be done right from windows.

Select Tools > Read BIOS > Select Device…

Image
Device Selection Dialog

This will open the dialog box above.

You will see your adapter listed in the box. Select the device and click OK.

Select Tools > Read BIOS > read into NIBITor.

Image
Dialog populated with card info.

You will now see your card's information has populated the fields in NIBITor.

 

Save Original BIOS

The first thing you will want to do is save your default bios settings.

Select File > Save BIOS…

Image
Save BIOS Dialog.

You will be greeted with the dialog box above. Create a file name and save. I chose default.rom.


Initial Voltage Options

Now we are ready to mod our card's bios.  First let’s select the 'Voltages' tab and see what we have to work with.

When you select the 'Voltages' tab you will see this warning.  READ THIS.

Image
Warning Dialog.
 

This is a good time to state this. You are attempting to modify your cards bios from stock. In doing so you could damage your card. It is a good chance you will void your warranty. Keeping it to a moderate increase you should be ok.

Neither AOA nor I are responsible for your card being damaged by you performing this mod

Click OK to continue.

 

You will see something similar to this. (Information will vary depending on your hardware)

Image
Voltage Tab.


Voltage Table Editor

Some cards are limited to what is available in the voltages tab.  The default 3D voltage of my card is 1.2 volts. The next available is 1.4 volts.  You do not want to jump .2 volts at a time.  To change this we will have to make 1.3 volts available.

Select Tools > Voltage Table Editor…

Image
Voltage Table Editor

You will see the table above.  Again information will vary by hardware.


 

As before, the next step will vary depending on your hardware.

Adding an entry
Image

You must change the Amount of Active Entries to 04.  I changed Entry 3 to 1.3 volts and moved 1.4 volts to entry 4.


 

Now you can go back to the Voltages tab and select 1.3 volts in the 3D voltage identifier.

Selecting New Voltage
Image


Once you have changed the voltage, you will want to save your changes and create a new modified bios file.

Select File > Save BIOS…

Saving modified BIOS
Image

You will again be greeted by the Save As dialog box. Create a new file name. I used voltmod.rom.

 

Image

File Saved.


You have now created modified bios for your video card.  Now it is time flash your card with the modified bios.

To do this you will need to create a bootable floppy.

Image
Formatting a floppy

 

Next copy Nvflash and your modified bios to the floppy.  Make sure your bootable floppy is inserted and reboot your machine. Boot to the bootable floppy.

At the prompt type: a:\nvflash voltmod.rom (or what ever you named your bios file).  Press Y and the bios will be flashed.  (There is no need to backup your bios at this point. You have already saved your default bios in NIBITor.)

You’ve done it. Remove the floppy and reboot into Windows normally.

You can now open NIBITor and read the bios from your card to make sure it flashed. Make sure you check your temps. You will want to compare them to your temps before the mod. Now you can see how far you can over-clock.  If your temps are fine under load and you want a little more voltage, repeat the process and step up another .1 volts.

I do not recommend going crazy and keep pushing your card too high. This can cause instant death to your card.

 

Discuss this article in the forums!  


 

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