interested in flashing GTX 280

[gsrcrxsi]

so ive recently purchased a GTX280 here on the forums. it is this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125200

AFAIK this is the low end model as the core clock is at ~600MHz. many others are above that. sure i could overclock this, but i would rather have something more "permanent". so the card runs at the higher clocks all the time and not just when the OS loads. heat will not be an issue. card will be water cooled.

but i really dont know anything about overclocking video cards. is it much like OCing CPUs? or is it completely OS dependent/based.

so i was thinking if i flashed the bios to maybe the same as a higher end model that it would be roughly the same. i mean thats really the only difference between the lowend and the SSC editions of the same model card right? just the BIOS settings?

what risks do i face? obviously i could brick the card, but is it possible to recover it?

where would i get the roms from? will they work from any other GTX 280? or does it have to be a gigabyte specific card?

any and all help is appreciated. just point me in the right direction, im willing to learn :)

[gsrcrxsi]

up

[klear]

I can't help you with the bios but I think it would be a good idea to download Rivatuner and find the limits of your card before you oc via the bios.

[gsrcrxsi]

well i was just wanting to flash it to one of the faster clocked models. should be able to handle that.

[jason4207]

It's still a good idea to test it first, so you don't have to do a blind flash.

I also have a 280 in route. I'm going to be using the eVGA Voltage Tuner, and the Precision Tool to take it as far as possible. I doubt I'll lock the clocks via BIOS mod, though, as I have to wait for the voltage utility to load before it applies the higher clocks. I may mess w/ the fan speed profile via the BIOS until I get a new cooler, though.

Go to http://www.mvktech.net (http://www.mvktech.net/)/ and download the latest versions of Nibitor and nvflash. That should get you started.

I'll update after I've had a chance to play.

[gsrcrxsi]

yea i know where the tools are to OC via software (ie not permanent), but i want information on flashing the bios. i appreciate the efforts guys, but im just asking for info on flashing the bios.

yes i will test the card first, but i still want the info now lol. so i can read over it and make sure i understand it before i do it.

[jason4207]

Nibitor allows you to mod the BIOS, and nvflash allows you to flash the card. They are not methods to OC via software. They are the tools you need to use to flash the BIOS.

Check my link above again.




Here is a guide (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=556188) I wrote a while back to change fan speeds on the 8800GT/GTS. You can use that to help you understand the basics. Its pretty obvious how to change the clock speeds once you get Nibitor open.

[gsrcrxsi]

you still arent understanding what i want to do. i dont want to make a custom ROM. i want to use one "pre-made" from another model card. so i need to know how to apply said rom to the bios. and where to get said roms. something like updating your MBs bios. thats what i want to do, but with the video card. if this isnt possible, then stop me now, but thats what i want to do.

will any GTX 280 rom work? or will i have to get one for my specific manufacturer.

[slb785]

If you dont mind me asking. Why does the card need to be overclocked any other time than when the OS is loaded?

[gsrcrxsi]

dual boot? not having to redo the settings when i reload the OS. not having to reload it when putting it in a new/different machine.

i just want a more permanent solution.

[jason4207]

You can use any 280 ROM for 280. I believe all the cards use the same reference design.

MVKTech (the place I linked above) should have the ROMs you need. Just pick the one you like.

Use nvflash to flash the new ROM. My guide for changing fan speeds outlines how to flash.

[gsrcrxsi]

thanks ill take a look :)

[deathman20]

If you dont mind me asking. Why does the card need to be overclocked any other time than when the OS is loaded?

Many reasons too.

My main one with my 4850's I had was that I could flash them... I'd have there clocks, ram and fan speeds adjusted to be the same. No matter what happened (OS reload or what not) it would be setup to use it. As well lowered my 2D clocks so it wouldn't be using as much power.

There are benefits of having it flashed. I know I did it with my old 8800GT I had, worked like a charm and didn't need to worry about having another set of software loaded to OC with.

Bios is great for when you get things tweaked, otherwise software is the best until you know it works good. Flashing can be annoying thing to do, thankfully I got a flash drive setup specifically for flashing in DOS.



Now as for Bios's, I know techpowerup has some on there site as well. Stock bios's and modified ones.

[ViperJohn]

so ive recently purchased a GTX280 here on the forums. it is this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125200

AFAIK this is the low end model as the core clock is at ~600MHz. many others are above that. sure i could overclock this, but i would rather have something more "permanent". so the card runs at the higher clocks all the time and not just when the OS loads. heat will not be an issue. card will be water cooled.

but i really dont know anything about overclocking video cards. is it much like OCing CPUs? or is it completely OS dependent/based.

so i was thinking if i flashed the bios to maybe the same as a higher end model that it would be roughly the same. i mean thats really the only difference between the lowend and the SSC editions of the same model card right? just the BIOS settings?

what risks do i face? obviously i could brick the card, but is it possible to recover it?

where would i get the roms from? will they work from any other GTX 280? or does it have to be a gigabyte specific card?

any and all help is appreciated. just point me in the right direction, im willing to learn :)

Do yourself a favor and just use eVGA's Precision (Basically RivaTuner lite).

The GTX2XX use split 2D/3D clocks. The only way you will get the higher 3D clocks is when you are running a
3D application in Windows as the 2D/3D clock changes are a function of the Windows drivers using the clocks
programmed in bios as the reference. There is absolutely no reason to increase the card 2D clocks.

You can set Precision to set the 3D OC's you want when the OS loads and that is all you need.

Viper