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6800GT > 6800 Ultra flash (successful, and details!)

S

ScHpAnKy

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 11, 2003
Messages
3,332
Hi all, this is a guide and FAQ on how to flash your 6800GT into a 6800 Ultra!

Success rate recorded at: http://www.nervelan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=102

>> UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!!!!
An nVidia representative at work today and informed me that nVidia has never manufactured ANY 6800 Ultra's! There is OFFICIALLY no difference between the 6800GT and 6800 Ultra, the ones you see (maybe at this moment?) are only overclocked 6800GT's! So much for "down-clocked 6800 Ultra's."

>> What incentive do I have for doing this?
You like speed, right? Look at the results!

>> Details?
At this very moment, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, EDIT: Officially, the 6800 Ultra is the one with modification... it's an overclocked/volted 6800GT but has a bit of an advantage using only a single-slot cooling solution.

>>Why not just overclock the 6800GT, then?
Unfortunately, the bios that comes with the 6800GT is craptastic and defaults the core/mem speed to much under what it is capable of :( But a 6800 Ultra bios gives it the extra voltage required to give the card a little kick in the pants to get to great speeds.
Plus, with a new bios you can now officially say "I have a 6800 Ultra." In addition to that, if you've already flashed the bios, why not go all the way and do it correctly?

>>What are the chances of it working? Is this risky?
90% success rate, like I said, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, if it doesn't work than you must be pretty unlucky, or the card doesn't have the 6800 Ultra's PCB. I had a picture of a 6800GT if you want to compare your card to mine look-wise that I'll put up when I get home.

>> Tell me how?
First step, download nVFlash version 5, and the 6800U bios for your card from http://www.mvktech.net

make a boot floppy, or follow the ultimate boot cd guide to flash with a cd, and copy the files to said format and use this command:
nvflash -4 -5 -6 filename.rom

It will say a successful message and then it will be up to you to reboot the system

pretty easy isn't it?
My card (XFX 6800GT [the one with DVI/Analog and no Doom 3 :(]) running well over ultra speeds by default :):
http://www.iupload.net/102004/hgkgbkblnlblb.jpg
 
Is this very risky, meaning if my card fries am I able to obtain a new one via warranty? Where can you get the GT bios?
 
if you try to RMA it they company will most likely see that its a GT with a ultra bios...thats a void of warranty............and will not replace it.......the extra voltage COULD fry it....if it doesnt it will most likely significantly shorten its life depending on how much extra voltage its pumping in there and the quality of your core....some cores are just capable of handling more.....but on the bright side there is about a 90% chance itll work.....and a good chance that if it doesnt its reversable (no guarentees)...
 
IMO there is no point in flashing if you can already OC your card to Ultra speeds. I just OC mine as it is reversible really easily.
 
is there any results for a 6800 ultra to ultra extreme? success rate? just wondering because i was gonna flash my ultra to extreme but i dont knoe if i can flash back if something goes wrong..
 
er...no one mentions that you might want to have additional cooling to make up for the increased heat output. :rolleyes:
 
Ethics: Don't RMA stuff you've screwed up.

But if the card is literally dead, noone's going to know that it was reflashed.
 
ScHpAnKy said:
Hi all, this is a guide and FAQ on how to flash your 6800GT into a 6800 Ultra!

>> What incentive do I have for doing this?
You like speed, right?

>> Details?
At this very moment, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, but has a bit of an advantage using only a single-slot cooling solution.

>>Why not just overclock the 6800GT, then?
unfortunately, the bios that comes with the 6800GT is craptastic and defaults the core/mem speed to much under what it is capable of :( But a 6800 Ultra bios gives it the extra voltage required to give the card a little kick in the pants to get to great speeds.

>>What are the chances of it working?
90%, like I said, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, if it doesn't work than you must be pretty unlucky, or the card doesn't have the 6800 Ultra's PCB.

>> Tell me how?
First step, download nVFlash version 5, and the 6800U bios for your card from http://www.mvktech.net

make a boot floppy, or follow the ultimate boot cd guide to flash with a cd, and copy the files to said format and use this command:
nvflash -4 -5 -6 filename.rom

It will say a successful message and then it will be up to you to reboot the system

pretty easy isn't it?
My card:
http://www.iupload.net/102004/hgkgbkblnlblb.jpg
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info, I just did the update and it worked fine on my BFG6800GT. Good think I have the NV5 Silencer on the card to help keep it cool.
 
ScHpAnKy said:
Hi all, this is a guide and FAQ on how to flash your 6800GT into a 6800 Ultra!

>> What incentive do I have for doing this?
You like speed, right?

>> Details?
At this very moment, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, but has a bit of an advantage using only a single-slot cooling solution.

>>Why not just overclock the 6800GT, then?
unfortunately, the bios that comes with the 6800GT is craptastic and defaults the core/mem speed to much under what it is capable of :( But a 6800 Ultra bios gives it the extra voltage required to give the card a little kick in the pants to get to great speeds.

>>What are the chances of it working?
90%, like I said, almost (if not every) 6800GT is a downclocked 6800 Ultra, if it doesn't work than you must be pretty unlucky, or the card doesn't have the 6800 Ultra's PCB.

>> Tell me how?
First step, download nVFlash version 5, and the 6800U bios for your card from http://www.mvktech.net

make a boot floppy, or follow the ultimate boot cd guide to flash with a cd, and copy the files to said format and use this command:
nvflash -4 -5 -6 filename.rom

It will say a successful message and then it will be up to you to reboot the system

pretty easy isn't it?
My card:
http://www.iupload.net/102004/hgkgbkblnlblb.jpg
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info, I just did the update and it worked fine on my BFG6800GT. Good think I have the NV5 Silencer on the card to help keep it cool.

:D :p
 
OR you can just change the voltage and clocks on your card's own BIOS and reflash. Basically the same effects as flashing an ultra BIOS, but less risky because the BIOS itself will be exactly the same minus the things you changed.
 
rogue3092 said:
OR you can just change the voltage and clocks on your card's own BIOS and reflash. Basically the same effects as flashing an ultra BIOS, but less risky because the BIOS itself will be exactly the same minus the things you changed.
Click to expand...
How do you do that?
 
ben johnson said:
How do you do that?
Click to expand...
its done like this.
---
first do this.
download a copy of NVFLASH 5.08 from here
http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=0&func=download&filecatid=53
then download this bios editor aswell http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=26&func=download&filecatid=56 there is newer versions, but for GT's this is the best one.
---
(1) right now create a startup disk and copy the nvflash stuff onto it, boot into dos, and once there, type NVFLASH ORIGINAL.ROM or it could be NVFLASH BACKUP ORIGINAL.ROM (if neither work type NVFLASH HELP (this will give you a list of commands), this should backup the original bios.
(2) boot back into windows and once there, startup the bios editor and open the original.rom file, change the 2d & 3d volts to 1.4v (you dont need to change the 2d volts), then change the core speed from 350 to 400, and the mem speed from 500 to 550.
(3) save the .rom to the startup disk, name it something you will remember, (i use ultra.rom).
(4) use the startup disk again to get back into dos, once there type, NVFLASH ULTRA.ROM it will then ask you if you want to continue, select Y.
(5) once it has finished, hit Ctrl Alt & Delete to reboot, (dont hit reset), once it goes back into windows use coolbits (or any overclocking software) to check if the default clock & mem speeds are changed.
(6) now sit back in the happy fact, that you now own a fully fledged 6800Ultra.
---
now please note, make sure your card can hit the ultra speed befor doing this, as it could f*ck up your card, and if you dont understand any of what i just posted, DONT TRY IT.
---
hope this helps.
 
I just did this and it works fine. My card is now know as 6800 Ultra and my current speeds are:

450
1.22
 
oooo, tempting. I think I'll try this when I get home today.

BFG 6800 GT -> 6800 Ultra
 
I actually was forced to flash my GT to an Ultra. The GT bios on my eVGA is extremely unstable and I was told it was due to the inconsistant clocks of the RAM, and if you know the GT bios doesn't separate the clocks speed. So, in order to stableize my card I had to flash to Ultra so that I could have the 2d and 3d clocks separate, and sync them up, also I had to increase the voltage to futher stablize it. Runs great now, and I get a good side effect, higher clock speeds :D

I don't think theres any risk in certain models of the GTs, from what I understand the phsyical card is exactly the same as its Ultra counterpart, only differance is the heatsink and the bios. I actually have my eVGA flash to a Leadtek 6800U. I did it out of need, and have had no problems since. Good luck :D
 
To those interested in flashing. Why don't you all do it and tell us. I'm curious to see how this turns out. By all means goahead. More people do this , better for our overclocking community. You have my blessings.

WHoopse almost forgot, thanks for putting up such detailed steps for us to flash our cards. This should be quite entertaining.
 
Gibzilla said:
To those interested in flashing. Why don't you all do it and tell us. I'm curious to see how this turns out. By all means goahead. More people do this , better for our overclocking community. You have my blessings.
Click to expand...

at least it's ok by you, we now have the official go-ahead ;)

also, bump for the edited original post to reflect changes and additions to questions such as:

Why not just overclock/volt-mod the 6800GT?

and

What cards are you guys using?
 
I'll bet that the success rate is greater than 90%. I've personally seen 3 out of 3, and am yet to read an unsuccess story. If it doesn't work, blind flash it back and try again. Not much risk of damage IMO.
 
The Ultra Extreme bios still says 6800 Ultra.. The Evga Ultra Extreme bios is 10.13 and the Ultra bios is 15.07.. I did notice that with the orginal Evga Ultra bios 15.07. I could not get the memory to clock up to 1.2ghz and up with the Original 15.07, but with the Ultra Extreme Bios 10.13 I was able to reach a stable 1.25ghz and 460mhz core. That is with 1.5v on all three settings and 2D/3D set the same frequency...( Also using a NV-5 to for cooling)

My Evga Ultra runs 24/7 @ 460mhz/1.25ghz stable and able to bench 475mhz/1.26ghz..

I have played doom3 for hours @ 1280/1024 with all eye candy on, set to high w/ 4AA and no lag or problems. Looped 3dmk03 3times w/o problems...
 
xp3nd4bl3 said:
I'll bet that the success rate is greater than 90%. I've personally seen 3 out of 3, and am yet to read an unsuccess story. If it doesn't work, blind flash it back and try again. Not much risk of damage IMO.
Click to expand...

It probably is, but I needed the users to realize that there is a chance of failure, even if it is very slim.
 
I don't know if I want to do it or not :confused: :confused:

nvsilencer.JPG



I really want to order my Aeron chair this week, don't want to have to order another GT :)
 
Catiaudo said:
I don't know if I want to do it or not :confused: :confused:

[ img]http://www.tgizzle.com/mf101/hforum/nvsilencer.JPG[/img]


I really want to order my Aeron chair this week, don't want to have to order another GT :)
Click to expand...


well, this isn't for everybody...
It's only for the ones who want a 6800 Ultra instead of GT :)
 
Do it. You know you want to.

You can always return it and get another if you fry it.

LMAO.
 
This is crazy.

I was thinking about ordering a Gainward GS just so I can get ultra speeds, but now this comes out. I might as well go get a BFG down at Best Buy and give it a shot.

With the voltage though these cards must be running as hot as hades. Better get some super duper cooling on those things.
 
aZn_plyR said:
is there any results for a 6800 ultra to ultra extreme? success rate? just wondering because i was gonna flash my ultra to extreme but i dont knoe if i can flash back if something goes wrong..
Click to expand...

I flashed my ultra with a moded BFG 6800 ultra bios @1.5v

Default clocks are 450/1200 for both 2d/3d It's stable up to 460/1290 since I used AS5 on the stock cooler. I put it on last night so once it's settled I might be able to go higher..
 
ScHpAnKy said:
backup your bios, and it's 100%
Click to expand...

Do I backup my own copy of the BIOS or do I just download it off of the site if it gets messed up? :)

Do I need different drivers if the 6800ultra goes through? Right now I don't have that tab like you do for clock speeds or is that a different program I need to install? I was an ATI user until a week ago so I'm not too familiar with these cards :eek:
 
Hmm...need to get someone to try this with Water Cooling, I wonder how high the O/C can go? Anyone willing to bet 500mhz core speed is possible? Oh joygasm! :D
 
pistola said:
I
I don't think theres any risk in certain models of the GTs, from what I understand the phsyical card is exactly the same as its Ultra counterpart, only differance is the heatsink and the bios. I actually have my eVGA flash to a Leadtek 6800U. I did it out of need, and have had no problems since. Good luck :D
Click to expand...

Not true at all. The differences are more than you think. There are more caps on the Ultra's and the Ultra has a second molex connector. The BIOS and the cooling solution are different.

The cooling solution isn't a big deal. The lack of caps and second molex connector can be a problem in some cases. Nvidia stated that the Ultra really only needed one molex connector for stock speeds. We can certainly see that is the case alot of times as alot of our GT's OC to default Ultra settings without issue. According to Nvidia the second molex connector was necessary only to overclock the Ultra to any serious level, and that the card would need this to be overclocked past default Ultra speeds.

In reality this tells us that the second molex connector and additional mossfetts were most likely installed to ensure that the Ultra could in fact run at it's advertised clock speeds as we know some Ultra's can run with only one molex connector and the GT's success at overclocking to Ultra speeds also proves that the extra voltage is only required some of the time in some instances. But going past the Ultra's default clocks to any serious degree definatley requires more voltages.


The Ultra Extreme Edition is the same as the regular Ultra except for the clock speeds. The UEE version is nothing more than a factory authorized overclocked Ultra.
 
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