NVIDIA GeForce To Quadro Soft-Mod Guide

Discussion in 'Reviews & Articles' started by Dashken, May 9, 2008.

  1. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    I don't think anyone has tried it yet. I would be interested to know as well. :think:
     
  2. pggirvin

    pggirvin Newbie

    G92

    Hi Adrian,
    I did try modding the G92, and I was not equal to the task. RivaTuner did not show NVStrap, as I recall, and I think to take this further would be much, much harder than I can do.
    Thanks for your reply above.
    Patrick
     
  3. generalRage1982hrv

    generalRage1982hrv ARP Reviewer

    ahhh to change g9x core to quadro is a problem but to quadro fx 4600 would more than a problem
    mostly because quadro fx 4600 is g80 based gpu (different core so hehhheh now way)
    so you are asking about gt200 core (posible unlocks fx4800 NVIDIA_GT200.DEV_05FE.1 and fx5800 NVIDIA_GT200.DEV_05FD.1)
    well i dont know will that be possible
    but if you donate one so we can try it well that would be great LOL
     
  4. betonpfeiler

    betonpfeiler Newbie

    oh god... it just won't work

    Hey everyone!

    I just found this great, but very large, thread and read that it is possible to softmod the 8400GS to a quadro 290.

    I have one and want to softmod it, the only problem is, that this instructions from the tutorial:

    "run RivaTuner, you will see the Main screen (picture below). In the Target adapter section, click on the little icon next to the Customize... option.

    A series of icons will appear. Select the first icon (Low-level system settings)."

    just doesn't work. There are appearing 5 icons, but none says low-level system settings. the first one says "low-level refresh rate settings"... Anyone can help me?
    Thanks
     
  5. kimus

    kimus Newbie

    anyone try the soft mod with the gtx 260 (gt200)???
     
  6. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    Not that I know of. :(
     
  7. consolation

    consolation Newbie

    you can use the rom from the thread below to mod 8800GT to 3700fx

    insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=134631&start=0&p=970308&#entry970308

    since I'm not allowed to post urls you need to add {http://www.} to that link
     
  8. SlobbaTech

    SlobbaTech Newbie

    Hello, I'm a novice to these sort of modifications and need a bit of help if anyone doesn't mind. I have a notebook computer using a GeForce 8600M GS video card. I think I was not able to find a Quadro video card that was compatible or equal to the card driver on my computer which keeps me from doing this modification. Am I right in this or am I missing something and still able to perform this modification? The GPU: G86 M, Devide ID: 10DE - 0425. Thanks a lot!
     
  9. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    SlobbaTech, you can check our Mobile GPU Comparison Guide for the appropriate Quadro card.

    From what I can see, the Quadro FX 360M should be your best bet.
     
  10. consolation

    consolation Newbie

    you can use the rom from the thread below to flash a 8800GT to 3700fx

    http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=134631

    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately I didn't do much benching before flashing. But my OpenMark results went up from ~32000 to ~40000


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2009
  11. magicine

    magicine Newbie

    going to do the soft mod but tests do not match?

    I currently run a true quadro fx 3500. I read this thread fully, so I did a bench mark of my current card, the current FX3500 before moding an 8800GTS or GTX to achieve an FX4600 hopefully. I run solidworks 2007 which the benchmark was written for.

    my question is in the softmod guide which uses the same benchmark tool, SPECapc, states that higher numbers are better.

    but when I use the SPECapc tool it states all results are in seconds and that lower numbers are better?

    here were my results with the real FX3500

    SolidWorks 2007 Workstation Benchmark
    Manufacturer : NVIDIA
    Model : AWRDACPI
    OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional
    OS SP : Service Pack 3
    CPU : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+
    # of CPU : 2
    Memory : 3327

    **** Overall Test Results ****
    Note: All results are in seconds.
    Lower scores are better.

    Test Number 1
    Test Total = 241.94
    Graphics = 92.41
    CPU = 63.75
    I/O = 85.78

    Test Number 2
    Test Total = 238.45
    Graphics = 90.76
    CPU = 62.51
    I/O = 85.18

    Test Number 3
    Test Total = 235.87
    Graphics = 88.67
    CPU = 61.99
    I/O = 85.21

    Test Number 4
    Test Total = 236.22
    Graphics = 89.04
    CPU = 62.21
    I/O = 84.97

    Test Number 5
    Test Total = 237.94
    Graphics = 90.49
    CPU = 62.13
    I/O = 85.32

    Test Averages for 5 tests(s).
    Test Total = 238.08
    Graphics = 90.27
    CPU = 62.52
    I/O = 85.29



    so what am I missing? If I come back with lower numbers how would they correlate into the other test scores??

    also, is the geforce 8800gtx the best choice to achieve an FX4600?
    also again, there are different manufactures using the GeForce 8800 chipset. IE EVGA, BFG, XFX, are these able to be modded just as the Nvidia brand is?

    john h
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2009
  12. tryharder

    tryharder Newbie

    Gtx 285 - anybody?

    ... anybody over here who modded a GTX 285 ???
     
  13. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    When it comes to render times, the lower the better. You should always test your performance before and after the mod so you can see the effect of the mod.

    Actually, there are many types of GeForce 8800 GPUs - 8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512, 8800 GTS 320, 8800 GTS 512, 8800 GTX.

    As far as EVGA, BFG, XFX are concerned, most use the NVIDIA reference design so they are really alike. In any case, the softmod only unlocks software optimizations in the driver that are "tied" to the NVIDIA Quadro identification strings. The same GPUs are used in both Quadro and GeForce cards. NVIDIA does not make special GPUs for Quadros.
     
  14. magicine

    magicine Newbie

    This should be good info since we now have a true quadro fx3500 as a base line. I'll base line the unmodded EVGA 8800gtx, then after the softmod. If the softmod if successful it should out perform my fx3500 by a good margin since it has three times the memory etc. as an unlocked fx4600.

    I'll keep everyone abreast.

    jh
     
  15. alpha754293

    alpha754293 Newbie

    soft-modding GTX260 GT200 DOES NOT WORK

    Okay. just tried it with a BFG GTX260OC (590/1000) 896 MB.

    GeForce drivers tested:
    178.24
    181.20

    RivaTuner tested:
    2.0 RC 15.6
    2.0 RC 25.8
    2.05
    2.24

    Anything < 2.05 --> no lower-level system tweaks button.
    2.24 --> lower-level system tweaks button exists, but no NVstrap.

    Looks like that it doesn't work the GT200 GTX260, GTS250, GTX275, GTX280, GTX285, GTX295 probably won't work.

    keywords: GTS250 GTX260 GTX275 GTX280 GTX285 GTX295 soft mod does not work rivatuner geforce nvidia

    (tested with:
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
    Intel Core2 Quad Q9550 (2.83 GHz, quad-core)
    4x G.Skill 2GB DDR2-800 SDRAM
    1x Western Digital 36 GB 10krpm SATA
    2x Western Digital 250 GB 7.2krpm SATA
    Windows XP Pro SP2
     
  16. magicine

    magicine Newbie

    results

    OK real Quadro FX 3500 $850 used 2 years ago

    Graphics Solidworks benchmark
    Test Averages for 5 tests(s).
    Graphics = 90.27

    GeForce EVGA 8800GTX $180 used week ago

    Graphics Solidworks benchmark
    Test Averages for 5 tests(s).
    Graphics = 121.78

    Soft modded EVGA 8800 to Quadro FX4600
    Test Averages for 5 tests(s).
    Graphics = 83.31

    about a 10% improvement over the FX 3500, the improvement really shows when I have many more parts and assemblies opened. The 3500 would choke and bring my system to a stand still after about 15 parts and 1 assy, and 4 app's open.

    I haven't found the limit of the soft 4600 yet.

    I deem it a success since I will now sell the 3500 and make a couple of hundred.

    I used instructions found here
    softmodding Geforce 8800gts to quadro - Rage3D Discussion Area
    and Riva tuner 2.24

    jh

    PS: The latest Quadro driver 182.65 from did not want to work but I had earlier ones for the 3500, same driver pack for the 4600 185.42 from 11/08, this one worked fine. I'll try 182.5 next.
     
  17. Wolvenmoon

    Wolvenmoon Newbie

    So...I've read through the entire thread (WHEW!) and saw some mention of G92 boards, but don't remember seeing any benchmarks of them softmodded to quadro, nor did I see any that were flashed.

    I run a 9800GTX+ and blender 3D, but am looking at purchasing something like 3DS max after I'm absolutely certain I like blender (Yay student status, still like 300 bucks)

    I'm not even sure there is a quadro with this card's specs. The 3700 actually has physically worse specs than this. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

    Thanks for the informative thread!
     
  18. consolation

    consolation Newbie

    G92 8800GT cards can be easily flashed to 3700FX, presumably the same applies to 9800GT ones as well. I have a 250GTS (9800GTX+) atm, so I'm curious about cross flashing to an equivalent quadro as well... I'm guessing we could use the modded 3700FX bios and just copy over the clock and memory timings from 250/gtx+ BIOS. Theoretically we would then have a very fast 3700FX ;). That way, under windows, it would let us use the quadro optimised drivers -the only real benefit to a quadro (since we are not going to get the super duper cash cow customer support.) Note, that when you cross flash the G92 8800GT, you retain the faster GT clock speeds at the cost of raised temperatures; if you drop the core to the Quadro 500MHz the temp goes back to normal. This is, I suspect, why vanilla quadros bench lower in games. I'm guessing with the higher accuracy required in pro apps, the driver defaults to higher quality processing, and since the cards share the same shitty heatsink, something had to give. Or, nVidia are less concerned about the consumer cards dying and are bit more slap happy with the clock speeds... I really wish I did more benching on my flashed GT before I gave it away. Interestingly the mobile version of the Quadro, the 3700M, is apparently based on 128SP G92 found in the 8800GTS/9800GTX(+)/250GTS cards (bloody nVidia and their SKU diarrhoea); so perhaps that'd be the BIOS to start hacking. Anyone... ? I'm mostly running under OSX; I'm not sure that there's any difference in pro apps performance under that OS tbh, I'm bit loath to risk borking my card for negligible gains in my main OS, at least not until it's due an upgrade in a few months.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2009
  19. arch_sb

    arch_sb Newbie

    Softmodded 8800 ultra to fx4600 work with 3ds max preformance drivers

    I have successfully softmodded my 8800 ultra to a fx4600 with the quadro drivers and everything, but cannot get the 3ds max performance driver from nvidia to install. I get an error saying i don't have a quadro card installed. Anyone have any luck with these performance drivers???
     
  20. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    You won't be able to get official NVIDIA drivers to work with the softmodded Quadro because the 3ds max performance driver has not been softmodded and will detect the card as a GeForce.

    You will have to flash the GeForce with a Quadro BIOS. That may allow the 3ds max performance driver to be installed.
     

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