Guide to nVidia Flashing

Hello, This is the quick and easy guide to flashing your nVidia card. In this tutorial we will use the 5900 Non Ultra and flash it to an 5950 Ultra. A 5900XT will not work because it has 2.8ns memory while the 5950u has 2ns memory, trying to flash an XT to an 5950U will result in permement damage. Now aside from the dark facts, what you will gain out of this: Loosened timings for better overclocking, Higher GPU voltage for better overclocking, loosened GPU Throttling so you can overclock at higher temps. Remember!: Not every flash goes right, If your flashing your card and Nvflash says your bios that you downloaded is corrupted, then redownload it, do not use the -i to force flashing with a corrupted bios. In some cases VIVO will not work when flashed with some bioses, try and get a bios that works for you.

nvflash -p -u -f 5900u.rom
nvflash -b original.rom

Ok, what you must do is flash the bios of your video card. Download dr.dos from here . At this point make a bootable dos diskette so you have a stable operating system that wont crash when you flash. Now, get a tool called NVFlash. Now, Here is a list of commands for NVFlash, but we will use the basics. At the prompt, type nvflash -b original.rom. This command will save your original ROM to file so if recovery needs to occur then you can use it. This Next Step is VERY IMPORTANT. Some ROMS have an imbuilt write protect, type nvflash -r to remove the write protect and nvflash -w to enable the write protect. After disabling the write protect and saving your bios, use the comand nvflash -f xxx.rom to flash to your new bios, Replace xxx.rom with your bios name of course. Now some poeple have made enhanced, or modded bioses for the 5900->5950U conversion and many other nvidia cards, these bioses have enhanced overclock, stability, and performance. To flash these, some require you use the -i command to force flashing since the bios of the modded file is bigger then the original. Also keep in mind nVidia releases many revisions of their card, some revisions are claimed to work better then others so you might want to try different revisions before settling with one.

A list of nVidia bioses can be found Here and Here
A list of modded nVidia bioses can be found Here
A very compatable bios for the conversion can be found Here

Well well he went and did it...nice guide.

Is it possible to update a Geforce fx5200 to a fx5200U? or is that a hardware thing?

I know that I might not do it but is it possible to flash a 5700ultra to a 5800 or a 5800ultra?

To find out if you card is flashable or not, find out its core model (.i.e. NV38) and see if the card you want to upgrade carries the same core or the same core but upgraded. second the newer card must have the same pcb for the exception of VIVO.

if thats a response to my question, your answer just confuses me >.< sorry..
Where would i be able to find the core model?
sorry, im a complete graphics card dunce,, i literally know nothing

Then I know that my card aint flash able the 5200 to 5200u is because they both use the nv34.

Reckon I should try, i have no backup if it breaks though, no inbuilt graphics :/

All you need to do is get ar 5200 non ultra bios to flash back to if theres a problem with the 5200ultra flash.

do you know how much better the ultra is?

The ultra has a better core and a better memory clock than the non ultra. ex the chaintech version has a 325core and a 650 mem.

all this is defined by the firmware not the hardware?

its hardwired obviosly into the hardware but its being directed by the firmware

Can you pleeeease tell me where the best place to find the fx5200U Bios with an nv34 core thing? or can i force that program to copy (other then -i command)?

http://www.mvktech.net/download.php?view.125